In my previous blog post before thanksgiving (I hope you all had your fair share of family and good food!) I mentioned that Hadrian had deviated from past emperors in one important manner. Those that had gone before him, those that had to make military decisions, had always made expansion of the empire the overriding theme.
When Hadrian came to power, just as had happened in the past, those that had no love for the empire could not resist probing for weaknesses during the uncertainty that always seemed to be evident whenever an emperor passed away. Trajan during his reign had gone on a military campaign and brought three new provinces into the empire: Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria. These nations seized the opportunity and rose in revolt, Palestine was flirting with rebellion, and both Egypt and Britain had internal issues.
Hadrian considered his options and made two very difficult decisions. The first was to relinquish control of those provinces that Trajan had conquered while trying to save as much "honor" as they could. The second decision was even more enormous - he decided to stop the expansion policies of his predecessors and just maintain the current borders.
Both of these decisions were courageous ones for the new emperor. He had made a clean split from the past and what many in the empire was the normal course of business. Would those that opposed him be able to take advantage of these actions and wrest power back? Head to the store or library and find out for yourselves!
PS: Yes, I do make a small fee if you order this title via Amazon and would certainly appreciate your support if you decide to order the book via the link above.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
New book: Hadrian by Anthony Everitt
Before I start discussing this book I think everyone should know that I love history books. I particularly enjoy those about roman history and those that cover the time frame around the American revolutionary period.
Also I have read, and enjoyed, two other books written by the author: Cicero and Augustus. I say this so that you understand that I a slight positive bias towards the subject and the author.
Hadrian was the emperor when the Roman empire was the undisputed super power over the ancient world. What makes Hadrian interesting is one major decision that he made, one that was a complete change of behavior from those that ruled before him. The first part of the book discusses his guardian, the emperor Trajan and provides a useful overview of his life and times.
As frequently happens when you have a monarchy style government succession can be a very stressful time for all involved (as the Roman empire would experience many times) and on his deathbed Trajan was ill prepared on this important issue which could plunge the Empire into chaos and murder.
This is were the story gets interesting. When Trajan dies it appears that Trajan's wife, Plotina, had documents written that proclaimed that Trajan had adopted Hadrian (it is suspected that she forged Trajan's signature) AND she made sure that the news of Trajan's death was held so that the announcement of Hadrian's would reach the ears of important people and senators first. I've read mystery with less interesting plots then this!
I'll have more for you after Thanksgiving! Enjoy the holiday all!
Also I have read, and enjoyed, two other books written by the author: Cicero and Augustus. I say this so that you understand that I a slight positive bias towards the subject and the author.
Hadrian was the emperor when the Roman empire was the undisputed super power over the ancient world. What makes Hadrian interesting is one major decision that he made, one that was a complete change of behavior from those that ruled before him. The first part of the book discusses his guardian, the emperor Trajan and provides a useful overview of his life and times.
As frequently happens when you have a monarchy style government succession can be a very stressful time for all involved (as the Roman empire would experience many times) and on his deathbed Trajan was ill prepared on this important issue which could plunge the Empire into chaos and murder.
This is were the story gets interesting. When Trajan dies it appears that Trajan's wife, Plotina, had documents written that proclaimed that Trajan had adopted Hadrian (it is suspected that she forged Trajan's signature) AND she made sure that the news of Trajan's death was held so that the announcement of Hadrian's would reach the ears of important people and senators first. I've read mystery with less interesting plots then this!
I'll have more for you after Thanksgiving! Enjoy the holiday all!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Final Verdict
Well I have now finished the first highlighted book of this blog.
I was going to post about a few more sections of the book that I found really interesting, the section on mammalian and crustacean skeletons come to mind instantly, but on reflection I think I have given enough teasers in my previous posts to convince anyone that has in interest in evolution or the arguments raging in the world about it would certainly find this book to be a superlative read.
Final Judgment:
Does it make the reader stop and think about how interesting the ideas presented are? Strong Yes!
PS: Yes, I do make a small fee if you order this title via Amazon and would certainly appreciate your support if you decide to order the book via the link above.
I was going to post about a few more sections of the book that I found really interesting, the section on mammalian and crustacean skeletons come to mind instantly, but on reflection I think I have given enough teasers in my previous posts to convince anyone that has in interest in evolution or the arguments raging in the world about it would certainly find this book to be a superlative read.
Final Judgment:
Does it make the reader stop and think about how interesting the ideas presented are? Strong Yes!
PS: Yes, I do make a small fee if you order this title via Amazon and would certainly appreciate your support if you decide to order the book via the link above.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Do our cells contain our blueprints?
In the middle of the book Mr. Dawkins started a fascinating discussion by discussing how flocks of starlings seemingly move as one in large flocks. The pictures of these flocks moving is quite stunning in the book and on YouTube.
He discussed how the starlings each individually follow rules that allows the birds to all move as one in the large flocks without hurting each other. He states:
"The key point is that there is no choreographer and no leader. Order, organization, structure - these all emerge as by-products of rules which are obeyed locally and many times over, not globally."
He is making this point to counter those that think that think cells contain genetic instructions. He continues:
"...that is how embryology works. It is done by local rules, at various levels but especially the level of the single cell. No choreographer. No conductor of the orchestra. No central planning. In the field of development, or manufacture, the equivalent of this kind of programming is self-assembly."
Now that is one interesting concept to think about!
*Italics are in the quoted material.
He discussed how the starlings each individually follow rules that allows the birds to all move as one in the large flocks without hurting each other. He states:
"The key point is that there is no choreographer and no leader. Order, organization, structure - these all emerge as by-products of rules which are obeyed locally and many times over, not globally."
He is making this point to counter those that think that think cells contain genetic instructions. He continues:
"...that is how embryology works. It is done by local rules, at various levels but especially the level of the single cell. No choreographer. No conductor of the orchestra. No central planning. In the field of development, or manufacture, the equivalent of this kind of programming is self-assembly."
Now that is one interesting concept to think about!
*Italics are in the quoted material.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Greatest Show Part 2
In Chapter 4 Dawkins makes several more interesting points that evolution is in fact, a fact. :)
I found the most interesting part of this section of the book to be the discussion of the various clocks that we can use to historically date events. He mentions the rings on trees that can be used to date events dating back 11,500 years in a process called dendrochronology.
He also mentions the we can see the passage of time by viewing sedimentary rock and makes the point that no mammal fossils have ever been found before a given point in time, not one. He further states that "...they are not just statistically rarer in Devonian than in later rocks. They literally never occur in rocks older than a certain date."
And finally he discuss radioactive clocks that measure time in reference to how much material of a certain type is can be detected given known decay rates (vastly simplified!).
The single most interesting point he makes is that how can all of these different clocks point to the same dates and all be wrong if you only believe the earth is a certain age.
I found the most interesting part of this section of the book to be the discussion of the various clocks that we can use to historically date events. He mentions the rings on trees that can be used to date events dating back 11,500 years in a process called dendrochronology.
He also mentions the we can see the passage of time by viewing sedimentary rock and makes the point that no mammal fossils have ever been found before a given point in time, not one. He further states that "...they are not just statistically rarer in Devonian than in later rocks. They literally never occur in rocks older than a certain date."
And finally he discuss radioactive clocks that measure time in reference to how much material of a certain type is can be detected given known decay rates (vastly simplified!).
The single most interesting point he makes is that how can all of these different clocks point to the same dates and all be wrong if you only believe the earth is a certain age.
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Greatest Show on Earth Discussion
The first book I have chosen to blog about is called The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins. Mr. Dawkins has written a number of thought provoking books over the years. The Selfish Gene and the Blind Watchmaker are both other books by him that I have read previously and enjoyed.
The purpose of the book is quite evident and the author does not waste any time in letting the reader know that he wrote the book to counter the claims of the proponents of "Intelligent Design" by explaining evolution.
I have yet to read the entire book but in the beginning chapters the author guides the reader into the first part of his argument by showing how various gene pools of plants and animals have been changed over the years by both natural and artificial selection.
In the section that discusses natural selection he explains why the male of a certain bird species has much brighter plumage then the female of the same species and how the female bird helped this process by preferring to mate with males that possess bright plumage. In the section that covers artificial selection he highlights how human selection in plants and dogs have produced offspring of both that have little resemblance to their gene pool ancestors.
Stay tuned for more on this book!
The purpose of the book is quite evident and the author does not waste any time in letting the reader know that he wrote the book to counter the claims of the proponents of "Intelligent Design" by explaining evolution.
I have yet to read the entire book but in the beginning chapters the author guides the reader into the first part of his argument by showing how various gene pools of plants and animals have been changed over the years by both natural and artificial selection.
In the section that discusses natural selection he explains why the male of a certain bird species has much brighter plumage then the female of the same species and how the female bird helped this process by preferring to mate with males that possess bright plumage. In the section that covers artificial selection he highlights how human selection in plants and dogs have produced offspring of both that have little resemblance to their gene pool ancestors.
Stay tuned for more on this book!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Introduction
I intend to use this blog to share my love of books with all of you. On this journey I will highlight and review books that I think are exceptional reading. When I find a book that speaks to me I will write a review that will hopefully translate the manner in which the particular book touched me.
As time progresses I expect I will highlight books that cover many subjects and genres so if you read a review on a nonfiction book for instance please do not assume that is all I read or all I have plans to review. I read across a broad spectrum of books.
My fondest hope is to help others discover books that touch their lives!
As time progresses I expect I will highlight books that cover many subjects and genres so if you read a review on a nonfiction book for instance please do not assume that is all I read or all I have plans to review. I read across a broad spectrum of books.
My fondest hope is to help others discover books that touch their lives!
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