The Three Body Problem, Cixin Liu, 2008

Rating: 4/5

This is my first experience reading a book after watching its adaptation. I thoroughly enjoyed the Netflix TV series (released in March 2024) and the motivation to read the book was to (hopefully) understand the characters and the nuances of the story better, things that an eight-episode show (that also has some elements from the subsequent books of the trilogy) may not do enough justice to. There were also a few unanswered questions for me at the end of the show — basically some plot elements that did not make much sense — and getting the answers to those would have been a bonus.

The Three-Body Problem is the first installment in a science fiction trilogy set in China, beginning during the Cultural Revolution. One of the key protagonists is Ye Wenjie, an astrophysicist who becomes entangled in a covert military project aimed at contacting extraterrestrial life. Her actions are driven by a line from Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring": "To achieve moral awakening required a force outside the human race." The novel delves into themes of human disillusionment, diverse responses to existential threats, scientific discovery, the potentially profound impact of humanity's first contact with an alien civilization, and ultimately, the resilience of our species.

The book combines a unique plot, fascinating storytelling, and rigorous scientific details with an underlying thought-provoking theme. Despite its scientific complexity, an in-depth understanding of the science isn't necessary to follow the plot—except for the part about sophons, which I think the Netflix show handled more simply and elegantly. However, the translation from the original Chinese didn't work well for me. The translator, Ken Liu (whose short story collection, "The Paper Menagerie & Other Stories", I found excellent) has expressed his view that the best translations into English shouldn't read as if they were originally written in English. He admits to adjusting some narrative techniques to ones more familiar to American readers while retaining the original flavor in other cases. As a result, I found the translation jarring at times.

Indeed, the book provides more depth to the characters and better explains their motivations compared to the TV show. However, I found the latter more accessible and engaging. As a result, I'm likely to prefer watching the adaptation over reading the next two books in the trilogy!

Pros: Inventive plot, thought-provoking theme

Cons: The translation

The Checklist Manifesto, Atul Gawande, 2009

Rating: 4/5

I am not a big fan of self-help books, but I made an exception for “The Checklist Manifesto” for a couple of reasons: (1) I consider one of Gawande's later books, “Being Mortal,” the best non-fiction book I have ever read, and (2) I expected interesting anecdotes about the history of checklists, written in Gawande’s breezy, engaging style. While well-written and easy to read, this book is no "Being Mortal." Although it encourages readers to use checklists more consciously in their daily lives, it discusses a subject that most of us intuitively understand and does not seem very insightful or groundbreaking.

Gawande's logic is sound and compelling. He argues that the increase in available knowledge has both saved and burdened us. The instances of fallibility due to ignorance have been overtaken by those due to the complexity of modern systems and processes. Checklists, he suggests, are the straightforward solution to prevent mistakes that arise from this complexity.

The book is quite short at about 190 pages in the Kindle version, making it a quick and accessible read. Gawande covers the use of checklists in various industries such as aviation, construction, investments (an industry I am somewhat familiar with, and his examples seemed somewhat manufactured and less convincing), music, and restaurants. However, most of his narrative focuses on hospitals and the medical field, making it somewhat repetitive despite its short length.

Despite its shortcomings, the book is probably worth a read, especially given its brevity. As Gawande points out, using a checklist can often feel beneath us and even embarrassing, but this book might make you rethink that notion and appreciate the simplicity and effectiveness of checklists in achieving efficiency and preventing errors.

A fun fact to highlight (according to Gawande): when airlines merge, one of the fiercest battles is between pilots over whose checklist will be adopted and used going forward. This underscores the importance and impact of checklists in critical operations.

Pros: Gawande’s typical breezy and engaging style, brevity making it a quick read

Cons: Lack of significant insights or new revelations, somewhat repetitive narrative