Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds

A superb space opera story. It starts in 2057 somewhere in the solar system. However, as events unfold we see the protagonists go far beyond what our imaginations can begin to comprehend. I certainly loved the ride. And when it finished I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was difficult to come back to the four walls of my reality. The book had me immersed in its space-time immensity, a scope so broad I feel so small now I’ve finished it. 

What you'll find here: first contact, alien intelligence, alien politics, relativistic time dilation, human power struggle and good character development.

Evolution. Darwin's theory of natural selection and what it means for life. New Scientist Essential Guide N6. Edited by Richard Webb.

Super Interesting read. I loved the chapters about Darwin's life and his work on On the Origins of Species, and how decades after with the discovery of the gene and DNA his theory made more sense. From there the chapters deal with the concepts of Evolution, Random Mutations and Natural Selection in a not too technical language. One of latest chapters discusses how "the genetic changes underpinning" Evolution may resemble the workings of the human brain, including the ability to learn.

In Praise of Shadows by Junichirō Tanizaki

Beautiful book. Slow, quiet, pleasant read. Tanizaki explains how beauty can be found in darkeness. How shadows are beautiful. From toilets, to temples, and from Nō theatre to women and races, Tanizaki explains the role of shadows in everyday objects in japanese culture (and oriental culture) and compares this perspective with a western point of view. Embedded in the essay is Tanizaki's critique of western technology (e.g. electric light and heating) and his reluctance to embrace modernity (and forget traditional Japanese traditions).