Booknotes 4.21

The Winter’s Tale, by William Shakespeare., published 1611, play. I think I got more out of it this time than when I did a couple decades ago when I read it for a college comp lit class. (You’d think that might lead to a longer review, but I seem constitutionally incapable of writing much about Shakespeare. I don’t know why.) The ending, which I’d entirely forgotten, surprised me.

Six Centuries of Type & Printing, by Glenn Fleishman, published 2025, nonfiction. A short, enjoyable history of type and printing from Gutenberg to the modern era. I particularly liked the parts about Linotype and Monotype, and the illustrations. This was the second edition of the book, by the way, the one Fleishman did a kickstarter for.

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, by Thomas S. Kuhn, published 1962, nonfiction. A fascinating look at paradigm shifts in scientific research. While it’s dense enough that I had to go slow, I really liked it, both for the thinking about science and for the little histories of scientific work scattered throughout — Roentgen discovering X-rays, Lavoisier and Priestley with oxygen, the fascinating inverted goggle experiment, etc. I also found this bit interesting: “Though many scientists talk easily and well about the particular individual hypotheses that underlie a concrete piece of current research, they are little better than laymen at characterizing the established bases of their field, its legitimate problems and methods.” Makes me think about how I too tend to focus on the concrete in my areas of practice and don’t spend enough time thinking about theory.

As You Like It, by William Shakespeare, published 1623, play. I’ve found that I much prefer Shakespeare’s tragedies, but this play was still good. Some amusing parts I enjoyed: “Alas the day! what shall I do with my doublet and hose? What did he when thou sawest him? What said he? How looked he? Wherein went he? What makes him here? Did he ask for me? Where remains he? How parted he with thee? and when shalt thou see him again? Answer me in one word.” And: “I do desire we may be better strangers.”