An afternoons stroll through the library - The unfinished collection
Vehicles: Experiments in Synthetic Psychology - Valentin von Braitenberg
This book by Valentin von Braitenberg introduces the reader to ideas of neurocybernetics. Not meant as hard-introduction to the field, but more as inspirer to ones own mind his first step is to make the reader acquainted with his envisioned vehicles.
These vehicles, while in their inner structure quite simple, show an astounishing complex behaviour up to the point where one might assume intelligence. Increasing the vehicles complexity with each new generation Professor Braitenberg explains basic concepts to the reader while keeping an entertaining writing style. A though experiment worth adventuring for everyone, not just people interested in kybernetics and neuroscience.
German Edition: Vehikel - Experimente mit kybernetischen Wesen
A Gift of Fire: Social, legal and ethical issues for computers and the internet - Sara Baase
This continously revised textbook by Sara Baase gives an extensive introduction to social, legal and ethical issues in computer science. Starting of with principles of ethics the reader will find discussion to Privacy, Copyright, Intellectual Property, Trusting Computer/Safety, Professional Ethics & Responsibilities and Social Impact of Technology. Filled with day-to-day examples and exercises for one persons or groups makes it a great ressource.
Lord Of All Things - Andreas Eschbach
Andreas Eschbach is one of the most renowned German Sci-Fi authors. Sometimes incorporating fantastic element, many of his works explore the development of human society in future. Economical, social and enviromental issues are often in the focus of his books. But also encouters with extraterrestrial life and the humans self-discovery and perception are possible.
Favouring many of his works, Lord of All Things is an exceptional good book. Revolving around the life of Hiroshi, who is obessed with the idea of making poverty obselete, the reader witnesses the unfolding of the compelling and tragic life story entangling him and his childhood friend Charlotte.
German Edition: Herr aller Dinge
I know what you'd have to do so everyone could be rich, Hiroshi said.
That's rubbish, said Charlotte. Can't be done.
No, it can be, he insisted.
Hurry up and swing, she said.
- Prologue
On the beach - Nevil Shutes
Nevil Shutes novel published in 1957 decribes a world after a nuclear World War III that devastated the complete northern hemisphere. Setting in Australia where everyone awaits the almost certain death approaching by the radioactive clouds carried by the changing season he explores how people with very different life stories approach the impending doom. The very unagitated pace makes the normality in the bizzare even more striking as we follow the lifes of the people around Lieutenant-Commander Peter Holmes of the Australian Navy who accompanies as liason officer the last Captain and effective Commander of the United States Navy as they set out to investigate a mysterious morse signal from the North American mainland.
The Professor’s Beloved Equation - Yoko Ogawa
A housekeeper is assigned to a new, according to the file very difficult, customer. On arrival she learns that its an old Professor of Mathematics who has a very short memory of just 80 minutes after an accident. He almost exclusively spends his time preparing entries for contests in the Journal of Mathematics. After a rough start she learns to respect and connect to him through numbers.
This is probably Yoko Ogawa most renowend novel and together with Holding a cat while swimming with elephants which is about a live devoted to the chess game my favourite works published by her.
Japans Herzen denken anders (lit. Japan’s hearts think differently) - Lorenz Stucki
During the 70’s the author Lorenz Stucki spent months in the shiga prefecture
as urban developement consultant for the local government.
Reasoning that the fascination with Japan comes from its quick uprising to
a first world country while not embodying the western blueprint he makes the reader familiar
with the japanese life and mind.
Covering a broad range of aspects ranging from family, society, education, arts to economics it never becomes
a dry read because it is kept in a frame of a travelog.
Buntschatten und Fledermäuse (lit. Colorful shadows and bats) - Axel Braun
The autobiography of Axel Braun abducts the reader into his world which is characterized by his autism. Describing his surroundings as inner monologue, he gives the reader an impression of his perception of the outside. Not only being confronted with the vocabulary he invented for himself the reader also witnesses his sometimes funny but often tragic interactions with other people.