Books Related to TSE Articles

The Symbolic Species: The Coevolution of Language and the Brain
By Terrence Deacon
As biology moves into the future, the brain will be a key area of study.  In The Symbolic Species, the evolution and function of the brain is explained in a way that some say refutes some of Stephen Pinker's assertions in The Language Instinct.

The Selfish Gene
By Richard Dawkins
Highly influential popular science account from the 1970s that takes a look at evolution from a gene's point of view.  Dawkins's most celebrated book.

The Meme Machine
By Susan J. Blackmore
In The Selfish Gene, Dawkins coined the term "Meme" to denote a gene-like element of culture.  This book takes that idea and runs with it.

Dark Continent
By Mark Mazower
A fresh look at Europe's century. (See our archives for Martin Girder's review.)

 

Other Nonfiction Books of Interest

The Black Book of Communism
by Stephane Courtois, Nicolas Werth, Jean-Louis Panne, Andrzej Paczkowski, Karel Bartosek, Jean-Louis Margolin.
Translated by Jonathan Murphy and Mark Kramer
A catalog of the atrocities committed in the name of communism that has made waves in Europe.

The Transformation of Judaism from Philosophy to Religion 
by Jacob Neusner
Billed in the book's jacket notes as "the preeminent scholar of the history of Judaism," Neusner is a Distinguished Research Professor of religious studies at the University of South Florida, author/editor/translator of over 400 scholarly and general interest books on Judaism, and holds a string of earned and honorary degrees and teaching appointments at distinguished institutions too numerous to list here.

In The Transformation... he provides an analysis of Judaism's change, between the years 200 and 400, from a philosophical system, in which "the place of God in the system is classified as philosophical deism," to a religion. Anyone who has ever wondered or debated about the nature of Judaism will find this densely argued, yet (for educated readers) fairly accessible volume indispensable in arriving at an informed opinion.

The Commanding Heights
By Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw
Yergin (Pulitzer winner for The Prize) and Stanislaw examine the recent history of economics, focusing on the rise of globalism and the changing relationship of governments and the business sector.

Weaving the Web
By Tim Berners-Lee
The man who created the web tells how it happened and what he forsees for the future of the invention he gave away.

Zarafa
By Michael Allin
About a giraffe given as a gift from the viceroy of Egypt to Charles X of France.   The trip the giraffe takes is used as a device to give plenty of interesting period detail.

Pleasure Wars: The Bourgoise Experience: Victoria to Freud
By Peter Gay
A new look at the bourgeoisie of the 19th century and how they were at the forefront of change in the art world.

  

Fiction

Recently declassified British Intelligence reports show that P.G. Wodehouse was once suspected of being a Nazi collaborator. Here are two of his books that can be looked through to find dark, mysterious symbolism.  

The Girl In Blue
A missing Gainesborough miniature provides the center around which revolves one of P.G.'s most charming stories.  In hindsight, clearly a work of utmost evil.  

Big Money
Biscuit and Berry frisk Frisby.  Sounds sinister to us.

---

Other Book Sources

Although TSE earns a small commission on books ordered through our links to Amazon, the following sites are listed as a service to readers interested in shopping around. We recommend checking with BookPricer.com for the lowest available price on any book.

BookCloseouts.com

Hamilton Books

Abe Books

 

Music

We have it on good authority that '60s political humorist and musician Tom Lehrer is still alive and teaching math part time at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This must be evidence there is a merciful God, for what other kind could forgive the author these delicious lyrics from his infamous, piano-accompanied critique of a "commercialized," post-Vatican II Catholic liturgy?

Get in line in that processional,
Step into that small confessional.
There the guy who's got religion'll
Tell you if your sin's original.
If it is, try playin' it safer,
Drink the wine and chew the wafer,
Two, four, six, eight,
Time to transubstantiate!

Lehrer's musical commentary—from a time when Germany was not yet trusted with power, liberals felt virtuous singing about peace, black humor was still titillating, and "brotherhood" was merely a chic hypocrisy and not the required apparel for right-thinkers that "diversity" is today—comprises about twenty songs now widely available on compact discs. Amazon sells them at a reasonable price; our favorite, That Was the Year That Was, features classic live performances with between-songs commentary. This website  provides additional information about Lehrer, including full lyrics to the ditties.

 

Links

Rock/Paper/Scissors  Challenge a friend.

Rock/Paper/Scissors Strategy Guide  Including an explanation of why dynamite won't work.

The Gallery of Obscure Patents  Featuring the Gravity Powered Shoe Air Conditioner.

Europe Online A useful portal to European information and sites.

Window Blinds Customize your desktop.

1 Scene Wonders  Is the face familiar but the name not?  We're not referring to your spouse but to character actors. Here's a useful guide to them.

CERN   The first website ever.