Review of "Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization" by Neil deGrasse Tyson

 

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson, an American astrophysicist, is the Director of the Hayden Planetarium, the host of 'Star Talk' and 'Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey', a devotee of Twitter, and the author of many popular science books. In this narrative, Tyson strives to demonstrate that a scientific approach to issues - by which Tyson means taking 'opinions' out of the equation and relying on 'proven facts' - would reduce strife among people. I dare say Tyson is correct, but universal scientific expertise is a high mountain to climb.

In his preface Tyson writes, "Starry Messenger recasts some of the most discussed and debated topics of our times - war, politics, religion, truth, beauty, gender, race, each an artificial battlefield on the landscape of life - and returns them to the reader in ways that foster accountability and wisdom in the service of civilization." In other words, Tyson means to convey a trove of insights conveyed by the methods and tools of science.


The scientific method is used to determine facts and truth



It's indisputable that humanity's understanding of the universe has undergone dramatic changes over time. An early example would be Galileo's observation in 1610 that Earth is NOT the center of all motion, that the Earth orbits the sun as just one of other known planets. For many people, this was an intolerable assertion, and it took time for this 'fact' to be widely accepted.


Galileo

Scientific knowledge and human responses progressed over the centuries, and - in modern times - has advanced at lightning speed. Tyson provides some examples:

❃ Between 1900 and 1930, the existence of atoms is confirmed; the range of flight extends from 120 feet to 5,218 miles; we learn to use radio waves as a source of information and entertainment; urban transportation shifts from horses to automobiles; cities are electrified; and cinema becomes a leading source of recreation.


The first electric street lights

❃ From 1930 to 1960, airplanes break the sound barrier; we see the beginning of the space age; the laser is invented; atom bombs are used; and television becomes an important source of information and entertainment.


A Soviet technician works on Sputnik, the first spacecraft launched

❃ From 1960 to 1990, transistors allow consumer electronics to miniaturize; women enter the workforce in large numbers, especially in professional fields; the modern gay rights movement takes off due to the AIDS epidemic; computers go from expensive room-size machines to desktop models; widespread use of MRIs help doctors diagnose illness without surgery; and humans go to the Moon.


Neil Armstrong, the first person on the moon

❃ From 1990 to 2020, we map the human genome; computers become portable; the World Wide Web becomes widespread - so e-commerce and searchable websites become commonplace; the use of email grows pervasive; smartphones grant access to music, media, and the internet and contain cameras; Global Position Satellites (GPS) and navigation tools serve everything from tracking packages to hailing a car service; and electric cars become available.


Smartphones become commonplace

The world in 1930 would be unrecognizable to people transported from the year 1900; the world in 1960 would be unrecognizable to people transported from the year 1930; and so on. And it's impossible to know what the world will be like in 2050.



Tyson would like to see scientific advances used in the furtherance of enlightened democracy. He writes, "One of the great features of a working democracy is that we get to disagree without killing one another. What happens when democracy fails? What happens when we hold no tolerance for views that differ from our own?.......The consequence is war." Human conflicts frequently arise over politics, over what God or gods people worship, over access to limited resources (oil and gas), clean water, mineral deposits, precious metals, and so on.

Tyson believes science could help curb such disputes. He notes, "In our cosmic backyard, solar energy is ubiquitous, as are freshwater comets. Metallic asteroids are there too....the big ones each contain more gold and rare-earth metals than have ever been mined in the history of the world.....And just imagine when all of civilization becomes spacefaring."


16 Psyche, the large metallic asteroid ideal for space mining.

With regard to this, Tyson observes, "Of all professions, scientists may be uniquely capable of generating and sustaining peace among nations. We all speak the same basic language....The laws of biology, chemistry, and physics remain the same."

In Tyson's ideal world, all of humanity would be versed in statistics, to separate 'feelings' from 'knowledge.' An example Tyson provides is a chance encounter with a long-lost friend in a far-off place. Often, we would think it was preordained, possibly declaring, "There are no coincidences!" But it IS a coincidence.

In another example, Tyson observes that people often wear lucky socks or underwear on important days. However they only became 'lucky' because a person happened to be wearing them when something good occurred. Tyson asserts that the urge to think like this is used for economic gain by casinos and other gambling venues. He writes, "Imagine how different the world would be if thinking mathematically about human affairs was normal and natural."


Statistically, gambling is a losing proposition, but people keep doing it

Another example of human bias not verified by science is the tendency to look down on others. Tyson observes, "Some people feel better when they believe other people are less than they are, in any way they value, which could include wealth, intelligence, talent, beauty, or education. Add strength, speed, grace, agility, and endurance and you've compiled most of the ways people persistently compare themselves to others." Tyson notes that the Olympics owe their existence to the search for people who perform faster, higher, and stronger among us....and things like game shows and beauty contests also result from the urge to compete (and hopefully come out on top).


Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the 2016 US Women's Gymnastics Olympic Trials

The real problem arises when the sense of superiority applies not to an individual....but to an entire demographic. This can lead to war, genocide, and other atrocities. Tyson notes that fields of study like mathematics and physical sciences resist human bias, so are less susceptible to feelings of superiority. Tyson admits the researchers themselves can be racist, sexist, misanthropes. However, the scientists' prejudices won't be in textbooks, because published results MUST be reproducible to be considered valid.

Tyson gives numerous examples of the ways science can reduce misunderstandings and increase cooperation among people. However, the author also strays far from this topic, expounding on other subjects that pop into his mind, such as: personal vanity (cosmetics and such); 'liberal' TV shows and movies sponsored by Fox broadcasting (which is much more extensive than just Fox News); vegetarians and vegans; slavery; racism; confederate statues; tweets he shouldn't have sent; LGBTQ issues; what aliens visiting Earth would think of us; law and justice; and more.



For instance, in an example of the evolution of criminal trials, Tyson observes that some historic cultures let God decide guilt or innocence. So the accused might be pushed underwater; forced to walk through fire; have boiling oil poured on their chest; or made to drink poison. Those who survived must be innocent because God protected them. This type of thing eventually evolved to trial by crowd; trial by random individuals; then trial by a jury of your peers. Tyson points out that even this last method is far from foolproof because eyewitnesses are unreliable, and - worse yet - attorneys are trained to make their case regardless of the truth.

The book is interesting, but I expected it to be more about science and less about random subjects. Still, Tyson is a smart, well-read, amusing guy and he provides tidbits you could use to sound smart at parties and gatherings. 🙂

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "Death By Smoothie: A Jaine Austen Mystery" by Laura Levine

In this 19th 'Jaine Austen Mystery,' the amateur sleuth investigates a murder in the theatre. The book works fine as a standalone.

*****

Jaine Austen is an amateur sleuth and aspiring writer whose best known work so far is the slogan 'In a Rush to Flush? Call Toiletmasters!' So Jaine is thrilled when her friend Lance Venable, whose new boyfriend Aidan is an actor, recommends her for a theatre job.



Jaine is offered $5,000 to spruce up the script for a Los Angeles musical called 'I Married a Zombie,' based on an old sitcom. 'I Married a Zombie' is being financed by a lottery winner named David, a show biz novice who's the writer, director, producer, and leading man. David plays a character named Brad, who falls in love with and marries a beautiful zombie.



David's girlfriend Becca is co-producing......



.....and when Jaine arrives at the theatre, the couple are auditioning women for the role of Cryptessa - the zombie girl.



David blows off a talented actress to hire an adorable siren named Misty, who has no talent, doesn't remember the simplest lines, and sings terribly. However David is mesmerized by Misty, and the girl soon has David wrapped around her little finger.



Misty is rude, texts during rehearsals, can't separate stage directions from dialog (Smiling coyly, Do you come here often?) and - though Jaine rewrites Misty's dialog to include only short sentences and easy words - Misty is tanking the production. Even worse from Jaine's point of view, Misty is a vegan, and David provides only gluten-free, fat-free, taste-free rock hard muffins for snacks, and insists on ordering lunch from The Happy Veggie.



Aside from David, no one can stand Misty, and the actress is murdered with a poisoned smoothie. Lance Venable's boyfriend Aidan - who brought Misty the smoothie from the fridge - is a prime suspect, and Lance begs Jaine to clear Aidan's name.



Jaine questions people involved in the production to try to suss out the killer.



That's the investigation part of this cozy mystery, which is an uproarious romp by TV comedy writer Laura Levine.

Jaine has a lot going on besides her theatre work. Jaine's best friend Kandi inveigles her into attending a Bachelor Auction luncheon, where Jaine has no intention of bidding.



However, when Jaine signals a waiter for her chocolate mousse cake, she hears "Sold for $600 to the woman with a ketchup stain on her her sleeve!"....who of course, is Jaine. The date, supposedly with a rich eligible bachelor, turns out to be the date from hell.



On the home front, Jaine buys her mischievous cat Prozac a harness, to go outside. Prozac turns up her nose, and Jaine observes, "I think it's fair to say that Captain Ahab had an easier time duking it out with Moby Dick than I had trying to wrestle Prozac into her cat harness." And after all that, Prozac causes all manner of trouble during walks.



To top things off, Jaine's parents, who are retired to Tampa Vistas, send her periodic emails. Tampa Vistas is having its annual talent show, and Jaine's father (User name: DaddyO) plans to tap dance with an iguana on his head.....while Jaine's mother (User name: Shoptillyoudrop) is aghast at the idea. These emails are laugh out loud funny.



This is the first cozy mystery I've read by Laura Levine and I'll be looking out for more.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review of "Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir" by Bob Odenkirk

 

Bob Odenkirk

Though Bob Odenkirk is probably best known for playing the character Saul Goodman on the two TV series 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul,' Odenkirk is a comic at heart. In this book Bob traces the arc of his career, starting with childhood skits written on his mom's typewriter, to his radio show in college, to open mics, to writing for 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL), to writing/producing sketch comedy shows, and more. If you're interested in a show business career, especially as a comedian, this book could put you on the right track. And even if you're not a budding performer, the book is still very entertaining.

In his introduction, Odenkirk writes, "I will attempt to identify the 'big breaks,' wormholes of opportunity that allowed me to move ahead five or ten spaces, or that simply sent me in the right direction." It wasn't all breaks though. Bob admits to numerous projects that didn't succeed: pilots, outlines, presentations, stumbles, misfires, dead ends, etc. Projects that failed, but taught Bob valuable lessons.

Odenkirk grew up in Naperville, Illinois with six siblings, a distant father, and a Catholic mother who was the family's rock. Bob's siblings - gifted with good senses of humor - were his initial audience, his first open mic night, in front of whom he'd act out 'some idiocy from the day, make fun of people he'd met, or just be a clown.'


Young Bob Odenkirk

As a middle schooler Odenkirk was mesmerized by the comedy troupe Monty Python, which took 'a hilarious, undermining, smart-silly swipe at humanity, at false dignity, and rules.' To Bob, this and other offbeat funniness was the best kind of humor. Bob's interest in comedy eventually sparked a compulsion to make it a career, and after honing his skills at comedy clubs - and meeting umpteen talented young comics (a literal laundry list of now famous entertainers) - Odenkirk got hired at SNL. Bob observes, "Everything I would learn about sketch writing and how to do it, everything that would someday help me write and produce the best show I had in me - all of that I learned in my three-and-a-half seasons at SNL.


Bob Odenkirk doing stand-up at a comedy club

In between seasons of SNL, Odenkirk worked at Chicago's 'Second City Theatre.' One fellow comic at Second City was Chris Farley, who was 'undeniably funny, undeniably likable, and undeniably mesmerizing.' When Bob was asked about the best time he ever had doing his job, he said it was "doing a scene with Chris Farley seven times a week at Second City."


Chris Farley


Chris Farley (left) and Bob Odenkirk (center right) in 'Second City' sketch

Sadly Chris was headed for tragedy with his drinking and drug use. Odenkirk notes, "The worst part of watching Chris's downfall....was the inevitability of the whole damn thing. His rise to fame, blazing moments, assured destruction - it played out just as everyone said it would. Said it to his face."

After SNL Odenkirk worked on other offbeat shows, and collaborated with such comedy greats as Ben Stiller, David Cross, Margaret Cho, Patton Oswalt, Greg Behrendt, Dana Gould, Judd Apatow, Andy Dick, Kathy Griffin, and others. Odenkirk writes, "Slowly, an audience began to coalesce around all this more personal, idiosyncratic, semi-serious stuff we were all doing....it was shocking to find audiences were willing to show up to these out-of-the-way 'comedy nights' looking to be surprised by our unpredictability and exploration."

Odenkirk credits Janeane Garofalo with this comedy reinvention. He writes, "Off-the-cuff, real, impromptu, personal, disarming, sloppy, meandering, intimate....she did it first. She made it cool."


Janeane Garofalo

Odenkirk's next big break was 'The Ben Stiller Show' - filmed in Los Angeles - which Bob recalls as being great fun. The show was on for a few years in the early 1990s, and Bob notes, "I think we made some good stuff, some very good - but also for a very targeted audience. If Ben hadn't been such a committed actor and great director, it would have been nothing but a strange indulgence."


Ben Stiller


Andy Dick (left), Ben Stiller (center), and Bob Odenkirk (right) on 'The Ben Stiller Show'

Odenkirk's next major partnership was with David Cross, whom he'd known for some time. Bob remembers, "To me, the best thing about David Cross was.....the funny funny funniness of the man." Bob describes some of his early skits with David, which involve things like farting and Bob getting naked in front of the audience (with a sock over his junk). This ultimately led to the 'Mr. Show' program on HBO.


'Mr. Show' skit with Bob Odenkirk (left) and David Cross


'Mr. Show' skit with Bob Odenkirk (left) and David Cross

Odenkirk describes many of the 'Mr. Show' sketches, such as 'Popemobile Chase' - a riff on the O.J. chase - where "the pope has clearly murdered some dude, leaving behind his papal staff, ring, and hat, and then instigated a police chase in the popemobile....and the subsequent trial is an exploration of TV trials and random jokes."

Odenkirk recollects, "Mr. Show was built for cultish love, and it succeeded. We wanted only the 'out-crowd,' the few, the proud, the misanthropes. Our greatest impact was in inspiring young performers and writers to like sketch a little more, and mislead them into following their passions."

'Mr. Show' was on for four seasons, after which - for the next ten years - Odenkirk tried many new ventures with little success. In the meantime Bob married 'great, smart, beautiful' comedy producer Naomi Yomtov and they quickly had two children, Nathan and Erin.


Bob Odenkirk with his wife Naomi


Bob Odenkirk with his wife and children

Odenkirk's next lucky break came when producer Vince Gilligan invited him to play the sleazy but lovable lawyer Saul Goodman (aka Jimmy McGill) on the cable TV drama 'Breaking Bad.' Saul's dialog was filled with 'wisecrackery and louche swagger,' and Saul's costume, 'outrageous, showy suit, loud tie, big cuff links, neon socks, and comb-over hair with highlights in it' told Bob everything he needed to know about the role. And the rest is history. 'Breaking Bad' was followed by the spin-off prequel 'Better Call Saul,' and Odenkirk ended up playing Saul Goodman for thirteen years.


Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman on 'Breaking Bad'

Odenkirk has also had parts in a few movies, including well-received films like 'Nebraska (2013),' 'The Post (2017),' and 'Little Women (2019).' Afterwards, following two home break-ins that left him furious, Bob suggested himself as the lead in an action film called 'Nobody (2021).' In the movie Bob plays a family man who, after his house is robbed, goes on a vengeful rampage. Odenkirk provides a lot of details about the making of 'Nobody', which was quite a departure for the actor.


Bob Odenkirk in the movie 'Nobody'

Odenkirk suffered a serious heart attack on the set of 'Better Call Saul' in July 2021, but the incident isn't covered in the Netgalley manuscript I read. In any case, Bob got an outpouring of well-wishes from his colleagues and fans, and recovered to do more great work.


Aaron Paul (left), Bryan Cranston (center) and Bob Odenkirk (right) won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series for 'Breaking Bad'

I skimmed the surface in this review, but Odenkirk elaborates on many aspects of his oeuvre and the people he worked with, plus a little about his personal life. The narrative is never catty and there's no salacious or mean-spirited gossip....which seems to affirm that Bob is a really nice guy.

The book has photos and an index.

I enjoyed Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama and highly recommend it to fans of Bob Odenkirk as well as aspiring performers.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bob Odenkirk, and Random House for a copy of the manuscript.

Rating: 4 stars

Review of "Love in the Time of Bertie: A 44 Scotland Street Novel" by Alexander McCall Smith

This is the 15th book in the "44 Scotland Street" series. It can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the series is a plus.

In these affable, humorous books Alexander McCall Smith follows the lives of a group of people who reside in Edinburgh's "New Town" neighborhood. Many of the characters live in apartments at 44 Scotland Street - and others are their neighbors, friends and acquaintances.

*****

Angus Lordie is a traditional portrait artist with an animus against The Turner Prize, which awards conceptual art - such as a video of a chair seen from different angles - rather than art objects. In fact Angus has taught his dog Cyril to lift his leg whenever he hears the words Turner Prize.



Thus a lecture entitled 'New Directions in Scottish Conceptual Art,' where the speaker states 'we don't need paintings, we need experiences,' leaves Angus worried about the future of Scottish painting.


Example of Conceptual Art

On the bright side, Sister Maria-Flore dei Fiori de Montagna - the aphorism spouting, social climbing nun - has been appointed to the panel of judges of the Turner Prize. Sister Maria-Fiore, who's a conventional thinker, will never give the prize to an outré modern artist.



Meanwhile, Angus's wife Domenica, an independent anthropologist, is planning to stealthily replace her husband's two antiquated dress jackets.....and the entire rest of his wardrobe.



*****

Seven-year-old Bertie Pollock.....



.....has been vexed by his classmate Olive for years.



Olive insists Bertie agreed to marry her when they're twenty (he didn't), and Olive now claims to be looking at venues, searching for a band, tasting wedding cakes, etc., much to Bertie's horror.

On the upside, Bertie has been happily free from psychoanalysis, saxophone lessons, yoga classes, Italian lessons, etc. since his mother Irene moved to Aberdeen to get a Ph.D.



Now Irene insists her son must visit her for three months, to the dismay of Bertie, his father Stuart and his grandmother Nicola.

Bertie arrives at Irene's Aberdeen apartment, where his room is tiny, dark and cold. Bertie is also enrolled in an Aberdeen school, where he can't understand the Scots language used by his classmates. To top it off, Bertie is once again scheduled for psychoanalysis. Bertie confides his unhappy situation to his best friend in Edinburgh, Ranald Braveheart Macpherson, and the rest is (hilarious) history.



*****

Bruce, a strikingly handsome surveyor, is a narcissist who thinks all women should want to date him.



In an attempt to revive the male camaraderie of his youth, Bruce gets involved with an old friend's shady real estate venture, which is aimed at bilking a buyer out of tens of thousands of pounds. Bruce seems unconcerned about the immorality of the scheme until an electrifying experience changes his outlook on life.

*****

Affable Big Lou has taken a shine to a strongman called Fat Bob, who stopped into Big Lou's Coffee Shop one morning. When Fat Bob includes Big Lou's adopted son Finlay in a dinner date, it clinches the attraction.





Afterwards, art gallery owner Matthew, Stuart Pollock, and Fat Bob bond over morning coffee at Big Lou's Coffee Shop, and plan a 'Scottish Games' for the neighborhood. The games will include a tug of war; caber toss; sack race; and more.


Caber Toss

*****

The story ends with the annual neighborhood party thrown by Angus and Domenica, where Angus reads his original poem about love.

I always enjoy these stories, which are fun and good for a few chuckles.

Rating: 3.5 stars