(9th March) This is the last time I read maths for fun :(
I guess it was a stupid idea from the start. But you know, it was the new book by my favourite author, who hadn't written anything except a collection of short stories since he wrote the novel I take my user name from, back in 1996 or 97. And it got a good review in New Scientist. So I thought, what the hell, read something new by DFW, and maybe learn something as well. Can't go wrong.

It.kicked.my.ass.

I only got as far as Newton or so before I gave up. There was no way I was going to understand the rest of it (I should have realised this when he kept mentioning 'it helps for this bit if you have some college math' - I'd have probably kept up if it had been statistics/probability, but not calc).

Here's the book I'm talking about, if you're interested.

Ha. And when I went to Amazon to find that link, I found out he has a new book coming out. That's good news.

I wish he'd write another novel though. But after Infinite Jest, anything would be a disappointment.

(actually, that statement works on a couple of levels, now I think about it ;)) 
| ¶ 7:16 pm