Two weeks break

My course at LSE ended. I’ve two weeks’ time to myself before internship starts.  The first thing I did after exam was headed to LSE library to get books I wanted to read (list below). Having access to a large social science collection helps save me lots of money, but the downside’s that they’re mainly in the social science field. A few Japanese fictions I want to read (books by Yukio Mishima, Natsume Soseki, and Banana Yoshimoto) are not available, and the recently published books are generally not available yet. Nevertheless the library has enough interesting books to keep me satisfied until the new books arrive.

 

I watched several movies lately (Babel, Emma, Little Miss Sunshine, The Holidays, Metro Ni Notte, Nada Sou Sou), with plenty more to go. But out of those I only find Little Miss Sunshine interesting and didn’t finish some of the other ones. It might be a good idea in a later entry (after watching the remaining movies) to reflect on my current taste and how it has evolved.

 

Besides books and movies, I plan to get in touch with friends, sample restaurants around London for my sister’s visit, and plan my Europe trip after the internship.

 

 

Books from LSE Library

 

The Invisible Heart—Russell Roberts

 

This book conveys how an economist thinks about a range of economic, moral, and political issues people encounter in everyday life. It’s a short story surrounding two high school teachers (one teaches economics, the other English literature) with very different views about the world. Though I’m familiar with most of the ideas covered, I enjoyed the characters’ conversations and their relationship development (it’s a love story).

 

Why Smart People Can Be So Stupid—edited by Robert. Sternberg

 

The book contains some interesting psychological views on intelligence and stupidity. One of the contributors is Carol’s Dweck. Her research indicates that people’s beliefs about intelligence affect their performances. Here’s a nice article summarizing her studies (recommended), and here’s one on how not to praise your kids.

 

Reading in progress:

 

Creative Destruction: How Globalization Is Changing the World’s Cultures—Tyler Cowen

In Praise of Commercial Culture—Tyler Cowen

Meanings of Life—Roy Baumeister

The Social Dimension of Sex—Roy Baumeister

The Mind and the Market—Jerry Muller

 

Movies to watch:

 

Northanger.Abbey (2007)

Volver

Blood Diamond

Casino Royale

Children of Men

Crash

Interview with the Vampire

Miss Potter

Monty Python: Live at the Hollywood Bowl, Meaning of Life, Life of Brian

Music and Lyrics

Once Upon a Time in the West

Prestige

The Illusionist

Apocalypto

Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End

Shrek the Third

 

Sukida

Nana 1

One Piece movie Episode 6 & 7

1 Littoru no Namida

Shiroi Kage