The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Adaptation by Nicki Greenberg

Nicki: Brilliant artist and author extraordinaire who moonlights as a lawyer. Intelligent, talented, beautiful, and so freaking nice to boot: just makes me want to shake her and exclaim, “There’s got to be something wrong with you!”

Unfortunately, for nasty navel-gazing copyright reasons (Thanks a bunch Disney), Nicki's masterpiece cannot be sold in the US and UK. Australian and Canadian book retailers might oblige with deliveries. Anyone living in / swinging by Hong Kong can find the book at Page One.

Links to Nicki's Website and Blog.

From the artist: Why I drew them this way

The launch

Zen End-table

Link

Booky Bench

Link

The Cave

Link

MagCoffeeTableLicious

Link

Nifty Book Gadget: The Gimble

Link

Tetris Bookshelves!

An oldie but a goodie 8)

More at coolbuzz

The Enlightenment - nifty bookshelf lamp

Gimme Gimme!

More info at coolbuzz

Invisible Bookshelves

"sticklebook™ is the world's first invisible shelving system that creates the illusion of a line of books hanging unsupported on the wall. It can be used absolutely anywhere and for any situation." Brilliant!

And the Conceal shelf.

Courtesy of BoingBoing.

Strunk & White's The Elements of Style Illustrated (* * * * *)

One of my favourite books of all time. I had no idea of the existence of this beautifully bound illustrated hardback edition, which I chanced upon while browsing the shelves at Reader's Feast.

Details on Amazon.

Leonardo's Notebooks (* * * * *)

Picked up this GEM of a book today. A collection of Leonardo Da Vinci's drawings and notes. Absolutely amazing. A must-own! Thanks for the recommendation T!!

More details on Amazon.

Infidel (* * * * *)

An amazing read.

More details on the book here.

More about Ayaan Hirsi Ali here.

Snowcrash (* * * * *)

Amazon reviewer: "One date to remember when reading this work is that it was first released in June of 1992 after three years in the making. This is critical, as so much of what was absolute fiction then, may now be found within the pages of Wired Magazine. There are even words he originated that are common to most people who use a computer, especially if you have ever tried what he calls the Metaverse, touring it as an Avatar."

More details here.

The God Delusion (* * * * *)

It was a relief of sorts to see ideas in my mind that had been clear as mud being articulated by a brilliant mind in a clear and captivating style. I found myself exclaiming, 'EXACTLY!" every second sentence or so :D

The book is also surprisingly funny. I laughed out loud in several places.

I've learned of many nifty things from this book, one of which is the Brights. I am now a registered Bright.

Another nifty thing for Americans and Canadians who send their kids to summer cap is Camp Quest. Entry in Wikipedia.

More details about The God Delusion here.

The Arrival (* * * * *)

by Shaun Tan.

Full post here.

Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman! (* * * * *)

I have read several excellent books lately and am hard-pressed to designate one as my favourite for 2007 to date. Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman! is definitely in the running for the title and is a must-read. Thanks, J for the recommendation!

Feynman was such a character. I fell in love with him within three pages of the book :D

"There are two types of genius. Ordinary geniuses do great things, but they leave you room to believe that you could do the same if only you worked hard enough. Then there are magicians, and you can have no idea how they do it. Feynman was a magician." Hans Bethe, Theoretical Physicist and Nobel laureate

Excerpt from Part 1: He Fixes Radios by Thinking!

"Once I get on a puzzle, I can’t get off… That’s a puzzle drive. It’s what accounts for my wanting to deciper Mayan hieroglyphics, for trying to open safes. I remember in high school, during first period a guy would come to me with a puzzle in geometry, or something which had been assigned in his advanced math class. I wouldn’t stop until I figured the damn thing out – it would take me fifteen or twenty minutes. But during the day, other guys would come to me with the same problem, and I’d do it for them in a flash. So for one guy, to do it took me twenty minutes, while there were five guys who thought I was a super-genius."

Read the final chapter in the book, Cargo Cult Science (Adapted from the Caltech commencement address given in 1974).

A Little History of the World (* * * * *)

Thoroughly enjoyed this little gem.

A Little History of the World

Fingerprints of the Gods (*****)

Just finished this book and highly recommend it for curious minds. The writing style is a little melodramatic once in a while but it is a great read for the most part. The material is mind-boggling and is certainly food for thought.

More information here

Fave book in 2006 (* * * * *)

Another brilliant epic by Hamilton - Judas Unchained

Fans will be pleased to know that there will be 3 more books on the way which continue on from Judas Unchained. The first of the three is due sometime in 2007 *WHOO HOOOOO! *

Diamond: a journey into the heart of an obsession (* * * 1/5)

Interesting read on the history of the diamond industry.

Details here

Related link: Have you ever tried to sell a diamond?

Pandora's Star (* * * * *)

By Peter F. Hamilton

LOVED the 'Night's Dawn Trilogy'. Hope Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained is as good.

Update: BRILLIANT BOOK! LOVED IT! Can't wait for the release of Judas Unchained in the smaller sized paperback (oversized paperback would absolutely kill my wrists when reading in bed).

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