Category Archives: Books
Diesel Power
I’m starting to read more about characters of the industrial age, perhaps spurred on by my recent adventures in machining and manufacturing, and just finished Douglas Brunt’s “The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel.” Diesel, the inventor of the engine type that bears his name, lived an interesting life and also had an interesting death. Although…
Topogeny
I learned a new word from the book On Trails: An Exploration by Robert Moore which I want to jot down here for future use. I don’t know what that use will be, mind you, but I like collecting topo-themed words. Referencing an old Apache cowboy (described in another book I’ve discussed) who would occasionally…
Skyfaring
I don’t think I’ll ever become a commercial airline pilot but I’ll admit its tempting after reading Mark Vanhoenacker’s pilot memoir Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot. Some of my favorite parts of the book were descriptions of how the author’s understanding of the physical world has changed from being a pilot. I had never…
Futurist
One of my favorite short story collections is The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. Its a classic combination of Bradbury wit, fantasy, and poeticisms and wonderful all the way through. You should read it for all sorts of reasons, but make sure to at least check out The Rocket Man if for no other reason,…
A big man
Henry Hobson Richardson was an influential architect active in the late 1800s and based in Boston. I learned about him by reading Architects of an American Landscape by Hugh Howard which I originally picked up because I thought it was going to mostly be about Frederick Law Olmstead but turned out to be more of…
Big Things
As a rule, I stay away from self improvement books. I often find them not that helpful and the lessons are useless if you don’t have a plan to implement them anyway. I made an exception for “How Big Things Get Done” by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner, though, since it came recommended by a…
Mapping Boston
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, maps are an effective storytelling medium! After moving to Boston the first book I bought was Mapping Boston which, as a cartographically inclined individual, was a spectacular decision. It gave me a topographic sense of how Boston has evolved over time that I don’t think I…
Not a conduit, but a place
While visiting family in Minneapolis a few weeks ago, we made an afternoon trip to the Minneapolis Sculpture Park. There was still a foot of snow on the ground in places but the iconic spoon and cherry and other sculptures were intriguing and we enjoyed getting some fresh air. Me being me, I couldn’t help…
Leonardo
Leonardo Da Vinci is the quintessential genius. Particularly in the engineering world, a clever idea might be described as a moment of Leonardo-esqe inspiration. Most people probably recognize the distinctive style of his sketches immediacy and even more quickly would identify the Mona Lisa or LAst Supper Paintings. I’ve often counted him as something of…
About this Life
The following passage comes from the end of the introduction to About This Life, a collection of essays by Barry Lopez that, using his own word, “gives a sense of how one writer proceeds.” I think it would behoove most any writer to follow his guidance. Once I was asked by a seatmate on a…