"Always make a good impression on someone when you first meet them, and never make a bad impression every time you take leave of them." - Klinsman HinjayaContinue reading..
Monday, December 20, 2021
Quote #73
A Passion for Correction
Everybody has a passion, don't they? Okay, I concede that it is probably more precise to say that many or most people have it. Without a passion, life can overflow with mundanity, leaving no space for the element of excitement that would otherwise make it much more interesting and worth living. I was born roughly 31 years ago, and it appears that ever since then I have had a passion for something that would possibly make many people raise their eyebrows. And that's a passion for correction.
My bodily configuration is easily to "blame" for this offbeat path. By nature, I would wince at things that are square pegs in round holes. Incorrectness and imperfection get under my skin and launch me into a state of nagging unease. Order is what I earnestly strive for and aspire to achieve. This eccentric tendency eventually and naturally led to me taking up an unusual hobby of making corrections, and this is most pronounced in the area of English.
I first learned English epochs ago in elementary school and instantly got hooked on it. English, as a whole, captivates me, but the most interesting aspect of this international language for me was – and still is – grammar. While it seems that a massive number of English learners dread and regard it as a nightmare, I am actually fascinated by the workings of the English language. Throughout my life, I kept on learning English and discovered myriad interesting things, including the revelation that English, including its grammar, evolves – just like everything else in the world (also read Language Finds a Way). Now I pursue a career in the field of English education and this is certainly a dream come true.
My enormous interest in English inevitably blends with my great passion for correction. In classroom settings, I do my level best to give my students useful corrections for their improvement in the language. However, as I stated earlier, it extends to pursuits outside my livelihood sphere. Over the years I have spotted mistakes in books etc., wrote their corrections and sent them to those responsible. Not all of them responded, but I am really glad to have contributed what I could for better accuracy, nevertheless.
Among those replying to me, three were so kind-hearted that not only did they thank me, but they also went the extra mile. The first one is 4M, a Hongkong-based company that produces educational toys and crafts. In 2012, I made corrections for its two products: Dinosaur Skeleton Excavation Kit: Tyrannosaurus rex and Dig a Glow Dinosaur. The company's representative, Daniel Yun, replied to my email, thanking me and saying that they would like to send Glow-in-the-Dark 3-Dimensional Dinosaur to me as a gesture of goodwill. I was joyfully speechless. Of course, I accepted the kind offer and received the dinosaurian present.
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| Glow-in-the-Dark 3-Dimensional Dinosaur |
The second one is one of my favorite authors Darren Naish. While enjoying his marvelous book Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved, I jotted down writing mistakes which I found there and sent the corrections to the British paleontologist via Twitter. As a token of appreciation, Dr. Naish included me in the acknowledgements of the second edition to the book (my name is also mentioned in his blog post The Second Edition of Naish and Barrett's Dinosaurs).
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| Acknowledgements of Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved (Second Edition) with my name marked |
The last one is the publishing house Collins. While it seems to be not as popular as Oxford and the like when it comes to ELT (English Language Teaching), the British publisher has actually produced some of my favorite books on the subject, such as Work on Your Idioms. One tremendously useful resource for learning English released by Collins is Collins COBUILD English Usage (Fourth Edition). While perusing this superb book, I noticed a number of mistakes and sent them to Collins ELT via Facebook over a period of time. A representative named Yan always warmly replied to my messages, forming a congenial conversation atmosphere. This went on up to a point where the publisher decided to send me something as a way to say thank you. Do you know what that something is? A duo of amazing dictionaries: Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary and Collins COBUILD Phrasal Verbs Dictionary!
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| Collins COBUILD Idioms and Phrasal Verbs Dictionaries |
This sort of rectification endeavors is not the only form in which my linguistic craziness is manifested. A few years ago was an epiphany that kickstarted an exciting project on Instagram. I had never had an account on the social media platform before (also read Why I Don't Use Instagram), but this had to change thanks to the light-bulb moment. I created an account named English Corrector, which captures writing mistakes made all over the world and invites its followers, namely ECers, to correct them – of course, I provide the answer and explanation in the description of every post. English Corrector also offers daily quizzes through Instagram stories, which can also be accessed via Highlights.
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| English Corrector |
Last but not least, I also make use of my dino eyes (yes, eagles are dinosaurs) for commercial purposes. Troofreader helps you with your writing by means of proofreading and translating from English into Indonesian and vice versa. Troofreader's motto is "Clarity is a virtue."
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| Troofreader Logo |
Note: Information about English Corrector and Troofreader can be found in the left sidebar of this blog.
I think my burning passion for correction will last for as long as I can breathe. It is part of what defines me as a person.
Continue reading..Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Quote #71
"The suppression of freedom of expression eliminates the possibilities of limitless advancement in a nation." - Klinsman HinjayaContinue reading..
Monday, November 8, 2021
Quote #70
"Accept reality, no matter how harsh or grim it is. Without coming to terms with it, you will never be your full self." - Klinsman HinjayaContinue reading..
Friday, November 5, 2021
The Little Book of Humanism – Book Review
The Little Book of Humanism
by Andrew Copson and Alice Roberts
The Little Book of Humanism 👫🌏📖 by Andrew Copson and Alice Roberts is a modest-sized book explaining what humanism is and what being a humanist is all about. Here you will find a treasure trove of humanist wisdom and insights in the forms of quotes, meditations, and poems. Among the vast number of humanists featured in this book are Carl Sagan, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Margaret Atwood, David Attenborough, Bertrand Russell, Richard Dawkins, Confucius, and Epicurus. Why should you read The Little Book of Humanism? Well, this book is a perfect guide to living your life to the fullest as a human. It aptly begins with a discussion of the veritable nature of humans – how we came about and who we really are – and throughout the book, you will learn about humanist values, virtues, endeavors, and lessons in a good number of chapters on diversity and equality, thinking clearly, and science and progress, for example. What should we base our actions on? Is curiosity a good thing? Does technology deserve to be abhorred? How can we cope with the inescapable thing called death? You'll find answers to these questions and more in this wonderfully informative book.
The text in The Little Book of Humanism is exquisitely beautiful and profoundly luminous. The co-authors employ engaging conversational writing style which makes the book highly readable and accessible. Despite being a nonfiction book, I found this to be an absolute page-turner, wanting to devour more and more to sate my appetite for knowledge about humanism – I was completely hooked and absorbed throughout! It was an immense pleasure to let myself be toured by the superbly educational writers, and I would like to give them an infinite round of applause. 👏👏👏
You may already be a humanist – just as I was before reading it – or you may not. Whichever you are, I believe there is something to learn from this engrossing book which will make you a better human. The Little Book of Humanism is a thought-provoking book that will continue to serve to help people find "purpose, meaning and joy" and bring out the best in them – for themselves and for the world.
Notes:
- I think the best way to read The Little Book of Humanism is from cover to cover, but picking a random page and reading the content would work too. Enjoy!
- I could discuss the book in more detail. If you're interested to hear what I have to say, please do contact me personally.
Have you read The Little Book of Humanism? What is your opinion on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!
Monday, September 6, 2021
Quote #69
"The world's current social issues would be drastically reduced if people stopped meddling in others' personal business." - Klinsman HinjayaContinue reading..
Friday, September 3, 2021
Child-Free
I'm not sure what the social conditions in the area where you live are, but it seems there is a growing trend of people choosing to be child-free, at least where I go about my business (recently famous Indonesian YouTuber Gita Savitri Devi was in the spotlight for her decision to be child-free). Before I discuss this subject in more detail, let's grok the meaning of "child-free". It's self-explanatory, isn't it? One would easily work out that this term refers to the state of being free of children – that is, not having children, hence not being attached to or responsible for them. Macmillan Dictionary, which is the best online English dictionary to me, simply and effectively defines "child-free" as a word "used to describe someone who has decided not to have children". So why does this social phenomenon appear to be gaining more and more traction nowadays?
By carrying out some individual brain work, it is possible to identify a number of reasons why being child-free is preferred to having offspring. One is for the sake of the sustainability of the earth. According to Worldometer, the global population of humans is staggeringly large (7.9 billion as of September 2021) and has been constantly rising. How would the world end up if human overpopulation reached the breaking point? The doom of humanity would inevitably dawn and the environment would be in a state of collapse. One could justifiably call this a noble motivation for opting to be child-free.
Another reason pertains to morality. Having a child means bearing the responsibility for them, having to nurture them and make sure they can grow up and live their life properly. This of course requires the parents to devote a substantial amount of time, effort, etc. to their child. Will my child be able to get a good education? Can I give them enough attention, care, and love so that not only their physical needs but also their psychological ones are fulfilled? Am I capable of teaching them to behave properly in society so that they can fit into the world we live in? Such questions must be pondered about by morally conscious couples. Bringing up a child takes a lot of resources and not everyone is qualified for this mammoth "task".
A third reason worth mentioning relates to one's personal life goals. A human is (or should be) free to determine their ultimate aims in life and having children can impede the achievement for the reasons mentioned in the previous paragraph. A person who aspires to eradicate famine in the world would not be as focused on and effective in their mission if they had to take care of their own children as otherwise. And I do believe you can come up with many a similar illustration. (There are more reasons for being child-free, such as that stated by adherents of antinatalism, but I will just stop here.)
It is certainly natural for us to want to have children – just like other organisms on the planet, humans are "designed" to pass on their genes to the next generation. This is presumably what has prompted many people to think that having children is more an obligation and less a choice – at least, that's what I have perceived in my whereabouts. You might also learn that certain religions teach that being child-free is not recommended or even a sin, which makes sense since having children means there are more avenues for these memes to spread. I myself am more inclined to be child-free for a combination of reasons and my girlfriend doesn't mind either option. What about you? 😉
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Sunday, June 27, 2021
A Commentary on Yuval Noah Harari's TED Talk "Why humans run the world"
The number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has been alarmingly on the rise again – the latest figure is head-shakingly worrisome: 21,095 new cases in a day. The virus is real; those who think otherwise are either fatuous or wrongly reacting to the cognitive dissonance they are suffering from. This pandemic has been smothering virtually all of us, but I chose not to turn a blind eye to it – let's do our best to cope with this viral catastrophe. However, this doesn't mean it is justifiable to let our attention be completely absorbed by the crown-shaped virus. Watch entertaining movies, read good books, crack people up with your best jokes, and so on and so forth – basically, please yourself because maintaining sanity is essential in this time of distraughtness. In this regard, apart from writing blog articles (such as this one), I have also increased my exploration of YouTube and recently, I rewatched a captivating TED Talk by Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari entitled Why humans run the world. I promised to write a commentary on the 17-min presentation and here is me fulfilling it.
Humans are an extremely successful species in terms of habitat ranges; we can find individuals of our own species on every continent. Our global population has also tremendously grown, reaching 7.8 billion as of June 2021, according to Worldometer. It is probably natural for the following question to arise in the mind of an inquisitive person: What causes humans to be in such a thriving state, controlling the world as it is now? In his TED Talk, Harari attempts to explain the reason for the remarkable success of Homo sapiens on the planet.
Harari's presentation is really entrancing and insightful. The subject itself is intriguing in nature but his way of delivery, characterized by simple language, eloquence, and absorbing inflection, is top-flight – my focus could hardly deviate while I was watching it. According to Harari, humans rule the world because of our capability to cooperate in huge numbers with high flexibility. No other animals can do that. So, what makes humans capable of doing so? The answer is our imagination.
One brilliant example given by Harari is money. Money itself is merely a piece of paper, or a coin; what makes it valuable and powerful is the fact that vast numbers of people agree that it can be used as a means of exchange – and this takes imagination. The implementation of a monetary system makes life way easier and dramatically boosts development, enabling civilization to exist and become widespread.
I think it is safe to say that imagination is actually the most important trait which humans possess. If you think about it, all the privileges and niceties that we enormously enjoy stem from our collective imagination. For example, the laptop I'm using right now to write this article is a product made possible by a mind-boggling accumulation of cooperation of countless people in the past – the scientists who developed the technology, the supplier(s) of the materials, the workers in the factory, the deliveryman, and so on and so forth. It is mind-blowing to realize that we cooperate not only with those living at present, but also those who are deceased and those waiting to be born in the future. This is also what makes possible substantial progress in science, which itself can work thanks to our imagination – it is when our fictional realities are kept in tune with the objective reality. What about language? Same thing. It works because meaning is imbued in it by considerable numbers of people and 'accepted' by our imagination.
As impressively useful as human imagination can be, this landmark of our species has the potential to misfire. One obvious, extreme example I can think of is religious terrorist bombings, which unnecessarily cost lives due to the wrong path that human imagination (possibly) takes. Imagination is humankind's double-edged sword.
I haven't read any of Harari's bestselling books (including Sapiens) and I probably won't – my endless list of dinosaur and English books will most likely occupy the rest of my reading life. However, I am immensely grateful for having watched his engrossing talk Why humans run the world. If you haven't already, you should – you won't regret learning something about (y)our own species. ;-)
Continue reading..Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Quote #68
"Being present in the present can be the best present." - Klinsman HinjayaContinue reading..
Monday, April 19, 2021
What Does It Mean To Be a Teacher?
This is a vitally important question for some of the billions of earthlings to answer – and that fraction includes me, a speck of cosmic dust which happens to be inhabiting the most populated island of the Indonesian archipelago. I have worked as a teacher of English, my most loved language of all, for over seven years and this has inevitably made me ponder and reflect, from time to time, on the role that I have been trusted to take. Teaching is my bread and butter, but, to me, it goes far beyond that. I wholeheartedly believe that being a teacher means much, much more than earning money to get by in life. The future of the planet very much depends on our collective action and in order to ensure the continuity of its existence and the advancement & protection of its welfare, what we sorely need are who I would call real teachers: those who put their best effort into enlightening the minds of the next generation for the common good – for all of us. Seen from this point of view, teachers are really saviors of the world. So, what does it mean to be a teacher? What things does it involve? I reckon the following elements are essential to making a real teacher:
1. Educator
Needless to say, this quality is indispensable to being a teacher. Teachers are meant to educate, and this requires them to possess a sufficient amount of knowledge or skill to diffuse to or instill in the students. A teacher who lacks expertise in their respective area simply will not make a significant impact, if any, on their students' lives. It is important to underline that teachers must strive to combat false information and that they also need to be highly creative to make sure that their delivery of a particular subject is effectively accomplished.
2. Motivator
Let's face it: Students can feel down and discouraged – well, they are human beings, aren't they? They may be having a serious family problem, or instead they may have been stuck on a math problem for long. Such situations can hurl them to the depths of despair; and this is when the subrole of a motivator comes into play. A teacher should be able to sympathize with and motivate their students to achieve their aims, making them rise and directing them to meeting their challenges. What is worse than seeing someone's potential left unfulfilled?
3. Example Setter
Teachers have to be role models for their students. Why so? Well, it is simply because students tend to imitate their teachers, just as kids do their parents. If a teacher tells their students to be punctual, but they themselves always arrive late, would that convince the students to be disciplined? If you are an English teacher, but you do not care about, say, capitalization when writing country or city names, don't you think your students would be slovenly too? Setting an example is a very powerful way to drive students to success in learning.
4. Inspirator
Setting an example is a must, but I think a teacher needs to go the extra mile. Be an inspiration to your students! There are endless things a teacher can do to launch their students to heights of excitement on their learning journeys. For example, if you are a music teacher, you might want to record videos of you showing off your brilliant skill at playing a musical instrument and posting them to social media so that the general public can enjoy it. This will get your students psyched about the performance and, hopefully, wanting to do such inspirational things themselves.
5. Friend
It is probably true that there is often an invisible but discernible gap between teachers and students. It is as if students are destined to respect their teachers from afar and their teachers are "untouchable", exclusively sitting on their "thrones". Although I agree that there should be limits to how teachers and students interact, developing a rapport with students is really important as it can enhance their learning experiences by leaps and bounds. As mentioned before, students are humans, so being able to, for example, share with their teachers would be greatly beneficial.
6. Learner
Finally, a teacher, just like everybody else, is essentially a learner. This certainly applies to the knowledge or skill in their respective field – for instance, an English teacher must keep abreast of the latest development in the language (new vocabulary, etc.). However, it can be extended into such areas as understanding the psychology of the students and new technology that can be utilized to make learning more fun and effective. Teachers need to always update their armaments to ensure that their students experience learning in the best way possible.
Thank you so much for reading up to this point! I hope this article is useful for fellow teachers and those considering entering the profession. Feel free to leave any comments below! 😊
Continue reading..Sunday, April 11, 2021
Quote #66
"Never ever will denial resolve a problem. Humbly locate the root and pluck it with your greatest force." - Klinsman HinjayaContinue reading..
Friday, April 2, 2021
You're Roarsome – Book Review
You're Roarsome
Summersdale
Let's be honest: we are fragile creatures. I reckon no-one in this world can say they are on cloud nine at all times, bearing no burden whatsoever. While it is true that we are physically built, we have psychology, an aspect that affects much of our own lives. I think it is natural for us to sometimes feel depressed or even down in the dumps. This is where You're Roarsome, published by Summersdale, comes into play.
You're Roarsome is a book chock-full of inspiring, motivating, and uplifting quotes AND dinosaur-related puns which are aimed to exert the same effect on its readers. This is a light book that you can read literally in a day (or an hour), but believe me, it is capable of making a profound impact on your life. The quotes are taken from various people, all of whom I believe are famous figures although I am familiar with only probably about 30% of them. The roster displays names such as Taylor Swift, Neil Gaiman, Hellen Keller, Theodore Roosevelt, Michelle Obama, and Bruce Lee. I found the quotes powerful and moving, boosting my self-confidence, brightening my mood, and encouraging me to be more of me and move forward. The wordplay is also deliciously witty and will surely raise beatific smiles for the readers. If you are in low spirits and need an injection of encouragement, I highly recommend reading You're Roarsome: it will make you believe in yourself more ('cause you are awesome!) and get you ready for what lies ahead in your life.
Note that it is best to treat this book as a self-development book rather than a science book. For example, it mistakenly categorizes a pterosaur as a dinosaur – Pterosauria and Dinosauria are two separate groups of animals. Other than improving its scientific accuracy, it would be wonderful to have numbered pages so that readers can easily find what they want.
Have you read You're Roarsome? What do you think of this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Sunday, March 28, 2021
The Last Rhyme
Tormented, screeching at my nadir
My soul has crumbled now that you are not here
Continue reading..
Where is your genuine warmth, dear?
Nor your velvet voice I can hear
This emptiness strangles my very life, helplessly suffocating
This loneliness rends it into millions, mindlessly floating
Can I still impart unalloyed happiness?
Or would it be transmuted into unutterable sadness?
Please gaze at me one more time
And hearken to this last rhyme
If you think it is merely a dime
Just make that parting chime
The creation of this poem was inspired by Kai Bu Liao Kou (開不了口) by Jay Chou.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Quote #65
"Someone who says that they are ignorant of nothing is clearly ignorant of something." - Klinsman HinjayaContinue reading..
Monday, March 22, 2021
Q&A (Q-Man and Answers) #2: What's your least favorite dino and why?
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Question from Christela Cindy: What's your least favorite dino and why?
Q-Man's answer:
Let me tell you the truth. Cindy, who is another English enthusiast and a fellow poet, actually (and kindly) sent me two questions, the first one being "Why are you so fond of dinosaurs?". This question can simply be answered by an article I wrote many years ago entitled Why Dinosaurs? and this is the reason why I decided to feature the second inquiry for Q&A #2 instead.
So, what dinosaur is actually my least favorite and why? Posing this question is akin to asking what my most favorite dinosaur is and what the reason is. As I've stated on Facebook, to say what my favorite dinosaur is is indeed exceptionally difficult, but I would not feel very "sinful" if I utter the name of the most popular dinosaur on the planet: Tyrannosaurus rex. This massive predator would have tipped the scales at between 5 and 7 metric tons and was capable of crunching the bone of its unfortunate victims with its bone-chilling teeth (see what I did there?). T. rex was definitely a dinosaurian badass. What about my least favorite dino then? Well, I would not take a much, if any, different approach: Asked this remarkably tough question, I would probably point to a dino that is sort of plain in appearance, like Dryosaurus or any of its close relatives. Despite these, in my book all dinosaurs are special and unique in their own ways.
Q&A (Q-Man and Answers) is a section where I answer questions from my readers. Feel free to send me any question through one of my social media channels. Note that you may choose to remain anonymous.
Continue reading..Monday, March 8, 2021
My Extremist Self
This article could be considered special in that I am going to be sharing about myself: more specifically, my past self. Many people have known me for a handful of years, and that obscures a whole bunch of things this spectacled Chindo has done and experienced in life. Even those who have been friends with me for eons may not really be aware of the quirks that have annoyingly clung to me. At present, I can be seen as an incredibly friendly guy who beams his countless smiles in all directions and I believe that a lot of folk get the impression that there is no way implacable hatred nests inside this man's seemingly pure heart. Well, I do hope to live up to this positive image, but it was certainly not the case in the (not-so-)distant past.
You may not believe this, but I used to be an extremist, perhaps to the point of being bigoted. In what sense? I reckon there are various things that can be associated with extremism: in my case, it was religion. At the age of 12, I formally renounced my inherited religion and embraced my chosen one. I was very excited about my new religion and I loved it so much that I would do my best to please my God and not disappoint Him, worshipping the Creator with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind – I was primed to be a devout believer. At first, it may not have been apparent, but it was during this period of religiosity that I thought, acted, and behaved in extreme ways, casting my life into a sepulchral dimension.
How so? I adopted or formed a profoundly damaging attitude. Maybe you yourself can relate to this. As an adherent of one particular religion, I had this view that the members of my religion were superior to those of others. I saw those who were not wearing my religion emblem as second-class humans. To me, they were filthy beings deserving to be hurled into Hell for eternity if they didn't repent and accept my God and religion as the only way to Heaven. And since they were not "the chosen ones", I felt being in close proximity to them would potentially increase my chance of straying away from "the truth", so I tried my best to maintain "a safe distance" from them in order not to be infected by their impurity and falsehood. This is utterly disgusting, isn't it? I clearly remember a crazy habit of mine in which I would try very hard not to suck or inhale the smoke produced by the incense sticks that my dad burned as part of his religious ritual, for example by dashing upstairs (he was doing it on the ground floor) and covering my nose with my T-shirt (though I must admit that this extreme behavior was perhaps molded or solidified by some kind of sermon by a cleric of another religion of the same ilk).
My life was also filled with an intense desire to proselytize infidels, saving them from plunging into "unimaginable darkness". Well, not only that, I felt impelled to rectify sinners belonging to the same religion. One particular memory will stick forever in my mind. I heard that a cousin of mine with the same belief system used contraception, which was forbidden and considered to be a sin according to the teaching of our religion. I had this mental conflict over whether or not to talk to her to make things right (she may not have realized that it was a sin): if I did, I would do the right thing in the eyes of my God, but I would probably end up being disliked or hated for meddling in her business. I finally made up my mind to do so and what I feared did happen: I was admonished for doing what I thought was a noble act.
For me, it was the real Hell. It should have never happened and I am terribly sorry to all of those who were affected by my inappropriate behavior. I am glad that I have gone through a lot of things that have shaped me into who I am today. In my (new) book, the notion that certain human beings deserve to be looked down on is truly nauseating. All of us are humans and our nature is the same – nothing should unjustly segregate us. I would like to express tremendous thanks to science and those who have educated me on this subject, making me a more likeable individual (less prejudiced, more tolerant, etc.) and transforming my life into a much more fulfilling one (one related book that popped up in my mind and would foster this much needed attitude is Why Dinosaurs Matter by American paleontologist and TED speaker Kenneth Lacovara). I also cherish personal space and perfectly understand that one can do whatever they want inasmuch as it only affects them themselves.
I am now a liberated person. In this way I can achieve my full potential, unleashing what is untapped, and contribute to the world in a much more meaningful and effective way. And I am really excited about it. 😉
Continue reading..
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
The Magic of Reality – Book Review
The Magic of Reality
by Richard Dawkins
Let me begin this review by commenting on the first phrase you read even before you crack this book open. The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins probably has one of the most impressive titles of all the books ever published. The subtitle is also extremely arresting: How we know what's really true. I got this sleek copy of mine on my second visit to Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Jakarta 2020, and I brought it home for an orgasmic bargain price, partly thanks to a discount voucher I had won from my first visit to the grand book fair. So, what do I have to say about the contents of this little book? Let's get rolling!
The Magic of Reality aims to clearly explain to the readers what is real (and what is not), in life, in the universe. The first chapter sets out the nature of reality and how it compares with magic, and then it is followed by 11 chapters each dealing with a question on a particular subject, several examples of which are "What are things made of?", "When and how did everything begin?", and "Why do bad things happen?". Dawkins begins most of the chapters with myths and then provides explanations for what is really true, or what really happens, through none other than science.
The Magic of Reality is the second book by the world-renowned British scientist that I've read, the first one being the religion & atheism book The God Delusion. The language in The Magic of Reality is "lighter" than in TGD, but Dawkins still writes eloquently in his delightfully conversational style, which would transport readers through his strings of ideas smoothly. It is a book that I wish I could have (and had) read 10 or 15 years ago, at a much younger age – had that really happened, I would have formed a real understanding of reality earlier. Insightful, informative and addictive, The Magic of Reality also has made me wish Prof. Dawkins had been my science teacher in school (not only of biology, but also of physics and chemistry)! In my mind, The Magic of Reality is a terrific (and, indeed, magical) book on introduction to science, quite possibly the best one available.
The book that you see in the photo above – the one that I own – is actually the minimally illustrated (and paperback) edition. To see the richly illustrated (and hardcover) edition, click here. (Even practically without illustrations, The Magic of Reality was so easy to digest; I wonder how much of smooth sailing my reading experience would have been if I had read the lavishly illustrated version!)
I would like to finish this review by making a more general compliment to the author: I believe Richard Dawkins is one of the greatest science communicators out there.
Note: I would be more than happy to discuss my review of this book with you in more detail. Feel free to contact me through one of my social media channels.
Have you read The Magic of Reality? What is your opinion on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!
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Sunday, February 14, 2021
Q&A (Q-Man and Answers) #1: How does it feel when you can help other people improve their English speaking skills?
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| #1 |
Question from Dewi Kania Saputra: How does it feel when you can help other people improve their English speaking skills?
Q-Man's answer:
It is no exaggeration to say that being able to use English properly is a primary need in the current era. Although, according to an article by EF blogger Isabelle, it is not the most widely spoken language in the world (the honor goes to Mandarin Chinese, with more than 955 million native speakers, including the one and only Jay Chou), it is undoubtedly a crucially important language to learn and proficiency in this sexy medium of communication means access to a multitude of opportunities which can literally change one's life. When I am successful in teaching my students (or anyone, really) such that they can use English better than they used to, I feel deeply grateful for being able to take part in their unique journeys to reaching their own dreams. It is infinitely rewarding to help someone take a step, however small it is, towards a brighter future.
Q&A (Q-Man and Answers) is a section where I answer questions from my readers. Feel free to send me any question through one of my social media channels. Note that you may choose to remain anonymous.
Continue reading..Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Limitless Learning
His glass is full. Don't take this sentence literally. The metaphorical statement is a comment made on a student who apparently feels that the classes he joins are worthless. Regardless of what the real truth is, I would like to give my take on this attitude towards learning.
Humility underpins the success of education. When one thinks they know literally everything, that's when they impose a limit on themselves. This intellectual deception hinders progress of any kind and is a serious obstacle to our advancement, as an individual and as a society. This easily stems from the fact that no single person would ever possess a full, thorough understanding of the universe. Every person ever born on Earth experiences different things than anyone else (this is beautifully formulated in the first rule in Bill Nye's guide to doing everything all at once: Everyone you'll ever meet knows something you don't.), and this necessitates reliance and dependence on our fellow (wo)men, if we are to thrive in this world. This realization should lead us to being more humble and respectful to others, and thus, naturally, we should always provide room for learning from literally anyone, who together makes up an inexhaustible source of knowledge.
While we're on this topic, I would like to share my reading experience related to this with all of you. As some of you may already know, I'm currently reading a science book by the eminent evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, whose title is probably one of the coolest ever in the history of book publishing: The Magic of Reality (to read my review, click here). In this book, there are at least a couple of instances where Dawkins states that he is not knowledgeable about a particular subject. To me, this is an exemplary act which shows how humility entails an admission of one's limits.
To end this article, I would like to sort of quote from a dinosaur book (I hope this sums up the contents of this article neatly). It goes something like this: Even if you think you know everything, there's always something new to learn.
Continue reading..Monday, February 1, 2021
Sunday, January 3, 2021
Why Evidence Matters
It is an unspecified situation coming from today's zeitgeist that constitutes the grounds for the creation of this article. The title itself is attributed to my neural maneuver towards the sensational book Why Dinosaurs Matter by Kenneth Lacovara, my honest review of which can be read here. The content of this post is, I believe, of utmost importance, and I do hope my readers will feel enlightened by the time they finish perusing this piece of text. Let's get started!
It was a dreary, cold night last November. I was tossing and turning on my bed, perspiring all over my body and constantly gritting my teeth. The culprit turned out to be a nightmare which I would never forget afterwards.
The disturbing dream began with me seeing flashing scenes of countless diabolical acts committed by humans – those included atrocious and brutish crimes such as genocides and rapes. All of a sudden, what I could see turned black and I found myself in complete silence. Then, a very old man with a grizzled beard appeared from afar. He introduced himself as Karz (I hope I spelled it correctly) and addressed me by my nickname "Q-Man". I was certainly flabbergasted and thought to myself, "How does he know my nickname? I've never met him before... Who is this old man?" I instantly got goosebumps, but it seems that he fully understood how anxious I was. He told me, "Don't be afraid. I know everything about you." As a reaction, I gaped and thought, "What does that mean? I don't get it..." The old man carried on talking about me, trying to prove the statement that he had just made. Eerily, every single thing he mentioned about me was correct – my family, my career, my hobbies, my love life, what I did the day before, my deepest secrets. Every. Single. Thing. My jaw automatically dropped as I couldn't make head or tail of what was going on.
What happened next was shocking. He claimed that he had come to tell me that I had one task to accomplish. "You have just seen how humanity can be so cruel that the world now is so wretched. All the potential for evil in the future will be completely erased if you succeed in doing this task," he explained. "Wha-what is it?" I asked nervously. He replied, "Kill yourself." I was directly stunned and didn't know what to say. The old man grinned and continued, "Don't worry. As soon as you do that, you will live forever in everlasting bliss. I guarantee that." I was still processing what he had just said when he continued, "But if you do not do that, maledictions will befall your descendants, forevermore. They will get acutely sick, die in horrific accidents, or otherwise dreadfully suffer from misfortunes." Before I could say anything, he vanished into thin air and suddenly I woke up with a distressed face, panting heavily on my flooded bed.
After thinking about it over and over for more than a month, I finally made up my mind: I will take my own life. Dear reader, could you please suggest the best way to do so? You can write it in the comment section below. Thank you very much in advance. :-)
You may realize that the whole story was completely made up and none of it happened to me. However, there might be people who have experienced this kind of thing and did what sane people would think is fatuous and irrational. And this brings us to my point in this article: evidence matters.
The events unfolding in my hypothetical dream should not, in any way, lead me to do what Karz said. That is simply because there is no evidence whatsoever that those things he said would really happen. It is pathetic that people can do such loco acts in real life and I suspect this has to do with our survival instinct. Imagination is our forte as a species and it certainly helps us in our survival. However, this "superpower" is a double-edged sword. The biggest problem occurs when, fueled by the "wrong" imagination, our push to survive overrides our rationality and takes a harmful route. Our species has now invented science and it indeed works for the success of our survival. And to do good science, what we need is evidence. Without evidence, people can do crazy things with devastating or grave consequences (such as what I would do if I believed what Karz had said). It is no wonder that British scientist Richard Dawkins writes the following in his book which I am currently reading, The Magic of Reality: "We should be open-minded, but the only good reason to believe that something exists is if there is real evidence that it does."
Through this article, I would like to invite my readers (including you) to adopt, foster, and champion scientific thinking & skepticism, without which our world would be in absolute chaos. I hope I got the message across to you and since we are at the outset of 2021, I wish you a Happy New Year! Let's beat this insufferable pandemic together by means of, again, science. ;-)
Related article: My Thoughts on Religious Terrorist Bombings
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