#397

I very much recommend this book, which looks at the myriad ways algorithms inform our lives and our decision-making, along with the decision-making that leads to and informs the technology that informs our lives and decision-making. This stuff is paramount to our historical moment. But, enough with the hyperbole. This is a pop science book that walks the right balance between pandering and complexity, in that it never feels like either. It has a great plain-spoken tone, along with good humor, that it puts to use explaining the complicated math behind algorithms — not just Netflix’s and Amazon’s, but the origins of the math itself. The “to live by” part of the title isn’t just a useful general-interest sales tool. Not only do the authors provide examples that actually kinda help inform decision-making, from managing multiple deadlines to sorting your laundry, but they show how the lives of the people who originated the science of the book actually inspired them to come up with the algorithms in the first place.

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#398

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#399

That is high praise. Okay, sold! Or to be sold, or…
I’m sitting in on a course on algorithms so it’ll be nice to read something somewhat pop-sciency that ties into something I’m actually doing.

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#400

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And the accompanying website for those who may be interested:

http://artastherapy.com

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#401

Just finished Three Body Problem (referred to in an earlier post).

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Of course, last night I went to one of my kids’ school presentation nights, and one of the middle schoolers had a presentation on binary/trinary solar systems, and another had a presentation about folding systems. If only a third kid would have had a bit on the Cultural Revolution, it would have been a trifecta!

But yes, a good read.

Oh, and I’m currently reading some Rick Moody…

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[ddg]

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#402

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…holy moly this guy has a flowery/acrid writing style. If you can get past the “punkness” of that, it seems to be a history book about class divisions in the US (so far–I’m 75 pages in)

And I’m starting this riiiiiiiiight now. I don’t know anything about it at all other than it’s beautifully drawn:

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#403

was pretty stoked to realize (10 years late) that john chalmers’ "divisions of the tetrachord’ is available online:
http://eamusic.dartmouth.edu/~larry/published_articles/divisions_of_the_tetrachord/index.html
(if you are into microtonal theory this is a definitive text, and very hard to find outside of college music libraries.)

i am eagerly awaiting the delivery of “Human and Machine Hearing: Extracting Meaning from Sound” by richard lyon

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The Microtonal Thread
#404

Lyon - thanks, ordered!!! Somehow missed it.

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#405

I’m looking for recommendations for books or collections of writings on the subject of repetition, especially those pertaining to repetition in art and music. I know there will be some overlap with books surveying minimalist / serialist / conceptual / process artists and musicians and will undoubtedly mention the major canonized names in those fields, but I’m hoping to maybe find some less widely published / distributed texts, and also writings by or about women, people of color, and LGBT creators who make use of repetition in their practices and have gone under-represented because of those factors.

Related to the request above is something I haven’t picked it up yet, but is definitely on my wishlist:

She did an artist talk on Agnes Martin a couple years ago that I think a good number of you will appreciate.

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#406

that’s a beautiful catalog (and wonderful artist)

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#407

Currently reading The Language of Cities by Deyan Sudjic

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#408

Re: Repetition, I have this book and enjoyed it:

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#409

Check Deleuze on the concept of “ritournelle”.

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#410

re: Phonogram

Oh boy, you’re in for a treat. Rue Britannia feels so long ago now - I read it as it came out and am still glad to have those covers:

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in a little row on my shelf. It definitely helped growing up in a time and a place, but I think they did a great job of making it feel pretty applicable to anyone who’s been into music anywhere; I liked how Singles Club and Immaterial Club explored the breadth of things to be told in that space.

Hope you enjoy it.

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#411

for repetition too, I was thinking of
https://hyperallergic.com/296424/hanne-darboven-repetition/
There is a tie-in to music as well but I’m not sure about a LGBT (and all) connection

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#412

There’s a gorgeous Darboven catalogue that is also high on my wishlist.

#413

She’s really great. I got to meet her a couple years back and sit in on a private artist talk she did at the Art Institute of Chicago for one of their donor circle groups.

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#414

Thank you very much for posting this !
It’s going to be my next read when I’m finished with Horace’s works…

#415

Absolutely on Music.

Haruki Murakami, conversations with Seiji Ozawa

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#416

Just finished, The Obelisk Gate, by N. K. Jemisin . won the Hugo this year. Second book in a trilogy, first book won the Hugo in 2016. I really enjoyed the first book, but the second was a bit of a struggle. Just started the third book last night.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/112296-the-broken-earth

The series (so far) is pretty original…I mean, its influences are pretty clear - but it combines sci fi / fantasy tropes in an original way. The last couple of years of Hugo winners have been good. Especially liked Ancillary Justice (which I think has been mentioned here, 2014 Hugo winner). Ann Leckie reads like Ursula K. LeGuin. She’s a world builder for sure. Same with N.K. Jemisin (world builder, doesn’t read like LeGuin in my opinion).

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