r/books • u/AutoModerator • 8d ago
WeeklyThread What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: August 24, 2026
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u/iwasjusttwittering 8d ago
The War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells
Slowly continued (60%). So this is supposedly the first novel ever to feature Martian aliens, it has aged well for the most part though. Some of the initial sciencey stuff is a bit naïve and the original illustrations that have the machines with goggly eyes don't help, but other than that, the actual story of being invaded seems cogent so far.
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, by Eliezer Yudkowsky
Continued (40%). What if the Harry Potter's story was science-fiction? In this one, Harry examines magic using scientific methods and tries to make Draco not racist. The absurdity is hilarious, especially early on. However, I'd quit on my previous read halfway through, because the story seemed to become more convoluted plotting rather than science and straightforward humor. That's the other thing—the fanfic exists primarily to teach "rationalist" thinking and Yudkowsky's philosophy. It's a mixed bag. Some of the referenced scientific theories and reasoning methods are actually quite flimsy, while the author isn't always upfront about it. In addition, the most powerful scenes in the story, such as when Harry casts his Patronus, rely on a very particular philosophical outlook that I don't share anymore.
Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World: An Identification Guide, by Paul Stamets
Finished. It's old (30yo) and very opinionated. I wouldn't use it as a practical guide—although there's a bit of good advice—, but it is a fascinating historical snapshot of an evolving science, with some curious anecdotes in the notes.
Reading the Clouds: How You Can Forecast the Weather, by Oliver Perkins
Stalled. I struggled to get through a confusing if not errorneous introduction, but still want to get to the practical parts.
Atlas dekarbonizace Česka, by Ondřej Přibyla, Jan Krčál, Petr Daniš
Stalled. A nicely made primer, mostly clean data visualizations (Fakta o klimatu project), on the state of economic transformation in European context. It's a free PDF (Creative Commons), with a print version intended for journalists and policymakers.