I'll also be interested to know what you think of the book once it has crept into your deepest sulci.

Gladwell is a very popular writer just now--I found his recent book The Tipping Point to be filled with observations that seemed . . . just a little bit . . . obvious.  Maybe the new one will be more poignant.

I've been struggling to get through a book by Carl Zimmer called Parasite Rex.  The world the book explores is really cool, but the writing style is a bit like wading through surf.  Here is a note from the outer sleeve, which is what inspired me to buy the thing: 

"Single-celled Toxoplasma Gondi has an even more insidious role, for it can invade the human brain.  There it makes men distrustful and less willing to submit to social mores.  Women become more outgoing and warm-hearted.  Why would a parasite cause these particular personality changes?  It seems Toxoplasma wants its host to be less afraid, to be more prone to danger and a violent end--so that, in the carnage, it will be able to move on to another host."

Of course, as in most popularizing-science books, there is plenty of anthropomorphizing going on.  The focus here is on parasites, and many of the parasites written about are evolved to a seemingly dark design beyond belief.  This one is a bit closer to the "real science" of the scientific journals, however, which accounts for my sluggish speed in apprehending it.

Would love to see more book recommendations.

Herring405