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I knew Humboldt was an explorer but this book taught me exploring is one of his less impressive marks - he was an artistic and scientific tour d'force. I liked how Wulf shows Humboldt's ideas have on other important figures like Goethe, Bolívar, Kant, Jefferson, Thoreau, and an appreciative global public. A fair amount of pages to Humboldt's legacy. I wonder if science surrounding the world wars diminished H's work.

Ghenghis Khan had a profound effect on history. There is little contemporary history and this book understandably suffers from this deficit. What we know is largely from one source, the Secret History. The Mongols were illiterate herders whose culture were continually raiding their neighbors. After GK subjugated his neighbors he moved north toward Siberian furs and south toward the Chinese silk trading route.

My previous experience with Greek myths was an unpleasant labor but I have renewed interest in ancient stories. Stephen Fry retells these myths with the original outlandish story but in a thoroughly enjoyable manner. I had to return my library edition so I'm looking forward to reading more.

I read Surely You're Joking but am still surprised by the unbridled curiosity and drive present in the ape known as Richard Feynman. I'm still unsure what measure of genetics and environment produced this physics genius but it's enjoyable reading getting a glimpse of Feynman's development.

I found it interesting how the science of medicine lagged behind 20th century physics, which cost Feynman his wife.

This is an interesting view into Iceland from the perspective of a police detective investigating a murder. Readers are brought to understand the dreary weather and how a small island community gossips. This story has a genetic twist and the writing/translation keeps the pages turning.