As we are now near Christmas, and as I am willing to do a best of of what I read in the past months, I will outline in today’s article my favourite readings of 2007.
From science fiction and comic books, to serious readings on sustainable development and astrophotography, I recommend you a dozen articles, one per month.
This way you will find some ideas of great books for your loved ones or yourselves. And if you really want to offer me a book, you can a look at this page.
Sustainable development books :
- Le plein s’il vous plait by Jean-Marc Jancovici and Alain Grandjean
200 pages | Grade : 18/20
A great book explaining that the only way to decrease our greenhouse gases emissions would be to put a tax on fossil fuels energy sources.
An important part of the book explains very well the problems that are peak oil and climate change and just for this it is a must read.
I wrote an article in May 2007 dedicated to it. Read the review. (in French)
- Collapse how societies choose to fail or succeed, by Jared Diamond, Ph.D
575 pages | Grade : 20/20
Dr. Jared Diamond is a writer of genius. In Collapse he tackles the disappearance of societies throughout history in a great way. From the Vikings to the Maya, several civilizations disappeared in tragic conditions.
To the many newspapers that reviewed it is an excellent book on global History, Geography and many other sciences.
Collapse is a fantastic book on Sustainable Development as the causes that contribute to the fall of these civilizations could also strike again nowadays with our societies. Simply a must read to which I dedicated a laudatory review.
- The Revenge of Gaïa, by James Lovelock
175 pages | Grade : 16/20
I finished this one recently and plan to do a complete review on this one. Lovelock is the father of the Gaïa theory.
He consider that Earth and Mankind are such in a dangerous position that nuclear energy is the only solution to enable us to operate a sustainable retreat from a full scale global heating.
Lovelock also provides a good review of the various meanings we can use to avoid the worse.
A book that I would recommend to those of you that are strongly interested by climate change and already have a good understanding of energy scarcity. The review will come with time (two weeks…)
Sci-fi books :
- A fire upon the deep, by Vernor Vinge
800 pages | Grade : 19/20
What can be considered as the sequel, thousands year later, of A deepness in the sky (see below) as they both take place in the impressive and coherent universe created by Vinge.
Albeit the fact I read it in summer 2006, I have fond memories of this sci-fi masterpiece. It was awarded a Hugo award in 1993, a sign of quality for this genre.
Definitively a great book. If you like sci-fi, it is an essential reading I strongly recommend you.
- A deepness in the sky, by Vernor Vinge
1,000 pages | Grade : 20/20
I really loved this impressive book and dedicated to it my Cultural break of April 2007. Another Hugo award winner (2000).
The fact I give it the maximum grade states it all. To me, Vernor Vinge is one of the best sci-fi authors.
- L’île mystérieuse by Jules Verne (The mysterious island)
900 pages | Grade : 18/20.
A great book by the one of the best French writers of the XIXth century. I already read this sci-fi /anticipation book when I was a teen but decided to re-read as it is excellent.
The plot is simple. Five ingenious and hard-working men are cast away in a desert island. The book tells how they try to survive.
It is such a great book I dedicated to it my Cultural break of July 2007.
- Chasm City, by Alastair Reynolds
1,000 pages | Grade : 17/20.
A sci-fi story telling the tale of a manhunt through time and space. A book I recommend too if you like the genre and particularly space operas.
Funny books :
- The color of Magic, by Terry Pratchett
200 pages | Grade : 17/20
A very good and very funny book. The first book of the Discworld series, this book tells the adventures of Rincewind, a failed wizard are hilarious. The perfect reading for gray and rainy days.
- The light fantastic, by Terry Pratchett
200 pages | Grade : 18/20
Even better than the previous one, The light fantastic is simply excellent book that is packed with jokes and puns that will make you laugh out loud for hours. A must read.
Astronomy and astrophotography
- Astrophotographie, by Thierry Legault
160 pages | Grade : 18/20.
This book is considered as a must read for the wannabe astrophotographer.
From the very beginning with simple material to the top of top pictures, this book explains it all.
Comics
- The Complete Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson
1,500 pages | 20/20.
The most renown Calvin and Hobbes was published during ten years in many US newspapers. This box set proposes you ALL comics strips.
For less than 90€, I read and laugh out loud for hours and hours thanks to the inventive stories of Calvin, a six-year old hyperactive kid and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes. A real bargain
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