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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A few people have made the point that Benjamin Labatut's writing reminded them of W.G. Sebald and I had the same experience. Both authors have the ability to write in a dispassionate, sad, almost flat non-fiction tone, but their books feel weird, interesting, and mysterious. It's not an easy balance to strike which is why I found Labatut's book so impressive.
I had ordered his latest The Maniac before finishing this one. I plan on reading anything he comes out with in the future.
I had ordered his latest The Maniac before finishing this one. I plan on reading anything he comes out with in the future.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
So good it made me recalibrate my starring system sorry!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
the first section, Prussian Blue, was interesting. Following the next few sections, it became repetitive and not in a way that strengthens the core themes of the book. It uses flowery language without saying anything beyond surface level critical thinking. It feels pseudo-smart.
It says something about how well written and captivating this was that I didn’t realize any of it was fiction until the last two chapters/the acknowledgments. An insane, insanely relevant, and insanely interesting book. I knew nothing going into it other than that it was on a list of books I was trying to complete and while not my usual genre, perhaps it’s a sign to expand my reading further.
I particularly was stuck by this section given the things we see today: “If matter were prone to birthing monsters of this kind, Schwarzschild asked with a trembling voice, were there correlations with the human psyche? Could a sufficient concentration of human will—millions of people exploited for a single end with their minds compressed into the same psychic space—unleash something comparable to the singularity? Schwarzschild was convinced that such a thing was not only possible, but was actually taking place in the Fatherland. Courant tried to appease him; he said that he saw no signs of the apocalypse Schwarzschild feared, and that surely there could be nothing worse than the war they were mired in. He reminded Schwarzschild that the human soul was a greater mystery than any mathematical enigma, and that it was unwise to project the findings of physics into such far-flung realms as psychology. But Schwarzschild was inconsolable. He babbled about a black sun dawning over the horizon, capable of engulfing the entire world, and he lamented that there was nothing we could do about it. Because the singularity sent forth no warnings. The point of no return—the limit past which one fell prey to its unforgiving pull—had no sign or demarcation. Whoever crossed it was beyond hope. Their destiny was set, as all possible trajectories led irrevocably to the singularity. And if such was the nature of that threshold, Schwarzschild asked, his eyes shot through with blood, how would we know if we had already crossed it?”
I particularly was stuck by this section given the things we see today: “If matter were prone to birthing monsters of this kind, Schwarzschild asked with a trembling voice, were there correlations with the human psyche? Could a sufficient concentration of human will—millions of people exploited for a single end with their minds compressed into the same psychic space—unleash something comparable to the singularity? Schwarzschild was convinced that such a thing was not only possible, but was actually taking place in the Fatherland. Courant tried to appease him; he said that he saw no signs of the apocalypse Schwarzschild feared, and that surely there could be nothing worse than the war they were mired in. He reminded Schwarzschild that the human soul was a greater mystery than any mathematical enigma, and that it was unwise to project the findings of physics into such far-flung realms as psychology. But Schwarzschild was inconsolable. He babbled about a black sun dawning over the horizon, capable of engulfing the entire world, and he lamented that there was nothing we could do about it. Because the singularity sent forth no warnings. The point of no return—the limit past which one fell prey to its unforgiving pull—had no sign or demarcation. Whoever crossed it was beyond hope. Their destiny was set, as all possible trajectories led irrevocably to the singularity. And if such was the nature of that threshold, Schwarzschild asked, his eyes shot through with blood, how would we know if we had already crossed it?”
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Interesting book. A blend of scientific non-fiction and fiction, something I would call “fictionalized science.” A unique experience for me. The book follows the discoveries of some of the greatest minds of humanity, people who changed the way we understand the world. Their struggles, or better said, obsessions, are described with intensity: the mental and physical costs of trying to achieve what once seemed impossible. All these stories share a common ground: genius that flirts with madness. It also shows how science, while opening doors to new knowledge, can become dangerous. Discoveries carry risks for humanity and create ethical dilemmas that cannot be ignored. Progress is not only about what is possible, but also about what should be done, and these questions still matter for the future of humanity. It is not a book for everyone. If you do not have any scientific interest, you might find it too dense. But if you are curious about the intersection of science, philosophy, and human fragility, this book is a fascinating read.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes