marycatelli: (Golden Hair)
Social Justice Fallacies by Thomas Sowell

A discussion of logical fallacies used as argument. Issues with arguments about equality being natural, with disparities that are ignored vs disparities that are used as arguments, the reification of groups of people that are constantly changing (the bottom quintile is never actually the same group of people from year to year and changes a lot over a decade), the problems in assuming that people being subjected to a policy will not react in their own interest in face of it, and more.
marycatelli: (Golden Hair)
How to Defend Your Lair by Keith Ammann

A discussion of the basic elements of security.

Read more... )
marycatelli: (Golden Hair)
Secrets of Monet's Garden: Bringing the Beauty of Monet's Style to Your Own Garden by Derek Fell

An analysis of what Monet planted and why, and what you can do like it, even if you don't have a dedicated team of ten gardeners, a backhoe to deal with exhausted beds, several greenhouses solely to raises flowers, and all that land. Some aspects, he points out, can be duplicated in little as planters, such as color scheme.

Also comments on the art. For instance, Monet, despite the rumors, did not dislike hybrids; all his waterlilies were hybrids. He didn't like double flowers because they were less translucent.
marycatelli: (Golden Hair)
Dressing the Past edited by Margarita Gleba, Cherine Munkholt, and Marie-Louise Nosch

Not so much a discussion of what people wore as how people reconstruct, as best they can, what people wore.  Observations on everything from Scythian women wearing elaborate headdresses because most of the gold ornaments in their graves had to have been on it, to tracing the history of Hollywood's use of historical accuracy.

marycatelli: (Golden Hair)
MI6 Spy Skills for Civilians by Red Riley

Who is, as you might guess, not actually Red Riley. Some basic tradecraft starting with becoming a spy -- as bland as possible, and probably not possible if you are striking such as being immensely tall or short -- hit on maintaining an alias, evasion, extractions, fighting if you absolutely can't escape, evading surveillance, and other such spy things.
marycatelli: (Golden Hair)
Arbiter of Worlds: A Primer for Gamemasters by Alexander Macris

An interesting look at the practicalities of running a game. Including how it differs from writing from the DM's point of view. He tends toward sandbox games, which emphasizes the difference. Though the chapter about abduction (reasoning from an unusual event to the principle that caused it) is something that applies to both.

A particularly interesting appendix on alignment.
marycatelli: (Golden Hair)
War Before Civilization: The Myth of the Peaceful Savage by Lawrence H. Keeley

Discusses warfare with both anthropological and ethnological evidence.

Read more... )
marycatelli: (Golden Hair)
Maurice's Strategikon: Handbook of Byzantine Military Strategy translated by George T. Dennis

This is definitely a book for a select audience. Those are interested in Byzantine military matters will find it very useful. All sorts of things from the use of hunting as training for war, to what to do with your baggage train, to why you should always have a reserve, to discussions of various foes and what tactics to use with each.
marycatelli: (Golden Hair)
Live to Tell the Tale: Combat Tactics for Player Characters by Keith Ammann

An analysis of what D&D players can do to fight better.

Some discussion of builds, with ability scores and feats and other choices, and character types such as tanks and spellslingers, and discussions of what to do in fights. Heavy on D&D specific elements and terminology.
marycatelli: (Golden Hair)
The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters by Keith Ammann

An in-depth analysis of how to fight with D&D monsters.

Read more... )

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