Book Review
Audible has, for the most part, replaced reading for me. It is a mind thing. Mine can’t follow the written word like it used to; somewhere in the first few pages I get lost. One benefit, I’m not accumulating hundreds of pounds of paper anymore. I attribute it to old age combined with PTSD. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I just finished listening to Bill Nye narrate his book, “Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation”. Five plus stars.
Here’s a link to a short review that concludes with:
“I’d highly recommend this book to everyone, especially fans of his other work. Even if you’re a believer in Creationism, please give it a try. Go into it with an open mind – I promise Bill stays respectful and practical and it’s really not about bashing worldviews at all!”
Like I said, the review is short but worth reading if you are thinking of reading this book.
I was thankful that the book doesn’t dwell on bashing Creationism but my favorite (and worldview changing) part was the chapter on the evolutionary effects on skin color. Bill points out that what we refer to as “race” (white, caucasian, asian ect.) is a cultural and/or political classification, not scientific.
I will never again check the box “white, caucasian” when asked to do so on some government form. The only correct answer is “human”. I dream of a day when “interracial” blending results in one skin color and “culture” is a thing of history. “Preserving our culture” is too often a ruse to hide xenophobia. Better we just use our past to improve our future. Nostalgia is both fun and comforting but dangerous too.
There I go again, sorry about that.
The other thing that was recurring frequently in the book was Bill offering his former boss as a bad example. The traits he attributes to this boss make all of us recall former bosses I’m sure. It was humorous enough to make me actually dive into the matrix searching for that boss’s identity. Not something I am want to do. What I found was interesting. Interesting enough to just accept and not pursue any further. Here is a quote posted four years ago on the website Quora by a former science teacher :
It seems to me that Bill Nye wants to keep this an inside joke, but I have found some clues as to a possible answer. To my knowledge, he has never revealed the full context of this old conflict in public, but I did find a clue based on second hand information posted on Google Plus, which I quote as follows:
‘Neil Johnston commented on a video on YouTube.
Fun fact about Bill Nye’s old boss. Bill nye was on the design team for the pinto and was the one who pointed out that the fuel tank’s placement was dangerous and reported it to ford. So when he said his boss had a small brain, it’s because his old boss valued money over human lives.'”
As a former Pinto owner (that’s another story, I loved that car), I have to ask, “Holy crap, Bill Nye was on the Pinto design team”. Not something I’d put on a resume.
Time for me to return to Audible for my next “reread”, 3001 by Arthur C. Clarke.
The weather is perfect for it!
So far I've reached acceptable proficiency at the following, in chronological order: Silversmith, infantryman/door gunner, helicopter pilot, fireman, carpenter, residential contractor, FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist and crotchety old retired guy. Currently, I'm learning to fly again and that is what this is all about. 7/7/2020 edit: As I have had the opportunity to reflect (old people do that a lot) on my actual proficiency level at the above occupations, I feel adjustments are in order. The term "acceptable" depends on the observer, their own proficiency and experience level. Acceptable to me might be woefully deficient to the master. I think it would be more accurate to claim that I have earned a living wage at all of these occupations but never got rich. Actually, I feel that I have gotten rich at the last one. I have what I need and am profoundly grateful for all of it. The future looks bright indeed, as I have learned to fly again. For that I have all of you to thank. Thank You!
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