Writes Jen Cole: I’m reading a heaping pile of things, and my reading style is to have several books going at once, picking up at any given time what I’m in the mood for.  Here are a few select books and excerpts:

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EARTH’S NATURAL RESOURCES (John Walther)

Beryllium is primarily used as a hardening agent in alloys, in particular beryllium copper (BeCu).  BeCu is a weldable, machinable, nonoxidizing, acid resistant, ductile copper alloy.  It is therefore, employed in high-tech applications even though it is relatively expensive.  Other items that incorporate beryllium are golf clubs, wheel chairs, and dental appliances.

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THE DRUNKARD’S WALK: HOW RANDOMNESS RULES OUR LIVES (Mlodinow)

We also make Bayesian judgments in our daily lives.  A film tells the story of an attorney who has a great job, a charming wife, and a wonderful family.  He loves his wife and daughter but still he feels that something is missing in his life. On night he returns home on the train he spots a beautiful woman gazing with a pensive expression out the window of a dance studio.  He looks for her again the next night and the night after that.  Each night as his train passes her studio, he falls under her spell.  Finally one evening he impulsively rushes of the train and signs up for dance lessons, hoping to meet the woman.  He  finds that her haunting attraction withers once his gaze from afar gives way to face-to-face encounters.  He does fall in love, however, not with her but with dancing.

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WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (Gruen)

But there’s nothing to be done about it.  All I can do is put in time waiting for the inevitable, observing as the ghosts of my past rattle around my vacuous present.  They crash and bang and make themselves at home, mostly because there’s no competition.  I’ve stopped fighting them.  They’re crashing and banging around in there now.  Make yourselves at home, boys.  Stay awhile.  Oh, sorry – I see you already have.  Damn ghosts.

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