Silencing the Bomb

In December 2016, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists moved their iconic "Doomsday Clock" thirty seconds forward to two and a half minutes to midnight, the latest it has been set since 1952, the year of the first United States hydrogen bomb test. But a group of scientists—geologists, engineers, and physicists—has been fighting to turn back the clock. Since the dawn of the Cold War, they have advocated a halt to nuclear testing, their work culminating in the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which still awaits ratification from China, Iran, North Korea—and the United States. The backbone of the treaty is every nation's ability to independently monitor the nuclear activity of the others. The noted seismologist Lynn R. Sykes, one of the central figures in the development of the science and technology used in monitoring, has dedicated his career to halting nuclear testing. In Silencing the Bomb, he tells the inside story behind scientists' quest for disarmament.

Called upon time and again to testify before Congress and to inform the public, Sykes and his colleagues were, for much of the Cold War, among the only people on earth able to say with certainty when and where a bomb was tested and how large it was. Methods of measuring earthquakes, researchers realized, could also detect underground nuclear explosions. When politicians on both sides of the Iron Curtain attempted to sidestep disarmament or test ban treaties, Sykes was able to deploy the nascent science of plate tectonics to reveal the truth. Seismologists' discoveries helped bring about treaties limiting nuclear testing, but it was their activism that played a key role in the quest for peace. Full of intrigue, international politics, and hard science used for the global good, Silencing the Bomb is a timely and necessary chronicle of one scientist's efforts to keep the clock from striking midnight.

This book is an excellent insiders tale of nuclear testing and limiting.  The author explains the science behind verification clearly.  This is scientific history at its best.  Dr. Sykes played a central role in the limiting of nuclear testing and the ability to verify the following of the treaties agreed to.  As a geoscientist of off earth phenomena, I found the book fascinating.  Having worked in missile defense for decades, I am familiar with the results of some of his work.  He reaches conclusions regarding arms limitation treaties that are different than I, but I see the current world differently than he does.  Dr. Sykes still views the world as a primarily bilateral nuclear threat.  I see the world where the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty has become of limited importance.  Where clandestine nuclear weapons are shared at will with numerous countries.  Dr. Sykes does make a point of covering the numerous missed opportunities that we have had to limit nuclear proliferation that were missed.

The Sword of Shannara

The Sword of Shannara is a 1977 epic fantasy novel by American writer Terry Brooks. It is the first book of the Original Shannara Trilogy, followed by The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara. Brooks was heavily influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and began writing The Sword of Shannara in 1967. It took him seven years to complete, as he was writing the novel while attending law school. Ballantine Books used it to launch the company's new subsidiary Del Rey Books. Its success boosted the commercial expansion of the fantasy genre.

This is one of my brother's favorite books.  I remember him reading it.  Being several years younger than him, it was quite sometime before I could read it and when I could, I had other interests.  He is such a fan of Terry Brook's Shannara series that he included in his daughter's name Shea.  When I began to read The Sword of Shannara I was quite excited as my brother is quite the reader and has proved to have a great opinion of literature in my opinion.  I was disappointed this time.

I commented to my brother after beginning this book that Brooks must have been very influenced by Tolkien.  He agreed.  As I read further into the book I commented to him that I liked the story better when it was told by Tolkien.  The Sword of Shannara is not just influenced by Tolkien but is a poor retelling of the Lord of the Rings in my opinion.  Brooks changed the name of the characters but the characters remained the same to me.  Shea is Frodo.  Flick is Samwise.  I could continue.

I will continue on with the Shannara trilogy to see if Brooks develops these characters more and creates a story more varied.

Spiritual Audacity

Description
You were born to be a humble and joyful child of God.

2,600 years ago, an explosion of philosophers in different parts of the world began spiritual disciplines that would reverberate through history and time. Through study and spiritual curiosity, mystic and theologian Rev. Dr. Jim Sherblom unearthed these disciplines in his journey from wealth and power to wisdom and purpose. With humor and grace, Sherblom elucidates the six principles: Resilience, Surrender, Gratitude, Generosity, Mystery, and Awakening.

Part memoir, part philosophical history, and part manual for living, Spiritual Audacity will guide you from black and white to color, from formless to form, from dark to light, and from curious to enlightened.

I believe this book should have been titled "The Baby-Boomer Guide to Spirituality".  Dr. Sherbom is an excellent writer, and his autobiographical portions of the text are very engaging.  His religious portions of the text almost made me chuckle.  Though he ran from his father's teachings (as many baby-boomers do) really just came full circle.  He found the same truths of his father's pulpit but had to travel thousands of miles and read numerous other religious texts.

Dr. Sherbom seems to be more happy with these truths because he found them somewhere other than his father's pulpit.  I do find it a little insulting that Dr. Sherbom appears to belittle rural upbringing as something substandard.  He also appears to claim some level of expertise of Christian theology.  His credentials for orthodox Christian theology are quite lacking.  I will give him that he has trained well in other religions and mysticism, but he has little education noted for orthodox Christianity.  From the autobiographical portion of the text, I believe this is due to his negative view of his father and thus what his father held to.  If Dr. Sherbom had taken time for a study of orthodox Christianity I could respect his thoughts more.

But, again I think this book is more of a Baby-Boomer guide.  Dr. Sherbom appears to be a character from the 1980's TV show "Thirty Something' in this book.  I believe there is a good book in this text if it was edited down to the amazing career that Dr. Sherbom has had in business.

Where I End

In May 2009 Katherine Clark was in a tragic playground accident and was paralyzed from the neck down. Though the doctors said she would never walk again, God chose to work a profound miracle. In Where I End Kate tells this compelling story and shares the deep theological truths that sustained her on this difficult road. Written in a reflective yet literary style, Where I End orients seasons of pain and suffering within the context of God’s tender, loving care.

This likely is the best first person story of pain, suffering, and overcoming that I have read.  Ms. Clark shares her story with exceptional eloquence.  She invited me into her life so fully that I could see my pain through her eyes.  Ms. Clark changes the discussion of Christian suffering.  She has helped me remove the question of "Why do I have MS?"  She has helped me see that the true question I should be looking for the answer to through my disability is "To what end?"  Anyone who is suffering with loss, open-ended grief, or physical struggles will be breathtakingly encouraged by this book.