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Author Archives: Harry Katz
Carpenter v. United States
Today, instead of a book review, I’m going to take a plunge into law review. I want to look at the decision of the United States Supreme Court in a case called Carpenter v. United States announced on June 22. … Continue reading
Posted in Law and justice, Politics
Tagged cell phone, Fourth Amendment, law review, privacy, rights, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
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Seven Books in Seven Days
I recently did one of those social media challenges where you’re supposed to post one thing each day for seven days. In this case, the “one thing” was the cover of a book you love. I thought I’d recap my … Continue reading
Posted in Books
Tagged book challenge, book review, book reviews, books, favorite books
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Fascism: A Warning
When she spoke to an adoring, packed house at Seattle’s Paramount Theater on the evening of April, 24, 2018, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright stated clearly that she was not accusing President Donald Trump of being a Fascist. But, … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Politics
Tagged book review, democracy, Donald Trump, fascism, foreign policy, Madeleine Albright, nonfiction, trump
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All the Light We Cannot See
All the Light We Cannot See By Anthony Doerr Scribner, New York, 2014 I’m not quite sure what to make of this book. It’s beautifully constructed, like an intricate puzzle box. All the pieces fit together with precision and artistry. … Continue reading
Posted in Books
Tagged All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr, book review, book reviews, books, fiction, novels, Saint Malo, World War II
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Tom Wolfe: A Tribute
I first encountered Tom Wolfe’s writing, or at least his books, as a young child, when a hardback copy of The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby arrived at our house in Oakville, Ontario, about 25 miles west of Toronto. If I … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Writing
Tagged essays, journalism, obituary, The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe, writing
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Factfulness
First things first: if you’ve never seen any of Hans Rosling’s TED Talks, please go and watch this one right now. His talks are way more important than my blog. (But come right back!) * * * Isn’t he fantastic! … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Health and wellness
Tagged book review, critical thinking, development, Factfulness, global health, Hans Rosling, health care, progress, public health, thinking
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Enlightenment Now
We seem to be living in a time of perpetual crisis. It feels like the whole world is going off the rails. Everything decent seems to be under attack. We’re bombarded daily by reports of mass shootings and terrorist bombings. … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Politics
Tagged book review, development, enlightenment, Enlightenment Now, humanism, nonfiction, progress, reason, science, Steven Pinker
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The Left Hand of Darkness
The Left Hand of Darkness By Ursula K. LeGuin Walker and Company, New York, 1969 I read The Left Hand of Darkness a long time ago, back in my university days I think. It popped back up to the top … Continue reading
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinciby Walter IsaacsonSimon & Schuster, New York, 2017 The first thing you notice about Walter Isaacson’s latest book, Leonardo da Vinci, is its weight. This is a hefty tome. It tips the scales at three pounds even (1360g … Continue reading
Posted in Books
Tagged art, biography, books, Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa, painting, science, Vitruvian Man, Walter Isaacson
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Video: What the Future of Energy Means for Canada
A link to this panel discussion cane across my FB feed and I wanted to share it here in a brief post. http://singularityucanadasummit.org/event/debate-future-energy-means-canada/ The context is Canadian but the perspective is definitely global. Really intelligent, though-provoking discussion about the energy … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Environment, Politics
Tagged Canada, climate change, decarbomization, Energy, Environment, fossil fuel, transportation
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