What I don’t enjoy is R or X rated material (not that any of these have that…I’m just sayin). It’s just so disappointing to hear of a popular best seller and then it be filled with continuous “f” bombs. At least if I’m aware beforehand I could select something else.

I’ve being reading Peter Robinson for years, though not read the most recent one you talk about. I swear in one of the author’s notes for a previous book he thanked all the medical staff who took care of him after (I believe) a heart attack – so I would not be the least surprised if he is on statins himself.

I have not read any of the other authors you mention, so may have to take a look. I certainly loved the book about Lucy which I read of here. I love reading the other comments too, and seeing references to other favorites like Rex Stout, Tony Hillerman, and Neal Stephanson’s ‘Cryptonomicon’. Overall the British crime novels are my favorites, but I also love the Lydia Chin/Bill Smith mysteries by S.J. Rozan, set in NYC. and lately I’ve been on a kick of discovering and reading the Myron Bolitar mysteries by Harlan Coben. I guess I get a kick out of the fact that Myron was raised, and lives in, Livingston, NJ – my daughter-in-law’s home town (and apparently author Coben’s home town as well) , and where she and my son currently live. I get a kick out of all the local references and love to exclaim, “Oh wow! I know that place!” Plus the books are well-written and often very funny.

In the interests of financial necessity, and the fear of my small 1899-vintage house imploding from the weight of all the books and bookcases, I’ve begun using the library more often. It can be hit or miss sometimes, but I’ve enjoyed being exposed to a wider variety of books without any financial commitment. But of course if I totally love a book I end up having to buy it anyway, along with all its brothers and sisters, so I’m not sure how much money (or wall space) I’m actually saving, LOL.

An alternative interpretation: the more your livelihood and research depends on institutional and governmental funding, the more likely you are to support the consensus belief, whether it’s true or not. A decision was made a decade or more ago by global governments and foundations that anthropogenic global warming is the crisis of our lifetimes; any climatologist who bucks that trend tends to be professionally ridiculed or unemployed, or at the very least have his/her projects unfunded. The surprising statistic isn’t that 97.4% of climatologists support the theory; it’s that 2.6% admit that they don’t; I’m guessing those are the ones with tenure and/or near retirement. The same has been true in the nutritional field with the lipid v. carbohydrate/insulin hypothesis; it’s been professional suicide for decades for researchers to come right out and deny the lipid hypothesis, despite the weight of the evidence.

Dr. Mike, please post your book reviews, they’re much appreciated.

I fear that such a near-consensus may someday be reached regarding the health impacts of sugar and starch, but then a debate ensues for decades because the affected industries keep cranking out bogus studies and hiring “expert opinion” to cloud public opinion and prevent positive change.

People in general don’t need much encouragement to resist change keep doing what they like doing (burning energy like crazy and eating junk), so stifling progress is much easier than getting it to happen. I hope our kids understand.

It’s one of the best spy shows I have ever seen (well, almost, Tinker Taylor was exceptional)

Glenice

Haven’t seen it, but it sounds good. I did watch a number of episodes of a Brit series called Sandman (I think), which was pretty good. I’ll take a look for Spooks. Sounds right up my alley. Thanks

BTW, I think you are far too kind and gentle with Al Gore. I will be buying your latest book as soon as it is available. I was sorry to see it bumped from May until September.

BTW2, Anthony Watts has a great web site on Global Climate at http://wattsupwiththat.com/.
He has not drunk the AGW kool-aid, and presents very good, up-to-date information. He is coordinating a review of the temperature recording sites throughout North America, and other places. Many, far too many, of these sites collect garbage rather than data.

I love Tony Hillerman and his books. MD and I got to spend some time with him 15 years or so ago. I didn’t mention him because I was discussing books I had just read, not all the books I had ever read. Hillerman’s books are a great way to learn about Navaho culture. Highly recommended, especially if you’re ever going to be traveling in New Mexico.

I walk about 40 miles a week and use that time to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. I am a huge fan of audiobooks, it’s such a great combination of exercising and entertainment.

One of the most memorable audiobooks I listened to was Shantaram http://www.amazon.com/Shantaram-Novel-Gregory-David-Roberts/dp/0312330529

It’s an autobiographical novel based on a true story of an Australian prisoner who escaped to India. It seems to be unforgettable for me.

I would love it if you started a podcast. An hour a week with some guests and callers would be very cool.

I started reading Shantaram a few months ago and left it on a plane (I think – I really don’t know where it is, so that’s what I assume). I haven’t gotten around to picking up an other copy and getting back into it.

If total cholesterol says little or nothing about cardiac health, and cholesterol ratios say little or nothing about cardiac health, why even bother having cholesterol levels checked in the first place?