Book Log 2021 #46: Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill

As feared, robots have risen up and wiped out humanity. Earth is now ruled by competing collections of AI called One World Intelligences, which are trying to bring all robots under their sway while they compete with one another to become the actual one OWI.

Not all robots are buying into this, which is how we meet Brittle, a caretaker robot who wants to maintain their independence. Brittle is living in the Sea of Rust - a large wasteland in the American midwest - where there are other robots who aren't part of the OWI. Some, like Brittle, want to remain independent, others are broken beyond control or repair.

Brittle herself is in danger of breaking down, and has to enter into an alliance with other rogue robots in order to find new parts and fend off a scavenger robot who would like to break her up for parts. As the group travels through the sea, Brittle remembers life with humans and her part in the revolution. While Brittle can't experience emotions, she does seem to experience regret at what she's done.

A robot revolution isn't exactly a new topic for science fiction, but I did like how this book took the typical story - humans fighting for survival against the machines - and created an intra-robot conflict out of it.  The robots often seem human, though there are regular reminders throughout that they are, in fact, machines.

I liked this quite a bit, and will have to check out the sequel at some point.

 Book Log 2021 #45: Paddle Your Own Canoe by Nick Offerman

When the reading challenge I was doing required listening to an audiobook, I only had one criteria: it had to be short. I'm not really an audiobook listener, and didn't want to get sucked into a 15+ hour commitment. What I discovered pretty quickly is that celebrity memoirs tended to be on the short side, and often had the bonus of being read by the author. Which is how I wound up filling my earholes with the story of how Nick Offerman became Ron Swanson.

Well, not really, But it was easy to see (I mean hear) how aspects of Offerman's life informed that character, from an appreciation of the outdoors to his woodworking skills to a love of quality meats. 

I also learned that Offerman really, really likes weed.  Maybe that's part of Ron Swanson's subtext?

The book is part biography, part manly advice manual, and while I thought the former part was stronger than the latter I did enjoy the book as a whole. Unfortunately, by listening to the audiobook I did not get to see the illustrations (some of which are on the page linked above,) which are pretty amusing.

 Book Log 2021 #44: Sweetness and Blood by Michael Scott Moore

This book details how surfing spread from Hawaii to California and then to the world, with the author checking out the surf scene in locations as disparate as Germany, Gaza, Cuba, and Morocco. While his investigations into the roots of surfing in these locations were interesting and often insightful as to how surfing fits in with the local culture, I did find it odd that he didn't go to some of the more notable surf areas, like Australia, Tahiti, or Nazare, the Portuguese town known for its gigantic waves. Maybe those stops were too obvious.

I did like this book, but I think I was looking for a different book about surfing when I checked this one out. Never did figure out what that book was supposed to be, but this was a pretty good alternative.

Not long after writing this book Moore was kidnapped while researching Somali piracy, and was held captive for three years before being ransomed. I have not read his book about that ordeal, but may have to soon.

 Book Log 2021 #43: The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen

This sequel to The Sympathizer sees that book's main character set up in Paris, where they've landed after a bout of reeducation in Vietnam. He falls in with a left wing crowd while he and his friend establish themselves in the drug trade. The narrator continues to struggle with identity, both ethnic (being both Vietnamese and French) and ideological (no longer being communist but still interested in leftist politics). He also has to figure out how to reconcile his best friend with a common friend who, in large part, is responsible for their current situation.

It went back and read some reviews, and it was interesting to see how they differed on whether or not you needed to read The Sympathizer before reading this book. Suffice it to say there was no consensus; it went from one review saying you didn't have to to another saying you'd be lost without doing so.  My vote would be to read The Sympathizer first, as it will help you sort out relationships and plot points a bit. I'd also say it might be worth reading them back to back (as if they're two volumes of a single work), but even if you can't do that you should read both of them at whatever pace you're good with.

 Book Log 2021 #42: The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

Hygge is a Danish concept for a feeling of comfort and happiness brought on by being with people we love in a favored setting. Think of being curled up by the fire with the drink and individual of your choice.

I missed that hygge had a moment in the US (I'm sure the morning talk shows covered it), which is what helped bring this book about. Denmark is often listed as one of the happiest countries on Earth, and in this book Wiking (the CEO of something called the Happiness Research Institute) explains what hygge is and how to live a more hygge-centric lifestyle.

Suffice it to say there's a reason why hygge only had a moment in the US. It's focus on slowing down, unplugging, and living more intentionally doesn't really align with the common American grind-first mindset. That being said, I liked the book and thought its suggestions were achievable, assuming you can fit them in between side hustles.

 Book Log 2021 #41: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

When a local construction magnate goes missing in the midst of being investigated for various corporate crimes, the promise of a reward for information on his whereabouts inspires Aza Holmes to enlist her best friend in trying to find him. Complicating matters: her OCD and anxiety, and the burgeoning relationship with the missing man's son that starts during her investigation.

Green noted that this was his first book to directly address mental health issues like those he's faced.  I think he successfully translated his personal experience to the book, though I'll admit to not having direct experience with OCD or anxiety, so take my option for what it's worth. More generally, I did find the book engaging and enjoyed the sort of details that one would expect from a Vlog Brother.