Reading

I really enjoy reading and I have been reading books ever since I learnt how to read. On occasion after finishing a book I jot down some quick thoughts about it, which are all included here. On a single page, 'cause I'm a masochist.

Reviews

If you spy any errors or lapses in judgement or fancy having a discussion, hit up my Twitter.

Autonomous, by Annaless Newitz

31/12/2020

Autonomous introduced a fascinating setting - although I must admit, I do enjoy a good post-post-apocalyptic setting, potentially to a fault. Without dropping into spoilers, the exploration of autonomy and emotion, and of humanities need to anthropomorphise in order to relate were evocative. My only sadness was the lack of exploration of the wider world, and of an ending almost too nice in nature. However, I was still enraptured from the start by the perfect mix of cyberpunk and a welcome, beautifully imagined world of bio hacking that seemed so natural and yet so often over looked or ouright ignored in other novels that attempt to predict a world of the future, which will naturally contain gene editing to a huge degree. The flow progression of technology, references to the eternal debates of hacker communities like Ruby versus Python, the layers of Facebook over the aeons were really the icing on the cake of a novel that extended maker shops and hacker spaces and culture into the ever closer future.

I've also had the Last Saskatchewan Pirate on daily rotation since picking up the book. To understand, I'm writing this in February 2021. It won't leave my head.

Keep the Aspidistra Flying, by George Orwell

October 2020

George Orwell has always been an author who I've felt I should have read, but beyond 1984, never got around to. I suppose Orwell is never really out of fashion; by which I mean, since the 30's at any rate, the themes and discussion and backdrop of society haven't meaningfully changed as we face the same stresses and economy. In many respects, the 2020's feel like an echo of the 1920's.

While, as in 1984, I find that George Orwell writes women with the same level of detail as he writes other items of scenery, the character of Gordon hit hard. The obsession with self-improvement in the eyes of peers, indulgent champagne socialists who say the right things but are quietly disgusted by poverty, and masturbatory self-flagellation and faux self-actualisation.

I found it explored an interesting angle of privilege - that not only can you benefit from it, and I do believe it is right and proper to acknowledge it - but also that one can squander it.

The main takeaway, for me, is that capitalism cannot change, it can only grind you down, and the best way to happiness is the shortest. Conformity brings happiness and we will all be happier if we stop trying to change the world and live by our ideals, but instead find a career that pays well and allows us to find our place. Chop off bits of your personality and become the square peg. Or something.

The Ten Types of Human, by Dexter Dias

23/09/2020

The Ten Types of Human is the kind of book that you have to read and read again. It weaves and inspires, illustrating a base philosophy of humanity. For a retelling of the authors experience, I was expecting a dry novel recounting a series of clear cut anecdotes, but from the first page I found myself completed captured by the writing, reading excerpts out loud to anyone around me.

I really recommend reading this book; you follow the author across the world on a quest for understanding the base motivations and desires of humanity. Neither overly pessimistic or optimistic, the sad, real exploration of humanity looks at the harm that exists within our world and how, despite the scope and scale of it, people can still create positive change.

It's the story of an author who has gone out into the world and tried to right its wrongs not content with passive observation, but instead just trying to comprehend why and what can be done. The material opposite of a gap year poverty safari, this is well-written and well-sourced book which I'd recommend to anyone wanting to get a glimpse of the world behind the curtains we've drawn ourselves.

Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking, by Georgia Weidman

~January 2015

This is probably the first good book I ever read on penetration testing. It's a litle dated now, but it was was enough to start me off on the right path. The included lab setup guide was helpful, with material that roughly covers CRT / OSCP in decent detail. Like many books of this ilk, it also includes rough methodologies, walkthroughs, and perspectives that for a beginner or newcomer to penetration testing are really helpful.

Reading List

This is likely going to be infrequently updated.