BOOK REPORTS—

Country Driving by Peter Hessler

The author is a veteran magazine correspondent and six-year resident of Beijing. With a newly acquired Chinese driver’s license he launched on a border-to-border tour of that vast country and shared informed insights of that country’s lurch between Communism in government and capitalism in its economy. His writing style was a bit tepid for me but, nevertheless, an interesting peek at this colossus emerging on the World’s stage.


Animal Farm by George Orwell

Described as an adult fairy tale, the book tells the story of a farm which is taken over violently by its animals who seek to create a paradise. The author, a believer in “democratic socialism”, reveals his beliefs in this 1945 book which critics often thought was aimed at Stalinist Russia of that period. While described as a “classic” these days I was comforted that it was only 114 pages long. Give me his “1984” any day.


Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

For me, this was one of those rarities—could hardly put it down. It is a rollicking, pirate tale; set in the Caribbean Islands of the mid 1600s. Crichton, perhaps best known for his giant, Jurassic Park, and the author of 15 other works of fiction, died in 2008. This completed manuscript was found in his papers after his death. Thanks Mr. Crichton. May you rest in peace!


The Edge of Physics by Anil Ananthaswamy

A science writer, the author travels the world in search of answers to the biggest questions in modern cosmology; “Why is the universe expanding,” “What is the nature of the dark matter,” “Are there other universes besides our own?” He visits with scientists in the Chilean Andes, others in deep Minnesota mines, still others probing the Antarctic ice sheet. And many more desolate outposts. I enjoyed the travel narrative as much as I struggled with the science.