johnfial_qr8lrr Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, Eric Schlosser ($10, amazon.com link) …”the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) later fined National Beef for its negligence. The fine was $480 for each man’s death.” This book was released in 2001, I read it in 2013, and I’m writing this report in 2015. I … Read more
The Five Love Languages Gift Edition: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, Gary D. Chapman, 1995 (Read 2012, reviewed 2015/2017)(amazon.com link) “In the context of marriage, if we do not feel loved, our differences are magnified. We come to view each other as a threat to our happiness. We fight for self-worth and … Read more
Be Here Now (1971/2012, read 2012) ($6, amazon.com link) Ram Dass After writing reports on Sam Harris’ Waking Up and Ekhart Toller’s The Power of Now, I see that this book is the same message mystics and philosophers have said for millennia. But I read it before my own “waking up” experience in 2013, … Read more
A few months ago, a member of my gym asked, “You recommend lithium for everyone, but do you think lithium specifically affects athletic performance?” Yes, yes I do. Like much about biology — and everything about lithium — we don’t understand the exact mechanisms very well. But here’s why lithium affects athletic performance. Table of … Read more
Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology, Johnjoe McFadden “Dig deeper and you will always find quantum mechanics lurking at the heart of our familiar reality.” Remember this. This is probably the most intellectually challenging book I’ve ever read, but it was worth it, and I’m as excited to review it … Read more
As always, the short version: Congratulations on being among the first 25 people to subscribe to this list! In this email: a note about drugs, a few big ways I’ve changed my mind, and some thoughts on cryptocurrency investing. The first link in the final section, “Quiet website changes,” is one of the most important … Read more
1 May 2017 Hullo everyone! I’m building an email list, and this particular “email #0” serves several purposes: To ask you to subscribe to future johnfial.com emails at www.johnfial.com/subscribe/ . That should take about 20 seconds. This one-time email was sent manually and you have NOT been subscribed to any list. Future emails (on the list) will be much … Read more
Hello! — If you’re new to my blog… how about reading What “Inclusion” Means to Me first? 2022 Addendum #1 — Written in 2017 when my wife was pregnant, this essay has recieved some disproportionate traffic lately. Although I disagree with a few sentences here and there, and I’m delighted to see more visible female … Read more
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex 2009, Mary Roach (Read 2012, Reviewed 2015/2017)($10-14, amazon.com link) “All good research—whether for science or for a book—is a form of obsession.” This was a good book on sex… but it was not a great book on sex. Perhaps I am too biased with the books I’ve read before … Read more
Disclaimer Do not read this webpage. This is satire. If you do not know what satire is, stop here and leave immediately. If you do know what satire is, leave anyway, as you and readers like you are even more dangerous. The comments on this web page are not intended to provoke, stimulate, or encourage any violent … Read more