Greetings all: I just became a new member of booktalk.org and I would like to promote my new book, My Real Hue, a memoir. I have been told by several publishers that the dominant theme in my book, i.e. becoming estranged from one's family, is not a common one. I've come to discover why.......family is sacred in this country and there is stigma about people who sever relations with their families. In my estimation, no matter how sacred family is viewed, there is no reason to let a toxic one ruin your life. I haven't seen or communicated with my family for almost 18 years and I have never been happier. I hope to make people who feel trapped in toxic families realize that they don't have to live that way and they do have options. Becoming estranged from your family is probably the most difficult thing that one can do in his or her life but the trade offs can be more well worth it than one can imagine. If you decide to read my book, I hope you enjoy it and would love to get your feedback. The link to my book is as follows: https://www.amazon.com/Real-Hue-Daniel- ... 1635688353

Thank you so much for inviting me into the group!!

Daniel Yves Eisner

You should read "On the Principles of Social Gravity" by Tobore Tobore. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/16227328 ... ref=plSrch.

Harry Marks wrote:. . . Or "Hillbilly Elegy" by Vance?

This is one of those books on my radar. It sounds like it would help me better understand, at least to some extent, the Trump phenomenon. David Brooks discusses this book in one of his columns.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/28/opin ... ubz=1&_r=0

What a great bunch of choices! I would be happy with almost any of them, but lean towards either Tyson or Rovelli. I have read a couple of Tyson's books, but not Rovelli's. I have a science background, but unfortunately, am not up to date. So...

Try reading "On the principles of Social Gravity"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/16227328 ... ref=plSrch.

On the Principles of Social Gravity” proposes a radical new way of thinking about social systems. It explains that all social systems –institutions created of and for human beings e.g. healthcare system, family, military etc., – are held together or governed by nine principles or rules. Using these principles, it examined the problems facing the US healthcare system, criminal justice system, social security, student debt crisis, tax policies, immigration, the political system, and the United Nations. Then, provided novel and unique solutions to them.

It expands on the meaning of social entropy and explains how it affects all social systems. It explains new terms like social gravity, de-entropification, primary and secondary contributors, negative and positive homogeneity, positive and negative homogenous group, homogenization, etc. that many readers will find enlightening and very interesting. It is a book that is likely to spark national and even global discussions about many of the institutions we have created. It’s originality and usefulness makes it very likely that it will find a wide audience and many of its terms may become popular in the wider society.

I'm looking at this thread not to see if we have a clear favorite or if we need to do a poll.

This thread has been up long enough and there were not a lot of suggestions. Those suggestions that were made were very good. I think Neil deGrasse Tyson's book has the most interest so let's go with that one as our next non-fiction selection. I'll work on the forum right now.