What book are you reading now?

I have been reading a lot recently. I recently finished Sapiens, by Yuvul Noah Harari, who thinks that Science will sooner or later, virtual gods of us will make and beyond whether or not that doesn't smell a tad of Hubris, it is certainly worth questioning whether or not we have the wisdom to go there.  Now I am reading Utopia for Realists - I definitely recommend that. A basic income would solve so much, interestingly Nixon very nearly made it so. It is easy to forget beyond the scandals and other of his less admirable traits, how humanitarian he could be.

Before that, I read a fascinating account of an archaeological dig - of a Bronze Age settlement found not far from The Dead Sea. Apparently it was incinerated by something so searing that some of the pottery remains found there was fused to create trinitite - a green glass found after a nuclear bomb was detonated off Trinity Island. Steven Collins is the archaeologist who commissioned this book. 

It is suspected the culprit was not a nuke though, but rather a blast from an exploding meteorite. In that case, didn't we just dodge a bullet when one blew over Siberia recently.

The story of Lot's wife turning to a pillar of salt, retold so tersely, always did have the feel of an eye witness having recounted a massive tragedy. I was disappointed though that the writer, after all the science be brought to this discovery, then insists that Sodom and Gomorrah really did displease an alien god. 

Did the people of Pompeii deserve what happened to them? Then again, if we ever do, do it to ourselves, who would need a vengeful Yahweh then. 

Either way, it is a fascinating read and there is no doubt that Collins is onto something with his dog at Tall el Hammam and at other ruined settlements discovered nearby. 

I'm glad that you finished your book :-) I still haven't managed to finish the book 'Tower' which I started this thread about but that is unfortunately a hazard of having children, time consuming creatures they are! Thank you for the recommendation of Utopia, it sounds interesting. I will try to take a look at that, when I have the time!

The book about the archaeological dig near the Dead Sea seems really interesting! What else did they discover there? I wonder what they used to incinerate the pottery remains? 

Have you ever visited Pompeii? It's very fascinating and surreal and full of so much history, I was astounded by the sheer size of it, amazing that so much remains! It does sound like a horrific fate though I would say the same about Herculaneum. Historically rich but it also exudes a wealth of human suffering, quite sad!

I do like reading about ruined settlements, hopefully once my youngest starts school in 3 years I will have more time to read. But I'm enjoying her being little and still at home so I won't wish that time away. Reading a whole book in a small amount of sittings can wait.

I would love to visit Pompeii! I did get to Catania a couple of years ago though. And Etna. 

The thing about the Trinitite is that this is the clue to what wiped that community out! The Bronze Age people certainly had some bad luck - Thera blew and wiped out the Minoan community there - some people say this might have gone a long way to being Plato's Atlantis - now there is this. The possible inspiration for the Sodom and Gomorrah story in Genesis. 

I would love to visit Pompeii! I did get to Catania a couple of years ago though. And Etna. 

The thing about the Trinitite is that this is the clue to what wiped that community out! The Bronze Age people certainly had some bad luck - Thera blew and wiped out the Minoan community there - some people say this might have gone a long way to being Plato's Atlantis - now there is this. The possible inspiration for the Sodom and Gomorrah story in Genesis. 

Pompeii is amazing! It’s huge and so full of History! I hope that you get to visit it at some point. Italy in general has loads of really good historical architecture. I’d love to go back there. I’ve climbed Mt Vesuvius too! I wonder if a volcanic eruption and the heat of the lava could have been responsible for the Trinitite? Natural disasters certainly have a lot to answer for in terms of wiping out ancient civilisations!