20200920: Book 1, Post 2: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown
The question every reader should ask themselves after
finishing a new book is what did I get for that investment in time? Sometimes
you get a new point-of-view on the world and you’re fundamentally changed. Those
are the rare books that shape destiny, i.e. Confessions by Saint
Augustine. Other books are less ambitious and are merely entertaining diversions,
like The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. How I Killed Pluto… fits
somewhere in between, but where? I need to know. Do Mike Brown (the
author) and my desire to classify all things in a logical pecking order comes
from a Western upbringing, genetic disposition, or some other unexplored cause?
I’m currently taking an American Studies class and we’re
asked to judge the merits of using the panethnic label: latino. Why did people
start grouping different and diverse populations -- from the Afro-Caribbean descendants
of slavery to the indigenous peoples of the Yucatán -- under one umbrella term?
Is it justified? That debate should be held in its own class, but almost surprisingly,
there is as much controversy in defining celestial bodies as ethnic categories.
I will say that I find education most rewarding when the lessons of one seemingly
disparate subject actually contributes to the study of another.
However, what I find most fascinating about How I Killed Pluto… is the insight the reader gets on the scientific mindset. Much of the memoir deals with Professor Brown’s attempt to monitor the development of his daughter, Lilah, during her first year of life. At one point, he laments the lack of a generalized distribution curve showing actual birth dates compared to the expected due date. This is just one small example of his “scientific, statistical, mathematical way.” So, while scientists are exceptionally curious, all humanity is curious in one form or another: it’s part of the human condition. Scientists just have the additional yearning and discipline to acquire those cognitive tools that will allow them to satisfy their curiosity.
I suggest this book for anyone who likes scientific controversy, heartfelt observations, and the wonders of the night sky!
Readability Statistics:
Flesch Reading Ease 44.9
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 11.4
Passive Sentences 5.2%
Hey Dennis, I also read this book and like you, the part about his daughter's birth and him trying to mathematically model the probability of her actual due date was what stuck with me. It seemed that even in settings outside of work, his inherently curious nature as a scientist continued to drive him to explore questions he does not have answers to. On another note, I'm surprised by the deep connection you were able to make between this book and the contents in the class you're currently taking. After thinking about it, I still was not able to make the same connections to my classes at USC, but this may partially be because of the technical nature of my other courses.
ReplyDeleteHi Dennis, I haven't read this book yet but I have read several blog posts that provide some very meaningful insight to the book. Your observation about Professor Brown's use of scientific method to analyze his daughter's birth date intrigues me. It is interesting to learn that scientists have a different approach toward unknown stuff than the rest of us. I would like to in your ranking where exactly does How I Killed Pluto fits? Is it more toward the rare books that shape destiny or the less ambitious books that only aims to entertain their readers?
ReplyDeleteI thought the way you started off your post was cool. I read for fun but realized that this is a question that I should start asking myself - was the experience worth the hours I put in? I also read the same book as you and enjoyed your unique interpretation of it. While I focused on the personal aspects of the book, you focused on the scientific aspect of Brown's life and it was interesting to read about what you thought of it. I also liked how you related what you read to one of the classes you're taking this semester.
ReplyDeleteI really like your first sentence because it made me realize what I should be asking. I think the comparison between classifying celestial bodies and ethnic groups is really interesting. I never knew there was so much controversy over classifying planets. I think it's great that you were able to connect the book to a class you're taking!
ReplyDeleteHi Dennis, nice post! I really like how you made a proper suggestion based on what the book is about and what types of interests people have that might allow them to enjoy it more! Your post was very informative, yet thought provoking and poses many important questions about life and beyond the book.
ReplyDeleteDennis- whenever we're tasked with making peer comments, I always look first to your posts! I really like the tie to your American Studies class, and the 'planet' vs. 'latino' comparison is spot on. Both are generalized umbrella terms- but I'll try to one-up you here. They each do a better job in identifying subjects that don't fit the definition. Brown mentions in his talk at Sarah Lawrence college that the definition of the word planet was made concrete as a way to exclude Pluto from planethood. Do you think that similarly, the word Latino best describes those who aren't of South American heritage? I think someone could take one look at me and easily identify me as non-Latino! Regardless, a very thought-provoking post worthy of further debate. Kudos.
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