We're going to try something a little different. Let's take a break from the technical questions and pressing news of the day. How about we all kick up our feet, grab a beverage of choice and read a good book! I know, I know, sounds like school…but not really. Instead of slogging through War & Peace or Finnegan's Wake how about reading books that cover topics of interest to engineers and other technical professionals? Sound a little better?
The Tuesday Engineer's Book Club will focus on texts, both fiction and non-fiction on topics including engineering, science, history & technology, building projects, experimentation and learning, physics & mathematics, space travel, as well as related topics like business, communications and media, and current events.
Chris Leonard (me) will be facilitating this project and in the early phases determining the books we read. Think of me as a much poorer Oprah. However, I hope that many of you will chime in and suggest new directions. And if you've written a book, here's a great opportunity to get it in front of your peers. Personally, my interests range from the natural sciences to science fiction to gastronomic and regional history, but I'm always looking for something new to read. If you have suggestions, send them to Chris via the CR4 messaging system. I can't guarantee that I'll read everything, but will be happy to give you a chance to talk about it.
Moving forward, we'll be scheduling books a few weeks ahead of time so that those who are interested can read them and be ready for a discussion.
Here is the current schedule:

Feb 26: Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 by Nathaniel Philbrick
March 4: The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollen
March 11: Elephants on LSD and Other Bizarre Experiments by Alex Boese
March 18: Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
March 25: To Engineer is Human by Henry Petroski
April 1: The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave Rebellion by Henry Darger
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