Cory Alexander > Recent Status Updates

This one is rated higher than some of the others. So far deservedly. Great start.

Another one of those books that doesn't necessarily answer anything but does list off a bunch of interesting studies and really just underlines the whole basis of the book, taste is difficult to define, malleable, and almost ineffable.

Finally getting to some nitty gritty after a long introduction to the book and then basically 125 pages of definitions. But now he's using those words and if you agree with the definitions it becomes much harder to disagree with all of his claims. And he makes a lot of claims! He's deconstructing man and society. Definitions and deconstruction. Double D's of philosophy. I love it.

This is an interesting experience. As reading any great work of philosophy tends to be. Ups and downs. Feigned understanding them feeling my comprehension increase and increase. Reading speed increases. Should take me at least 3 more weeks if I keep up a daily hour or two.

Getting better as it goes along. Was expecting it to be mainly about Raylen but the bad guys are interesting too. Curious to see where it goes and I just left it off at a point where Raylen is about to have a shoot out with the tough bad guy.

A bit long winded in certain sections but it's really just King being King. Giving details. Winding yarn. Spinnin' story. Fun stuff. Much better as an audiobook. Would probably have never read 750 pages of this.

Definitely a bit long winded. Even for Stephen King. But it's got some good bones. Interesting. Doing a lot with essentially only two characters so far.

Structured well.

I don't really know what's going on. But it's enjoyable when I do and at least interesting when I don't.

Enjoying this about as much as I can with sci fi. Pretty cool actually. Have to really really listen. Every line develops the world or story in some way. Some of it is so conceptual that it's harder to really appreciate its purpose but I suppose sometimes it's just interesting. Going out the comfort zone in style can be good. Like I did with a romantic horror book recently. It was good, for what it was.

Getting confused 😅

Enjoying this one so far. Sci Fi tends to start well, and for me it doesn't always carry. In fact perhaps most of the time it doesn't. This one feels as if it will. Very cool imagery. Cyberpunk invented apparently. Sounds more like was written in 2004 than 1984. Crazy.

Interesting! And pretty well structured.

Good writing. A bit sexy too.

Not my normal style of book but it actually ain't bad so far. Listening on Libby.

Only two stories in but a lot of fun. Genuinely unsettling. Very solid prose, for horror. Things left untold only to be imagined. Overall should be a good one! I'm so use to Stephen King and the lessers, I forget about those with real style, Shirley Jackson, Poe, Straub, Kafka and I'm sure a ton more I can't think of. King is the king of telling great stories through horror, there are those who write it beautifully.

There are some beautiful passages. Some interesting parts of the story. But overall I find his character to be too single facetted. Hes good looking, charming, and people just love him. Where he started was interesting, his messed up family but him being a lovable "con man" just isn't enough. I hope he gets a little of his come uppens in the last 150 pages of this book, or is at least more obviously seen through.

Some fun and creative stuff but not really my thing. Not interested enough to keep track of all the characters who don't seem different enough. I'll finish it but a bit long.

Oh yeah. Japan learning good. English learning bad. Not enough acknowledgement of its own bias in this book.

Great for tips on how to be a curious, open minded, and cautious intellectually but the constant mentions of climate change as the easy example of the truth to be recognized is a bit of a turn off. I don't deny climate change but the subject often brings along with it the implication that the government and spending will be the savior. Probably my bias. But recognizing it doesn't mean endorsing the popular strategies

What's the intelligence trap where you keep mentioning the exotic places where you travelled to have discussions? Lol one small thing I notice with books similar to this. It was really bad in Stolen Focus by Johann Hari. This book does it a bit too.

A bit biased even when indicating how to be less bias. Certainly liberal. Obviously that doesn't mean wrong. Good tips though. Real world practical help on "evidence based wisdom."

Many emotions felt in this multidirectional and wide scoped book. While I've always appreciated the biological imperative present and it's explanatory nature, this book has really opened my eyes to what exactly that entails and how much needs to be considered. It's thought provoking. What exactly are the costs and benefits of how and how much we aim our culture at and away from our biological nature? Let's find out.

Confused. Not confused. Reassured. Then a little confused and incredulous. Those have been my states of mind in order so far. Interesting but not an easy read overall.

Behavior is greatly influenced by genetics. So? So we should be weary and watchful. Override it when we can when it is better for us and our species. But also, give ourselves a break sometimes. We are so influenced by our genetics that sometimes we won't be perfectly rational creatures and that is okay because it is the truth. Try. Be kind. Be altruistic when you can. But also be an animal when you have to be.

Not sure If I've read (listened in this case) a book like this before. Technical. But not boring. You can tell an engineer wrote it. It does go into encyclopedic type knowledge but it keeps you with it. And the characters are likable. I hope it turns out well!

I've really grown to love some of these characters. Some chapters are just absolutely amazing. A chapter just now prinarily about Mario was beautiful. Also watched an interview with DFW. Definitely a bit of a tortured genius.

Interesting so far!