Ep 107 - Test Out God and Other Nonfiction with Ross Blocher and Carrie Poppy

In this book, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma reshapes both the body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores various treatments, including neurofeedback, meditation, sports, drama, and yoga, which activate the brain’s natural neuroplasticity to aid in recovery. The book emphasizes the power of relationships in both causing and healing trauma and offers hope through descriptions of novel approaches to treatment. It is based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists in the field.

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In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.

In 'The Selfish Gene', Richard Dawkins presents a gene-centred view of evolution, arguing that genes are the primary units of selection and that they behave selfishly to ensure their own replication. The book explains concepts such as kin selection, inclusive fitness, and the evolutionarily stable strategy, highlighting how these mechanisms can lead to altruistic behaviors in organisms. Dawkins emphasizes that the 'selfishness' of genes is a metaphorical concept, describing their evolutionary consequences rather than any intentional behavior. The book has been influential in shaping modern evolutionary thought and remains relevant today.

The Bad Book, written by Andy Griffiths and illustrated by Terry Denton, is a compilation of forty-five stories that include nursery rhymes, poems, cartoons, and jokes. The book features characters like 'Bad Baby', 'Bad Daddy', and others engaging in various mischievous and humorous activities. It was published in 2004 and has since been followed by sequels such as 'The Very Bad Book' and 'The Super Bad Book'. The book won the BILBY Award for Younger Readers in 2005.

Jeremy Seal's The Snakebite Survivors' Club blends travel writing, natural history, and human stories centered on venomous snakes and their victims. The author travels to regions such as Africa and Australia to meet survivors, herpetologists, and local communities dealing with snakebite. Seal explores medical, cultural, and environmental aspects of snake encounters, revealing both danger and the resilience of those affected. The book mixes suspenseful personal narratives with informative context about species, antivenoms, and prevention. It offers readers both fascination and sobering insight into a neglected global health issue.

Lisa A. Nichols' Vessel follows a lone protagonist who emerges after a wormhole incident to discover her shipmates have vanished and her life has moved on. The novel blends survival and mystery elements with close third-person characterization, centering on one woman's psychological journey. Nichols uses the confined, high-stakes setting to explore grief, identity, and the challenges of reintegrating after trauma. The plot develops into a suspenseful investigation about what happened to the missing crew and how the protagonist copes with being the only one who remembers. Vessel combines hard-SF concepts with intimate emotional stakes to create a tense, readable space thriller.

Alex White's A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe follows a pair of queer treasure hunters as they pursue a fabled artifact across a vividly imagined galaxy. The novel blends fast-paced heist elements with high-stakes space adventure and a cast of lively, diverse characters. White emphasizes witty banter, action set pieces, and heartfelt relationships amid worldbuilding that balances wonder and danger. Themes of found family, loyalty, and sacrifice underpin the story as the protagonists confront both corporate foes and ancient mysteries. The book is often recommended for readers looking for inclusive, entertaining space opera.

Gemma Files' Experimental Film centers on a woman whose life unravels after she sees a mysterious film clip that may relate to an old disappearance. The novel mixes psychological horror, film-history lore, and personal trauma as the protagonist pursues the truth. Files' prose is intimate and evocative, often pitched as if telling the story directly to the reader, building mounting dread. As the investigation deepens, the boundaries between past and present blur, creating eerie echoes that unsettle the narrator and reader alike. The book is praised for its character work and slow-burn atmosphere, appealing to fans of literary weird fiction.

Kameron Hurley's The Stars Are Legion is a standalone space opera notable for its all-female cast and biological ships that function as living ecosystems. The narrative weaves themes of memory, identity, and bodily autonomy into a complex, often brutal plot full of betrayals and revelations. Hurley's prose is vivid and uncompromising, delivering high-concept worldbuilding alongside intimate character conflicts. The book challenges conventional sci-fi tropes by centering gender, reproduction, and communal memory in its political struggles. Its intense atmosphere and moral ambiguity have made it a standout for readers seeking experimental, visceral space fiction.

In this book, Bronnie Ware shares her experiences from working in palliative care, where she identified the five most common regrets of the dying. These regrets include: 'I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me,' 'I wish I hadn’t worked so hard,' 'I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings,' 'I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends,' and 'I wish that I had let myself be happier. ' The book provides a heartfelt and inspiring account of how these regrets can be addressed while there is still time, promoting a life of greater compassion, honesty, and happiness.

In 'Your Inner Fish,' Neil Shubin explores the evolutionary history of the human body by examining fossils and DNA. He reveals how human features, such as hands and heads, have origins in ancient fish and other organisms. This book offers a fascinating journey through millions of years of biological development, highlighting the shared genetic and anatomical heritage between humans and other species.

Sydney Padua's The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage blends meticulous historical research with comic storytelling to reimagine the partnership of Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage. Presented as a graphic novel, it playfully fills gaps in the historical record with imagined adventures while grounding the narrative in real scientific achievements. The book highlights Lovelace's contributions and explores Victorian computational ideas with wit and visual inventiveness. Padua's work makes early computing history accessible and engaging, showcasing both the personalities and technical ingenuity of its protagonists. The result is an entertaining and informative celebration of the origins of computing.

In *Being Mortal*, Atul Gawande explores the limitations and failures of modern medicine in dealing with aging and death. Through personal stories, case studies, and research, Gawande argues that the medical profession often prioritizes prolonging life over improving its quality. He highlights the need for greater communication and planning around end-of-life care, emphasizing the importance of autonomy, dignity, and individual preferences. The book encourages readers to rethink their approach to aging and dying, focusing on what makes life meaningful and fulfilling until the very end.

This book by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson delves into the psychological mechanisms behind self-justification, using anecdotal, historical, and scientific evidence. It explains how cognitive dissonance leads people to create fictions that absolve them of responsibility, restoring their belief in their own morality and intelligence. The authors discuss various examples, including political decisions, marital conflicts, and medical errors, to illustrate how self-justification can lead to harmful consequences. The updated edition includes new examples and an extended discussion on how to live with dissonance, learn from it, and potentially forgive oneself.

Sam Kean's 'The Disappearing Spoon' explores the periodic table through engaging stories and anecdotes. It delves into the history, science, and cultural impact of the elements, revealing their surprising roles in everyday life. From the mysterious disappearance of elements to their vital functions in biology and technology, the book uncovers the hidden connections between chemistry and human experience. Kean's narrative style makes complex scientific concepts accessible and entertaining for a broad audience. The book illustrates how the elements have shaped civilization, influenced art, and driven scientific discovery. It highlights the pivotal role chemistry plays in understanding the world around us, making it an essential read for science enthusiasts.

In 'The God Delusion', Richard Dawkins argues that the belief in a supernatural creator, God, is almost certainly false and qualifies as a delusion. He examines God in various forms, from the Old Testament to the Celestial Watchmaker, and critiques the major arguments for religion. Dawkins discusses how religion fuels war, fosters bigotry, and abuses children, and he advocates for atheism as a morally and intellectually fulfilling worldview. The book also explores the relationship between religion and morality, suggesting that morality can exist independently of religion, and argues against the teaching of religion in schools as a form of indoctrination.

In 'The Ancestor's Tale', Richard Dawkins and Yan Wong present a unique and expansive look at evolution. Loosely based on the structure of Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales', the book takes readers on a pilgrimage back through four billion years of life, joining with other organisms at forty 'rendezvous points' where common ancestors are found. The authors shed light on various aspects of evolutionary history and theory, including sexual selection, speciation, convergent evolution, extinction, genetics, plate tectonics, and geographical dispersal. This work highlights the intimate connections between humans and all other life forms, offering a fascinating history of life on Earth and the latest thinking in biology.