Engineered Unicorns

Physics turned weird during the last century, first with the relativity and then with quantum mechanics. Supersymmetry and String Theory have been en vogue for the last decades because they are such beautiful theories, but the experiments (LHC at CERN) don’t turn up the predictions (all the while LIGO has found the gravitational waves). Sabine Hossenfelder is a German theoretical physicist and has asked herself, why the physics community likes the beautiful theories so much more then the ugly but well-tested Standard Model, in this months non-fiction book recommendation. 

And Terry Pratchett delivers the highly entertaining fictional wyrdness with the all new audiobook of his „Wyrd Sisters“. Witches and particle physics? A wyrd but entertaining combination.

Hear you soon.

Podcast Timetable: Stream on Sunday, June 12th 7 PM local time. Drops on Monday, June 13th, noon-ish, Oldschool Radio (UKW 104.8) Tuesday 10 AM local time. YouTube: whenever we get around to it (Even the older episodes are now available)

Bookdragon, Producer: SandyJ

Music: Erwin Schmidt

Book Recommendations:

Non-FictionSabine Hossenfelder „Lost in Math – How Beauty leads Physics astray“ (2018) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36341728-lost-in-math

Fiction:Terry Pratchett „Wyrd Sisters“ (1988) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34504.Wyrd_Sisters

Books mentioned:

Lee Smolin „The trouble with physics“ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/108939.The_Trouble_with_Physics

Brian Greene „The elegant Universe“ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8049273-the-elegant-universe

Sabine Hossenfelder „Existential Physics: A Scientist’s Guide to Life’s biggest Questions“ (August 9th 2022) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59695048-existential-physics

William Shakespeare „MacBeth“ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8852.Macbeth

Other Stuff:

Penguin Randomhouse „Turning Terry Pratchett’s Discworld into Audiobooks“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw4kYXx8s4k

LIGO – Gravitational Wave https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/page/gravitational-waves

CERN lhc https://home.cern/science/accelerators/large-hadron-collider

To better understand what is happening in the world our local  Bookdragon naturally turned to books. SandyJ will share her findings  with you in the new episode of Engineered Unicorns.A classic and  considered one oft he best non-fiction books of the 20th century Karl R.  Poppers „The Open Society and its enemies“ compares the ideas of three  known philosophers and their impact on our societies. The fictional  politics you can find in Katherine Addisons „The Goblin Emperor“. How  does one deal with the pressures and limitations of power and social  status?New Fantasy books are available in the Libby App at  Karlsruhe Library System and at the American Library  in Karlsruhe. And  all of this episodes recommendations are available at Karlsruhes  libraries.See you in JunePodcast Timetable: Stream on  Sunday, May 8th 7 PM local time. Drops on Monday, May 9th, noon-ish,  Oldschool Radio (UKW 104.8) Tuesday 10 AM local time. YouTube: whenever  we get around to it (Even the older Episodes are now available)Bookdragon, Producer: SandyJMusic: Erwin Schmidt

Ever wanted to be a character in a fantasy book? Better be careful what you wish for, you might end up not being the main protagonist but the villain and things might get seriously off track.

This happens to the main character of the Danmei novel of the chinese author Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. Our local Bookdragon SandyJ had not only a good laugh while reading the „The Scum Villains Self-Saving System“, but she also pondered the implications of being drawn into a book and having to deal with snarky RPG Systems and filling in plotholes with a shovel.

New Fantasy books are available in the Libby App at Karlsruhe Library System and at the American Library in Karlsruhe

Next Unicorns episode will be out in May.

Bookdragon, Producer: SandyJ

Music: Erwin Schmidt

Book Recommendation:

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu „The Scum Villains Self-Saving System“ (2021) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58701909-the-scum-villain-s-self-saving-system

Books mentioned:

Katherine Addison „The Goblin Emperor“ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17910048-the-goblin-emperor

T.J. Klune „The Lightning-Struck Heart“ https://www.goodreads.com/pt/book/show/24468673-the-lightning-struck-heart

Benedikt Wells „Hard Land“ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55886863-hard-land

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu „Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation“ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58701673-grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu „Heaven Official’s Blessing“ https://www.goodreads.com/id/book/show/58701949-heaven-official-s-blessing

Other Stuff:

The Untamed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Untamed_%28TV_series%29

Tor.com https://www.tor.com/

SWR Lesenswert https://www.swrfernsehen.de/lesenswert/index.html

New Year, new paths based on what we learned from the past. In the January 2022 episode of our Engineered Unicorns Podcast our local Bookdragon SandyJ looks back on her reading year and what she learned regarding the different book formats, producing this podcast and in other parts of her life. So there will be some light changes to the podcast this year and in her reading journey. So you can look forward to quite a few audiobook recommendations and some experiences regarding reading during the last two years.

Podcast Timetable: Stream on Sunday, January 16th 7 PM local time. Oldschool Radio (UKW 104.8) Tuesday January 18th 10 AM local time. YouTube: whenever we get around to it ;-) (Even the older Episodes are now available) 

Bookdragon, Producer: SandyJ 

Music: Erwin Schmidt 

Books: 

Douglas Adams „A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy“, read by Stephen Fry https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16.The_Hitchhiker_s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy 

Arthur Conan Doyle „Sherlock Holmes: The definitive Audio Collection“, read by Stephen Fry https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34429916-sherlock-holmes 

P. G. Wodehouse „The Jeeves Collection 1“ read by Stephen Fry https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56528385-p-g-wodehouse-volume-1 

Brandon Sanderson „Warbreaker“ Full Cast https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35063331-warbreaker 

Katie Mack „The End of Everthing“, read by Gabra Zackmann https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52767659-the-end-of-everything 

B.J. Fogg „Tiny Habits“, read by the author https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43261127-tiny-habits 

Nedra Glower Tawwab „Set Boundaries, Find Peace“ read by the Author https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55782639-set-boundaries-find-peace 

Lori Gottlieb „Maybe you should talk to someone“ read by Brittany Pressley https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37570546-maybe-you-should-talk-to-someone 

Dan Charnas „Work Clean“ Read by the Author https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26114603-work-clean 

Susanna Clarke „Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell“ read by Simon Prebble https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14201.Jonathan_Strange_Mr_Norrell 

Garth Nix „The left-handed booksellers of London“ read by Marisa Calin https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49867186-the-left-handed-booksellers-of-london 

Marie Brennan „The Memoirs of Lady Trent Series“ read by Kate Reading https://www.goodreads.com/series/107373-the-memoirs-of-lady-trent 

Kate Racculia „Tuesday Mooney talks to ghosts“ read by Lauren Fortgang https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42478640-tuesday-mooney-talks-to-ghosts 

Mikhail Bulgakov „The Master and Margarita“ Read by Julian Rhind-Tutt https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7224260-the-master-and-margarita 

Youtube Channels: 

MuchelleB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0K7QgyjMvw 

Other Stuff: 

Fantasy Book Releases 2022 https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/156993.Can_t_Wait_Sci_Fi_Fantasy_of_2022

The winter weather and the whole situation in the news cycle is making you feel miserable? Our local Bookdragon is feeling it too. So, SandyJ has some lifestyle recommendations for you to build your cozy book cave to escape temporarily from it all. Starting out with booknook prep she then introduces books and shows that will provide us all with a cozy retreat this December.

Bookdragon, Producer: SandyJ

Music: Erwin Schmidt

Books:

Colin Cowie Chic https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2024492.Colin_Cowie_Chic

Kay O’Neill „The Tea Dragon Society“ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34895950-the-tea-dragon-society

Alexander Wolkow „Der Zauberer der Smaragdenstadt“ (Retelling of the „The Wizard of Oz“) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27211837-der-zauberer-de r-smaragdenstadt

P.L. Travers „Mary Poppins“ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/152380.Mary_Poppins

Manga:

Fujita „Wotakoi – Love is hard for Otaku“ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31826480-wotakoi

Kintatsu Yamada „Sweat and Soap“ https://www.goodreads.com/series/261169-sweat-and-soap

Shows:

The Gilmore Girls https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238784/

Coffee Prince https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_Prince_%282007_TV_series%29

Her Private life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Private_Life_(TV_series)

Secret Garden https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Garden_(South_Korean_TV_series)

Youtube Channels:

Morgan Long https://www.youtube.com/c/MorganLong

Bernadette Banner https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSHtaUm-FjUps090S7crO4Q

How to train your Gavin https://www.youtube.com/c/GavinHetherington

Hardback Hoarder https://www.youtube.com/c/HardbackHoarder

Savidge Reads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oR6J52wTXs

Other Stuff:

Nintendo „Animal Crossing: New Horizons“

My Neighbor Totoro https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Neighbor_Totoro

November on the northern hemisphere is often dreary, cold and dark. But when the skies are clear can watch the stars quite early. Books allow us to travel not just to nice places on earth but to the dawn of time and the end of the universe. Our Bookdragon SandyJ found on her travels several interesting books. 

For the beginning of the universe she recommends Emma Chapman‘s „First Light – Switching on the Stars at the Dawn of Time“. While Katie Mack takes us to „The End of Everything – Astrophysically Speaking“. Two accomplished female scientists who write with a sense of humour. Even November has its perks.

Join our bookish travels.

Bookdragon, Producer: SandyJ

Book Recommendations

Katie Mack „The end of everything – Astrophysically speaking“ (2020) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52767659-the-end-of-everything

Emma Chapman „First Light – Switching on the Stars at the Dawn of time“ (2020) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50884561-first-light

Book Release by a Black Author 

Natasha Bowen „Skin oft he Sea“ (November 9th 2021) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48691825-skin-of-the-sea

Other Stuff Mentioned

Alain de Botton „The Art of Travel“ (2002) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23422.The_Art_of_TravelJames Hoffmann „Brad Pitt Ad“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvlh8Bh-QQA

Koramora Nintendo Direct Live React https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gYzNVHb7lQ

Our Opinions are Correct Podcast https://www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/

Our Opinions are Correct: Episode 75 https://www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes/2021/1/14/episode-75-has-jk-rowling-destroyed-harry-potter-fandom

Dr. Becky Smethurst, „A day in the Life of an Astrophysicist“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW_qIqLhPkI

Margot Lee Shetterly „Hidden Figures“ (2016) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25953369-hidden-figures

Ever wondered what books and pens have in common?

Well, our Bookdragon SandyJ drew (pun intended) her own conclusions in a Café this month. With other insights she had help from Kae Tempest’s „On Connection“. And even though it was a summer read for her, she recommends one book for the Halloween season  , too.

Short books full of fun and insights in this month’s Engineered Unicorns episode, spy ring included.

Bookdragon: SandyJ

Book Recommendations

Shaun Bythell „Seven Kinds of People you find in Bookshops“ (2020) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53237298-seven-kinds-of-people-you-find-in-bookshops

Available at Karlsruhe’s City Library (in German):

Kae Tempest „On Connection“ (2020) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54874365-on-connection

Ben Aaronovitch „What Abigail did that Summer“ (2021) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55855546-what-abigail-did-that-summer

Book Release by a Black Author

Dhonielle Clayton „Shattered Midnight“ (October 5th 2021) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57007816-shattered-midnight

Other Stuff Mentioned

The Bookshop Wigtown https://www.the-bookshop.com/gallery/

Cathy Hay „How to make time for yourself and for your hobbies“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3RcNnPv-z8

A Critical Dragon (A.P. Canavan with Philip Chase) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQpC6pHFbnY

Bookdragons agree: Fantasy is literature, enjoyable to read and you can explore human issues with it.

If you want to dip your toe or reading glasses in the genre of Fantasy, then our local Bookdragon SandyJ has just the recommendation for you this month. “The Memoirs of Lady Trent” series by Marie Brennan explores not only far off lands with dragons but also the role of women in science and society. So this book is interesting in more then one aspect, plus it also is good for this whole academia aesthetic. And did we mention there are Dragons in it?!?

Other books and Bookdragons are mentioned too. 

Bookdragon: SandyJ

Book Recommendations

Marie Brennan „The Memoirs of Lady Trent Series“ https://www.goodreads.com/series/107373-the-memoirs-of-lady-trent

(Book 1 is available at the American Library Karlsruhe)

Book Releases

T. J. Klune „Under the whispering door“ (September 21st) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53205888-under-the-whispering-door

Ayana Gray „Beasts of Prey“ (September 28th)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55038226-beasts-of-prey

Other Stuff Mentioned

A Critical Dragon „Is Fantasy Literature? Of course it is“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSwJ6bprlWQ

A Critical Dragon „We were meant to be talking… „ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAKdTzQF8K4

Philip Chase „Why read Fantasy? A reaction to Salman Rushdie’s Essay“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRQ20Ow1zXY

Bernadette Banner „Starting 7 projects at once is probably not a wise decision but here we are“

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se9cAvPNMEQ

Bernadette Banner „Hunting for Antique Household items“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1unHb-ZKsI

Cathy Hay „How to make time for yourself and for your hobbies“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3RcNnPv-z8

Cathy Hay „Peacock Dress 4: How to pick something and focus on it“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WulaowdcwbA

Robert Jordan „The Eye of the World“ (1990)  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228665.The_Eye_of_the_World

J.R.R. Tolkien „The Lord of the Rings“ (1955) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33.The_Lord_of_the_Rings

It’s August, time for a vacation and maybe reading a few books at the beach or in a mountain cabin. If so, our Bookdragon SandyJ has a few recommendations for you. From absolute classics, which are now available as an audiobook, to a new and exciting fantasy book that brings you back to an alternative London during the wild 1980’s. She also tested a new bookish app that shows the reading habits (Manga Weekends made for a nice statistical outlier this year). Books and Habits, what a combination.

So, here are this months recommendations: B.J. Fogg „Tiny Habits: The small changes that change everything“ (2019) and Garth Nix „The left-handed Booksellers of London“ (2020).

Enjoy your August and vacations.

Stream on Sunday, August 1st, 7 PM local time. Drops on Monday, August 2nd, noon-ish, Broadcast August 10th AM 104.8

Bookdragon, Producer: SandyJ

Music: Erwin Schmidt

American Library Karlsruhe Summer Holidays are from August 9th till September 6th !!! So get your book fix before!

Book Recommendations

B.J. Fogg „Tiny Habits: The small changes that change everything“ (2019) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43261127-tiny-habits

Garth Nix „The left-handed Booksellers of London“ (2020) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49867186-the-left-handed-booksellers-of-london

Book Releases

Jordan Ifueko „Redemptor“ (August 17th) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55624056-redemptor

Nic Stone „Fast Pitch“ (August 31st) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56906939-fast-pitch

Sasha Peyton Smith „The Witch Haven“ (August 31st) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56980357-the-witch-haven

Helen Hoang „The heart principle“ (August 31st) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50056075-the-heart-principle

Other Stuff Mentioned

The Storygraph App https://app.thestorygraph.com/

Public Book Cabinets in Karlsruhe: https://ka.stadtwiki.net/%C3%96ffentlicher_B%C3%BCcherschrank

Morgan Long’s Video „A City of Books“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srxvkz0cmHE

A critical Dragon’s Video „Why is Grimdark?“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGylZtkC_G0

Charles Dickens „Our Mutual Friend“ (1864-1865) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31244.Our_Mutual_Friend

Joseph Campbell „The Hero with a thousand Faces“ (1948) https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/588138.The_Hero_With_a_Thousand_Faces

How is it July already? In this episode our local Bookdragon SandyJ has not only some routine suggestions for you, but also two very different book recommendations. While the non-fiction recommendation „Lost Connections“ by Johann Hari explores the difficult topic of depression and the human society‘s condition. The Science Fiction recommendation is, while it explores equally complicated topics, a very cozy and enjoyable read: „The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet“ by Becky Chambers. A Heroine’s Journey through space? Yes, please.

Stream on Sunday, July 4th, 7 PM local time. Drops on Monday, July 5th, noon-ish, Oldschool Radio Broadcast Tuesday July 13th, 10 AM, 104.8 UKW

Bookdragon, Producer: SandyJ

Music: Erwin Schmidt

Book Recommendations

Johann Hari „Lost Connections – Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the unexpected Solutions“ (2018) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34921573-lost-connections

Becky Chambers „The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet“ (2014) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22733729-the-long-way-to-a-small-angry-planet

Book Releases

Elizabeth Lim „Six Crimson Cranes“ (July 6th) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53457092-six-crimson-cranes

T.J. Klune „Flash Fire“ (July 13th) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55169010-flash-fire

Lish McBride „Curses“ (July 20th) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43207851-curses

Other Stuff Mentioned

Legs up the wall pose – Yoga with Adriene Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OQEIiZLY-0

How to be „That Girl“ – Rowena Tsai Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvMSSHO6_wo

Fairyloot May Box Unboxing – Brandie Shanae https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX15LR9BYCg