Book Review | ToyboxCreations

29Jun/090

10 Questions Science Can’t Answer Yet

This book is a quick read, but it will give you lots of food for thought. There are 10 chapters, each addressing a question that science doesn't have a complete answer for.

Is Fido a zombie? (that is, how intelligent, self-aware and clever are animals?)
Why is time so weird?
Can I live forever please?
What are we going to do with the stupid?
What is the dark side? (think dark energy and dark matter, not Darth Vader)
Is the universe alive?
Are you the same person you were a minute ago?
Why are we all so fat...and does it really matter?
Can we really be sure the paranormal is bunkum?
What is reality, really?

I picked up this book since the title really spoke to me. I tend to like to read about topics that most people would avoid. If it raises a question to a fundamental belief that some group has, I'll read it. If it tries to rewrite history, I'll read it. If it makes you really re-consider something you assumed to be true... I'll read it. I'm not sure why, it's just the topics that really interest me.

I'd suggest you pick up this book if you have a day of traveling ahead of you, and you want to really use that time to think about some big topics. You should find the writing style witty and enjoyable...I know I did. Once you've read it, tell me what you think. I'd love an opportunity to discuss this book further!

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1Apr/090

Beginning Spatial with SQL Server 2008

I picked up this book as an introduction to the new geographic datatype in SQL 2008. I had played around with Google maps, and plotting WiFi hotspots I'd detected around my home, but I wanted to do more with this data. At first, I just stuck the lattitudes and longitudes into decimal fields. But as soon as I tried to determine distances... I realized this was too complex to build by hand.

So I did some research. I Googled for some solutions... it didn't take long until I found that there was a new data type available in SQL 2008. I wanted to learn more. I spent the next few weeks looking for anything I could find. I found this book, and tore through it as quickly as I could.

I worked through the examples, where they seemed to apply to what I was trying to do with the mapping data. And before long I had put together a quick little query that could point out exactly where a WiFi hotspot was coming from.

If you're looking to build map based functionality, definitely grab this book and get started today!

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10Jun/040

Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes (3rd Edition)

I picked up this book to try and refine my understanding of SQL as quickly as possible. I was looking to get a quick overview, and a list of topics I could dig into further as I needed them. This book was perfect for that. I was able to go through the entire thing in an afternoon, taking copious notes along the way.

The author, Ben Forta, first explains a new concept, compares it to other previously concept, then gives an example. He then takes a moment to explain the example in more detail. This format really clicks with me. It's a method I think I'll try using to write up training materials on this site.

What do you think of this book? Was it helpful to you too?