Patrick Peterson > Recent Status Updates

Does anyone else also get a very funky/selective list of the books they are "currently reading" on their Goodreads home page too, like I am????

This book three is as gripping as the first two in the series. VERY tough to put down.

Continuing to be amazing writing.... but not so thrilled with the philosophy, which seems too warped, pessimistic, misanthropic, etc. for me, amidst the brilliance of some insights and observations.

Interesting.
Different.
About a man named Ursus (bear) and a wolf named Homo (man).
I like the very detailed description of the super-structured and prejudiced world of English privileges for the aristocracy vs. the put-upon commoners - seems quite sarcastic and justifiable so to me. Not sure where Hugo will take this, but I'm very curious to find out.

What a wonderful book!

GREAT stuff.
Love all the tips on and examples of reframing problems into opportunities.

And the neuroscience about the brain's plasticity for accommodating changes is very helpful too.

Also the style of the writing is so fun and compelling. Love it.

Wonderful book.
So many neat examples of how to deal with difficult situations in life and come out on top.

Very detailed info on the types, workings, scope, etc. of non-profit corps and other voluntary associations that provided valuable services and resources for all sorts of worthy, and sometimes dubious causes:
- orphans
- widows
- deaf
- disaster survivors
- illiterates
- etc. etc.
And the comparisons to how these organizations were much more effective and efficient at fulfilling their missions than governments!

Fascinating look at the voluntary sector and for vs. non-profits in US history. Voluntary associations are grossly undercounted for their good work and alternative to the coercive funding of government getting involved in providing various services. This book clarifies the issues and provides many details of the differences between the non and for-profit associations of Americans vs. gov't sector.

Fantastic.

LOVING this book.

If you have any interest in how poor countries can become rich, this is the book.

If you have any interest in what entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship are about, this is the book.

If you have any interest in the future of Africa, this is the book.

And I am only half-way into it.

Very cool book.
Magatte's story is one in a million, but she also reveals basic truths that every entrepreneur goes through in order to serve consumers and better the world, that too many people have NOT appreciated.

Gripping.

Started reading this for a great little book group I am in.
Ever since I found out about the book since I know the author.

Wonderfully helpful vignettes and lessons in how to help you change or add career options. So positive and thoughtful. Great to read these tips and stories.

I'm struck by the incredibly wide range of data and references to other scientists and observers that Darwin cited. Also his humility and willingness to deal with a very large number of potential and real problems with his theory, right from the beginning.

This is NOT an arrogant work, but a very patient and careful one.

Just reread chap. 1 and it's as wonderful or better than I remember. Excellent real world example of a major career/thinking/skill change given and lots of backup as to how/why it is possible and beneficial. Great stuff.

Started with so many details and misc. observations, comparisons and claims that I was not impressed.

But after 10-15% in, it started getting more interesting for me, with the descriptions of natural selection, competition for survival, spread of variations, etc.

Still not what I expected, but hopefully will get even better.

I've written some prelim. review notes of the part I have read so far. Interesting, creepy, difficult, enjoyable, challenging, and rarely dull.

Continuing very good.
BUT, it got VERY complicated with legal issues that are incredibly convoluted and hard to follow.
Fortunately, as they unravel, Eliot is very good at making it clear as to what was going on and why it was important.

Her views on morality seem quite realistic - many layered, depending on sometimes very complicated circumstances. Perceptions matter, but so do the facts, in spades, eventually.

Very cool!

Fascinating book.
I'm still loving George Eliot, after reading Silas Marner (in High School) and Middlemarch just a few weeks ago.
I thought this book would be most focused on the title character and type of person, which I am quite interested in. So far, that is not so. But that does not mean it doesn't have plenty of very substantial ideas, characters and situations to chew on. It sure does. This book deserves

Continues in excellent fashion.
Almost through it.
Will miss it when finished, for sure.
The characters, plot and setting have become almost real and many lessons are learned.

Eliot is an amazing writer.
I love her wit and wisdom.
Some of the scenes are so graphic and summed up in such a funny/sarcastic way.
He thoughts/observations on courting and marriage are quite prescient.
Her characterizations are VERY detailed and revealing, yet not unnecessarily so. There is a complexity to her characters which is quite amazing, and pretty realistic.

George Elliot is a fantastic writer.
SOOOOO much cool stuff in this book.

VERY interesting and well written book.
I've wanted to make time to read this for over 20-30 or maybe even 40-50 years, since I have very fond memories of Silas Marner.

Oh, the BBQ mini-series adaptation of the book is quite good, and seems to have followed it very closely - at least as far as I have read till now, which is not far.

Finished this morning! Loved it.

Very gripping.
Excellent character development.
Neat details about sailing difficulties.
And the gruesome health conditions and lack of modern understanding of disease - really a sober reminder of the progress that has been made. The needless deaths, so so many of them, just from an easily preventable scurvy. Tragic.

2024-03-03 Gripping.
Personalizes some main characters and draws a graphic portrait of how ridiculous the war's purpose and execution was that set the path of the ship The Wager. Ridiculous it may be, but the people affected were real and their plight made much worse by the ideas and policies of the imperialist policies of Britain, Spain and other countries.

2024-03-03 Noon - Just finished the magnificent chapter 1 - "The Law." Oh that more people would read it and consider it's beneficial arguments.

It is not hard. There are great touches of humor, satire, and merriment.
It is uplifting. It calls forth basic understandings of reality. It ennobles common people with decency and goodwill toward their fellow men and women. It shows the practical way forward!

2024-03-03 Read the nice little intro chap. by the editor Brad Devos and
most of Chapter 1 - the classic essay "The Law" a couple weeks ago. Wonderful. I had read The Law at least a couple times previously, but long ago 45 and 35 or so years ago. Great to get back to this gem. I plan to finish The Law today, write up my notes and used this as the basis of a Bastiat Society meeting later this week.