Recently Read

Samuel Delaney. Babel-17

This novel is basically ‘What if Sapir-Whorf, but a lot and for aliens, and with telepathy also thrown into the mix?’ There were a few moments of interest in the book, but the story was meh and the handling of ideas struck me as distractingly clumsy. I’ve been looking forward to reading Delaney for years, since he’s been recommended to me by people I trust. Perhaps I just started with the wrong book.

Alyssa Ney. Metaphysics: An Introduction (Second Edition)

This is a great introduction to contemporary metaphysics, about as accessible as it’s possible to be while still engaging in the substance of contemporary debates. Ney is wonderfully clear and fair-minded in her presentation of a well-organized selection of topics. I was struck by how much material was updated between the two editions (the first in 2014, the second in 2023).

Peter Smith. An Introduction to Formal Logic.

Continuing my theme of back-to-the-basics-after-a-long-time-away, this is a great introduction to formal logic, clear and accessible throughout. Smith generously makes the book available on his site, along with a number of his other texts, including Beginning Mathematical Logic: A Study Guide. That text, which I’m reading now, is filled with great advice for next steps after Smith’s introduction.