Bad Science
Ben Goldacre
Fourth Estate, 2009
I picked up this book on impulse and am glad I did; in a sense you could say it's changed my life. I like to think of myself as a critical thinker, but the extent to which even I accept bullshit especially in the form of media science stories is quite frightening. What this book does is giving you an opportunity to -- at least to some extent -- choose for yourself. It encourages you to chase up data, look at the methods and statistics behind the stories, in order to examine them with a critical eye. I've already managed to puncture two folk science myths since I started reading it, and it feels good to know that I'm at least a little bit harder to deceive now when everything no longer sounds plausible because it's "complicated and sciencey". I strongly recommend this book to anyone who's spent too much money on hyped-up "miracle cures", or who worries sick over "new breakthroughs" showing that previously-thought harmless substances will in fact kill you instantly. Or just anyone who wants to be a bit better-informed.
Rating: Impressive
October 20, 2012
September 20, 2012
Åtta Procent Av Ingenting
Åtta Procent Av Ingenting
Etgar Keret (Kristian Wikström)
Bastion, 2008
När jag var i Israel bläddrade jag igenom ett par böcker på engelska av Keret men blev inte imponerad och lät det vara. När jag sedan plockade upp den här novellsamlingen blev det dock andra bullar. Jag tror det har att göra med språket; svenska är helt enkelt bättre på att förmedla icke-engelska stilar (tycker jag). Jag trodde visserligen när jag började läsa att det skulle vara en roman, vilket gjorde mig lätt förvirrad när jag efter ett par kapitel inte kunde hitta någon röd tråd... Det sagt blev berättelserna bättre och bättre, även om de samtidigt blev mer och mer abstrakta, men de påminde mig lite om den sortens berättelser som jag själv skulle vilja skriva. Lite oortordoxa, tänka-själv, djupsorgsna och med konstiga slut. När jag läst ut boken hade jag en känsla av att ha tagit del av något nästan spirituellt. Så jag rekommenderar definitivt den här boken. Den är lite svår, men lättläst, och (om man släpper taget) riktigt bra.
Utlåtande: Imponerande
Etgar Keret (Kristian Wikström)
Bastion, 2008
När jag var i Israel bläddrade jag igenom ett par böcker på engelska av Keret men blev inte imponerad och lät det vara. När jag sedan plockade upp den här novellsamlingen blev det dock andra bullar. Jag tror det har att göra med språket; svenska är helt enkelt bättre på att förmedla icke-engelska stilar (tycker jag). Jag trodde visserligen när jag började läsa att det skulle vara en roman, vilket gjorde mig lätt förvirrad när jag efter ett par kapitel inte kunde hitta någon röd tråd... Det sagt blev berättelserna bättre och bättre, även om de samtidigt blev mer och mer abstrakta, men de påminde mig lite om den sortens berättelser som jag själv skulle vilja skriva. Lite oortordoxa, tänka-själv, djupsorgsna och med konstiga slut. När jag läst ut boken hade jag en känsla av att ha tagit del av något nästan spirituellt. Så jag rekommenderar definitivt den här boken. Den är lite svår, men lättläst, och (om man släpper taget) riktigt bra.
Utlåtande: Imponerande
August 26, 2012
Språk Och Kön
Språk Och Kön
Ann-Catrine Edlund; Eva Erson; Karin Milles
Nordstedts, 2007
Recension:
I stort tyckte jag att boken lade en bra grund för att tänka på kön och språkbruk i vardagen; inte på det plan att män och kvinnor skulle tala olika, men varför de i så fall gör det, och hur språket och kulturen påverkar varandra i skapandet av könsidentiteter. Den var dock lite förenklande, och jag stördes av att de inte riktigt gick in på djupet i studierna som diskuterades-- det kunde funnits ännu mer utveckling av de tankar som fanns där. Överlag alltså en bra bok att börja med, men den innehöll ganska mycket som jag redan kände till och hade tänkt på, så jag skulle nog behövt något med lite mer fakta och stimulans.
Utlåtande: Bra
Utlåtande: Bra
And God Said
And God Said: How Translations Conceal The Bible's Original Meaning
Joel M. Hoffman
Thomas Dunne Books, 2010
Review:
I'm just testing out my wings when it comes to non-fiction that isn't strictly university related, but as I've cultivated an interest in several of the book's central themes in the last couple of years (Biblical studies, Hebrew, translation) I felt compelled to read it and am glad I did. Even for someone with little knowledge in the field, the book provides a good overview to some important issues in Bible translation, taking the reader by the hand and moving forwards at a steady pace. Hoffman mainly highlights the importance of translating not only the literal, but also the implied and poetic meanings of phrases, showing how certain passages have been terribly mistranslated, and offering better options. My only issue with this was that I sometimes found the suggestions too simplistic, even though the reasoning behind them was sound. Overall, however, it's a deeply interesting work, relevant both to classical language studies and modern translation, and it makes me eager to start translating again.
Rating: Outstanding
Joel M. Hoffman
Thomas Dunne Books, 2010
Review:
I'm just testing out my wings when it comes to non-fiction that isn't strictly university related, but as I've cultivated an interest in several of the book's central themes in the last couple of years (Biblical studies, Hebrew, translation) I felt compelled to read it and am glad I did. Even for someone with little knowledge in the field, the book provides a good overview to some important issues in Bible translation, taking the reader by the hand and moving forwards at a steady pace. Hoffman mainly highlights the importance of translating not only the literal, but also the implied and poetic meanings of phrases, showing how certain passages have been terribly mistranslated, and offering better options. My only issue with this was that I sometimes found the suggestions too simplistic, even though the reasoning behind them was sound. Overall, however, it's a deeply interesting work, relevant both to classical language studies and modern translation, and it makes me eager to start translating again.
Rating: Outstanding
July 23, 2012
The Tragedy Of The Norse Gods
The Tragedy Of The Norse Gods
Ruth J. Pitt
Illustrations by Jacomb-Hood & Brindley
Fisher Unwin, 1813
First impression:
I always find it strange to read Scandinavian literature in English; the tone becomes slightly unconvincing when the roots of the original language are lost. I also get the impression that some spellings have been changed to suit English-speaking readers better (although it may well be that the names I'm used to have been equally Swedified). Nevertheless, it's quite an easy read and an interesting look into Scandinavian mythology.
Review:
In the end I really enjoyed this book and devoured it by means of long, enjoyable stretches. As I love both folklore and traditional storytelling I found it easy on the eye (it didn't send me to sleep as books often do). Another great thing was that all the stories circled around the last, climactic chapter, which meant that there was a constant build-up of suspense and no room for boredom. I couldn't quite get used to the language, but for a book of that age I can't really hold it against it.
Rating: Impressive
Ruth J. Pitt
Illustrations by Jacomb-Hood & Brindley
Fisher Unwin, 1813
First impression:
I always find it strange to read Scandinavian literature in English; the tone becomes slightly unconvincing when the roots of the original language are lost. I also get the impression that some spellings have been changed to suit English-speaking readers better (although it may well be that the names I'm used to have been equally Swedified). Nevertheless, it's quite an easy read and an interesting look into Scandinavian mythology.
Review:
In the end I really enjoyed this book and devoured it by means of long, enjoyable stretches. As I love both folklore and traditional storytelling I found it easy on the eye (it didn't send me to sleep as books often do). Another great thing was that all the stories circled around the last, climactic chapter, which meant that there was a constant build-up of suspense and no room for boredom. I couldn't quite get used to the language, but for a book of that age I can't really hold it against it.
Rating: Impressive
Words In Sheep's Clothing
Words In Sheep's Clothing
Mario Pei
Hawthorn Books, 1969
First impression:
A propos the point made in the previous post, this book appears to be its direct opposite and strikes me as a whiny, petty account of a topic that could otherwise have been incredibly interesting (i.e. how language can be used to disguise meaning rather than convey it in certain contexts). After 16 pages I became fed up and so have decided not to engage with it anymore. So there.
Rating: Awful; abandoned
Mario Pei
Hawthorn Books, 1969
First impression:
A propos the point made in the previous post, this book appears to be its direct opposite and strikes me as a whiny, petty account of a topic that could otherwise have been incredibly interesting (i.e. how language can be used to disguise meaning rather than convey it in certain contexts). After 16 pages I became fed up and so have decided not to engage with it anymore. So there.
Rating: Awful; abandoned
Bad Language
Bad Language
Lars Andersson; Peter Trudgill
Basil Blackwell, 1990
Review:
As much as I think this book treats a very important issue, I can't help but feel that it does so a little trudgingly. I realise that it's written for readers with no linguistic background, but even so, I think the average reader would find the style too belittling. Other than that it's an excellent book; it gives several very good examples of why grammar-nazism is often founded in an irrational fear of change rather than any linguistic motivation, and how it tends to be arbitrary, inconsistent and rooted in snobbery and group membership. For this reason I think it could be a soothing read for those who work themselves up about "incorrect" language use, showing them that this "degeneration" is part of a normal evolutionary process, and that language inevitably sorts itself out.
Rating: Good
Lars Andersson; Peter Trudgill
Basil Blackwell, 1990
Review:
As much as I think this book treats a very important issue, I can't help but feel that it does so a little trudgingly. I realise that it's written for readers with no linguistic background, but even so, I think the average reader would find the style too belittling. Other than that it's an excellent book; it gives several very good examples of why grammar-nazism is often founded in an irrational fear of change rather than any linguistic motivation, and how it tends to be arbitrary, inconsistent and rooted in snobbery and group membership. For this reason I think it could be a soothing read for those who work themselves up about "incorrect" language use, showing them that this "degeneration" is part of a normal evolutionary process, and that language inevitably sorts itself out.
Rating: Good
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