Maple Leaf Books I Have Read

This might be a little long but I hope you will find it interesting and give you books ideas to explore.

For the grand kids:
Sun's Up - picture book so you can take turns reading, making up the story
Goodnight Moon - find the mouse in each picture

Bill Peet - wrote many books for the very young, barns and houses look like faces; How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head, Cowardly Clyde,The Caboose Who Got Loose, Jethro and Joel Were a Troll

Around 4th grade, Red Wall series - very well written

Books to help you understand life:
Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer - where you find out how to get to the Isle of Conclusions and why Rhyme and Reason were banished to the tower in the sky.

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift - where you find out about Yahoos
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand - where you learn about John Gault

Interesting titles: Maple Leaf

The two ends of the Universe:
Hacking Matter: Levitating Chairs, Quantum Mirages, and the Infinite Weirdness of Atoms by Wil McCarthy

Programming the Universe: a quantum computer scientist takes on the cosmos by Seth Lloyd

From the present to the beginning of life:
The Ancestor's Tale: a pilgrimage to the dawn of evolution - a very clear writer on the subject of evolution. It has been said by physicists that they can work in almost any scientific field but biology, it is too complex and there fundamental approach to breaking down things that they want to understand does not help them in the field of biology. Richard Dawkins has written many very good books.

The Blind Watchmaker: why the evidence of evolution reveals a universe without design by Richard Dawkins

Calculus rediscovered after 2000 years:
Science News
Archimedes
Archimedes Maple Leaf

Table below is sortable by any column. Click on the column title to sort by that column.

Title Author ISBN Comments  ▴
White Savage: William Johnson and the invention of America O' Toole, Fintan 0374281289 First head of Indian affairs.
Martha Washington: and American life Brady, Paricia 0670034304 Where you can learn a different meaning for the word lawn.
General George Washington: a military life Lengel, Edward G. 0812969502 Contrary to many web sites I believe the Revolutionary War is still our longest war.
Scars of War, Wounds of Peace: the Israeli-Arab tragedy Ben-Ami, Shlomo 0195181581 Former Israeli diplomat who discusses the failures of all parties in negotiating peace for the Middle East.
Mr. Ambassador: warrior for peace Perkins, Edward J. with Connie Cronley 9780806137674 Our ambassador to South Africa with the mission of ending apartheid
Brother, I'm Dying Danticat, Edwidge 1400041155 The story is about a Haitian families courage, love and the brother who died under the custody of the United States Immigration department.
William Wilberforce: a biography Tomkins, Stephen 0745952321 Member of the House of Commons who worked to end slave trading.
Teaching From the Heart and Soul: the Robert F. Panara story Lang, Harry G. 156368358X Robert became deaf from illness at eleven and went on to teach both the deaf and hearing and participated in founding the theater for the deaf.
John Adams: Creating a nation Kent, Zachary 0766021831 He was our first ambassador: to the Netherlands.
Mirror to America: the autobiography of John Hope Franklin Franklin, John Hope 0374530475 Received the Medal of Freedom in 1995.
Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism West, Cornel 0143035835 Cornel's views on democracy and what it means to be a democratic thinker.
Rosa Parks Courageous Citizen Ashby, Ruth 1402748655 Memorable moment when she met Nelson Mandela in 1990.
The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography Poitier, Sidney 0061357928 Would turn down parts that he felt did not represent his values, even before he had become an established actor.
Madam Secretary: A Memoir Albright, Madeleine 1401359620 About her years as Secretary of State. Her Father taught at a university and influenced Condoleezza Rice to switch from music to political science.
Hard Call: Great decisions and the extraordinary people who made them McCain, John with Mark Salter 0446580406 McCain's view of the traits of good decision making.
On the Wings of Eagles Follett, Ken 0446580406 About Ross Perot sending a team into Iran to rescue two of his EDS employees.
Dark Genius of Wall Street the Misunderstood Life of Jay Gould, King of the Robber Barons Renehan, Edward J. 0465068863 His trust fund is still providing for his ancestors; died December 2, 1892.
The Secrete Life of Cowboys Groneberg, Tom 0806136502 About his attempt to become a cattle rancher in south east Montana.
700 Sundays Crystal, Billy 0446698512 That is how many Sundays he estimates he was able to spend with his father.
Memories Are Made of This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter's Eyes Martin, Deana and Wendy Holden 0330490648 Deana, Dean Martin's daughter talks about her father.
Satchmo: The Genius of Louis Armstrong Giddins, Gary 0306810131 He worked right up to the day he died.
Jerry Garcia: the collected artwork Higashi, April 1560257911 Yes, the musician Jerry Garcia was also did drawings and pictures.
Beacon for Mountain and Plain Gibb's, Rafe History of the University of Idaho. I was tour guide for the university when I attended school there.
Basilica: The Splendor and the Scandal Building St. Peter's Scotti, R. A. 0452288606 History of the building Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.
The Pushcart book of poetry: the best poems from three decades of the Pushcart Prize Murray, Joan 9781888889529 Collection of winning poems.
Americans in Waiting: the lost story of immigration and citizenship in the United States Motormura, Hiroshi 0195163451 History of how our immigration laws and views about immigration have changed over the history of our country.
Prefabulous: the house of your dreams, delivered fresh from the factory Koones, Sheri 156158844X Review of the different types of prefabricated housing.
Oil Wars Mary Kaldor, Terry Lynn Karl and Yahia Said 0745324797 Study about the impact of oil on the different countries around the world and how little it has helped their economic prosperity.
Blood Stripes: the grunt's view of the war in Iraq Danelo, David J. 0811701646 The Iraq war from a marines perspective.
The Olympic: the story of Seattle's landmark hotel since 1924 Stein, Alan J. 0811701646 History of the five star Olympic hotel in Seattle.
The Honk and Holler Opening Soon Letts, Billie 0446521582 The history of the five star Olympic hotel in Seattle.
Live Well in Mexico: how to relocate, retire, and increase your standard of living Luboff, Ken 1562614320 Covers all aspects of moving to Mexico and the different types of communities.
The Perfect Board Clemons, Calvin K. 0975592270 Pleasantly surprising what the author believes to make a well functioning board of directors.
Sugarcane Academy Tisserand, Michael 0156031892 Story about how hurricane Katrina effected the lives of the authors family and his neighborhood.
An Inland Voyage Along the Yukon River: A Land Gone Lonesome O'Neill, Dan 158243364X Canoeing down the Yukon River visiting points of history about the river and the people who lived along it.
Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words Wilson, Douglas L. 1400032636 Lincoln would rewrite his speeches many times and sometimes even after he had given them if a news paper asked for a copy as he understood that reading his speech would be different than hearing him give it so he would change it for that reason.
Joy at Work Bakke, Dennis W. 0976268647 Very interesting to see what a company can be like if management can learn a different way of running companies.
Tough Choices: A Memoir Fiorina, Carly 1857883926 Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard
Never Bet the Farm: How Entrepreneurs Take Risks, Make Decisions and How You Can, Too Iaquinto, Anthony L. 9780787983666 How to start a company and keep the risk to a minimum.
The Politics of Freedom Boaz, David 9781933995144 Libertarian's view taking on both liberal and conservative sides.
A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign Larson, Edward J. 9781933995144 The election that cemented our two party political system and where Jefferson and Monroe schemed and changed from the original intent how the electoral college would work allowing the parties to control the electoral college.
River Time: Ecotravel On the World's Rivers Hood, Mary A. 9780791473894 Visiting rivers around the world and observing environmental impacts to the rivers.
The Prodigal Tongue: Dispatches from the Future of English Abley, Mark 0618571221 Looking at the impact of the English language on languages around the world.
Reinventing Knowledge: From Alexandria to the Internet McNeely, Ian F. 0393065065 Looking at how knowledge has been persevered and shared over the centuries.
Done Deals: Venture Capitalists Tell Their Stories Gupta, Udayan 0875849385 The venture capital industry from the beginning til now, created from interviews with people who were involved in the beginning and those still working in this industry.
Alpha Dogs: The Americans Who Turned Political Spin Into a Global Business Harding, James 0374103674 The company that create the negative political advertisements and spread this campaign style to other countries around the world
The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court Toobin, Jeffrey 1400096790 From their nomination to their impact on our laws.
Crashing Through: The Extraordinary True Story of the Man Who Dared to See Kurson, Robert 0812973682 You can learn a lot about how to succeed and in life and how our vision works by reading this book.
The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop: a memoir, a history Buzbee, Lewis 9781555974503 History of book publication and sharing a love of books.
Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself Alda, Alan 9780812977523 Collection of speeches and commencement addresses.
Where Have All the Leaders Gone? Iacocca, Lee with Catherine Whitney 9781416532491 Lee's attempt to stimulate young people to get more involved with our countries future. He held back nothing in discussing the lack of leader ship from our President, Congress, and business people.
The Guide to Small Foundation Management From Groundwork to Grantmaking Gast, Elaine C. Steps to establishing and managing small foundations.
Splendid Legacy: The Guide to Creating Your Family Foundation Virginia M. Esposito, Joseph Foote, and Andy Carroll 1929455062 Steps to establishing and managing small foundations.
Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman! Feynman, Richard P. 0393316041 Semi autobiography of the Nobel prize winning physicist.
Salty Piece of Land Buffett, Jimmy 031601429X Real pleasure to read just like listening to his music.
A Pirate Looks at Fifty Buffett, Jimmy 0449223345 Ramblings about his life and love of flying.
I Heard the Owl Call My Name Craven, Margaret 0440343690 The cardinal sent the young priest out to the Indian villages to learn about life.
The Nail Knot: a fly fishing mystery Galligan, John 1932557113 Interesting murder mystery.
House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest Childs, Craig 9780316067546 Interesting study of the Indians of the Southwest following their migration from Colorado into Northern Mexico.
Who Knew?: Things You Didn't Know About Things You Know Well Hoffman, David 9781567314427 Book of trivial facts about common subjects.
The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln Gross, Anthony 9781566196284 Book of trivial facts about common subjects.
The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future Nasr, Vali 9780393329681 History and review of the Shia and Sunnis conflicts. Looks at the recent events in Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq.
Where the River Ends Martin, Charles 9780767926980 Story of Love.
The Georgian Star: How William and Caroline Herschel Revolutionized Our Understanding of the Cosmos Lemonick, Michael D. 9780393065749 They discovered Uranus and much more.
The World According to Bertie: 44 Scotland Street Smith, Alexander McCall 9780307387066 Fictional observations of a neighborhood in Edinburgh Scotland. Yet many of the land marks, like streets exist. Alexander writer four fictional book series; Ladies Detective Agency, In the Isabel Dalhousie, In the Portuguese Irregular Verbs, and In the 44 Scotland Street.
My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir Thomas, Clarence 9780060565565 Autobiography covering growing up to his swearing in at the Supreme Court. His Senate confirmation demonstrated all that is bad about the appointment process for Supreme Court justices and the depth of disgraceful acts our politicians on Capital Hill will commit without remorse. Joe Biden's part was especially of interest now that he is our Vice President, totally irresponsible.
The Goal: Theory of Constraints GoldRatt, Eliyanhu M. and Cox, Jeff 0884271781 New way of looking at how to manage a business.
Agile Management: For Software Engineering Anderson, David J. 0131424602 Theory of constraints applied to software engineering.
A Bull In China Rogers, Jim 9780812977486 Jim Rogers retired at 37 after co-founding Quantum an investment fund. He has traveled extensively in China since 1984. He also has 3 Guinness records. Jim explains some of the investment opportunities that exist in China.
Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA Weiner, Tim 9780307389008 History of the CIA from the beginning under Truman till 2008. The CIA was instituted to provide information which it has never been successful at. Every President since Truman has had to lie to the American public about the CIA and its involvement in covert operations. After Iraq a new charter for the agency was created removing many of its former responsibilities.
Last Night I Dreamed of Peace: The Diary of Dang Thuy Tram Translated by Pham, Andrew X. 9780307347381 Dang Thuy Tram was a North Vietcong doctor and communist party member. The diary was kept by Robert Whitehurst a military intelligence officer. The diary has been translated with the help of Whitehurst's sister in-law and Tram' youngest sister. Tram wrote several diary books but only one survived the war. She died the morning of June 22, 1970 killed by American troops on patrol.
Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation. Roberts, Cokie 9780060782351 President's wives and other women whom helped to shape our nation in the period of 1797 to 1825. Starting with John Adams election through James Monroe. Including Betsy Bonaparte wife of Jerome Bonaparte brother of Napoleon.
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary Winchester, Simon 0060175966 Story of how an insane retired U.S. Army doctor William Chester Minor contributed in a major way to the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. Minor contributed thousands of entries over 20 years while living in an asylum an hours distance from Oxford University. How Dr. James Murray the editor of OED visited with Minor over the years at the asylum.
Dreamers of the Day Russell, Mary Doria 9780345485557 Story is fiction in a historical factual setting. Time is 1921 just after World War I and the influenza epidemic. The story is narrated by the main character. Learn something about the people who defined the current middle east countries.
The Eleventh Man Doig, Ivan 9780151012435 Story is fiction about a Montana foot ball team which went undefeated. The starting line up all joined the World War II effort.
Our Story Begins Wolff, Tobias 9781400095971 Short stories, mostly downers.
The Miracle at Speedy Motors Smith, Alexander McCall 9780307277466 Story is based in Botswana Africa the country where Mr. Smith grew up. Two women, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi run a detective agency out of Mma Ramotswe's husband's, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni automotive garage named Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. The main case is to find relatives of Mma Sebina who found out after parents deaths that she was adopted.
The Time Traveler's Wife Niffenegger, Audrey 9780156029438 Clare, Henry's wife spends much of her life waiting and worrying about Henry who is a time traveler. Henry first meets Clare when she is six years old and he is thirty six. Henry knew then that they would eventually get married. Henry often visits himself, twenty four and five. They finally meet for the first time in the present when Henry is twenty eight and Clare is twenty.
Boom! Talking About the Sixties Brokaw, Tom 9780812975116 Tom Brokaw talks to a wide variety of people to try and understand what happened, how it shaped today and what lessons might be learned for tomorrow.
Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do Vanderbilt, Tom 9780307277190 This book covers the non cooperative driving arena, looking at the psychology, design and culture of driving around the world.
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain Sacks, Oliver 9781400033539 Explores different types of brain damage and how music can survive or appear in conjunction with the brain injury. Dr. Sacks also wrote Awakenings which the movie was based on.
The Jasons: The Secret History of Science's Postwar Elite Finkbeiner, Ann K 0670034894 This group of scientists have gathered every summer since 1960 to solve highly classified problems and to advise the government, mostly for the Department of Defense.
The Sister Adams, Poppy 9780307388315 About two inseparable sisters when they were young and their family. They live in a mansion that has been in the family for over 200 years and the family has always had a lepidopterist. Like all families this one has issues, in this case it leads to an unexpected ending. The author is a naturalist and has verified the information she intertwined in the story about researching moths.
McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld Glenny, Misha 9781400095124 It was interesting to read how the criminal underworld rapidly filled in the void after the USSR collapsed. Without governments in place or effective governments the crime grew to become a major part of the worlds economy and to provide protection in the absence of a government. Think you do not participate in this, if you own a cell phone a little known compound colton was illegally taken from the Democratic Republic of Congo to use in making the cell phone.

It is estimated that 20 percent of the world GDP is criminal underworld produced. Of that amount they estimate 70 percent is drug related. The US spent over $19 billion dollars in 2003 on the War on Drugs. The criminal underworld has many times that amount available at there disposal to fight back. It is a war that is impossible to win unless we make the drugs legal and then tax them. We, the US have ruined several countries and cost 10's of thousands of deaths around the world trying to fight this war. It is also a war that effects disadvantaged people much more than the affluent users. We have filled our jails with people and not made a dent in the flow of drugs.

There is hope when people like Charmian Gooch who was not yet thirty founded a non-governmental organization named Global Witness. Which tracks illegal activity around the world and gets legal companies to sign up not to purchase illegally trafficked stolen resources from countries around the world.

Pugetopolis: A Mossback Take On Growth Addicts, Weather Wimps, and the Myth of Seattle Nice Berger, Knute 9781570615726 Mr. Berger is a third generation Seattle area resident who writes several local columns including one at: Crosscut. His nickname is Mossback and the book is a collection of his editorial articles about the Puget Sound area.
Book Marked For Death Barrett, Lorna 9780425226414 Location of story is Stoneham New Hampshire a small town which is a tourist destination for book stores. A local author is having a book signing at, Haven't Got a Clue, mystery book store. The author is found dead after the signing in the book store restroom. Book is a pleasant light read.
We Bought A Zoo Mee, Benjamin 139781602860483 A British family pools all there money to buy a zoo. The book follows the ups and downs of purchasing, renovating and getting to opening day. Dartmoor Zoological Park
Dog Man: An Uncommon Life On a Faraway Mountain Sherrill, Martha 9781594201240 Morie and Kitako live in the remote northern part of Japan. Morie had an urge to get a dog when he was 30 years old. He got an Akita. Akita's are native to Japan and were nearly extinct at the end of World War II. The story follows Morie and Kitako's life together and how the dogs affected their lives.
The House of Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood Cooper, Helene 9780743266253 Helene Cooper the New York Times White House correspondent was born and lived until she was 14 years old in Liberia. Her ancestors were part of the original founders of that country. She and her family had to leave when the rebel Doe came to power.
A Long Trek Home: 4,000 Miles By Boot, Raft, and Ski McKittrick, Erin 9781594850936 Erin and her husband Hig traveled from Seattle Washington to the Aleutian Islands in a few days over a year. They wanted to see the environment and the people of this area. When they finished their journey they decided to live in Alaska off the road system. Erin told her husband that they should do the trip again in 25 years to see how things have changed.
Lost On Planet China: One Man's Attempt To Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation Troost, J. Maarten 9780767922012 Maarten traveled mostly by himself all over China. He prepared by studying some of China's history and attempted to learn some of the language. Troost's mother is Czech and his father Dutch. He grew up in Canada. He and his wife have lived in remote islands in the South Pacific. When he noticed Chinese business people arriving in remote Tonga he began to wonder what was happening in China and wanted to travel there to learn for himself.
Pirate Latitudes Crichton, Michael 9780061929373 The manuscript for this novel was found after Michael Crichton had passed away. The story is of piracy based out of Port Royal in Jamaica. The epilogue of the story refers to a note book of Captain Charles Hunter being kept at Trinity College in Cambridge which might lead one to believe the story is based on facts. I searched the Internet and was not able to align any of the story with facts to be found in my search.

I have also read these other books by Michael Crichton; The Andromeda Strain, The Great Train Robbery, Sphere, Timeline, and Travels an autobiography.

What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception McClellan, Scott 139781586485566 Scott ascribes the much of the failure of the Bush administration and Washington to the endless campaigning. Once elected to Washington the politicians never stop the campaigning so there is never a time for constructive dialog and compromise to solve the issues facing our country. This dates back to the Nixon period. President Obama also discussed this in his first State of the Union address to congress. The other issue discussed in this book was the compartmentalization of information and secrecy.
Sun in a Bottle: The Strange History of Fusion and the Science of Wishful Thinking x, Charles 9780143116349 For over five decades science has been chasing the dream of developing a fusion energy power systems. Billions of dollars have been spent and it remains just beyond our reach. This book reviews the history of the struggle and the brutal scientific process of publication.
Indigo Springs Dellamonica, A. M. 9780765319470 Astrid's father dies and she discovers the magic that flows from Indigo Springs blue liquid. She must learn to cope with a power she may not be able to control. The blue liquid enchants every day items. The magic and power have different affects for Astrid, Jacks and Sahara.
The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family Gordon-Reed, Annette 9780393337761 The story of the Hemings family starting with Elizabeth Hemings concubine of John Wayles Thomas Jefferson's father in-law and Sally Hemings Thomas Jefferson's concubine. While it was commonly known by neighbors and others that Sally was Thomas's concubine there is no written confirmation as this would have created real problems for Jefferson and his public career. Jefferson freed all his living children by Sally either when they became adults or at his death in 1826. Even at his death the family could not formally free Sally as it would still have impacted his one daughter by Martha Eppes Jefferson who was still living. The Hemings family was a large family and all of them lived at Monticello for most of their lives until Jefferson died. Jefferson was always in debt and when he died all the slaves not freed were sold along with other property. Some of the freed slaves were able to purchase family members.
The Wives of Henry Oades Moran, Johanna 9780345510952 Historical based fiction, this story starts in 1890 when Henry Oades takes an accounting position and moves his wife and children from England to New Zealand. It was planned to be a temporary position lasting a couple of years. New Zealand was a frontier place at that period of time. Just as they are preparing to move back to England, Henry is offered a promotion if he will stay longer. This was a disappointment to his wife but she supported his decision to stay. She did get Henry to move out into the country side from town. One night when Henry was not yet home the Maori native people kidnapped Henry's wife and children. Henry looked for months for his family. Finally after loosing all hope for his family he assumes them dead. Henry leaves New Zealand for California. Henry eventually recovers from his grief and marries again. In the mean time his wife and one daughter come down with small pox and the Maori people let his family go. His family is able to follow and find Henry. Henry and his wives are then prosecuted for bigamy and persecuted by the community of Berkeley.
Come On, People Cosby, Bill and Poussaint, Alvin F. 9781595550927 Discussion of the issues facing Black American families. The statistics of decline are quite stark for the last four decades. Several well intentioned programs like welfare and housing projects seem to have contributed to the issues as well as cultural endemic thinking and behaviors.
Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code Ridley, Matt 97800611485453 Francis Crick contribution to molecular biology came by his immense ability to sift through large amounts of research publications and find the thread binding them together. He worked best when he had a partner where he filled his days in discussion and writing on the board. But he always said that his ideas were only theories until laboratory research proved them correct. He and his partners created the molecular model for DNA.
Angles and Ages: A Short Book About Darwin, Lincoln, and Modern Life Gopnik, Adam 9780307455307 Adam Gopnik discusses the impact of Lincoln and Darwin on our modern lives comparing and contrasting there writing and their lives. While Gopnik makes a point about the clarity of their writing it can not always be said of Gopnik's writing with the choice of words in some places; you may need to read with a dictionary at the ready.
Barbed Wire: The Fence That Changed the West Liu, Joanne S. 9780878425570 Interesting what an impact one product can have in changing peoples lives. It was also interesting to find out that over 2,000 patents were filed for barbed wire designs in the 1875 t0 1885 time period.
George, Being George: George Plimpton's Life Aldrich JR., Nelson W. 9780812974188 The book was made up of interviews with friends and family of George Plimpton. George was one of the founders of The Paris Review a magazine that started after World War II in Paris. The magazine published new and mostly unknown writers. George was a New York socialite and a person that never fully grew into an adult. He was full of curiosity and loved fire works and parties. He became well known after he started writing for Sports Illustrated when he would participate with professional sport teams and individuals. He wrote Paper Lion after interviewing and playing with NFL Lions team.
Tales From Margaritaville Buffett, Jimmy 0156026988 Jimmy Buffett's first book of short stories. Most of them are purely fiction but a few of the last ones are about some of his adventures. Like most of his stories they are located in the South and the Caribbean.
Swine Not: A Novel Pig Tale Buffett, Jimmy 9780316114028 Jimmy Buffett took a friend Helen Bransford's stories about the family pet pig and turned it into this book. It is about the family moving to a four star hotel in New York where Ms. Bransford worked as a pastry chef and had to keep the pig hidden from the head chef and hotel staff.
Paul Newman: A Life Levy, Shawn 9780307353764 What a life!, World War II veteran. Sixty years of acting, 10 Oscar nominations, winning two Oscars. Owning race car teams and driving race cars when he was eighty years old, winning at the Le Mans at seventy. Celebrated his fiftieth wedding anniversary, after straightening himself out after having an affair. Father of six children. Entrepreneur founding a food company Newmans Own that donates all its profits. Creator of the Hole in the Wall Gang camps for children who spend much of their life in hospitals. But most of all philanthropist always trying to find where he could give back from his good luck and fortune.

I hope this can expand your enjoyment in reading. Let me leave you with some thoughts about math another area of interest to ponder. There is an area of mathematics called ephemeris math which has to do with astronomy. This is how they calculate how to send a satellite around three planets using each ones gravitational pull to accelerate the satellite to some distant destination with a very precise location.

So given that we can do that, why are we not able to calculate the path to travel the shortest distance for a salesman to visit 100 customers. This is the well known Traveling Salesman problem. It is in the class of problems known as non deterministic polynomials (NDP). The only way to solve this problem is to solve all solutions of which there are 10 to the 155th. Since the universe has only been around for about 10 to the 18th seconds we therefore we do not have enough time.:-)

Maple Leaf

 

This is of course not everything I have read. Being a life long reader I'm not able to remember a fraction of all the books I have read. Wish I had started this list years ago.