Summer books

So I think I'll share what I'll be reading/watching this summer while I wait for the semester to start . I'm planning on hitting a bunch of economic books from history (like The Wealth of Nations and The General Theory), but also some other, quicker reads. First off is a book called Sophie's World.

This is a book about the history of philosophy. Sounds pretty dull to most of you, I bet. But it's actually a novel. I've only just started, but it does indeed appear that it is going to go through the entire history of philosophy, describing all the major players and what they thought. I've only just gotten to Socrates, and I'm enjoying it immensely. I should mention that it was recommended to me by a friend up in Sacramento who read it with his Jr. High age daughter, so it can't be too horrible or dense.

There appears to be a mystery of sorts in it, and I'm really looking forward to finishing it. Anybody interested in understanding how we think the way we do currently might think about reading it. I'll post more once I finish.

I've also been watching Dead Like Me, which was a short-lived Showtime television show. It's very sarcastic and a little dark, which suits me just fine. Unfortunately, it was only around for two seasons, although it looks like they did release a movie that should hopefully close up loose ends.

Basic plot: A 20ish year old dies rather abruptly and is put to work as a grim reaper. She releases the souls of people who are about to die rather gruesome deaths so they aren't stuck with their bodies in the aftermath of such brutality for all of eternity. Her main companions are other grim reapers, all of whom have issues as big as hers. Along the way, she struggles to figure out what the point of her (un)life is and help her family who can no longer recognize her.

The writing is good, the characters are interesting in a very screwed up way, and there's an overall purpose to the characters doing what they're doing. It's also pretty dry, which I enjoy greatly.

Next up after I finish these projects: The Lost Room (short-lived SciFi channel series), Professor Lambert and the Curious Village (a DS game) and either the Cryptonomicon or Quicksilver (both by Neil Stephenson).