This week: commerce, trade, and shipping

This past week at the library I’ve been mostly reading into commerce and trade, and reviews are posted or will be for all except for Point of Purchase, a “history of how shopping changed America”.  This was a history of American shopping, largely, with some attempt to read meaning into browsing and acquisition;  Consumers’ Republic did that better.  My most recent read was Ninety Percent of Everything, a library book I imagine I’ll end up buying since I dropped it onto a rain-soaked pavement and then splashed coffee onto it for good measure. I wouldn’t mind owning it, as it made for a fantastic read. At least I didn’t overturn an entire glass of milk onto it as in eighth  grade, when I utterly ruined a copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls.  I’m not usually this abusive to books, honest.

Currently I’m engrossed in The White War, a history of the Italo-Austrian front of the Great War. It’s quite impressive so far. Next in the Great War books will be one on airplanes or ships, I think, and then I’ll examine the Eastern Front. Those interested in the war may find a recently-created Twitter handle of note; "RealTimeWW1" will be posting 'news articles' from the war. Presently the fighting hasn't broken out yet. There were a couple of WW1 books on NetGalleys I was hoping to read, but I'm told the advanced review copies are reserved for English-types. Alas. (It's been ages since I read anything from NetGalleys; the last might have well been To End All Wars, on anti-war action in England during the conflict.)

Reviews are  in the works for for Human Scale and Away Down South. 

Books in the "News"

Today's Econtalk podcast features an interview with Chuck Marohn, author of "Building Strong Towns".  Considering that I listen to both of their shows weekly, today's is a special delight. 

The most recent episode of AstronomyCast features an interview with Phil Plait on the topic, "The Universe is Trying to Kill You". Dr. Plait draws from his book, Death from the Skies.