The summer is coming to an end

I start orientation at Cornell in eight days, which begins a (hopefully) five-year (or more) period of my life. Until then, I get to wrap up, pack up, and reflect on the summer, which, like so many of my summers, are defined by the books that I read.

This summer has been very productive, as far as books go (at 3,700+ pages).

1. American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau - ed. Bill McKibben (1,047 pages)

I saw this at Barnes and Noble during my first few weeks home from Clarkson, and while it cost a lot (~$40) it looked perfect for the summer. It contains samples of environmental writing from 101 authors since Thoureau in 1837, and is a wonderful walk through of the change and growth of environmental writers, and the movement that they all in some form or another write for.

2. The Greenlanders - by Jane Smiley (584 pages)

This was given to me by Jan Wojcik and is a full immersion in the life of those living in Greenland during the 14th century. If you're at all interested in Greenland, read it. If you're looking for a great story, read it. If you have heard of Jane Smiley, read it. It's slow reading though...no chapters, hardly any breaks in the story. But man, it's worth it.

3. The Emperor and the Wolf: the Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune - by Stuart Galbraith (848 pages)

I work at home at a privately owned video store, and have access to thousands of movies. Since the job is far from full-time, I wanted to fill my time with something somewhat productive, so I decided to watch as many of Akira Kurosawa's 27 films as possible. I got through 25, all that are available on video today. The book walks through the director's life, as well as the life of his main actor (Mifune). I expect my collection of Kurosawa DVDs to grow quickly.

4. Botany of Desire - by Michael Pollan (271 pages)

Also given to me by Jan Wojcik, this is a look at human use of agriculture throug the viewpoint of apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. Like Pollan's recent book (The Omnivores Dillema, which I finished last semester), this one explores food, and how we grow, eat, and think about it in fantastic, enlightening, and often disturbing ways.

5. In Defense of Food - by Michael Pollan (244 pages)

This is Pollan's newest book, and if I had to chose one book that changed my life, this is it. I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you read thorugh his simple advice: "Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants." (which he expands upon in the book), I think you will change your eating habits too.

6. The Universe in a Single Atom - by His Holiness the Dalai Lama (216 pages)

This was recommended by my close friend Toni Sacco, and is an exploration of the current state of science, the limits of science, and the breathtaking wisdom and sincerity of the Dalai Lama. I am now in love with the Dalai Lama.

7. The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic-and How it Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World - by Steven Johnson (299 pages)

I read an opinion pience in the newspaper about how beer is critical for the success of civilizations, and the author pointed to this book, which briefly mentions beer. However, the book explores the Cholera epidemic in London, and traces its source, causes, and bumbling cluelessness of humans.

8. Into the Wild - by Jon Krakauer (207 pages)

Given out with the Honors graduation package, this book follows the footsteps of John McCandless (a.k.a. Chris Johnson). There's a movie (it's good), and the story is upsetting and/or inspiring, depending on your mood and your attitude.

and I am currently in the middle of three books:

1. Cryptonomicon - by Neal Stephenson

A 1000+ page uber-novel about cryptography, war, and computer business (there are three stories in this one book), I forgot it at home so I haven't picked it up in two weeks.

2. American Gods - by Neil Gaiman

Recommended by my Californian uncle, this novel is proving to be just plain awesome.

3. What to Eat - by Marion Nestle

This book, described by Michal Pollan (whose opinion I now hold very highly) as "absolutely indispensable," Nestle explores the traps, pitfalls, and horror of the food we all take for granted, and goes very well with In Defense of Food.

I am somewhat surprised that only one of the books I finished this summer is fiction.

So I am planning to make this blog available in a few days, once I update some contact information, etc.

P.S. The blog name and quote are from the novel version of 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke, based on the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, based on the short story The Sentinel, by Arthur C. Clarke (the last two paragraphs of chapter 39).