Bettie's Books

bookshelves: nonfiction, published-2011, winter-20112012, fraudio, kiddlewinks, philosophy

** spoiler alert ** mp3

(GRAD-grynd)

MEANING:
noun: Someone who is solely interested in cold, hard facts.

ETYMOLOGY:
After Thomas Gradgrind, the utilitarian mill-owner in Charles Dickens's novel Hard Times. Gradgrind runs a school with the idea that hard facts and rules are more important than love, emotions, and feelings. Earliest documented use: 1855.

USAGE:
"In truth, Colleen McCullough is very much a Gradgrind when it comes to facts: They are all that is needful, presented, it must be said, without color or animation to detract from their merit."
Katherine A. Powers; Ancient Evenings; The Washington Post; Dec 15, 2002.

Reality v Non-Reality

Mr Dawkins,

I wish you could have made your mind up just who you were aiming this at. Under tens probably found a lot of the ideas and words over the top of their heads, whilst suffering intermittently from you patronisingly using a talking-to-a-three-year-old mode. I suspect the over tens would rather battle with the real stuff of evolution. Today's ten year olds are the street-wise equivalent of my generation ~15 year olds. Surely one can mention evolution without having to denigrate the God Squad... freedom of speech; the right to hold personal views etc etc

Me? How would I teach the subject? Fling the enquirers Fat Boy Slim and be prepared for the "wow" factor to kick in, along with the inevitable clarification questions.

I'd love to see some 10 y.o's from all walks of life review this book.

3* but with the above caveat



4* - The Selfish Gene (1976)
4* - The Blind Watchmaker (1986)
4* - River Out of Eden (1987)
3* - The Ancestor's Tale(2004)
3* - The God Delusion (2006)
3* - The Magic of Reality (2011)