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calarco's Reviews (760)
If you want a fantasy novel with fun turns, Stardust is a pretty solid choice.
There is a cast of interesting characters like the plucky star, a magical bird lady, fratricidal royalty, and some diabolical witches. Sadly, the main character Tristran is an annoying, presumptuous buffoon, though his stupidity does make for some choice comedic moments.
There is much that happens solely by chance and circumstance, but Gaiman’s signature humor still made it a fun ride. The man writes a good quip, like one of my favs, “...and she called him an idiot, and he declared it was the finest thing that ever a man was called.”
Ultimately, I found it enjoyable, but read and decide for yourself.
There is a cast of interesting characters like the plucky star, a magical bird lady, fratricidal royalty, and some diabolical witches. Sadly, the main character Tristran is an annoying, presumptuous buffoon, though his stupidity does make for some choice comedic moments.
There is much that happens solely by chance and circumstance, but Gaiman’s signature humor still made it a fun ride. The man writes a good quip, like one of my favs, “...and she called him an idiot, and he declared it was the finest thing that ever a man was called.”
Ultimately, I found it enjoyable, but read and decide for yourself.
For those seeking a personal, folklore-centered history of Native Americans, that also provides clear cultural context for its stories, I can definitely recommend Our Stories Remember.
While the volume flows freely thematically, it addresses some of the criticisms that I had for the similar work [b:The World We Used to Live In: Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men|279093|The World We Used to Live In Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men|Vine Deloria Jr.|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328757449s/279093.jpg|270701]. In addition to well developed background, it also clearly cites sources and recommendations for additional reading.
Also, when it comes down to it, so many of the stories were really great. In particular, I have long been fascinated by the trickster Coyote and was happy to read some of his different tales, as well as how the enigma provides significant warnings and life lessons. The final story of deer was especially moving, given its own emphasis on the importance of remembering.
Overall, I really liked this one; feel free to pick up a copy and decide for yourself.
While the volume flows freely thematically, it addresses some of the criticisms that I had for the similar work [b:The World We Used to Live In: Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men|279093|The World We Used to Live In Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men|Vine Deloria Jr.|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328757449s/279093.jpg|270701]. In addition to well developed background, it also clearly cites sources and recommendations for additional reading.
Also, when it comes down to it, so many of the stories were really great. In particular, I have long been fascinated by the trickster Coyote and was happy to read some of his different tales, as well as how the enigma provides significant warnings and life lessons. The final story of deer was especially moving, given its own emphasis on the importance of remembering.
Overall, I really liked this one; feel free to pick up a copy and decide for yourself.
A continuation of the The Earthsea Cycle and written nearly two decades after the last book, Tehanu is a remarkably thoughtful entry into an already great series.
While the previous books explored themes of balance, social power, identity (aka: sooooo many names), with good sprinkles of magic and dragons to swiftly move along plot, Tehanu takes things a step further. It explores gender imbalances, but also champions narratives of the truly broken.
As happy as I was to see Ged and Tenar's stories continue, I was really intrigued by the young Therru. The kid suffered in ways that most could not fathom, and must live with some intense physical and psychological scars. Tenar's maternal devotion to the child was a love that had me more invested in the story than any romance could. It is with these bonds that, "What cannot be mended must be transcended" (273).
Overall, I really liked it. If you are reading the series, I would definitely recommend continuing past the original "trilogy." Society could also certainly benefit from a little more agape love for one another. Just my take.
While the previous books explored themes of balance, social power, identity (aka: sooooo many names), with good sprinkles of magic and dragons to swiftly move along plot, Tehanu takes things a step further. It explores gender imbalances, but also champions narratives of the truly broken.
As happy as I was to see Ged and Tenar's stories continue, I was really intrigued by the young Therru. The kid suffered in ways that most could not fathom, and must live with some intense physical and psychological scars. Tenar's maternal devotion to the child was a love that had me more invested in the story than any romance could. It is with these bonds that, "What cannot be mended must be transcended" (273).
Overall, I really liked it. If you are reading the series, I would definitely recommend continuing past the original "trilogy." Society could also certainly benefit from a little more agape love for one another. Just my take.
Watergate may have occurred several decades ago, but in 2018 with many of the current President's men receiving indictments and criminal sentencings, All the President's Men could not be more relevant.
Trailing events from the initial failed break-in, all the way to uncovering President Nixon's involvement, it was surreally impressive to read Bernstein and Woodward's investigative journey. Especially since their reporting did no follow a simple trail of breadcrumbs, so much as a bizarre series of twists and turns, including Woodward's crazy meetings with the infamous Deep Throat.
What was somewhat chilling given the current state of affairs, was reading in depth about the then President's reaction, "The White House had decided that the conduct of the press, not the conduct of the President's men, was the issue" (162). Empowered by the First Amendment, freedom of the press is essential as they are the front-line of speaking truth to power. Nixon was not firing away on twitter, but his messaging was eerily similar to the current dude.
That said, to read of the White House's flipping the narrative to be a war of credibility between them and the Washington Post was not shocking. Also not surprising was how Nixon would then conflate attacks on the press with other perceived enemies including the anti-war movement, Democrats, the justice system, and even historical perception later on down the road.
What I did not realize was that Woodward was a registered Republican who, "...couldn't decide whether he was more uneasy with the disorganization and naive idealism of McGovern's campaign or with Nixon's conduct" (200). Both ideologically and on paper the man was a Republican, yet he chose to abstain from voting and remain an objective investigator. Choosing factual reality over tribal identity-politics is an especially refreshing concept in this day and age.
Overall, I definitely recommend this one, regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum. Nixon got re-elected while all of this was happening, so it is more important than ever that we learn from history, else we be doomed to repeat it.
Trailing events from the initial failed break-in, all the way to uncovering President Nixon's involvement, it was surreally impressive to read Bernstein and Woodward's investigative journey. Especially since their reporting did no follow a simple trail of breadcrumbs, so much as a bizarre series of twists and turns, including Woodward's crazy meetings with the infamous Deep Throat.
What was somewhat chilling given the current state of affairs, was reading in depth about the then President's reaction, "The White House had decided that the conduct of the press, not the conduct of the President's men, was the issue" (162). Empowered by the First Amendment, freedom of the press is essential as they are the front-line of speaking truth to power. Nixon was not firing away on twitter, but his messaging was eerily similar to the current dude.
That said, to read of the White House's flipping the narrative to be a war of credibility between them and the Washington Post was not shocking. Also not surprising was how Nixon would then conflate attacks on the press with other perceived enemies including the anti-war movement, Democrats, the justice system, and even historical perception later on down the road.
What I did not realize was that Woodward was a registered Republican who, "...couldn't decide whether he was more uneasy with the disorganization and naive idealism of McGovern's campaign or with Nixon's conduct" (200). Both ideologically and on paper the man was a Republican, yet he chose to abstain from voting and remain an objective investigator. Choosing factual reality over tribal identity-politics is an especially refreshing concept in this day and age.
Overall, I definitely recommend this one, regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum. Nixon got re-elected while all of this was happening, so it is more important than ever that we learn from history, else we be doomed to repeat it.
"He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart" (176).
Chinua Achabe is great at creating a captivating narrative; that became really clear really fast. Things Fall Apart reads like an immersive fable with remarkably interesting characters. Largely, I found this to be a story about dealing with societal change. You can reach the peak of society, but unless you are able to adapt to changing rules, you will be left struggling to thrive or even survive.
Ukonkwo, the story's protagonist, is able to economically and socially surpass his father Unkoka who he describes as, "...lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow" (4). His accomplishments are largely earned by being physically tough and hard; Ukonkwo does not readily show emotion and looks down on the those he considers to be weak. He belittles empathy and sympathy as being "feminine," scoffing at these sentiments as they are inherently contrary to how he earned his success, and so are innately contrary to his worldview.
Then, as the title would suggest, things fall apart. Okonkwo's stubborn arrogance leads to a very poor decision(s), followed by some poor luck, and he finds himself exiled to his maternal grandfather's village. During this period of uncertainty, European missionaries arrive and further upend the status quo. Now, these hard masculine traits that had once served Ukunkwo so well, prove to be detrimental in this newly emerging world.
Ultimately, while I really loved the narrative, I pretty much hated the character Ukunkwo. Without getting into spoilers, his treatment of his family is pretty horrendous. I really tried to understand the character's motivations within their cultural context, but there are certain actions I could not defend in a "protagonist." Even now I keep oscillating between loving and hating different elements of the book.
That said, I definitely recommend this one; read and decide for yourself.
Chinua Achabe is great at creating a captivating narrative; that became really clear really fast. Things Fall Apart reads like an immersive fable with remarkably interesting characters. Largely, I found this to be a story about dealing with societal change. You can reach the peak of society, but unless you are able to adapt to changing rules, you will be left struggling to thrive or even survive.
Ukonkwo, the story's protagonist, is able to economically and socially surpass his father Unkoka who he describes as, "...lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow" (4). His accomplishments are largely earned by being physically tough and hard; Ukonkwo does not readily show emotion and looks down on the those he considers to be weak. He belittles empathy and sympathy as being "feminine," scoffing at these sentiments as they are inherently contrary to how he earned his success, and so are innately contrary to his worldview.
Then, as the title would suggest, things fall apart. Okonkwo's stubborn arrogance leads to a very poor decision(s), followed by some poor luck, and he finds himself exiled to his maternal grandfather's village. During this period of uncertainty, European missionaries arrive and further upend the status quo. Now, these hard masculine traits that had once served Ukunkwo so well, prove to be detrimental in this newly emerging world.
Ultimately, while I really loved the narrative, I pretty much hated the character Ukunkwo. Without getting into spoilers, his treatment of his family is pretty horrendous. I really tried to understand the character's motivations within their cultural context, but there are certain actions I could not defend in a "protagonist." Even now I keep oscillating between loving and hating different elements of the book.
That said, I definitely recommend this one; read and decide for yourself.
One of my favorite allegories, Animal Farm is a brilliant tale that both details and criticizes the rise of an authoritarian regime. While Orwell was a prominent democratic socialist who championed worker’s rights (see [b:The Road to Wigan Pier|30553|The Road to Wigan Pier|George Orwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1414451091s/30553.jpg|1034643]), he was a vocal critic of Stalin’s vein of totalitarian communism by 1945, the year Animal Farm was published.
Orwell’s ideology actually enabled for him to authentically detail the appeals of socialism, how these principles can be ethically misrepresented, as well as how the misuse of these principles could deteriorate into totalitarian communism. The pig Old Major (a stand in for Marx and Lenin) introduces ideas of animal (workers) solidarity over the tyranny of the human owners (Imperial Monarchy). He dies before he can see his work completed, but pigs Napoleon (Stalin) and Snowball (Trotsky) carry out his vision.
The two pigs lead an animal rebellion, overthrow the human tyrants, transform Manor Farm in ‘Animal Farm,’ and write out the Seven Commandments of Animalism. While difficult for many of the animals to remember, the pigs simplify that the most important Commandment is, “four legs good, two legs bad.” The difference between humans and animals is held as the most important principle.
Snowball, an idealist, wants the animals to become literate, carry out beneficial work projects like a windmill, and create a program to take care of the elderly. Napoleon, an opportunist who is remarkably good at consolidating power, ends up exiling Snowball (oh, Trotsky) and begins instilling his own version of Animalism. Overtime, Napoleon’s Animalism could not be more warped from what it once was, but the animals are unable to object as the pigs begin to re-write history. Due to their lack of literacy and critical analysis, the animals easily fall into a new status quo and accept Napoleon’s version of events as accepted reality.
As time goes on, and the Seven Commandments of Animalism are re-written to suit the needs of the pigs’ regime, a key and telling change is made. What was once simply, “All animals are equal…” comes to then include, “…but some animals are more equal than others.” Only then do the animals seem to horrifically realize the level of malignant social upheaval that has occurred. Animal Farm once again becomes ‘Manor Farm.’ It is here that Orwell clearly identified the key difference between democratic socialism and communism – ‘equality,’ or lack thereof.
Overall, it’s amazing how accurately Orwell pinned the human condition, but you know, with animals. Even the intelligent donkey Benjamin, who choses to be cynically apathetic, rather than using his knowledge to help his friends, is a pretty good example of how even intelligent people can be readily conquered and emotionally defeated. Apathy is only useful to an authoritarian.
This is a great book; I definitely recommend it.
Orwell’s ideology actually enabled for him to authentically detail the appeals of socialism, how these principles can be ethically misrepresented, as well as how the misuse of these principles could deteriorate into totalitarian communism. The pig Old Major (a stand in for Marx and Lenin) introduces ideas of animal (workers) solidarity over the tyranny of the human owners (Imperial Monarchy). He dies before he can see his work completed, but pigs Napoleon (Stalin) and Snowball (Trotsky) carry out his vision.
The two pigs lead an animal rebellion, overthrow the human tyrants, transform Manor Farm in ‘Animal Farm,’ and write out the Seven Commandments of Animalism. While difficult for many of the animals to remember, the pigs simplify that the most important Commandment is, “four legs good, two legs bad.” The difference between humans and animals is held as the most important principle.
Snowball, an idealist, wants the animals to become literate, carry out beneficial work projects like a windmill, and create a program to take care of the elderly. Napoleon, an opportunist who is remarkably good at consolidating power, ends up exiling Snowball (oh, Trotsky) and begins instilling his own version of Animalism. Overtime, Napoleon’s Animalism could not be more warped from what it once was, but the animals are unable to object as the pigs begin to re-write history. Due to their lack of literacy and critical analysis, the animals easily fall into a new status quo and accept Napoleon’s version of events as accepted reality.
As time goes on, and the Seven Commandments of Animalism are re-written to suit the needs of the pigs’ regime, a key and telling change is made. What was once simply, “All animals are equal…” comes to then include, “…but some animals are more equal than others.” Only then do the animals seem to horrifically realize the level of malignant social upheaval that has occurred. Animal Farm once again becomes ‘Manor Farm.’ It is here that Orwell clearly identified the key difference between democratic socialism and communism – ‘equality,’ or lack thereof.
Overall, it’s amazing how accurately Orwell pinned the human condition, but you know, with animals. Even the intelligent donkey Benjamin, who choses to be cynically apathetic, rather than using his knowledge to help his friends, is a pretty good example of how even intelligent people can be readily conquered and emotionally defeated. Apathy is only useful to an authoritarian.
This is a great book; I definitely recommend it.
I think the best way to describe Sputnik Sweetheart is take the premise of Carol, but share events through the tone and lens of a typical Murakami protagonist, you know, an indistinct, purely reactionary dude who eats pasta and sulks in his existential isolation.
While K is just there to relay the narrative, Mui and Sumire are really interesting characters who mysteriously live between different planes of existence. Somewhere between who you once were and currently are and want to be. A feeling located between desired dreams and harsher realities. This is a lonely space, but one that must be examined if you are to truly live.
Murakami captures these complex feelings quite expertly in his works of fiction, nearly all of which feel like very real dreams. What is interesting about this particular book, is that Murakami more or less directly addresses why he writes in this particular style,
"In dreams you don't need to make any distinctions between things. None at all. Boundaries don't exist. So in dreams there are hardly ever collisions. Even if there are, they don't hurt. Reality is different. Reality bites. Really, reality" (136).
Something to ponder late at night when you can't fall asleep.
This is the thirteenth Murakami book I've read, so even though it's objectively great, I still want to fairly assess it against his greater body of work. Still, I definitely enjoyed it, even if there were less cats than usual.
While K is just there to relay the narrative, Mui and Sumire are really interesting characters who mysteriously live between different planes of existence. Somewhere between who you once were and currently are and want to be. A feeling located between desired dreams and harsher realities. This is a lonely space, but one that must be examined if you are to truly live.
Murakami captures these complex feelings quite expertly in his works of fiction, nearly all of which feel like very real dreams. What is interesting about this particular book, is that Murakami more or less directly addresses why he writes in this particular style,
"In dreams you don't need to make any distinctions between things. None at all. Boundaries don't exist. So in dreams there are hardly ever collisions. Even if there are, they don't hurt. Reality is different. Reality bites. Really, reality" (136).
Something to ponder late at night when you can't fall asleep.
This is the thirteenth Murakami book I've read, so even though it's objectively great, I still want to fairly assess it against his greater body of work. Still, I definitely enjoyed it, even if there were less cats than usual.
Show up to someone's digs uninvited, eat mysteriously labeled food, and since you cannot understand the accepted social norms of polite conversation default to excessively talking about your cat - Alice is a girl after my own heart.
Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has been on my to-read list for probably more than a couple decades. I feel that it's so universally well known that I would reference it pretty frequently, even before I even read it. So actually sitting down with it was a real treat. It's such a kooky tale that so clearly captures the turmoil of adolescence with fun allegory and puns. So many puns!
The smoking Caterpillar, a moaning Mock Turtle, and a smiling Cheshire Cat - these are some of my favorite anthropomorphic creatures in literature. I find life to be innately absurd, so it's hard not to delight in such outrageous individuals. Generally speaking, people (and animals) do not have to make themselves accessibly understood, we all operate in different head spaces, so best to just accept weirdness as is. Life is more fun that way.
Alice in Wonderland is also a really good coming-of-age tale. As she explains to the Mock Turtle, "I could tell you my adventures--beginning from this morning... but it's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then" (200). As you grow up your body uncomfortably changes into weird sizes, your proclivities are subject to fluctuate (except your love for your cat, of course), your assumptions are challenged by new ideas - becoming an adult is remarkably disorienting. But that don't mean you can't still find joy in a chaotic world, and that's what Alice does so well.
The book is great, I definitely recommend it. Also, while the story has so many cool editions out there, I would still recommend the one with Andrea D'Aquino's illustrations. It's good art and presentation.
Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has been on my to-read list for probably more than a couple decades. I feel that it's so universally well known that I would reference it pretty frequently, even before I even read it. So actually sitting down with it was a real treat. It's such a kooky tale that so clearly captures the turmoil of adolescence with fun allegory and puns. So many puns!
The smoking Caterpillar, a moaning Mock Turtle, and a smiling Cheshire Cat - these are some of my favorite anthropomorphic creatures in literature. I find life to be innately absurd, so it's hard not to delight in such outrageous individuals. Generally speaking, people (and animals) do not have to make themselves accessibly understood, we all operate in different head spaces, so best to just accept weirdness as is. Life is more fun that way.
Alice in Wonderland is also a really good coming-of-age tale. As she explains to the Mock Turtle, "I could tell you my adventures--beginning from this morning... but it's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then" (200). As you grow up your body uncomfortably changes into weird sizes, your proclivities are subject to fluctuate (except your love for your cat, of course), your assumptions are challenged by new ideas - becoming an adult is remarkably disorienting. But that don't mean you can't still find joy in a chaotic world, and that's what Alice does so well.
The book is great, I definitely recommend it. Also, while the story has so many cool editions out there, I would still recommend the one with Andrea D'Aquino's illustrations. It's good art and presentation.
Written in honor of the activist Medgar Evers and young Emmett Till, James Baldwin crafted a great play that still resonates to this day with Blues for Mister Charlie.
Taking place in a southern U.S. town, the stage of the play is split into Whitetown and Blacktown, where the audience can witness different perspectives and reactions from characters in response to the murder of young, black Richard who has just returned home from the North. His murder is cruel, and watching how an entire community gets gaslight and belittled for even seeking justice is heart-wrenching.
What is so great about this play is that Baldwin's protagonists are not pure martyrs, but real and complex characters. Parnell, the sympathetic white man who pushes for a trial against Lyel and longs to be just, still struggles with giving up his privilege as a white man. Richard's family and friends lie about Richard having owned a gun before the jury. Mind you, this gun played no role in the actual murder, but that and Richard's time in the North are key pieces of "evidence" in painting Richard as a dangerous man.
The ensuing court case is intense. Lyel, the murderer, is an undeniably contemptible individual, who forces his wife Jo to lie about Richard attempting to rape her. She also gives her husband a false alibi that contradicts her previous testimony. Ultimately, in a court what should matter are the material facts and witnesses related to a crime. Instead the court dissolves into a trial on the victim's character, even black character in general.
Rather than cross-examining obvious inconsistencies in Lyel's story, the prosecutor (with support from the judge) asks inherently prejudicial questions that belittle Richard, and the people who hope to defend his good name. The prosecution harps on Richard's past of substance abuse and time spent in the North with white women; moot arguments that have nothing to do with the facts.
This play was published in 1964, though I find it holds great relevance in 2018. Even today, whenever you see a young black man who has been killed on the news, almost immediately his character is put on trial. The victim is persecuted with greater severity than the (suspected) murderer. The reaction is still too eerily similar.
With that in mind, I would absolutely recommend this play. It's tough content that provides important food for thought.
Taking place in a southern U.S. town, the stage of the play is split into Whitetown and Blacktown, where the audience can witness different perspectives and reactions from characters in response to the murder of young, black Richard who has just returned home from the North. His murder is cruel, and watching how an entire community gets gaslight and belittled for even seeking justice is heart-wrenching.
What is so great about this play is that Baldwin's protagonists are not pure martyrs, but real and complex characters. Parnell, the sympathetic white man who pushes for a trial against Lyel and longs to be just, still struggles with giving up his privilege as a white man. Richard's family and friends lie about Richard having owned a gun before the jury. Mind you, this gun played no role in the actual murder, but that and Richard's time in the North are key pieces of "evidence" in painting Richard as a dangerous man.
The ensuing court case is intense. Lyel, the murderer, is an undeniably contemptible individual, who forces his wife Jo to lie about Richard attempting to rape her. She also gives her husband a false alibi that contradicts her previous testimony. Ultimately, in a court what should matter are the material facts and witnesses related to a crime. Instead the court dissolves into a trial on the victim's character, even black character in general.
Rather than cross-examining obvious inconsistencies in Lyel's story, the prosecutor (with support from the judge) asks inherently prejudicial questions that belittle Richard, and the people who hope to defend his good name. The prosecution harps on Richard's past of substance abuse and time spent in the North with white women; moot arguments that have nothing to do with the facts.
This play was published in 1964, though I find it holds great relevance in 2018. Even today, whenever you see a young black man who has been killed on the news, almost immediately his character is put on trial. The victim is persecuted with greater severity than the (suspected) murderer. The reaction is still too eerily similar.
With that in mind, I would absolutely recommend this play. It's tough content that provides important food for thought.
Sadly, this was not the Christmas treat I was hoping for; I got this book over a decade ago thinking it would be a fun exploration of a holiday from a scientific perspective. After finally reading it I found it to be a boring hodgepodge of mostly nonsense.
For something that is called The Physics of Christmas, physics is not really discussed in great depth until chapter 11, "Santa's Science." Instead it contains snippets of anthropology, sociology, chemistry, religious studies, history, psychology, and astrology to explain different arbitrary xmas-y themes.
This may just be a pet peeve of mine, but I felt that many of these concepts were poorly developed given their shallow setups, and worse they were poorly cited. If you do not cite your sources, or at least provide the proper context for them, it is really hard for the work to come off as anything more than glittery bullshit.
I also found it to be quite boring, but that is a matter of personal preference. A good litmus test - if you find the following quote fun and whimsical, ignore my critiques. If you find this quote to be dry and tedious, then you probably also won't like this book, "Ritual alcoholic abuse of the body has gone on for thousands of years, thanks to one of the most ancient techniques of biotechnology--the fermentation of fruit and grain by activity of fungi called yeasts" (188). There you go.
I'll admit I've probably been spoiled by too much greatly produced PBS content, so maybe I'm nitpicky. I know Highfield wanted to negate the notion that quantifying something magical would detract the experience, but sadly I don't think he succeeded. I was demystified. Anyways, this book is on my naughty list, but feel free to decide for yourself.
For something that is called The Physics of Christmas, physics is not really discussed in great depth until chapter 11, "Santa's Science." Instead it contains snippets of anthropology, sociology, chemistry, religious studies, history, psychology, and astrology to explain different arbitrary xmas-y themes.
This may just be a pet peeve of mine, but I felt that many of these concepts were poorly developed given their shallow setups, and worse they were poorly cited. If you do not cite your sources, or at least provide the proper context for them, it is really hard for the work to come off as anything more than glittery bullshit.
I also found it to be quite boring, but that is a matter of personal preference. A good litmus test - if you find the following quote fun and whimsical, ignore my critiques. If you find this quote to be dry and tedious, then you probably also won't like this book, "Ritual alcoholic abuse of the body has gone on for thousands of years, thanks to one of the most ancient techniques of biotechnology--the fermentation of fruit and grain by activity of fungi called yeasts" (188). There you go.
I'll admit I've probably been spoiled by too much greatly produced PBS content, so maybe I'm nitpicky. I know Highfield wanted to negate the notion that quantifying something magical would detract the experience, but sadly I don't think he succeeded. I was demystified. Anyways, this book is on my naughty list, but feel free to decide for yourself.