TOW #11 The Universe in a Single Atom (Dalai Llama)

If only I had the connection he does. His Holiness the Dalai Llama with Carl Sagan.

In The Universe in a Single Atom, His Holiness the Dalai Llama attempts to draw parallels between scientific and religious inquiry, a matter often regarded as taboo. As the spiritual and political leader of Tibet since the age of sixteen, the Dalai Llama has significant experience with spirituality. As a world leader fascinated by technology his nation lacks, His Holiness has met with leading scientists throughout the twentieth century in order to comprehend the nature of modern scientific discovery. His purpose in this novel is not to argue which approach is correct, instead the Dalai Llama writes to convey the merits of science and spirituality. In recent years, quantum and particle physics has made huge leaps in understanding the machinations of the Universe, while atheist populations are rapidly growing. He writes for an audience that has trouble with this split in the modern world, with a potential focus on those with a basic knowledge of Buddhism and an interest in physics, as these are the Dalai Llama's passions. The book is written with a moderate, contemplative tone, unique to the philosophical leader of Tibet and an entire religion. There is no feeling of direct argumentation, the Dalai Llama presents his points in a series of interesting connections and personal stories. He spends the first two chapters defining his intentions behind the book, writing "This book is not an attempt to unite science and spirituality...but an effort to examine two important human disciplines for the purpose of developing a more holistic and integrated way of understanding the world" (4). With this mindset established, and considerably emphasized throughout, the Dalai Llama is open to compare two governing bodies of thought. He does so in a way befitting a relaxed tone, with personal stories and experiences. Describing his unique childhood and interactions with widely acclaimed scientists (the one I'm reading about currently was an assistant to WERNER HEISENBERG), as well as establishing his obvious knowledge of the Buddhist faith, the Dalai Llama sets the stage for pages of serious contemplation on ethics and the dimension of faith. I think the book is very effective thus far, as I have been moved to serious thought as a result of the Dalai Llama's obvious experience with the relationship between science and spirituality. It can be a little tedious with pages of philosophy, but he does a good job of intermingling anecdotes from his fascinating life.

TOW #10 Rhetoric of a Carnivorous Plant

Ranging from the hot bogs of North Carolina to the icy peaks of Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, carnivorous are masters of persuasion. They live in nutrient-poor environments, and rely on their roots for the absorption of water, totally incapable of capturing substances necessary for healthy growth. To attain these, carnivorous plants have devised ways of convincing the creatures around them to donate to the plants' growth. Many of the intricate natural traps, like the one above, is totally passive, employing vividly subtle devices to lure flying and crawling insects, frogs, and even mice to their doom. The most obvious of the strategies is imagery, creating scenes of shelter in safety. Be it nice lids to keep flies safe from rain and wind, apparent dewdrops as a source of water, or intoxicatingly sweet nectar, carnivorous plants are irresistible to the senses of their audience. False comforts also lend them credibility, as they assume the persona of a paradise, constructed just for their prey's pleasure.

What a beautiful and comfy umbrella!

A sparkling landing pad.

A feast of narcotic nectar.

On the topic of nectar, carnivorous plants also apply a logical progression to lure prey into their pseudo-mouths for digestion. Nectar can be found dotting stems and leaves, but it always heaviest just inside the slippery rim of a pitcher, or near the trigger hairs that spring-close a Venus flytrap. They entice their prey along this path until the climax, where their true purpose is clear.

How many gooey globules can you count?

Having seen these plants in action, I can confidently vouch that the rhetoric of carnivorous plants is very sound. Molded by millions of years of evolution to appeal to a very specific, and easily tricked, audience, they rarely lose an argument.

Not my picture...yet.

TOW # 9 CHEMISTRY (Brown, LeMay, Bursten, Murphy, and Woodward)

CHEMISTRY tackles such topics as electrochemistry.

CHEMISTRY, was written by Theodore Brown, Eugene Lemay, Bruce Bersten, Catherine Murphy, and Patrick Woodward, all of whom have received a PhD in Chemistry. All are practicing researchers and professors at Universities like the University of Illinois, Ohio State University, University of Nevada, etc. All actively pursue chemistry-related research and have one distinguished teaching awards for secondary science education. Chapter 20, concerning Electrochemistry, is part of the whole textbook, which is geared towards the AP Chemistry curriculum established by the College Board. Students across the nation use this text as a supplement to their education in chemistry, to better understand concepts and utilize the thousands of practice problems. Electrochemistry is difficult to visualize, as it concerns the movement of minuscule electrons and substances. In order to understand, students need points of reference to make sense of the notation and concepts. The authors make several analogies to relate, such as "In a simple sense, we can compare the electron flow to the flow of water in a waterfall" (838). The use of the first-person plural also creates a sense of unity, as if the authors are walking through the material with their audience, wanting them to succeed and understand. Strong diction like this is also enhanced via bolding key words and definitions, such as "electromotive force", "cell potential", and "standard reduction potentials". These help the reader find the most important ideas amidst all the information presented. Additionally, the textbook is written in plain English, only using chemistry jargon that has been learned beforehand. Reader find this easier to understand, and the jargon that is used establishes the credibility of the chemists writing. The position of the words on the page is also effective, as some equations and phrases are placed in their own paragraphs for emphasis and to make them stand out if a student is simply skimming. Having to read this text before a test, I found it to be very effective. It clearly emphasized the most important aspects of the text and methodically presented concepts that had been confusing me in class.

IRB #2 The Universe in a Single Atom (His Holiness the Dalai Lama)

At the age of 14 the Dalai Lama was selected as the 14th reincarnation of the historical leaders of the Buddhist faith. He has advocated for peace in Tibet, especially after leading a "government in exile" during the 1959 Tibetan Uprising. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his humanitarian work. He admits that he has always been interested in science and mechanics, and in The Universe in a Single Atom he seeks to explain "the convergence of science and spirituality." After conversing with scientists, especially quantum physicists, for decades, the Dalai Lama was inspired to write this book to unite two practices for a holistic view of the universe. I am very interested in quantum mechanics and understanding the fundamental facts and laws of the universe. This often conflicts with spirituality, a topic with which I struggle, so I think this book will present an open-minded and pragmatic approach to belief. It will be some fantastic food for thought.

TOW #8 A Walk in the Woods (Bill Bryson)

In A Walk in the Woods, Bryson sells his audience on this point.

In the early 1980s, Bill Bryson, a passionate, comedic, and best-selling author, decided to hike the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail with minimal previous experience. He had felt the desire to be a true outdoorsman, and decided that the rumored "AT" would provide a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Departing with an old friend, Katz, Bryson traversed the eastern U.S. on foot, and then wrote A Walk in the Woods to describe his experiences. He writes for a broad audience, targeting those who are environmentally conscious, but also those who have/cannot hike the way he does in the book. It is this audience that he targets with a purpose of convincing them to experience the natural beauty of hiking captured in A Walk in the Woods. He does this primarily through his vivid descriptions of his time on the AT, including the challenges but emphasizing his awe of the beauty around him through imagery. For example, on page 153 Bryson describes a possible camping spot where "Everything you could ask for in a woodland setting was here–tall, stately trees broken at intervals of by escalators of dusty sunshine, winding brook, floor of plump ferns, cool air languidly adrift in a lovely green stillness." This description uses metaphors and powerful descriptions to create the setting Bryson finds himself in. It calls to mind something in a fairy tale, a perfect scene of woodland beauty anyone may have seen on television, but Bryson explains he has seen in person. To further the impact of the beauty and majesty of the Appalachian Mountains, Bryson writes with an awe-inspired tone. He includes a lot of natural history in the book, to transform the Appalachian Mountains into profoundly ancient beings. He writes, "Once, aeons ago, the Appalachians were of a scale and majesty to rival the Himalayas...when simple plants colonized the land and the first creatures crawled gasping from the sea, the Appalachians were there to greet them" (190). These facts are elaborated on to accumulate reader's respect for the Appalachians and a desire to experience them for themselves. Lastly, Bryson's book is focused on the fun experience of hiking, made evident through dialogue. Dialogue acts as a conduit for humor through sarcasm or wit, and demonstrates the various interactions that make hiking such a varied and interesting experience. Bryson's conversations with Katz are always amusing, and inspire a reader to have similar ones on the trail. I think that Bryson does a phenomenal job convincing people to hike the AT. He addresses counter arguments by never shying away from the difficulties of hiking, but always emphasizes the benefits of his journey over the grueling nature of the AT.