The Making of Incarnation

by Tom McCarthy

All bells and whistles

But very little substance to latch onto. While it has a soupçon of Borges, Neal Stephenson and Cheaper by the Dozen, it only reminded me of how much more enjoyable those would be.

Ostensibly a sort of deconstructed look at elements coming together in a science fiction blockbuster film, there's not much of a plot, just details that spin themselves out into disquisitions.

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The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
by Richard P. Feynman

A motley collection of shorter works by Feynman on vastly different subjects from different points in his career. Generally interesting, but no real blockbusters. His essay on 'cargo cult science' has a great theme of scientific skepticism.

Feynman also reads much better when he's been filtered through Ralph Leighton. His own writing is a bit rough. It's funny because he was such an engaging speaker, but I guess he needs that animating live touch.