FiveBooks Newsletter 68

[1]The Browser
Links:
1. http://thebrowser.com

FiveBooks at TheBrowser

Today on FiveBooks, we grill [5]Steven Pinker about his theory that violence
and war is in historical decline, despite popular belief to the contrary fed
by our gory media diet. And acclaimed writer [6]Armistead Maupin shares his
favourite tales from San Francisco.
Links:
5. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/steven-pinker-on-decline-violence
6. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/armistead-maupin-on-san-francisco-novels

Also on the site last week, expert book recommendations on [7]perfume,
[8]science fiction and [9]biographies. For more gems, explore our full list
of over 600 interviews over in our [10]archive.
Links:
7. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/denise-hamilton-on-perfume
8. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/orson-scott-card-on-science-fiction
9. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/lyndall-gordon-on-biographies
10. http://thebrowser.com/fivebooks/archive

Next week, literature professor John Sutherland discusses Victorian fiction,
acclaimed writer Eva Hoffman picks her favourite memoirs, and more. Thanks
for reading!

FiveBooks News

[11]Gayle Lemmon on Women and War
Links:
11. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/gayle-lemmon-on-women-and-war

Sunday October 2

When war comes, women pick up the pieces, providing for families and taking
up jobs previously done by men. Increasingly, women are to be found on the
frontlines of combat too, as the author and journalist explains [12]Continue
reading…
Links:
12. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/gayle-lemmon-on-women-and-war

[13]Orson Scott Card on Science Fiction
Links:
13. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/orson-scott-card-on-science-fiction

Monday October 3

The sci-fi author tells us how the genre evolved from “gosh-wow” novels of
the 1920s into some of the most inventive fiction being written today. He
recommends five books sure to get new readers hooked [14]Continue reading…
Links:
14. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/orson-scott-card-on-science-fiction

[15]Denise Hamilton on Perfume
Links:
15. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/denise-hamilton-on-perfume

Tuesday October 4

The author guides us through the intoxicating world of the perfumer, from
ancient Egypt to wartime Paris – and explains what Guerlain meant when he
said his fragrances contained a whiff of his mistress's bottom [16]Continue
reading…
Links:
16. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/denise-hamilton-on-perfume

[17]Lyndall Gordon on Biographies
Links:
17. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/lyndall-gordon-on-biographies

Wednesday October 5

The inner life is a mystery but the best biographies expose the hidden
kernel of a person, says the biographer. She picks five books that push the
boundaries of the genre, and compares documentary and imaginative truth
[18]Continue reading…
Links:
18. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/lyndall-gordon-on-biographies

[19]Armistead Maupin on San Francisco Novels
Links:
19. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/armistead-maupin-on-san-francisco-novels

Thursday October 6

The author of the wonderful _Tales of the City_ series tells us about San
Francisco’s spirit of place, and the books which best capture the city’s
sense of possibility and noirish feel [20]Continue reading…
Links:
20. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/armistead-maupin-on-san-francisco-novels

[21]Steven Pinker on the Decline of Violence
Links:
21. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/steven-pinker-on-decline-violence

Friday October 7

Our TV screens may be full of news about war and crime, but this masks a
fall in historical terms in the number of violent deaths that’s nothing
short of astonishing, says the psychologist. He tells us how and why this
happened [22]Continue reading…
Links:
22. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/steven-pinker-on-decline-violence

[23]The End Of The Future
Links:
23. http://b.rw/qAUBJB

Peter Thiel | National Review | 3 October 2011

Superb essay arguing that progress in science and technology is stalling.
"The technology slowdown threatens not just our financial markets, but the
entire modern political order, which is predicated on easy and relentless
growth" [24]More like this
Links:
24. http://thebrowser.com/best