The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein

I'd never actually read any Heinlein. Shame on me. Better late than never. I'd heard this is basically the story of a moon colony revolting against an exploitative earth-based authority, and that it's a polemic for libertarianism. Three chapters in and I'm still trying to get used to the slang-filled Russian of the narrator, but it's interesting.


A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

His follow up to The Kite Runner, which really was a great read. This one is extremely good too. Hosseini does a great job of telling compellingly personal stories against the backdrop of the recent history of Afghanistan in a way that sucks you into the lives of the characters, but also gives you a strong sense of what it might have been like to live under the relatively benevolent dictatorship, then Soviet invasion, then rule by the Taliban. I'm almost done with this one, and like his first book, I highly recommend this one.


The Accidental Mind by David J. Linden

A very nice, well-written account of general cognitive neuroscience, including the evolution, development, and function of the human brain. There's a nice blend of historical perspective and recent research, all related to topics like perception, emotion, and sex. I started reading it last semester, but put it down to concentrate on other stuff. I'm glad I revisited it. It's an extremely good read.

And of course gobs of papers and books related to the neocortex.