Jim Baen's Universe. Help Save Science Fiction

Recommended Reading for a Well-Rounded Education
[Under Construction: Last Updated 06-06-07]

 

     I don't intend to provide an exhaustive list here. Even if I tried something would no doubt be left out. Rather, this (growing) list is intended to showcase books, articles and the like that I think most people are unfortunately uaware of and probably won't read in school or hear about in the media. Not all the categories may interest you, but I think most are essential reading for most people. I will next be adding categories on political philosophy and economy.

Please, let me know if any of the links don't work.

Ritual Disclaimer: Listing and linking to the following items should not be taken as an endorsement of every single detail of the arguments within them or of every other view the authors may have. If you want to know exactly what I think, read my own words on the subjects in question.

 

On Fiction Writing and Literary Criticism

Litarary Criticism: I think it is useful for writers to see writing from the critic's point of view.

Writing Guides:

Online Essays:

  • "On Thud and Blunder" by Poul Anderson. A seminal essay on avoiding common pitfalls in heroic fantasy. There are some moderately insightful economic observations as well.

 

On Environmentalism and Global Warming
(Under Construction)

  • My View: You might consider me a free market environmentalist who puts humans first. You can read more about free market environmentalism below. On the issue of global warming, I am willing to accept that its cause is anthropogenic (although like any good scientist I retain some doubt and therefore do not dismiss the AGW skeptics out of hand). In this and in terms of the possible magnitude and effects of AGW, I tend to agree more with the mainstream skeptics (see below): I think that global warming will not be all that severe and its effects will be bad for some, good for others, on balance possibly more beneficial than harmful. Climate change is natural (although in the current case perhaps also anthropogenic) and constant. The environment does not have any (intrinsic or agent-neutral) value in and of itself in any state, be it the status quo or natural or some other. The value of our environment in any particular state can only be determined the requirements of human flourishing and by individual human valuations as revealed by their demonstrated preferences. The free market is the best means of promoting human flourishing while simultaneously utilizing and protecting the environment in accordance with those preferences. Statist policies are not only immoral but will be ineffective at best, counterproductive at worst (both in terms of protecting the environment and in terms of benefiting human beings). For more on my view, follow the link above or one of the links to specific subjects below.
  • Hard Critics/Skeptics: They don't necessarily deny that the global climate is warming, but they deny that humans are causing it or that we are a significant cause. Also severely critical of alarmist claims about the effects of global warming.
    • Richard S. Lindzen, Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • EnviroSpin Watch (UK Blog by Professor Philip Stott)
    • CO2 Science
    • Donald W. Miller, Jr., MD, "Solar and Celestial Causes of Global Warming," LewRockwell.com (March 16, 2007).
    • Frank van Dun, "Science vs. Consensus: 'Global Warming Skepticism' for the Layman."
    • Michael Crichton, State of Fear: A Novel (New York: HarperCollins, 2004). Yes, it is a novel but it is a novel with footnotes and MC cites real scientific research from published books and peer-reviewed journal articles. MC gives a summary of his own views on the environment as well as an extensive bibliography in appendices. The book does a decent, if not top-notch, job of dramatizing the important issues, although the conspiracy theory underlying the main plot is a bit much. If he is wrong on aspects of the science, he does not appear to be so any more than Al Gore. Crichton does have an M.D., by the way, for those who think he is merely a science fiction writer.
    • CBC Documentary (2005): Global Warming - Doomsday Called Off (On YouTube: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
    • UK Channel 4 Documentary (2007): The Great Global Warming Swindle (Google Video, YouTube, RealPlayer Download).
    • Czech President Vaclav Klaus (2007): Environmentalism as Religion (Cato Speech and Interview).
    • IQ2 Global Warming Debate: According to before and after polls, the skeptics clearly won in the eyes of the audience.
  • Science Books, Articles, Websites and Blogs that Complicate the Picture:
    • Books:
    • Articles:
    • Websites:
      • ICECAP: International Climate and Environmental Change Assessment Project. These scientists argue that there is an escessive focus on GHGs to the neglect of other anthropogenic climate forcings as well as an excessive reliance on computer models to the negelct of real data.
      • SurfaceStations.org: Documenting improper placement and maintenance of near surface air temperature stations.
    • Blogs:
      • Climate Science: Roger Pielke Sr. Research Group Weblog. Argues that the role of CO2 is overstated relative to other anthropogenic climate forcings and that IPCC computer climate models have a miserable predictive skill.
      • ClimateAudit: McIntyre is not an academic but he has published in scientific peer-reviewed journals, primarily discrediting Mann's famous "hockey stick" graph. As late as March 2007, he stated that he still has not made up his mind on whether there is a global warming crisis.

 

Insurgency, Guerrilla Warfare, and Underground Operations