Two interesting books

[billvon 3,131]

. . . that have nothing to do with each other.

The first is "Unweaving the rainbow" by Dawkins. It's a book that is based on a quotation by Keats:

"Do not all charms fly at the mere touch of cold philosophy? There was an awful rainbow once in heaven: we know her woof, her texture; she is given in the dull catalogue of common things. Philosophy will clip an angel's wings, conquer all mysteries by rule and line, empty the haunted air, and gnome mine unweave a rainbow."

He examines why people prefer mystery to clarity, why there is such a strong desire in some people to not understand things, or to ascribe things supernatural origins or motivations. He makes a good case for understanding as a path towards wonder; there are things we have learned about how we were created that dwarf any creation story for sheer wonder. Heck, some of the atoms that make up our body cannot come from any place other than the heart of a supernova; that's cool.

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Second book is "She's not there" by Jennifer Boylan, which is the true story of a novelist who is born a man and spends much of his life trying to deny the belief that he is the wrong sex. He gets married, has kids, joins a rock band, all the while hoping these things will cement him into his gender. It doesn't work, and finally two psychiatrists convince him that his sanity may be at stake unless he goes through 'gender reassignment' (sex change.)

It's a fascinating look at the subject, because most men can't really understand what it's like to be a woman (I think.) Here's a man, now a woman, who has seen it from both sides, has felt her body and brain go through the changes firsthand.

Also, as a side note on another thread here - Jennifer and her wife are legally married and the marriage is recognized throughout the US.