Just to add: you can listen to Siracusa's comments re: Merlin on Hypercritical [1].
Also worth listening to is Merlin's own podcast (with Dan Benjamin) called Back to Work [2]. A lot of his recent talk has been about his book, the challenges in meeting the deadlines (along the lines of 'a few thousand words by next week') and how he manages the process. Merlin himself is like no-one else, and I can assure you that you won't be bored by his show.
On the boredom thing, I think it depends. I think there is a lot of wisdom in what Merlin is saying, but sometimes it can take him 15 minutes worth of mixed metaphors and magical tangents to get to a point better found in a minute or so. This show is particularly guilty in the earlier episodes.
For me, I think I prefer reading his writing. While also lengthy, it's been edited and trimmed back. It focuses on just the metaphors that full apply.
(Although for long car/train rides, Back to Work is fantastic.)
I don't see why you were downvoted on this--Merlin cracks on himself when he doesn't answer a question directly (which, by his own admission, happens very frequently).
Comments
Just to add: you can listen to Siracusa's comments re: Merlin on Hypercritical [1].
Also worth listening to is Merlin's own podcast (with Dan Benjamin) called Back to Work [2]. A lot of his recent talk has been about his book, the challenges in meeting the deadlines (along the lines of 'a few thousand words by next week') and how he manages the process. Merlin himself is like no-one else, and I can assure you that you won't be bored by his show.
[1]: http://5by5.tv/hypercritical/15 [2]: http://5by5.tv/b2w
On the boredom thing, I think it depends. I think there is a lot of wisdom in what Merlin is saying, but sometimes it can take him 15 minutes worth of mixed metaphors and magical tangents to get to a point better found in a minute or so. This show is particularly guilty in the earlier episodes.
For me, I think I prefer reading his writing. While also lengthy, it's been edited and trimmed back. It focuses on just the metaphors that full apply.
(Although for long car/train rides, Back to Work is fantastic.)
I don't see why you were downvoted on this--Merlin cracks on himself when he doesn't answer a question directly (which, by his own admission, happens very frequently).