All Consuming : Chris Mear

Consuming "Assassin's Creed"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:14:00 GMT

Assassin's Creed

by Ubisoft Montreal

Consumed "Freedom Evolves"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:13:42 GMT

Freedom Evolves

by Daniel C. Dennett

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:48:03 GMT

Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone

by Hideaki Anno

WORTH IT!

Consuming "Accelerando"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:46:20 GMT

Accelerando

by Charles Stross

Why I recommend "Kind of Blue"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 22:14:45 GMT

Kind of Blue

by Miles Davis

Sublimely crafted jazz, even if Miles’ trumpet playing is still as over-piercing as ever.

Why I recommend "iTunes Originals - PJ Harvey"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 22:13:11 GMT

iTunes Originals - PJ Harvey

by PJ Harvey

Worth it just for the absolutely stonking performance of ‘A Perfect Day Elise’.

A review of "Dimensional Mazes: An Entirely New Way of Losing Yourself in a Book" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 21:32:45 GMT

Dimensional Mazes: An Entirely New Way of Losing Yourself in a Book

by David Pelham

Pop-up mazes. Awesome.

A review of "Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the 10th Dimens ion" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:51:56 GMT

Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the 10th Dimens ion

by Michio Kaku

Kaku runs away with his metaphors sometimes, and I felt like there was a lot of repetition, but all in all this is a pretty good intro ride through some higher-dimensional theories.

A review of "Making Music on the Organ" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:49:08 GMT

Making Music on the Organ

by Peter Hurford

Some good advice, but I suspect that I’m a bit too freestyle for Hurford.

A story about "Conducting a Choir: A Guide for Amateurs"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:47:24 GMT

Conducting a Choir: A Guide for Amateurs

by Imogen Holst

Saw me through two years of running a chapel choir at Cambridge, so it can’t be too bad.

Why I recommend "Remembering the Kana: The Hiragana / The Katakana"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:45:38 GMT

Remembering the Kana: The Hiragana / The Katakana

by James W. Heisig

The rhyming mnemonics in this book are painfully corny, and rely on American English pronounciation. But that’s what makes them so memorable! A great, quick way to learn the kana, in a guided sensible order.

A review of "A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes" (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:43:20 GMT

A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes

by Stephen W Hawking

Hugely over-rated. There are better books out there if you want to read about this stuff.

Why I recommend "Your Money or Your Life"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:40:58 GMT

Your Money or Your Life

by Alvin Hall

Full of the kind of bloody obvious advice that you need to read in a book like this before you actually sit up and pay attention. Good stuff.

Why I recommend "The Mind Gym"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:39:32 GMT

The Mind Gym

by Mind Gym

It’s a self-help book that isn’t just full of one person’s bullshit, but is actually backed up and motivated by real psychology.

How "Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality: Solving the Quantum Mysteries Tag: Author of In Search of Schrod. Cat" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:38:18 GMT

Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality: Solving the Quantum Mysteries Tag: Author of In Search of Schrod. Cat

by John Gribbin

One of a handful of physics books that fell into my lap as a kid and made me fall in love with science.

Why I recommend "Essential System Administration, Third Edition"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:31:10 GMT

Essential System Administration, Third Edition

by Æleen Frisch

It’s the bible of Unix sys admin, hands-down.

Why I recommend "The 85 Ways to Tie a Tie: The Science and Aesthetics of Tie Knots"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:29:23 GMT

The 85 Ways to Tie a Tie: The Science and Aesthetics of Tie Knots

by Thomas Fink

Sartorial mathematics. What more could you ask for?

Why I recommend "Designing the 21st Century"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:28:48 GMT

Designing the 21st Century

So many pretty photos of pretty things…

Why I recommend "Electricity and Magnetism"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:22:48 GMT

Electricity and Magnetism

by W. J. Duffin

The book that got electromagnetism into my brain after all others failed.

How "Consciousness Explained" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:19:26 GMT

Consciousness Explained

by Daniel C. Dennett

It’s not an exaggeration to say that this book helped change the way I think about practically everything.

Why I recommend "The Elements of Typographic Style"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Chris Mear) — Mon, 08 May 2006 20:10:57 GMT

The Elements of Typographic Style

by Robert Bringhurst

The most compelling argument for good typography is this book itself. Don’t read it. Just hold it, touch the paper and bathe in the beautifully balanced pages.