We are seven handsome and charming* guys who meet at a different restaurant every month or so, having read a book in common, and discuss whatever we want--generally the assigned book, but usually many other timely topics as well. We rotate the responsibility to suggest titles, but the group has the final say. Our book club rules: 1) Anything goes, fiction or nonfiction; 2) paperbacks are preferred; and 3) staying under 300 pages is desirable (N.B., we violate this one all the time). We rate all books and restaurants on a 5-point scale.

* All other adjectives were vetoed.

October 1, 2015

The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert (Parella)

Whether it's frogs, corals, trees, or glaciers, today is not your grandfather's world. Literally, according to Kolbert.  She says it's the 6th time in geologic history that huge numbers of species are going extinct, and it's the first time that it's caused by one of those species--humans.

Kolbert's book influenced our group in different ways.  Some expressed despair about the earth's future, others accepted the prognosis as "nature's way". Interestingly, the whole issue seemed more infused with politics than science.

Paul suggested we read a couple of classics next time (Beau Jeste, or Three Musketeers) or a collection of short stories about the "end of the world" he selected for a class. Given our mood of the night, we chose the latter.  Paul will send the PDF files.

Phil will suggest the next book.  We'll meet Monday, Nov. 2.
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