What We Are Reading Today: ‘Stories of Your Life and Others’

Photo/Supplied
Short Url
Updated 30 September 2024
Follow

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Stories of Your Life and Others’

  • One of the standout tales in the collection is “Story of Your Life,” which was adapted into the 2016 film “Arrival”

Author: Ted Chiang

“Stories of Your Life and Others” is a collection of short stories by Ted Chiang, published in 2002.

The author explores complex themes such as language, time and consciousness.

One of the remarkable aspects of Chiang’s work is his ability to blend science fiction with philosophical inquiries, resulting in thought-provoking narratives that challenge readers to reconsider their perceptions of reality.

One of the standout tales in the collection is “Story of Your Life,” which was adapted into the 2016 film “Arrival.”

It follows linguist Dr. Louise Banks as she attempts to communicate with alien beings who have arrived on Earth. Through her interactions with the extraterrestrial visitors, Banks gains a new understanding of language and its impact on the perception of time.

Another notable story is “Understand,” which delves into the implications of enhanced intelligence.

Chiang’s exploration of the consequences of such a dramatic change in cognition is both insightful and thought provoking.

The story raises important questions about the nature of intelligence, consciousness and the limits of human potential.

Chiang’s writing is marked by meticulous attention to detail and a deep exploration of scientific and philosophical concepts.

His stories are not simply vehicles for technological speculation but rather profound explorations of human nature and the mysteries of the universe.

Chiang has won numerous literary prizes, including the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards.

 


What We Are Reading Today: Return of the Junta by Oliver Slow

Updated 14 June 2025
Follow

What We Are Reading Today: Return of the Junta by Oliver Slow

In 2021, Myanmar’s military grabbed power in a coup d’etat, ending a decade of reforms that were supposed to break the shackles of military rule in Myanmar.

Protests across the country were met with a brutal crackdown that shocked the world, but were a familiar response from an institution that has ruled the country with violence and terror for decades.

In this book, Oliver Slow explores the measures the military has used to keep hold of power, according to a review on goodreads.com.


What We Are Reading Today: Elusive Cures

Photo/Supplied
Updated 13 June 2025
Follow

What We Are Reading Today: Elusive Cures

  • “Elusive Cures” sheds light on one of the most daunting challenges ever confronted by science while offering hope for revolutionary new treatments and cures for the brain

Author: Nicole C. Rust

Brain research has been accelerating rapidly in recent decades, but the translation of our many discoveries into treatments and cures for brain disorders has not happened as many expected. We do not have cures for the vast majority of brain illnesses, from Alzheimer’s to depression, and many medications we do have to treat the brain are derived from drugs produced in the 1950s—before we knew much about the brain at all. Tackling brain disorders is clearly one of the biggest challenges facing humanity today. What will it take to overcome it? Nicole Rust takes readers along on her personal journey to answer this question.
Drawing on her decades of experience on the front lines of neuroscience research, Rust reflects on how far we have come in our quest to unlock the secrets of the brain and what remains to be discovered.  

“Elusive Cures” sheds light on one of the most daunting challenges ever confronted by science while offering hope for revolutionary new treatments and cures for the brain.

 


Book Review: ‘Brief Answers to the Big Questions’

Updated 12 June 2025
Follow

Book Review: ‘Brief Answers to the Big Questions’

  • Final work by the renowned physicist combines complex scientific ideas with accessible explanations, making it a must-read for anyone curious about the cosmos

Stephen Hawking’s “Brief Answers to the Big Questions” is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of science’s most profound mysteries, offering insights into the origins of the universe and humanity’s place within it. 

Published in 2018, this final work by the renowned physicist combines complex scientific ideas with accessible explanations, making it a must-read for anyone curious about the cosmos. 

Hawking begins by addressing how the universe came into existence. He explains that the laws of physics are sufficient to describe the universe’s origins, suggesting that it could arise from a state of nothingness due to the balance of positive and negative energy. 

By linking this to the nature of time, which began alongside the universe itself, he offers a perspective grounded in scientific reasoning. 

The book also delves into the evolution of the universe and the evidence supporting it. Hawking discusses how the redshift of light from distant galaxies confirms the universe’s expansion, while the cosmic microwave background radiation provides a glimpse into its dense, hot beginnings. 

Through the anthropic principle, he demonstrates how the unique conditions of our universe make life possible, underscoring how rare such conditions are. 

Hawking also considers the possibility of extraterrestrial life, suggesting that while life may exist elsewhere, intelligent civilizations are unlikely to be nearby or at the same stage of development. He cautions against attempts to communicate with alien life, warning that such interactions could pose risks to humanity. 

One of the book’s most intriguing sections explores black holes. Hawking examines their immense density, the singularity at their core, and the paradox of information loss. He explains how black holes might release information as they evaporate, preserving the fundamental laws of physics. 

Beyond its scientific insights, the book is a call to action. Hawking urges readers to prioritize scientific progress, safeguard the planet, and prepare for the challenges of the future. 

Though some sections may challenge non-experts, “Brief Answers to the Big Questions” remains accessible, inspiring, and deeply insightful — a fitting conclusion to Hawking’s extraordinary legacy. 
 


What We Are Reading Today: Freedom Season by Peniel E. Joseph

Updated 12 June 2025
Follow

What We Are Reading Today: Freedom Season by Peniel E. Joseph

In Freedom Season,  Peniel E. Joseph offers a stirring narrative history of 1963, marking it as the defining year of the Black freedom struggle.
By year’s end the murders of John F. Kennedy, Medgar Evers, and four Black girls at a church in Alabama left the nation determined to imagine a new way forward. “Freedom Season” shows how the upheavals of 1963 planted the seeds for watershed civil rights legislation and renewed hope in the promise and possibility of freedom.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Pocket Instructor: Writing’

Updated 11 June 2025
Follow

What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Pocket Instructor: Writing’

Editors: Amanda Irwin Wilkins, Keith Shaw

“The Pocket Instructor: Writing” offers 50 practical exercises for teaching students the core elements of successful academic writing. 

The exercises — created by faculty from a broad range of disciplines and institutions — are organized along the arc of a writing project, from brainstorming and asking analytical questions to drafting, revising, and sharing work with audiences outside traditional academia.