50% Through my Jarred Diamond Book Stack

A friend recently commented that he had just completed "Guns, the Germs and Steel" (which admittedly is an "old" Jarred Diamond) book, which I knew I had in my collection, so I dutifully checked my collection of four (yes I know there are others) and I see that was still on my to do list (see below, the pile is only only 50% done, "The Third Chimpanzee" and "Upheaval" done, "Guns Germs and Steel" along with "Collapse" still to do): 

Chaos and uncertainty, plus surviving in troubling times seems to be a constant theme. Trouble is he keeps writing books quicker than I am reading them.

Book: Upheaval by Jarred Diamond

Finally finished this. It was a good read, not a vivid page turner but it rewarded the persistent reader with a few golden nuggets of information that made you stop and stare, as well as a lot of history I was totally unaware of, Indonesia a being a prime example (see below, a nice bit piece of Japanese artwork associated with Commodore Perry's arrival to Japan in 1853 and a rather rude awakening to Western industrialisation by virtue of being on the receiving end of large caliber high explousive shells):  

The premise of the book is that countries and humans share a certain capacity to survive or be destroyed by unexpected "upheavals" and it is how they (either a country of a person) react to the "unexpected traumatic event" that is the key to their survival or destruction. Though provoking as he lists out his key characteristics ... best read the book for that description ;)

Holiday Reading Books: "The Demon in the Machine" and "Upheaval"

Despite my family trying to convert me to the Kindle I still manage to slip in "the hard stuff" trying my best to get the best of both worlds (see below): 

I think there is a tenuous common thread of simulation between the two, one is about hidden connections between information and complex systems and the other is weaving a comparison between personal and national moments of crisis ;)