Scott J. Pearson’s Book Review

Designing Agentive Technology: AI That Works for People

By Scott J. Pearson | August 28, 2021November 8, 2025 by Scott J. Pearson

It seems that advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have always been just over the world’s horizon ever since the 1950s. Although General AI – the kind that mimics full human intelligence – still seems decades away, our society seems to be adapting so-called Narrow AI already. (In fact, for work, I develop software that uses Narrow AI approaches for use by research administrators.) Noessel seeks to explain how non-programmers can design software that helps us…

Constance by Matthew FitzSimmons

By Scott J. Pearson | August 22, 2021August 22, 2021 by Scott J. Pearson

What happens when a character investigates her/his own murder? How exactly could that happen? In this book, FitzSimmons explores exactly that situation. He presents a dystopic vision of human cloning in which this “new” advance is used as an excuse to denigrate human life. By so doing, he advances the notion that progress in extending our science should correlate with progress in deepening our humanity. While doing so, this work of science fiction develops into…

Biography-Memoir History

Napoleon: A Life

By Scott J. Pearson | August 19, 2021August 19, 2021 by Scott J. Pearson

This book is widely regarded as the definitive biography of Napoleon Bonaparte in the English language. After listening to this book, I find no reason to disagree. Napoleon was and is a huge figure in European history. He conquered swaths of territory and reformed national systems. He can only be compared to Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great in terms of impact. He did not wrestle England, his archenemy, to the ground economically or militarily.…

Software-Technology

Advanced JavaScript

By Scott J. Pearson | August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 by Scott J. Pearson

In the past decade, the JavaScript language has witnessed a renaissance of new activity. Once pigeon-holed as a language for web browser eye-candy, JavaScript can now be used for the entire stack (server-side, client-side, testing, and even command-line). In this book, Shute attempts to keep developers up to date with a high-level review of the advancements. While this book is not a classic (and what modern computer-language-specific book is a classic?), it serves the needs…

Fiction-Stories History

The Water Dancer: A Novel

By Scott J. Pearson | August 14, 2021August 14, 2021 by Scott J. Pearson

The story of freedom is both an American story and a universally human one. In this novel, Coates reminds us that personal loyalties to family sometimes transcend the desire for freedom. Using the motif of finding one’s own free way, he describes the story of Hiram Walker, an enslaved person who was educated due to his superb memory, only to become intermixed with the Underground Railroad. Along the way, he discovers the backcountry of Virginia…

Healthcare History Politics

The Hidden History of American Healthcare

By Scott J. Pearson | August 12, 2021August 12, 2021 by Scott J. Pearson

In my early twenties, I decided to devote my life to bettering American healthcare. I gained exposure to the system as a medical student and still contribute professionally by bettering medical research through software development. My experiences show that many inefficiencies and much greed exist in the system. As Hartmann attests to in this book, so many people angle to profit off of citizens’ health needs. It’s sad, but the political will and personal wills…

Economics Environment Science

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have & the Breakthroughs We Need

By Scott J. Pearson | August 10, 2021August 10, 2021 by Scott J. Pearson

It’s no secret that climate change has begun to affect human lifestyles. Unfortunately, world politics and economics are ill-positioned to deal with this crisis. If we can’t agree that vaccines are a good thing, how can we agree on the difficult sacrifices required to preserve our planet for future generations? Despite this (or perhaps because of this), Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and the philanthropy Gates Foundation, is lending not only his name but also…

Healthcare History HIV/AIDS

And the Band Played On: Politics, People, & the AIDS Epidemic

By Scott J. Pearson | August 6, 2021August 6, 2021 by Scott J. Pearson

“Those ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it.” “The primary problems we now face are not scientific problems but social problems involving science.” Such statements certainly provide an impetus to read this classic about the early history of AIDS in America. Though this book is over thirty years old, its meticulous research still communicates how human nature often denies diseased persons respect, compassion, and the resources necessary to recover. Such was certainly true in…

Religion-Philosophy

The Hope of Glory: Reflections on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross

By Scott J. Pearson | August 1, 2021August 1, 2021 by Scott J. Pearson

I studied this book with my Presbyterian Sunday School class over the summer of 2021. It contains a long prologue, seven short meditations on Jesus’ seven last words from the Cross, and an epilogue. Meacham speaks from the Christian Episcopal tradition, one that respects the Bible but does not embrace Biblical literalism. At several points, he acknowledges the “mystery” or “uncertainty” of faith. He also talks at length about the value of partaking of regular…

Biography-Memoir Religion-Philosophy Writing-Communication

Albert Camus and the Human Crisis

By Scott J. Pearson | July 25, 2021July 25, 2021 by Scott J. Pearson

Albert Camus is one of my favorite literary figures of all time. I favor authors rooted in the Christian and classical literary traditions, and Camus fits this description well – even though he made no profession of faith after childhood. (Another fascinating and controversial book contends that Camus sought baptism just before his sudden death.) To me, Camus’ words capture the human condition very well. This biography, born out of college classes Meagher taught, attempts…