Reading List

Book Review on Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" Books 1 & 2. The Isaac Asimov's series "Foundation" depicts a future galaxy, in which two groups of people were sent to two ends of the galaxy, and through the historical predictions of Hari Seldon, the founder of the two "Foundations", they are to become the future empires. The empire which rules is bound to fall, and Hari Seldon predicts a long period of barbarism to follow. As a remedy, Seldon seeks to accelerate the process of a new empire being formed and the galaxy falling back into a state of peace.

"Psychohistory" created by 31st century mathematics professor Seldon, is the ability to calculate the probability of certain events happening in the future. It is achieved by consideration of all the sources of input that could influence the results in this calculation, and finally arriving to at a probable result.

Hence, Hari Seldon has already predicted the most likely events to happen in the future, and whenever the time comes when a crisis hits the two Foundations, a time capsule is opened, and a prerecorded video of Seldon is shown to the people, providing them a solution.

During the first three centuries, the Foundation which the book starts from its point of view at has experienced being surrounded by barbarous worlds, hindered by a lack of resources while being attacked by the opposing empire which was still thriving as well as lack of materials.

Through methods such as developing religion in order to control the hearts of mobs from other worlds, and creating sophisticated trading systems on which worlds started to rely too much on, the Foundation's power among the worlds around it and its esteem around the Galaxy grew by the day. Since the very best scientists from the old empire were attracted and placed on the two Foundations, the level of our Foundation or the "First Foundation" easily surpassed its neighbors and soon the empire itself.

However, in the second book, a mutant ruler named going by the name of "The Mule" has destroyed Seldon's plans. This mutant has great powers – particularly his ability to persuade. Without having to use with little much effort, The Mule easily defeats one of the Foundations -- and sets his eyes upon the empire.

The Foundation was ruled by tyranny as well, the leader being given his power not by through election, but instead by by virtue of his father being the mayor. The last leader of this foundation Foundation was weak and soft, and surrendered easily under the force of the The Mule. The Second Foundation seemed to be the biggest hope of the First Foundationers. Amongst the First Foundation, only three worlds were still resisting the Mule's control, all independent trading worlds which had supposedly rebelled and were exiled by the First Foundation. Two men and one women set of to the original empire's capital Trantor, with the task of finding the Second Foundation, and saving the First Foundation as well as the Seldon Plan.

Asimov's Foundation series has been interesting. Depicting future worlds is not something new, but the fashion of the author and his writing, as well as the characters and events that he depicts, and his tendency to give readers big surprises has been new, and makes his books attractive.

The series itself experienced huge ups and downs. When the first three books were published, they formed the Foundation Trilogy and in the 1950s weren't exactly the most famous trilogy. However, a publishing company found the trilogy, thought it was interesting and compiled it into one hardback book. After publishing the series through this publisher, the book became famous almost instantly and was a huge hit. Since the author had already moved on, he did not want to spend time writing this series anymore, and was caught by surprise when suddenly huge amounts of fans started requesting for new books of the series.

Finally, under both pressure by the publisher and readers, he picked up his pen and started to continue the series almost 30 years after the first book of the trilogy was published.

This huge time lapse in the publishing of the third and fourth Foundation book will prove interesting. Through these thirty years not only has the author changed, but the world has also changed much. Technology has developed, and the main idea of a world in which psychohistory, or the ability to read minds and use the knowledge of such to predict the future has also had somewhat developed. Hence, I am interested about what the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh book will contain that might be different to the trilogy.

I think the author's tone and style of writing is brilliant and incredible. His writing always manages to give readers a slab of something unexpected. Even though sometimes it might be unappreciated, but his writing is logical and reasonable, and almost every detail and small event is important in the great scheme and result. Nothing is out of order and everything seems to go by plan, while at the end a completely unexpected result happens. Even so, once readers look back upon past events under this new light of knowledge, everything seems to be directly leading the the result.

Asimov's ideas are interesting in another way that they are somewhat reasonable while still are imagination. Technologies such as interstellar travel through hyperspatial jumps, and everyday technology using nuclear power seems to be accomplishable in the reasonable future, but are still important and possibly hard degrees of technology to reach.

However, the most interesting and important aspects are Asimov's views about the field "psychohistory". It may well be that in the future mental powers will be valued far greater than physical powers for their ability to change, predict and create, and may allow human intelligence to reach a higher level. Animals are often heard calling to each other but mostly when companions are not present, such as to warn from far distances about predators. However, when creatures we view as primitive come together they seldom resort to sound or pictures, but instead use a series of intricate actions, such as the wolf's droop of the tail and the cat's fur standing, in order to communicate something that could be less precise but more important than human language. Hence, the ability to perceive small actions and movements of other human beings could stand interesting and be able to result in better communication.

The perception of body language has long been a profession in which many masters have existed. It may well be that such perception is related more to mental rather than physical aspects, since small movements are instinctual and are direct results of ideas and emotions, while language may be deceptive.

Even so, mental workers and students who study in this field may have a long way to go until they develop the ability to read minds and mold them, or to be able to predict the future course of history through calculation.

Overall, the Foundation series will be a very interesting read and I will recommend it to all interested in a good piece of work.

Book review on "Other Minds". Consciousness has long been defined as a trait only of humans and no other species of animal. However, humans rarely think about this question and whether it is true, and instead take it for granted. However, Peter Godfrey brings this question into consideration, doubting that other animal species may also have similar degrees of thought, processing ability and consciousness, as well as power over its own body. Being a philosopher and a naturalist, the author combines his own special combination of knowledge, and explains not only consciousness in octopuses, but also seeks to define the term "consciousness" itself.

The book starts from the path of evolution, looking for the common ancestor between anthropods, which are us, and octopuses. Around 660 million years ago, such an animal existed, which had the most basic receptors, eye spots, which were used solely as perceptors of light. Soon, some of these kinds of animals left the ocean, while some did not, and these two branches eventually all developed a certain small branch, which was a complex and huge nervous system. Human beings and anthropods have central nervous systems, which have absolute control across the whole body. This is why humans can have fast reflexes. However, octopuses have another body plan. While they also have a central nervous system, it is much less complex and smaller than the one's anthropods have, as well as being able to have less control. Instead, each of its arm has a separate nervous system, which they use to fine tune their movement, reaction and has an individual form of mind. Hence, when the central system dispatches an order, the smaller systems of every arm act somewhat like and individual, having their own choice of how to fine-tune the exact movement but still having to obey the orders of the central nervous system. This means every single octopus is actually made up of many clusters of nervous systems, and this also results in the fact that sometimes octopuses may seem to act strangely or haphazardly.

Being interested in octopuses, the author himself has spent many years, observing octopuses and cuttlefish. He also quotes many experiments during his book, as well as the work of other famous naturalists and philosophers. One certain action of octopuses has given me an exceptionally strong impression. When octopuses were given food that they disliked, they intentionally waited for the researchers to get near, and then stuffed the food down the sink when they were passing by. Also, octopuses have been written to have squirted ink at people who they did not recognize in labs. Octopuses in both these contexts show an amazing ability of both recognition and reaction. These actions may even border humor if one thinks about them in a certain way, which makes it something even more spectacular. Humans have long wondered whether other intelligent beings have existed out of earth, but we may be missing out on such animals right now.

Consciousness is the ability to define one's own actions not out of complete control of one's own body, but instead of one's own thought. Instead of working simply as a reaction and control system, the central nervous system and the ladder nervous system of animals such as humans and octopuses have developed the ability to defy natural wants, to create new ideas and to escape the gravity of simply hunger. Even though every animal is bound to basic needs, such as the want to survive or the be not hungry, as well as to be happy, human and octopus minds have created a different context, which wants different things and can put away some of our most basic needs in order to achieve something that was developed in our brains and is more important to us. A good example may be a warrior fighting for his or her own country. While fighting, a good warrior is not afraid of death, since he or she has a greater ambition or goal, which can allow that warrior to go against the most basic needs. Hence, consciousness is developed. Only managing to input and output information is not "having consciousness", and certainly managing to feel does not count as having consciousness. Hence, what we consider as animals may also have consciousness, and it is not simply a trait that anthropods have naturally, but instead something that can be developed, that has been developed in anthropods especially, but can also develop among other animals. Since, octopuses and cuttlefish might also have the possibility to develop such intelligence. It's fun and magical to think of the world from this perspective, to realize how much possibilities that the world has had, instead of seeing the world through human eyes, we are seeing it from a god's perspective.

Book review on "Outliers". Outliers is a book about the small and unobvious facts behind successors and the seemingly trivial reasons that causes differences between great successors and normal people. Using huge amounts of numbers and examples, managing not only to illustrate his point but also striking deep thought within his readers. He focuses mainly on a few factors, including cultural, age, time and opportunities. He explains with great detail how these factors manage to decide who becomes great successors. He overthrows many conventional ideas and notions, and asserts his points in direct opposition to the normal view most people have. While most people believe the tycoons and famous in all fields are famous only since they are much more talented than others and put in more hard work, Gladwell argues that success depends much more on a sequence on coincidents and opportunities more than just talent and grit.

To start with, Gladwell introduces Canadian and Czech ice hockey players. He uses a few set of numbers, mostly focusing on the birth dates of the members in the highest-tiered ice hockey squads in both countries. He leads readers to notice that in fact, most of the players in the best teams are all born at the start of the year, concentrating around January, February and March, while kids born in December, November and October almost do not appear in the list. He explains that, in both countries, the standard cut-off for age groups is January 1st, which means that children born in the start of the year are often put with children born much more later, and hence are more under-developed than they are. When the coaches from good teams come around the country in search of talented players, they are much more liable to choose the bigger players, and in better teams, they get much better and longer training, finally leading to a huge lead over their counterparts. He explains the term "accumulative advantage", which is a term he also uses much in talking about other opportunities and chances successors have over their peers.

Then, the author moves on to Bill Gates. Similar to the Czech and Canadian ice hockey team. Bill Gates had exceptionally different opportunities than most of his peers. First of all, he was born around the golden age for programming, not too early to already have a family and not too young to not be in high school and college. What's more, his high school had the most developed computers of the age, a kind of computer which most colleges did not have yet. He was a fanatic of computers, and spent days and nights inside the computer room. He also had the chance to go to a computer programming company to test their code. Hence, he got lots of practice, which in the end led him to create such a great company. The author states that most successors in all fields put in at least 10000 hours into their field. Hence, Bill Gates was definitely not lucky in this area, as he did work extremely hard and stayed on the computer almost all of the time during high school and college. However, the opportunities that Bill Gates did have—the exact area, age, family he was born him, the chances he went to the private school that had the best computers among high schools, and that he was so attracted to programming are all essential reasons he can become successful.

He also focuses on artists and musicians, showing that the difference between professionals and amateurs is the amount of time put into their field. For pianists, violinists and more, 10000 hours is a kind of division between people who can really become successful and the ones playing just for fun. The author then again talks about the Beatles, one of the historically most famous bands in the world. Much like Bill Gates and professional musicians, the band put in around 10000 hours during a period of time in which they started to become famous.

Next, the author writes about the advantages and disadvantages that culture has in success. The author examines different cultures and the impact they have on people and their actions, starting with the culture of honor in South America. Since the immigrants who have came here lived in harsh conditions, they could not plant crops for a living and instead everyone had their own sheep and cattle. Hence, protection of these animals was extremely important. While plants could not be "stolen", animals could easily be led away if their owners seems weak and incompetent of protecting their own animals. Hence, the protection of one's own honor was extremely important, meaning that the people leaving in South America frontiers were easily piqued and could get into a fight without much provocation at all.

He uses an experiment to show that, even today, in which Southern Americans do not live by shepherding, the heart of honor is still prominent along peers. A group of young men from a renowned university attended several tests, some Southerners while others from elsewhere, and the results showed that even after many many generations without shepherding, the cultural effect still caused Southerners to be much more easily angry than the other young people. He uses this idea to infer the reasons behind a few continuous plane crashes by Korean air. Korea's culture has heavy regulations on the young and subordinate, which means that most of the times, the co-pilot, first officer and flight engineer listen to the pilot and can only hint at errors. When the pilot encounters a big mistake, and is completely concentrated on it, the other officers' comments and hints that should have enough meaning to remind the pilot then turn into pure remarks, and combined with coincidences such as bad weather, small mechanic problems and not fluent enough english combine and cause plane crashes. In the end, Korean air brought in a completely different manager, a famous western manager who managed to save Korean air through reformation and the destruction of cultural limitations inside all the Korean officers. Hence, Korean air has become a new air company, and it has a pristine record since 1996.

One last point that I'm especially interested in is the arguments the author holds concerning IQ and success. Normally, people with high IQ are considered as different and innate successors, since they have more power inside their brains. However, the author refutes that IQ is more like a kind of threshold, similar to a basketball player's height. After a player's height reaches a level, additional height is kind of useless, just as in IQ, after a person's IQ reaches a certain height, the extra amount is not as important. A good example might be Einstein himself. Even though his IQ might not be legendary, at a number at 150 which isn't that overly crazy considering all the talented people that have IQs at around 200 and 190. However, he is renowned for the huge amounts of world-changing ideas that he has proposed. The author makes us realize that success is not only related to innate talent, such as IQ, but also related to opportunities and coincidences, as well as cultural background, family and also the willingness to work hard.

In conclusion, I think that "Outliers" is definitely a new, different and fun book. The author uses fun examples to illustrate his points, which provoke deep thought inside readers. It inspires me to think much more about myself and the environment around me, also the opportunities I might have and need. Though sometimes, I think the author puts the reasons behind success and failure much too easily, I still think that the author has led us to think more about the smaller things that could have a large effect on our lives.

Ever thought about owning a mount of your own? How about a dragon? In this book, you'll witness a world of dragons and ourselves, humans. The story depicts a medieval Viking age, and in this age humans and dragons coexist. Each represent a form of intelligence. Dragons have superpowers such as telecommunication and fire control, while humans have weapons, technology and their wits. A story unrolls in which the human world is lead into the path of destroying dragons, which have rebelled in a claim of their own independence, and hiccup, a lover of dragons, seeks to find the items that prove him the rightful king, in order to stop this ridiculous battle between the two kinds.

Trees, a common plant that lives both near us on the streets and far away in forests, are a big part of our lives. Not only do we see them every day on the way to school or back from the supermarket, but they also help us decontaminate our environment, providing clean air for us to breathe. However, we have almost no understanding of these helpers, how they survive, how they communicate, and their history.

In "The Hidden Life of Trees", the author helps us, who do not know about forestry, to understand more about the mysteries of these tall companions of ours. The book starts by relating to us how a tree stump managed to survive for hundreds of years and leads us to the fact that trees form communities underground. Even though they compete ferociously aboveground for sunlight and water, they help each other by delivering sugar through their root systems, which are often intertwined together. This web of roots is called the "Wood Wide Web", and it is further strengthened by many different species of fungi, which helps the trees extend their root systems and communicate better with each other. When they can stand together as a whole, they are more immune to natural disasters such as huge storms or insect invasions, as the stronger and more vibrant trees will be able to assist the weaker members.

Then, the author focuses on the language and communication of trees. Many trees can emit odors when attacked by insects, which might have the ability to warn nearby trees and make them pump poison into their leaves to defend against herbivores, or might attract predators of known insect enemies that are attacking the trees' bark to come and eat them. The trees can also make use of the "Wood Wide Web" to post messages about new trends in the climate or any other events happening recently. Finally, the author mentions that trees could be communicating using sound as well, with a frequency of 220 hertz.

After that, the book continues on the reproduction of trees. The author compares the reproduction of conifers to deciduous trees and the techniques that trees use when they are reproducing. For example, many trees have timing abilities to make sure that their own female and male flowers do not reproduce together. Also, many trees reproduce only once during several years (mast years), making sure that the population of the animals which would like to eat the seeds is small the year they reproduce.

Later on, the author tells us the habits of trees. When young trees sprout out in forests, most of them sprout right under their parents, who are absorbing all the light and resources. According to the author, only 3% of the sunlight can shine through the leaves of beeches, so the young trees have no way to grow tall and high in their early years. The sunlight that they are receiving, and the amount of sugar that the sprout's parents give to the sprout through their roots is only enough to keep the young tree alive. Since it might take a long time for the sprout's parent to die out and fall, many sprouts can be 80-120 years old before they are allowed to reach direct sunlight.

The book also relates how trees can influence their environment. Forests formed of trees can create shelter for every single member, as the trees are less perceptible to storms or gales, and the forest can also retain large amounts of water. Secondly, the forest can form microclimates inside itself, and manage to provide suitable living conditions for many species of animals.

Subsequently, the author introduces the trees that are planted in urban areas. Most of them have been introduced forcefully into the area where they live, so they are not accustomed to the climate of the region. What's more, the trees have no chance to communicate with other trees, as the ground around the roots is hard and not loose. Therefore, the urban tree normally only survives for about a hundred years, before being blown out by the wind or being killed off by insects.

Finally, the author states that people should be more careful about plantations, slow down the destruction of the forests that are still existing and original, spare the use of chemicals near fields next to the trees, and allow small trees to live in better environments.

The sea seems something romantic, and living on a ship at sea certainly is something fun. However, this is not so for Pi. The book relates about the eternity that he is trapped upon a boat lost at sea with a pet on board, a tiger. The ship set out was originally with the purpose of moving to a new place to live, and Pi's family took with them their animals from their zoo. Being trapped in a place without food, water or supplies to last him long, and a hungry tiger, Pi must think of a solution or else he faces death. The story brings us into a crazy and hilarious adventure, in which human and animal from the highest end of the predatory line meet and manage to coexist.

A girl from Nazi Germany has been given away to a family far, far away. On the trip, her brother dies, and the reaper of the dead comes for his spirit. From then on, the story is told through the eyes of Death. Arriving at Himmel Street, Liesel starts a long adventure involving people, spirits, and most importantly, words.

She is adopted by a kind couple: Rosa, a foster mother with a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and Hans, a painter and accordionist who is kind, generous, and wise. Liesel eventually makes friends, forming a close bond with a boy named Rudy. As she grows, she begins stealing books—starting with a gravedigger's handbook found at her brother's burial. Her reading abilities grow through secret midnight lessons with her father.

The story takes a turn when the family hides a Jew named Max in their basement. Liesel forms a deep bond with him, reading to him and describing the outside world. However, the war intensifies. Hans is drafted, Max is forced to leave, and air raids become frequent. In the basement during raids, Liesel reads to distract her neighbors. Ultimately, a bombing destroys the street, leaving Liesel as the sole survivor because she was writing her story in the basement.

This is an amazing historical fiction novel. The usage of Death as a narrator offers a unique perspective on hate, love, sorrow, and regret. The author's writing style is poetic and lyrical, contrasting the harsh realities of war with the beauty of words. It hammers home the devastating impact of war while showing the resilience of the human spirit. I highly recommend it.

The book "Animal Farm" is a fairy tale that focuses on the defects and outcomes of communism. The story is set on a farm in England, where the animals live poor lives, working themselves to exhaustion for their owners while receiving only enough food to survive. An old pig named Major inspires them to rebel, teaching them the principles of "Animalism."

After the rebellion succeeds, the pigs become the supervisors. However, over time, they start manipulating the other animals' memories and changing the Seven Commandments of Animalism. Eventually, the pigs become indistinguishable from the human owners they replaced. The author portrays different animals as different types of people: the pigs as corrupt leaders, the dogs as a threatening army, and the sheep as unthinking followers who suppress protest.

A few animals stand out, such as Benjamin the donkey, who is skeptical and depressed, believing from the start that the rebellion wouldn't work. He represents the author's own prudent view. The book also mentions Mollie, a mare who cares only for her own comfort rather than freedom, and the cat, who acts solely for self-interest.

Although Orwell claimed he didn't intend to criticize the Soviet Union directly, "Animalism" parallels communism, where the idea of everyone being rich and equal often leads to leaders hoarding wealth while the common people suffer. The book serves as a satirical warning that revolutions can often result in new tyrannies that are just as bad, if not worse, than the old ones. It is a powerful mix of a traditional fairy tale and a deep political satire.

The book opens with two ranch workers, George and Lennie, who share the American Dream: to buy a piece of property and sustain themselves, rather than toiling for others. However, life on the ranch is difficult. Lennie, who is incredibly strong but intellectually disabled, accidentally kills the boss's son's wife in a moment of panic. To save Lennie from being lynched by a vengeful mob, George makes the heartbreaking decision to shoot him himself, reciting their shared dream of a better future as Lennie dies in peace.

The story is a powerful microcosm of the American underclass. While it is an engaging narrative, it tackles serious themes like the bias against the disabled, racism, and sexism. The ranch represents a society where the poor are often treated with apathy. The central contrast lies between the hopeful dream of the workers—to own land and find dignity—and the harsh reality of their lives.

Friendship is the core of the novel. Despite their differences—George being sharp and cunning, Lennie being strong and childlike—their bond is akin to that of a father and son. This need to care for someone is mirrored in other characters, like Candy, who clings to his old, blind dog because it represents the only warmth in his life. The book illustrates that beneath the tough exterior of these men lies a deep human craving to love and be loved.

Characters like Curley, the boss's son, represent the oppressive nature of the privileged, caring only for status and conflict. In contrast, the tragic ending highlights how, in such an unforgiving society, the dreams of the underclass are often doomed, yet the friendship between George and Lennie remains a touching testament to human connection.

The autobiography "Reaching for the Moon" tells the story of Katherine Johnson, a mathematician born into a black family who showed immense talent in math and languages from a young age. With her family's support, she graduated college early and eventually joined NASA as a "computer," calculating trajectories for America's first spaceflights, the moon landing, and missions to Mars.

The book vividly portrays the challenges of living through an era of systemic racism and sexism. Johnson describes how black women at NASA often held higher degrees than their white female counterparts yet faced segregation and lower status. Despite these barriers, her brilliance was undeniable; in a famous instance, an astronaut refused to fly until Katherine personally verified the IBM computer's calculations.

Beyond her scientific achievements, the book highlights the quiet bravery of the Civil Rights era. Johnson's writing is logical, smart, and polite, reflecting a dignity that refused to be diminished by the prejudices of her time. It is an inspiring account of how talent and hard work can overcome institutional unfairness.

The book "King Solomon's Ring" is the work of a naturalist who is especially interested in birds and insects. As an animal lover, Konrad Lorenz is friends with many species, including parrots, geese, and even monkeys. Through trust and friendship, he shows that the relationship between animals and humans can reach a profound level.

The author starts by discussing the "disadvantages" of keeping wild animals in one's home, describing the chaos they cause with a humorous and affectionate tone. He then moves on to specific creatures, such as fish, offering unique advice on maintaining an aquarium and personifying their lives with great care. He also dedicates a significant portion to water shrews, a difficult-to-tame mammal, detailing the immense effort required to keep them.

A major highlight is the section on birds, particularly their complex social structures and communication methods. Lorenz explores the "morals" of animals, shocking readers by revealing that seemingly peaceful animals can be violent, while fierce predators like wolves possess innate inhibitions that prevent them from killing submitting rivals.

The book is clearly divided to focus on animal behaviors such as imprinting, aggression, courtship, and communication. Lorenz argues that "higher" animals have complex language systems comparable to humans, using gestures and sounds to convey meaning. He concludes by warning against viewing animals as mere objects or projecting human morality onto them. Instead, he urges us to respect them for what they are, making this book a timeless classic for nature lovers and scientists alike.

In the African country of Malawi, William Kamkwamba lived with his family as a maize farmer. His village was isolated, lacking electricity, tap water, or proper roads. While many locals believed in magic and feared wizards, William was driven by curiosity. However, a change in government policy and environmental disasters led to a catastrophic famine. William's family, like many others, was pushed to the brink of starvation, rationing their food to a single meal a day and selling their possessions just to survive.

Because his family could no longer afford the school fees, William was forced to drop out. Undeterred, he continued his education by reading books in the local library, where he discovered a book on electricity. Inspired, he decided to build a windmill to bring power to his home. Despite being called a madman by his neighbors, he scavenged parts from a garbage pile—using tractor parts, PVC pipes, and car batteries.

His persistence paid off. He successfully built a functioning windmill that powered lights in his house, allowing him to read at night. Although his initial plan to create an irrigation system faced challenges, his invention eventually caught the attention of officials. This discovery catapulted him to fame, earning him a scholarship to return to school and invitations to global conferences like TED.

William's story is a testament to the power of curiosity and resilience. While others saw only junk in a scrapyard, he saw opportunity. His journey from a starving dropout to an innovator proves that with imagination and courage, even the most difficult circumstances can be overcome.

Trevor Noah, a famous comedian, grew up in South Africa during apartheid—a time when racism was not only deep in people's hearts but also enforced by law. Born to a black mother and a white father, Trevor's very existence was a crime, as interracial relationships were illegal. His memoir, "Born a Crime," explores his unique upbringing, navigating a society strictly divided by color.

Trevor's mother is the hero of his story. Despite the oppressive environment, she raised him to have a mind of his own and a desire to see the world beyond their reality. However, their lives were often marred by violence, particularly from his abusive stepfather, Abel, who eventually shot Trevor's mother in a terrifying incident that she miraculously survived.

Trevor's mixed heritage made him an outsider—too white for the black kids, too black for the white kids. He describes himself as a "chameleon," using his knack for languages and accents to blend into different groups without ever fully belonging. This unique perspective allowed him to observe the absurdity of racism from a distance. He writes about his hustles, from buying food for students who couldn't run to selling pirated CDs, which eventually led to brushes with the law.

The book is a masterful blend of humor and grit. As a comedian, Trevor uses wit to recount even the darkest moments of his life, although the underlying tragedy is always palpable. Ultimately, it is a story about the bond between a mother and son. His mother's resilience and unconventional parenting shaped him into the person he is today, proving that even in the harshest environments, a strong role model can change the course of a life.

David George Haskell's "The Forest Unseen" is a remarkable exploration of nature through a unique lens. The author spends a year observing a single square meter of old-growth forest in Tennessee, visiting it almost daily to record his findings. Through this tiny window, he reveals the colossal network of life that exists undisturbed by human activity, acting as a portal into a world teeming with complexity.

The book delves into the diversity of life, from the smallest mosses and ephemeral flowers to towering trees and roaming mammals. Haskell explains the delicate balance of the ecosystem, showing how every organism—whether a predator, prey, or decomposer—plays a vital role. He illustrates how the loss or gain of a single species can ripple through the entire forest. The narrative also captures the rhythm of the seasons, from the rebirth of spring to the necessary dormancy of winter, highlighting how time itself shapes the forest's existence.

Haskell's writing bridges the micro and the macro. By focusing on the minute details of a small patch of earth, he uncovers universal truths about the natural world and humanity's impact on it. He warns that human activity is rapidly destroying biological work that has taken millions of years to evolve, urging readers to reconsider their relationship with nature.

The book is both scientific and poetic. Haskell uses vivid analogies to explain complex biological concepts, making them accessible and captivating. His deep love and respect for the forest shine through every page, inspiring readers to slow down and appreciate the beauty and mystery of the natural world right around them.

"Bud, Not Buddy" tells the story of a ten-year-old black orphan in 1936 during the Great Depression. After escaping an abusive foster home, Bud sets out on a journey from Flint to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in search of a man he believes is his father—the famous jazz musician Herman E. Calloway. With nothing but a small suitcase of treasured items and his own set of "Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself," Bud navigates a world filled with hunger, poverty, and racism.

The book vividly portrays the harsh realities of the era. It highlights the stark contrast between the wealthy and the destitute, showing how the Great Depression forced many into desperation while exposing deep-seated racial prejudices. Despite these hardships, Bud remains resilient and optimistic. His journey introduces him to a cast of characters that reveal the spectrum of human nature—from the cruelty of the Amos family to the kindness of strangers who share their meager food with him in a soup kitchen line.

When Bud finally meets Herman E. Calloway, the reunion is not what he expects. Calloway is a grumpy, stern man who initially rejects Bud. However, the truth eventually unravels: Calloway is not Bud's father, but his grandfather. The emotional climax, where the hardened musician breaks down upon learning of his daughter's death, is a powerful moment of grief and realization.

What makes this book special is Bud's unique voice. Despite the grim setting, the story is filled with humor and warmth. Bud's internal monologue and his "rules" provide a funny yet poignant lens through which to view his struggles. It is a touching story about family, resilience, and finding where you belong in a world that often feels unwelcoming.

"Holes" by Louis Sachar tells the story of Stanley Yelnats, a boy plagued by a family curse brought on by his "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather." Wrongly convicted of stealing a pair of famous sneakers, Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake—a juvenile detention center where there is no lake, only a dry wasteland. The boys are forced to dig holes five feet deep and five feet wide every day to "build character."

The plot thickens when Stanley realizes they aren't just digging for discipline; the Warden is looking for something specific. He befriends Zero, a boy who is the fastest digger but cannot read. In exchange for reading lessons, Zero helps Stanley with his holes. This partnership leads to trouble, causing Zero to run away into the deadly desert. Stanley follows him, and together they find refuge on "God's Thumb," surviving on onions and old water found in the very place Stanley's ancestor once sought shelter.

The story brilliantly intertwines three timelines: Stanley's present, the history of his great-grandfather, and the tragic tale of Kissin' Kate Barlow, an outlaw whose lost treasure the Warden is seeking. The conclusion ties these threads together perfectly, revealing that Zero is the descendant of the woman who cursed Stanley's family. By saving Zero, Stanley breaks the curse.

Zero is the most compelling character—quiet, intelligent, and resilient despite a life of hardship. The book is full of humor, mystery, and heart, exploring themes of friendship, fate, and redemption. It is a cleverly constructed puzzle where every detail matters, making it a fun and satisfying read.

"I Am Malala" chronicles the life of Malala Yousafzai, a girl born in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. In a society where the birth of a boy is celebrated with gunfire while girls are often hidden away, Malala was raised by an open-minded father, Ziauddin. An influential speaker and school owner, he believed in education for all, encouraging Malala to learn and speak out from a young age.

The book vividly describes the rise of the Taliban in her region. Initially gaining trust through radio broadcasts ("Mullah FM") and charity work after a devastating earthquake, the Taliban slowly imposed strict laws, including banning girls from attending school. Despite the danger, Malala became a voice for resistance, writing a diary for the BBC about life under Taliban rule and giving speeches advocating for women's rights.

The conflict culminates in the tragic event where Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban while riding her school bus. Miraculously, she survived after being airlifted to a hospital in Britain. The book balances the political history of Pakistan with the personal story of a family fighting for what is right.

My favorite character is Malala's father, Ziauddin. Unlike many men in his community, he held onto his dream of running a school and refused to be silenced by threats. While the book is an inspiring testament to courage, it also raises questions about the complexities of being a global icon versus a local activist. It is a powerful read that reminds us to cherish the education we often take for granted.

John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" follows the Joad family, tenant farmers driven from their Oklahoma home by drought, economic hardship, and the mechanization of agriculture during the Great Depression. The story begins with Tom Joad returning from prison to find his family preparing to leave for California, lured by flyers promising work. Joined by the former preacher Jim Casy, they pile onto a truck and head west on Route 66, joining a migration of thousands in search of a better life.

The journey is grueling. The family faces death—first Grandpa, then Grandma—and dwindling funds as they are exploited by opportunists along the way. Upon reaching California, the promised land turns out to be a place of fierce competition and exploitation. With too many workers and too few jobs, wages plummet, and the Joads struggle to survive in a hostile environment where the wealthy owners suppress any attempt by workers to organize.

Steinbeck paints a stark picture of social injustice, contrasting the corporate greed of banks and landowners with the desperate resilience of the poor. The novel is filled with powerful symbolism, such as the turtle crossing the road, representing the dogged persistence of the working class against forces that try to crush them.

Two characters stand out: Jim Casy and Ma Joad. Casy, a Christ-like figure with the initials J.C., sacrifices himself for the greater good of the workers. Ma Joad emerges as the family's pillar of strength, challenging traditional gender roles as she holds the family together through unimaginable hardships. The novel ends on a haunting yet hopeful note with Rose of Sharon's act of selfless charity, symbolizing the enduring humanity of the people even when stripped of everything else.

The book 'Breaking Night' is an autobiography of Liz Murray. In this book, she shows her readers how her life was and how it changed. It shows the fight of a person against a life she does not want to have. The author's parents were both drug addicts who met through the process of buying and selling drugs. Their addiction led the family to become messy, chaotic, and poor, involving themselves in violence and illegal activities.

In such a family environment, the author had much more freedom and was much more mature than her peers. Despite the chaos, she felt the love that her parents had for her and her sister, forgiving them again and again for actions that would be seen as irresponsible by others. However, the family had a loose structure, so for the author, life mostly consisted of roaming the streets with her friends, trying to find food and fun.

Her education was inconsistent. She started skipping school in second grade but managed to keep up because of the amount of reading she did. A turning point came after she left a bad relationship and inherited some challenges. Soon, she attended a free prep school for poor students who had missed classes but dreamed of attending university.

After studying hard for two years, the author managed to get enough credits to apply to college. She applied to Harvard and also applied for a scholarship, managing to get both through her talent for writing. Through writing about her past life experience, her articles moved interviewers and paved her path to a new life. Ultimately, she became famous and successful.

Throughout the book, the author conveys a sense of love for life and a positive lifestyle. As she looks back, she doesn't complain or write negatively about the people that caused her harm. The periods of her life when she was roaming the streets are depicted positively. Her positive attitude and her calm, objective view of her past is one of the most interesting and meaningful aspects of the book.

Written from the perspective of a child growing up in a drug-ridden family, the book explains in detail the problems and effects that drugs have on a person. By themselves, drugs may not cause much harm; however, addiction causes families to break and lives to become purposeless. Seeing how her parents' addiction made them zombies that relied so much on other people to live, the author never allowed herself to try drugs.

The biggest factor of change in the author's life was her education. The process of attending a prep school and keeping up with intense courses must have been extremely hard for a mind and body more experienced in stealing from supermarkets. However, her strong sense of fulfillment and the happiness of a new, healthy lifestyle were the principle motivations to keep studying.

One surprising observation I made was regarding the welfare system. Sometimes welfare projects have negative effects and can hinder the poor from truly leading a different life. In the book, money given to the family often went directly to drug dealers. Without a reasonable system, these activities sometimes just create statistics for government reports rather than real help.

Another interesting contrast is how different people in this book tried to take control of their lives. The author's mother tried to find stability through relationships with men, which often ended poorly. Meanwhile, the author made an effort to control her own life through diligence and hard work. Since she was a child, relying on herself shaped her personality to trust herself more than others.

The writer's story inspires and encourages people to try to make a change. Coming from a world of chaos, deception, and addiction, she is aware of how wild and uncontrollable life can be. I think the book is interesting and inspiring.