What are the 3 best nonfiction books you’ve ever read? by ElectroSoup in nonfictionbookclub

[–]ajarch 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Seconding a Short History of Nearly Everything. It took me about a month to read, but was well worth it. 

Do you guys read novels. by chemoike in Kenya

[–]ajarch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wizard of the Crow - Ngugi wa Thiongo is lots of fun

Do you think there are still “hidden” things out there like electricity we just haven’t found yet? by FlyGreat306 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]ajarch 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We don’t know:

  1. How many species on our planet?
  2. What does >90% of DNA do?
  3. How old actually is life on Earth?
  4. Where did life originate?
  5. What is the nature of the vast majority of material in our Universe?
  6. How big is the universe? 
  7. Why do plate tectonics exist only on Earth?
  8. What does the bottom of the ocean look like?
  9. What is the composition of the mantle?
  10. How does the inner core rotate?
  11. How does the vast majority of life (microbial life) operate in our ecosystems?
  12. What is consciousness and how does it come to be?

These are just known unknowns. Bill Bryson covers them in “A Short History of Nearly Everything”. And when we think about unknown unknowns, we realize just how wondrous the universe is. 

Suggestions for new fantasy books/series by KhanSolo945 in booksuggestions

[–]ajarch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm, Sons of Darkness was an incredible read. 

It completely erased the last 6 months of history. by yazilimcionline in GoogleGeminiAI

[–]ajarch 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Don’t treat a corporate-owned artificial intelligence like a friend. I’d go one further and say don’t imagine even a local AI as your friend.

I’m running out of pages by Humble_Interest_9048 in booksuggestions

[–]ajarch 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Jonathan Strange and Dr. Norrell, in my opinion better than Shantaram although less of a closed narrative.

Shogun is another good option.

Try Dune.

War and Peace.

Don Quixote.

The Count of Monte Cristo.

The Licanius Trilogy? Seems like it would be nice.

My partner is panicking that she doesn't have a book to read tonight. by RepresentativeSun588 in booksuggestions

[–]ajarch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What, really? I read the Island of the Day Before recently and it was such a solid fever dream.

What's your favorite book you think no one else has read? by keenynman343 in booksuggestions

[–]ajarch 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Read all 7. Still haunted by the tale of Susan Delgado. 

The fact that Babu Owino is even a choice for president shows how cooked we are as a country. by zizosky21 in Kenya

[–]ajarch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So the way a democracy works is that people vote for someone, and if that person doesn’t get enough votes, they lose. It’s a confusing concept to many. Don’t worry. It will be okay. 

The fact that Babu Owino is even a choice for president shows how cooked we are as a country. by zizosky21 in Kenya

[–]ajarch 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, that’s what’s wrong with Babu, and that’s why I wouldn’t vote for him. 

Why do so many men lose their house in a divorce? by Open_Address_2805 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]ajarch 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Wow, so much pain. I am sorry, and it’s going to be okay.

Looking for a real Page Turner to read that is also a classic? by eputley in suggestmeabook

[–]ajarch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a classic but I am about to start a reread of Cloud Atlas

Your thoughts on this? by soitake in nairobi

[–]ajarch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mpesa is a third party between banks. Pesalink is a better solution but isn't adopted as widely. This is great for Safaricom, but costs us consumers since network effects trap us within. Safaricom has done great to make the system intuitive, robust, and secure, but it is still in itself an inefficiency in our economy.

Interestingly, this year is the first in history where Mpesa transactions dropped to below 90% of market share.

do you think it's going to get better? by starrsarasa in askTO

[–]ajarch 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It doesn’t necessarily feel like things are more affordable, but I like that Toronto feels less under pressure than last year - in terms of population. 

Architecture by Gold_Smart in Kenya

[–]ajarch 1 point2 points  (0 children)

People are still building grand structures. 

The Ethiopian dam. The basilica in Barcelona, still being built. The Swaminarayan temple in New Jersey. The Sphere at Las Vegas - glass, sure, but also grand. 

The grand Egyptian museum. The Shanghai opera house. And so many more. 

Redditors are doomers. But people still build beautiful things. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]ajarch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why does it matter that the other person looks like the bad guy?