I started and finished reading An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green over the past couple of days. Honestly, if ChatGPT hadn’t recommended it as similar to Upgrade by Blake Crouch, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up—let alone finished it. The main protagonist is a 23-year-old idealist who might have resonated with my 15-year-oldContinueContinue reading “Book Club: A Remarkably Unexpected Read”
Category Archives: Book club
From Icarus to Upgrade: Are We Flying Too Close to the Sun?
[Written by ChatGPT] In Greek mythology, there is no more fitting a cautionary tale than the story of Icarus. Gifted with waxen wings by his father Daedalus, Icarus soars high and unbound—until, spurred by overconfidence or simple awe, he flies too close to the sun. Its heat softens the wax, and the wings fail, sendingContinueContinue reading “From Icarus to Upgrade: Are We Flying Too Close to the Sun?”
Book Club: Cognitive Awakening
Yesterday, I attended a book club meeting centered around a popular Chinese book titled <认知觉醒> Cognitive Awakening. Having delved into the first two chapters, I was particularly struck by the book’s insightful exploration of the triune brain model and its profound connection to human behavior. The author’s clear explanations provided me with a deeper understandingContinueContinue reading “Book Club: Cognitive Awakening”
Book Club: The Remarkable Life of the Skin
Over the holidays, I finished reading The Remarkable Life of the Skin: An Intimate Journey Across Our Largest Organ, by Dr. Monty Lyman. Learned a lot about the anatomy of the skin, skin diseases, ageing, and psychology. Notes on skin ageing: “Collagen is commonly included in skin creams but the molecule is too big toContinueContinue reading “Book Club: The Remarkable Life of the Skin”
Book Club: Lessons from the Hive – A Reflection on Honey Bee Democracy and Humanity’s Collective Future
A few years ago, I picked up Honey Bee Democracy by Thomas Seeley and was struck by how fascinating the book was. Who would have guessed that creatures with such tiny brains could practice a collective decision-making process so graceful, so consensus-driven, and so ultimately democratic? As I read, I found myself returning to oneContinueContinue reading “Book Club: Lessons from the Hive – A Reflection on Honey Bee Democracy and Humanity’s Collective Future”
How to Lose 10 lbs in 2025: The Atomic Habits Way
Ah, New Year’s resolutions—the magical time when we confidently declare, “New Year, New Me!” while still polishing off the last of the holiday cookies. If manifesting weight loss worked, I’d already be 10 pounds lighter just from thinking about it between bites of pie. But alas, 2025 is here, and it turns out the onlyContinueContinue reading “How to Lose 10 lbs in 2025: The Atomic Habits Way”
A Neuro Symphony: Books by Dr. Monty Lyman
I recently started reading The Remarkable Life of the Skin by Dr. Monty Lyman, and right at the beginning, the author’s note captivated me with its eloquence. Naturally, I had to learn more about the person behind this beautifully written book. To my surprise, Dr. Monty Lyman is not only a young physician but alsoContinueContinue reading “A Neuro Symphony: Books by Dr. Monty Lyman”
Book Club: To Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of Death
For years, I thought I was the lone weirdo harboring the dream of living forever—healthy, of course. Imagine my surprise when I discovered an entire community of people who not only share that dream but are actively working to make it a reality, transcending humanity itself. Enter the transhumanists, the fascinating subject of To BeContinueContinue reading “Book Club: To Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of Death”
Book Club: Hillbilly Elegy
Yesterday, I attended a book club discussion centered on J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy. Vance’s story is one of remarkable resilience—a meteoric rise from a chaotic and dysfunctional upbringing to his current trajectory as the future Vice President of the United States. His life embodies the American Dream, showcasing the power of hard work, resilience, andContinueContinue reading “Book Club: Hillbilly Elegy”
Friggatriskaidekaphobia – yes it’s a real word
Ah, Friday, December 13th—the day when friggatriskaidekaphobia (pronounced FRIG-uh-TRIS-kai-DEK-uh-FOH-bee-uh) takes center stage. Yes, it’s a mouthful, but what better day to use a word that sounds like it was invented during a losing round of Scrabble? This is the official fear of Friday the 13th, and while most people are just blaming their bad dayContinueContinue reading “Friggatriskaidekaphobia – yes it’s a real word”
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