Is it worth the time reading the introduction and afterword of a book?
I read the main question and was ready to post an objective (yes/no) answer to this. Then I read the description and felt a black & white approach would actually kill your desire to read books.Your eagerness to read a book is exactly what has kept you hooked on. It's a natural process you've developed over the years that lets you enjoy books in your own special way.I'm an author (fiction and non-fiction) and I have my own idiosyncratic way of checking out a book. Just like you, I don't care about the foreword or introduction eitherBut I do something that most don't. I jump straight to the page that has the technical details - printing company, paper quality, price, number of editions and a whole lot of stuff that others would find dry.As a reader, if you don't find a reason to read specific sections of the book, so be it. Have fun with what you do. And keep reading!
Should I mention my blog in my college application?
Thanks for the A2A.I agree with a number of others who have said your writing is good and that you come across as a person who thinks deeply about big issues, and who has a demonstrated passion. From this perspective, you should mention your blog. Congratulations on what you have written. It does give a great view of who you are. There are two other things I need to add, however.If you simply list your blog and provide a link it may well be that admission readers will not even look at it. It depends on the individual schools you are applying to and, to some degree, the individual reader. Admission readers with huge application reading loads do not often search out addition reading unless it looks as if it is very important to you and possibly to the decision they are trying to make. If you mention it in an essay and provide a link then there is much more likelihood that readers will click on it.I wild also at least raise the issue of y0ur OCD. This comes up quite a bit and it has affected your life in many ways. It is possible a reader might be a little worried about your ability to cope in a school that might be much more demanding that the school you are in. I cannot say this would be true of all schools but it could be a concern. They would never say this, but schools do worry about students who may have health issues.
What are the best books to mention in an interview if you are asked about hobby "reading books"?
This is probably the most popular question asked in interviews after the oh-so-obvious "What made you choose this institute?"!"Reading books" is the safest hobby to tell a panel. It shows and confirms a certain level of intellectual positivism without delving on extravagance. So, naturally, the books to mention to the panel need to reflect that you are, indeed, an intellectual.Personally, I have never been to a college, university or job interview but from the few interviews I've been a part of and all the interview rants I have heard, I have safely concluded that the OLD classics are not a good idea. They are great for decorating your living room but not your interview. The panelists will obviously have the impression of a fake air of superiority even if you truly enjoy books like David Copperfield, Moby Dick and can talk about them for hours, especially then! Sadly, there is a problem if you go the complete opposite way. Which leads to the elimination of popular 20th and 21st Century fiction like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings(This makes me so VERY sad. ) The key to crack interviews is understanding the the panel. You're probably the 5oth interviewee and 49 others have already spilled out Harry Potter. You just land up being a part of the public with nothing to stand apart from the rest. Here are some points to keep in mind.DO NOT over-estimate or under-estimate the panel. They are God to you.Stick to popular fiction or non-fiction.State books that everyone may have heard of but you are certain most interviewees won't state.YOU HAVE TO HAVE READ THE BOOK(S).Make sure you can answer any question that is thrown at you with regard to the books you state.With that in mind, here are some books you might consider.1984 and Animal Farm-George OrwellAny book by Isaac Asimov. This guy is a satisfaction magnet!100 years of solitude- Gabriel Garcia Marquez.Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury.The Shiva trilogy- Amish Tripathi. (Panel specific.)Non-fiction books on politics. Wings of Fire- APKJ Abdul Kalam.Wuthering Heights -Emily BrontëAny book by Stephen Hawking if your interview is related to the science stream.The Catcher In the Rye- J.D. SalingerAtlas Shrugged- Ayn RandBiographies or Autobiographies of famous men/women like Pele, Martin Luther King, etc.NO BOOK BY CHETAN BHAGATThese are just a few examples. There are LOADS of fiction and non-fictions works out there. All the best!
What are good books to read about game theory?
Here are my 5 non-textbook recommendations:Game Theory - 5 Questions by Vincent Hendricks and Pelle Hansen: It is a collection of interviews with 19 influential game theorists in which they express their views on game theory, its aim, scope and future directions among others. Must read for anyone who is looking for motivation to venture into the area of game theory.The Game Theorist’s Guide to Parenting by Paul Raeburn and Kevin Zollman: Alert! You may not like to use this book as a parenting guide. However this can serve as a decent layman introduction to game theory.Dateonomics- How Dating Became a Lopsided Numbers Game by John Birger: This book takes you to the world of dating through maths. Only a few sections in this book are devoted to game theory but worth mentioning it.Games of Life by Karl Sigmund: This book beautifully introduces you to a game theoretic approach to study life and evolution without any pre-requisite knowledge of mathematics or biology.Who Gets What and Why by Alvin Roth: Who can explain the science behind matchmaking better than Alvin Roth? This book contains essays on his Nobel Prize winning work on matching (slightly academic).
What should I write for college essay about books I've read and their influence on me?
I totally disagree.If you love them, then those books by definition have meaning for you. Spend some time working out what meaning the books have for you and why you love them so much.Influence might seem as if it refers to a fairly mechanical “cause and effect” relationship (along the lines of : “after reading Anne Frank’s diary , I began volunteering for the local chapter of Orphans-of-War”) but there’s no need to be cynical.I don’t know how the university admissions system works in your country but as a reader, I’m always gripped by a well written explanation of something that is true. I can sniff out a pretentious claim a mile away. Don’t forget that the human being who reads your statement/essay has already read two hundred similar essays that all say To kill a Mockingbird influenced me for the following reasons (and goes on to give the same reasons as the other 199 candidates).Tell the truth and stand out from the others.I recommend that you start by listing the books that you truly love and begin to question why you love them.
If I was going to read a Bertrand Russell book ... which one would I start with?
If your intention is simply to become acquainted with Russell's style, then I wholeheartedly support Nikos Korobos' suggestion of the History of Western Philosophy. You'll also experience a rich, more than superficial introduction to the field of Western philosophy. I've used it in teaching introductory seminars in the history of philosophy with good feed back from college level students.If, on the other hand, you're looking for an introduction to Russell's own philosophical positions, than I would suggest his Analysis of Mind (1921) as a significant, if not terribly accessible work (available free at The Analysis of Mind by Bertrand Russell) or perhaps his Our Knowledge of the External World (1922) a series of lectures he gave covering a broad spectrum of his concerns. Some are quite accessible, others a little less so. It also available free at Project Gutenberg at this address:Our Knowledge of the External World.Finally, if you just want a feel for Russell's wit, humanity and polished prose, try this free pdf https://libcom.org/files/Bertran... . It is a wry, pointed and very much seriously fun essay from 1932 published in a longer book of the same title in 1935. The book itself is well worth purchasing. These essays are among Russell's very best non-technical writings.
Is Darwin's "Origin of Species" worth reading?
yes, it's good. It's just sometimes a difficult or boring read because of the terminology and language used. But overall, very good.