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Justin:
Fiction: Starfish - Peter Watts
In the near future, humanity has expanded its power generation to the volcanic rifts at the bottom of the ocean. The station at the bottom is manned by cybernetically enhanced criminals that have had their bodies genetically modified, and some of their organs replaced so they can live and breathe at the bottom of the ocean. It's creepy, amazing sci-fi, and where our neuron project really got its start.
Non-Fiction: Building Scientific Apparatus - John H Moore (PDF)
The most useful book a scientist can own. As the title suggests it teaches how to build everything from custom glassware to mass spectrometers. An incredible reference full of industry tricks and tips and an absolute wealth of knowledge.
Frank:
Fiction: Les Trois Mousquetaires (The Three Musketeers) - Alexandre Dumas
First written as an adventure serial in 1844, The Three Musketeer would become a classic of the historical adventure genre, with dashing protagonists, dastardly villains and the cloak and dagger intrigues of the courts. Though quite lengthy, its serial nature keeps you devouring the book but also includes plenty of natural stopping points, something new parents like myself have come to appreciate. And of course, trilogies are nothing new, so there are 2 more books should you prove a voracious reader.
Non-Fiction: Debt: The First 5000 Years - David Graeber
This hefty tome, takes a critical look at the basic assumptions about human relations we’ve used to build our entire society. By carefully deconstructing the very myth of trade and barter as the origins of money David explores how debt came to form the fabric of communities and society. This book of course was heavily criticized by right-wing libertarian think-tank economists, who surely felt attacked.
Percy:
Fiction: God in the Shed - J-F Dubeau
For the horror and mystery fans out there, consider picking this one up! Coming from a Montrealer, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a small town on the outskirts of Montreal and the unfolding intrigue behind the killings and the creepy aspects of the God in the Shed.
Non-fiction: Every Tool's A Hammer - Adam Savage
In a book of accumulated wisdoms and lessons, Adam shares with us what years in the workshop and as a public figure has taught him. As an experienced presenter Adam distills complex concepts in a down to earth manner that will leave you with new takeaways after every reading session.
Lona:
Fiction: The Martian - Andy Weir
An immersive story on how you science the crap out of one problem at a time until you get back home. It's a bit dated by now (our knowledge of Mars keeps evolving), but is still fun and is as good at being a book as the movie was at being a movie.
Non-Fiction: Come As You Are - Emily Nagoski
A guide to your sexuality, for women and adjacent folk. Feels like reading a manual for my brain, focused primarily through the lens of arousal and desire. It is a bit too heteronormative, but the basic principles are still universal.
Hro:
Fiction: Offshore - Peneloppe Fitzgerald
This 1979 book was inspired by the author’s most difficult years living aboard a boat on the Thames in the 60s. This book explores a life neither fully on land or fully at sea, but somewhere in the middle.
Non-Fiction: American Kleptocracy - Casey Mitchel
A first outing by a young journalist explores the offshoring and the illegal wealth accumulation that has been occurring over decades and how it all ties in and culminates with the likes of Trump seizing power. While America claims to be the moral leader of the free world, the rot has set in and Casey traces back its origins.
Nat:
Fiction: Blue Lock - Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura
A shonen manga equivalent of TLC's 1000-lb Sisters, you'll be simultaneously asking yourself 'what is even happening' while starting the next chapter. It's also about football… Allegedly. I don't know much about the irl game.
Non-Fiction: Medieval Robots: Mechanism, Magic, Nature, and Art - E. R. Truitt
The claims of AGI made by OpenAI pale in comparison to ideas about automatons in medieval romances and more. This book explores robots most of us knew nothing about and puts them into a social context that’s almost as alien to us as the robots were to the people of the period.
Tailor:
Fiction: Diaspora - Greg Egan
A hard Sci-Fi set in a posthuman future where the human species has begun to diverge and adapt in a variety of ways, both biological and technological. The book focuses on the nature of life and intelligence, and how it can differ should we shed our very own biology.
Non-Fiction: Steal This Book - Abbie Hoffman
Written by a famous anti-Vietnam war activist, co-founder of the Youth International Party and proponent of Flower Power, this book explores all the ways the people can resist governments and corporations. Books, fashion and politics tend to come back in vogue and some ideas refuse to die.
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