Nature's building blocks by John Emsley

The clear chirpy casual piece on each element with fresh detail for the stalest teacher has not dated in the eight years of the first edition. In re-read am still on Argon, Arsenic and Astatine, but again loved the introduction for its enthusiasm and am spellbound at the pattern and simplicity of the periodic table. A reminder that with the binomial theorem, evolution, relativity, networking and chaos, science can be simple in spite of the advances of quantum and complex systems.

My only sadness is that no better song than Tom Lehrer's Elements has appeared to tickle JE. Perhaps this dates him and me. Or perhaps we should rush to youtube, or revisit the chants of Hubert Alyea. My only suggestion for the second edition would be that JE's encyclopedic knowledge of poisons be applied rigorously to the pollutants so many chemicals become in the natural environment. The jury is of course still out on how much damage they do to us, but I note that my contacts in the chemical industry have become less comfortable over four decades with the unknown and known effects of officially innocuous molecules.

To be read in conjunction with Our Stolen Future, I fear. But not by grantologists.

The golden bough by Lucius Apuleius tr Robert Graves

Describes in a series of stories the transformations of a rich and feckless young man. From lusty explorer of high living and magic he has disastrous adventures trapped in the body of an ill-favoured mule. After a year meeting clods, gods, cruelty, whores and charlatans, he is rescued by his surprising discovery of a priestly vocation serving the multiple gods of the time in a very satisfying pre-christian way.

Some charming incidents, much bawd and unkindness. A rich mix of morals, manners and philosophy. Small wonder St Augustine and the Inquisition had problems with it. Graves' introduction worth reading on its own, or before and after the main text.

The Golden Bough by James Frazer

Abridged from his definitive description of early mainly western kingship cycles, it seems that succession was mainly by droit de seigneur, involving murder to keep the tribal gods safe. The bough in the title was the symbol that the king was guarding the sacred tree well. Tree sanctity was often central, with corn rituals, taboos and fertility rites such as sacred marriage. Eating the god appears often, as does transference of evil and fire festivals. The above is just quick extracts from the title page, the rest is essential reading for anyone who would understand the western democratic cycle: he who inspires and guards the sacred flame of party unity, leads. Changeover like life can be brutish and short.
Not produced by the ivy league, but a prelude to evolution of a sensible governing process beyond today's democracies.

The lives to come, by Philip Kitcher

An early analysis c 1996 of gene knowledge and genetalk. Uses DNA induced abortion to analyse the issues around sanctity of life. Long list of the sad syndromes that indicate for termination. Cares mightily for life, whole life before and lost potential after, as well as for all the lives of the community affected by termination or survival. Has a sharp look at quality of life as yardstick.
Rates the ideal of utopian eugenics as possible given vigilant public examination. (As Friedman did for bottom line morality, citing trickledown charity as essential. Note the disastrous although empowering failure for those with conscience.) Note also the dual eponym failings for utopian eugenics and trickledown charity.
His concluding analysis of the good life seems thin on both the spiritual and the religious. But does give a historical survey of philosophers' opinions. Self-actualisation explained to me, at last!

Re-reading in 2008 has been a valuable experience: the leaps in the last decade indicate the future, whether progress plateau as seems unlikely, stay linear, or go even more exponentially hockey stick.

But the final sections still stun with their analysis of the immorality of our allowing the filibust of the social idealist and the pragmatist to block easing the childhoods of the indigent. The subsequent US reactions to Katrina and to al-Quaida and to global issues show clearly how the 'pragmatists' would not cope.

The secret life of trees by Colin Tudge

A tree is a big plant with a stick up the middle. Human, appreciate this or die. What they do, how they evolve, and when the species started are outlined in detail. Colin's enthusiasm carries the reader over a vast land. We abuse trees at our peril, but they will re-evolve when we are gone. While the struggle for maximum billions of us to survive is undecided, a sensible move is to head for the trees.

The body electric by James Geary 2002

Starts from implanted chips to give control and to enhance damaged senses. Gives the nicest description of a neuron I have seen. Gives a chapter each to the five senses, then an amazing overview of enhancements to the mind, including memory and an appreciation of spirit rare in a science book. All very good stuff.