The joy of book group
A12 February 2025 Charbonneau Villager
Men ’ s Club
� From Page A10
yards “ offline .” Any shot that is 10 yards left or right would be acceptable . Greater than that means you could be in trouble , out of bounds , in a hazard , short-sided or “ Oh no !” Clear as mud , right ?
Let ’ s give thanks for the little things
I rarely have good things to say about a dentist ( except for Jack Henry ), but we really need to thank a golfing tooth-man from 1899 who helped us a lot . George Franklin Grant , a golf nut dentist , in 1899 , was the first to make a golfing tee . We take for granted that piece of equipment . Now , in 2025 , there are a plethora of different styles , sizes and materials that grace our tee boxes and golf carts . It ’ s given us the opportunity to start each hole on a good note . I have my favorite , and it appears many of you do as well . Perhaps it ’ s also time to give our superintendent , Andrew , a reason to give us thanks by picking up our broken tees and perhaps a few others on the tee boxes . After all , a clean course is a happy course and keeps the equipment in order !
Nonfiction Book Club
By DAVE MAUK
The joy of book group
When the Charbonneau Nonfiction Book Group rejoined at our January discussion , after a month off , it was apparent that we were happy to be gathering again and delve into our book . And what a book ! ‘ The Code Breaker ’ by Walter Isaacson presented many subject matter challenges , being about slicing and editing genetic code , as well as a cast of characters rivaling a Russian novel . But it was especially worth it , and a book most of us would not have read if not for book group , for which it was ideal .
It was our first book featuring a female protagonist . Jennifer Doudna earned our admiration and respect as a brilliant scientist and capable supervisor in the lab and as a mother , wife and warm friend outside of it . Our discussion pointed out how women were largely excluded from professions such
as doctor , lawyer , scientist , engineer and the fields of technology and even higher education until about 40 years ago .
Our special guest , Dr . Daniel Nebert , drove the point home that humanity ’ s existence on earth is a fraction of time and the advances of bio-science and technology milliseconds on the earth timeline , making the roles of women in professional fields a blink of an eye in time . A Charbonneau resident , ‘ the gene whisperer ,’ is among the top 100 genetic scientists in the nation , known locally by those who see him on the golf course . His knowledge of the subject , and acquaintance with several of the book ’ s characters , gave us a more personal view of this complex topic .
Our discussion was wide-ranging and included several ‘ thought experiments ,’ that were featured in the book . We asked questions about the ethics of genetic design , where it was heading , its potential misuses and its multiple benefits . We compared its future impact to vaccines , as life-saving for those inflicted with conditions that can be mitigated through bio-science discoveries .
We learned about CRISPR , the mech-tech star of the book , that slices
RNA material within a gene to provide ‘ instructions ’ to DNA . This is after identifying and picturing these particles within an atom among millions of genetic material , which then recodes the genes with its intended design . This all makes sense right ?! It instills an appreciation for the genius and creativity of humans , of the natural world that is life itself and of science , from which we constantly learn . Like with artificial intelligence , what humankind does with these discoveries is the test .
The free-wheeling discussion among our readers , laughter , and chit-chat during the break displayed the joy of being together sharing a love of reading and lifelong learning it brings to us . The line-up for our next books is set . Malcolm Gladwell ’ s “ The Tipping Point ” is for February , “ Undaunted Courage ” by Stephen Ambrose , about the Lewis and Clark expedition , is for March , and Jon Meacham ’ s award-winning “ American Lion : Andrew Jackson in the White House ,” is for April . We welcome new readers to join us in sharing these interesting and insightful stories . The next discussion group is scheduled for Monday , Feb . 3 in the Clubhouse Fireplace Room .
More than
40 years of Legal Experience you can trust
Estate Planning ~ Accident & Injuries Family Law ~ Wills , Probate & Trusts
Business Transactions Acquisitions & Accession Sales & Transfers
You are our # 1 Priority ! We are happy to meet with you in your home , the Charbonneau member lounge or in our Lake Oswego office .
John Moore Principal Attorney
Call for an appointment today !
4248 Galewood St ., Lake Oswego 503-675-4300 www . MooreLawGroupPC . com