Booknotes 4.11

Abundance, by Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson, published 2025, nonfiction. An interesting book about, among other things, how regulations hamper the construction of affordable housing. Enjoyed the parts about urban planning and invention and scientific discovery. No idea how valid the book’s recommendations are, or whether the country will be in any kind of place to apply them for the foreseeable future, sadly.

Essays and Tales, by Joseph Addison, published 1888, nonfiction. A collection of columns originally written in The Spectator in the 1700s, on topics like superstition, Italian opera in England, and anagrams. Found it charming and fascinating. Appreciated the Philip Sidney quote: “and yet it is sung by some blind crowder with no rougher voice than rude style.” Also liked this passage from the essay on spare time: “But of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors.” My favorite part, though, was his complaints in “The English Language” about the recent changes from “walked” (two syllables) to “walk’d” and from “walketh” to “walks.” Fun to read something contemporary about that change in the language.

Alien Clay, by Adrian Tchaikovsky, published 2024, science fiction. Quite liked it. Interesting angle on evolution and biology, and the authoritarian regime felt relevant (it also paired well with Andor, the second season of which was about the only TV I’ve watched lately, and it was good). This, by the way, was the first book I’ve read that has used the word “yeet.” It delighted me.

Confessions, by Saint Augustine of Hippo (translated by E. B. Pusey), published 401 (translated 1907), nonfiction. There were some interesting thoughts and meditations scattered throughout, and the autobiographical parts in the first half were interesting, but the second half was a complete slog for me, which I wasn’t expecting. Overall: whew, not my favorite.