We have molecular gastronomy, so why not apply science to…other things, as does Mary Roach. The subtitle is "The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex." Here is the author’s home page; she also wrote Spook and Stiff, both of which are good. This isn’t a "how to" book, it is a real popular science book on its topic and I predict it will be successful.
2. The Dawn of Indian Music in the West, by Peter Lavezzoli. You need to care about the topic, but today this became one of my favorite non-fiction books, ever. I bought a copy just to express my loyalty to the author. I’ve said this before, but lack of knowledge of Indian classical music is the biggest gap in the education — and enjoyment — of many many smart people. This is one very good introduction but it offers much to the veteran as well.
3. How Judges Think, by Richard A. Posner. Every sentence in this book is substance, to a remarkable degree. It’s hard to find a central thread to the argument, but I blame that on the topic rather than on any failing of the author. After all, judges think in some pretty complicated ways and Posner goes out of his way to minimize the role of conscious theory in judicial behavior. Content aside (which reflects all of Posner’s usual erudition), anyone interested in non-fiction should take a look at this book. Just imagine, a text totally stripped of that which is content-less. Can the reader stand it?
You might want to check that “How Judges Think” link… looks like you pasted a bit of email in there instead.
The Posner book link is broken.
Stiff is one of the best books I’ve read. Spook is mediocre.
I’ve browsed through The Dawn of Indian Music in the West a couple of times in the bookstore… It looked somewhat interesting, but it seemed to me there was a lot of dwelling on old stories about Indian music influencing western music in the ’60s (with emphasis on familiar rock stars of the hippie era) and not enough about the way Indian music has influenced western music – especially so much electronic dance music, etc. – since, say, the early ’90s (though I was pleased to see at least a little bit on Cheb i Sabbah and Asian Underground). I wish someone would do a book that gives more space to all this newer music. That having been said, your rave review of this book might influence me to finally go and buy it, though I’m unemployed right now and won’t plunk down $30 on a paperback so easily. (Maybe I will check the library again…)
Indian classical music,broadly speaking, falls in to two categories.The first is Hidustani music (Northern India)
and the second, Karnatic music (southern India).
There is much in the book on the South Indian tradition, and its distinctiveness, and the readers are even treated to several opinions that it is superior, which perhaps it is…
One reason that I’d like to see more discussion of recent Indian-influenced western music is that I believe there has been more delving into styles other than the north Indian classical music of Ravi Shankar, etc. For example, Cheb i Sabbah is someone who’s drawn on Carnatic music (which I also like more). M.I.A. has sampled Tamil films in her music, which led me to looking into Tamil films, which led me to old films with Padmini, etc., which brought me more Carnatic music. (Thank goodness for YouTube.)
As someone who is not Indian and who lives in New York City (though I am fortunate enough to live in Jackson Heights), I’m beginning to see how much films might bring this music to us – though Indian films seem to be more appreciated in Europe than in the U.S. It would be nice to see some text discussing that phenomenon too.
Mr. Cowen, I’m curious to know if you’ve read Posner’s ‘The Economics of Justice’?
I’ve always found Judge Posner a great read, and look forward to picking up this book. In the book, does Posner elevate his ‘pragmatic’ approach, in regards to economic analysis?
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