What Are You Reading?

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by RMSkins

Specifically what books are going to "rot my brain", and have you ever read those books? As for "Homage to Catalonia" I have read it and it was very good. The Spanish Civil War is an extremely interesting topic, and Orwell's account of it was fascinating.

I was only joking. You might try branching out a little, though. Especially since the Socialist Movement has moved on to it's museum phase. Colleges and Universities are still awash in it, but nobody else thinks its relevant. Try reading Witness by Whittaker Chambers. A great read and it offers a slightly different perspective.

[RMSkins]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I was only joking. You might try branching out a little, though. Especially since the Socialist Movement has moved on to it's museum phase. Colleges and Universities are still awash in it, but nobody else thinks its relevant. Try reading Witness by Whittaker Chambers. A great read and it offers a slightly different perspective.

Yeah I know exactly what you're talking about with the Socialist Movement being extermely prevalent in the college scene. I am not a Socialist, but I am a history major and while Karl Marx and Che Guevara may be outdated I still find them to be two of the most interesting people in recent histroy.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by RMSkins

Right now im reading "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA" by Tim Weiner. It's a great book if your interested in reading about the complete history of the CIA, their missions, and their utter incompetence.

Also recommended:
"Parallel Worlds" by Michio Kaku, "1984" by George Orwell, "The Age of Reason" by Thomas Paine, "Fingerprints of the Gods" by Graham Hancock, "The Cosmic Trigger" by Robert Anton Wilson, "Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life" by John Lee Anderson, "I am a Strange Loop" by Douglas Hofstadter, "Undiscovered Self" by Carl Jung, "Sirius Mystery" by Robert Temple, "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx, "The Second World" by Parag Khanna, "Supernatural" by Graham Hancock, "Dinner with a Cannibal" by Carole Travis-Henikoff.

Excellent list. I just bought a "Legacy of Ashes," but haven't delved yet. Judging by your list you may like "A Man in Full," by Tom Wolfe. About 800 pages, but well worth it.

Beemnseven: Can't wait to read John Adams.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Excellent list. I just bought a "Legacy of Ashes," but haven't delved yet. Judging by your list you may like "A Man in Full," by Tom Wolfe. About 800 pages, but well worth it.

Beemnseven: Can't wait to read John Adams.

Tom Wolfe is a singular talent. Everyone should read Everything he's ever wtitten:

Tom Wolfe Top Ten:

10. Bonfire of the Vanities
9. Mauve Gloves MadMen Clutter & Vine
8. The Pumphouse Gang
7. A Man in Full
6. Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers
5. From Bauhaus to Our House
4. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
3. The Tangerine Flake Streamlined Baby
2. The Painted Word
1. The Right Stuff

[Trample the Elderly]

Originally Posted by RMSkins

Right now im reading "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA" by Tim Weiner. It's a great book if your interested in reading about the complete history of the CIA, their missions, and their utter incompetence.

Also recommended:
"Parallel Worlds" by Michio Kaku, "1984" by George Orwell, "The Age of Reason" by Thomas Paine, "Fingerprints of the Gods" by Graham Hancock, "The Cosmic Trigger" by Robert Anton Wilson, "Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life" by John Lee Anderson, "I am a Strange Loop" by Douglas Hofstadter, "Undiscovered Self" by Carl Jung, "Sirius Mystery" by Robert Temple, "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx, "The Second World" by Parag Khanna, "Supernatural" by Graham Hancock, "Dinner with a Cannibal" by Carole Travis-Henikoff.

I love Graham Hancock. He needs to stop drinking his vine juice for a little while though. Supernatural was good but it was really out there.

[Trample the Elderly]

Eh... I haven't been reading that much lately. The last novel I read was "State of Fear" by Michael Crichton. Right now I'm going over Gutherie Govan's "Advanced Guitar Theory", Aristotle's theories on the state and political thought, Barron's guide to "Market Securities", and Chilton manuals to save money on my van's upkeep.

I've a few books that I've put off for a while. I'm planning on re-reading "Sister Carrie" by Dreiser, "Don Quixote" by Cervantes, "Breath of the Dragon" by Ragnor Benson, and "The Oil Card" by James Norman. For something new I was thinking, "Contigency Cannibalism" by Shiguro Takada and reading some of Giap's doctrine on warfare.

[That Guy]

gate of fire
killing rommel
some xenophon translations

[Monkeydad]

Right now I am reading "What Are You Reading?" authored by Smootsmack.

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by Buster

Right now I am reading "What Are You Reading?" authored by Smootsmack.

I read that - the ending was kind of predictable.

[BDBohnzie]

I'm in the middle of "Fever Pitch" by Nick Hornby. It's decent, but kinda long winded.

[SmootSmack]

Finished "John Adams" Great book, I have a new found respect and appreciation for him and his fellow statesmen, not to mention Abigail Adams.

Now I've moved onto Union 1812

I was planning on reading about Andrew Jackson next, but I may jump back and read this Burr book 70Chip is recommending. I'm basically trying to read history books in chronological order, starting with the revolutionary war era

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Finished "John Adams" Great book, I have a new found respect and appreciation for him and his fellow statesmen, not to mention Abigail Adams.

Now I've moved onto Union 1812

I was planning on reading about Andrew Jackson next, but I may jump back and read this Burr book 70Chip is recommending. I'm basically trying to read history books in chronological order, starting with the revolutionary war era

You shant regret it. After you finish Burr, you will want to read, in order

Lincoln
1876
Empire
Hollywood
Washington D.C.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

You shant regret it. After you finish Burr, you will want to read, in order

Lincoln
1876
Empire
Hollywood
Washington D.C.

I'm trying to read up on subjects that have tended to fall under my radar. Hence John Adams, War of 1812...upcoming for me

Aaron Burr (perhaps)
Andrew Jackson
Pre-Civil War (Pierce/Buchanan eras)
Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals"
US Grant's Memoir
Spanish-American War
Titan (I think that's the name of the book)
Panama Canal

that should do for now

[Beemnseven]

Just curious, how fast do you guys read?

I've never been a speed-reader by any means. Sometimes it takes me forever to get through a book. Have you ever read a book in one sitting? The fastest books I ever got through were "The Deep" by Peter Benchley, and Michael Crichton's "Sphere" and "Congo". I got finished with those in about 3 or 4 days.

These days, with a 4-year old, a 12-month old, and another one on the way, the times when I could waste the day away on a book are long gone.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Just curious, how fast do you guys read?

I've never been a speed-reader by any means. Sometimes it takes me forever to get through a book. Have you ever read a book in one sitting? The fastest books I ever got through were "The Deep" by Peter Benchley, and Michael Crichton's "Sphere" and "Congo". I got finished with those in about 3 or 4 days.

These days, with a 4-year old, a 12-month old, and another one on the way, the times when I could waste the day away on a book are long gone.

Well my whole thing now is books on tape, with my vicious daily commute.