Author Archives: smellincoffee

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About smellincoffee

Citizen, librarian, reader with a boundless wonder for the world and a curiosity about all the beings inside it.

This Week at the Library (30/9)

Posted on September 30, 2009 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: Fates Worse than Death, Kurt Vonnegut The Wisdom of Harry Potter, Edmund Kern Our Chosen Faith: an introduction to Unitarian Universalism, F. Forrester Church and John A. Buehrens Flim Flam!, Rames Randi I’m growing steadily more busy … Continue reading →

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Flim Flam!

Posted on September 30, 2009 by smellincoffee

Flim Flam! The Truth About Unicorns, Parapsychology and Other Delusions© 1980 James Randi340 pages In times past I have read authors following their appearances on a favorite podcast of mine, Point of Inquiry, and that’s partly the reason I decided … Continue reading →

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Our Chosen Faith

Posted on September 29, 2009 by smellincoffee

Our Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism© 1989 John A. Buehrens and the now late F. Forrester Church195 pages I’ve long been aware of the Unitarian Universalist church, ever since I read of a character in California Diaries mentioned … Continue reading →

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The Wisdom of Harry Potter

Posted on September 27, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Fvorite Hero Teaches Us about Moral Choices © 2003 Edmund M. Kern 296 pages including notes and index. Although I’m interested in the transmission of philosophy through literature or similar means, I’m still … Continue reading →

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Fates Worse than Death

Posted on September 25, 2009 by smellincoffee

Fates Worse than Death © 1990 Kurt Vonnegut 240 pages Kurt Vonnegut’s Fates Worse than Death is a collection of semi-autobiographical essays that function as reflections of portions of Vonnegut’s life. The essay texts come chiefly from lectures given by … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (24/9)

Posted on September 23, 2009 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: Constantinople: the Forgotten Empire, Isaac Asimov In Praise of Slowness, Carl Honoré Rubicon, Steven Saylor Barrel Fever, David Sedaris I began the week with a little history by Asimov. This was the first time I’ve read any … Continue reading →

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Barrel Fever

Posted on September 23, 2009 by smellincoffee

Barrel Fever: Stories and Essays© 1995 David Sedaris208 pages Three years ago I heard David Sedaris talk about his experience living in Paris and was immediately taken by his style of humor. I don’t know how to articulate the Sedaris … Continue reading →

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Rubicon

Posted on September 20, 2009 by smellincoffee

Rubicon © 1999 Steven Saylor 276 pages “Alea iacta est.”/”The die is cast.” / “Let the game begin!” – Julius Caesar “The most honest man in Rome! No wonder nobody likes you.” (Pompey, to Gordianus.) Murder on the Appian Way … Continue reading →

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In Praise of Slowness

Posted on September 19, 2009 by smellincoffee

In Praise of Slowness: How a Worldwide Movement is Challenging the Cult of Speed © Carl Honoré 2004 310 pages I have been living philosophically for over a year now, and as time passes I am attracted more and more … Continue reading →

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Constantinople: the Forgotten Empire

Posted on September 19, 2009 by smellincoffee

Constantinople: the Forgotten Empire © Isaac Asimov 1970 289 pages The history of the eastern Roman empire, ruled from Constantinople, has long been a weak point in my own historical literacy. When I spotted a book on its history by … Continue reading →

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