I have just finished, in rapid succession, Gary Wills' James Madison and Gary Hart's James Monroe.
The Wills book is fabulous, showing the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of the fourth U.S. President. Reading this book made me appreciate what banal and honest politicians we have these days!
The Hart book is probably the best book on the fifth President I have ever come across. If you think you know the Monroe Doctrine and its originator, this book will be a pleasant surprise.
I am currently reading 1215: The Year of the Magna Carta, by Danny Danziger.
I am currently reading "Dear Hustler I never thought this could happen to me..."
P.S. I am actually reading Sarum which is a (part fiction/part non-fiction) book on the history of the plains in southern England where Stone Henge is built.
Douglas Adam's "The Salmon of Doubt"
Quote from: nastynateI am currently reading "Dear Hustler I never thought this could happen to me..."
P.S. I am actually reading Sarum which is a (part fiction/part non-fiction) book on the history of the plains in southern England where Stone Henge is built.
Is Sarum a Michener novel?
Quote from: SenkennomeiDouglas Adam's "The Salmon of Doubt"
This one I have not heard of.
Give us a review when you are done!
Quote from: CYMROQuote from: nastynateI am currently reading "Dear Hustler I never thought this could happen to me..."
P.S. I am actually reading Sarum which is a (part fiction/part non-fiction) book on the history of the plains in southern England where Stone Henge is built.
Is Sarum a Michener novel?
No but I love Michener too. It's by Edward Rutherfurd who also wrote "London."
QuoteNo but I love Michener too. It's by Edward Rutherfurd who also wrote "London."
I am vaguely familiar with him.
And, yes, Michener rocks.
Quote from: CYMROQuote from: SenkennomeiDouglas Adam's "The Salmon of Doubt"
This one I have not heard of.
Give us a review when you are done!
Douglas Adams is the man who wrote "The Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy." If you don't know THAT book, I shake my head at you :3
It's a collection of his short stories and observations which were collected off of his laptop after he passed away. Some of the parts of the book are rather insightful, and many are flat-out funny. There are a couple dull parts here and there in the beginning of the book, but it picks up after the 80th page or so.
"Underworld," by Graham Hancock. It's about the exploration of underwater ruins and underwater archaeology in the research for ancient antediluvian civilizations.
Quote from: Ishmayl"Underworld," by Graham Hancock. It's about the exploration of underwater ruins and underwater archaeology in the research for ancient antediluvian civilizations.
That sounds pretty interesting. Is it centered around the Black Sea and the myths of Gilgamesh? That is a subject that fascinates me.
Yeah, there's a bit about that, but mostly, it focuses on Indian ruins and myths, as well as new scientific evidence that shows that there have been periods of cataclysmic flooding due to glacial melting in the last 11,000 - 18,000 years that suspiciously coincide with dates mentioned in many flood myths (Atlantis, Dvarka, etc). Very good.
The Scar, by China Mieville. I've read his novels set in Bas Lag over and over again, and they have influenced my campaign design greatly.
Thud! by Terry Pratchett and Guns, Germs and Steel by (i'm not sure who. i can't remember).
I'm currently reading a short story collection by C. L. Moore called "Black Gods and Scarlet Dreams"
Quote from: supadupamanThud! by Terry Pratchett and Guns, Germs and Steel by (i'm not sure who. i can't remember).
Thud! was brilliant!!
"WHERE'S MY COW?"
Frank McLynn's Napoleon: A Biography. The good chap is currently running amok in Italy... good times...
Quote from: Elven DoritosFrank McLynn's Napoleon: A Biography. The good chap is currently running amok in Italy... good times...
I've always wanted to run amoke in Italy myself...guess the little fella beat me to the punch by a few centuries
He had a bit of a complex about being called a "little fella"...
And really, running amok is highly overated. It's the reason we don't have Vikings anymore: They finally buckled down and got a real job.
QuoteThey finally buckled down and got a real job.
Yes, working for the IRS...
And Capital One.
I've got a pile of books on my desk I've been reading lately:
In the far corner I've got King Lear, Othello and Henry V (I'm trying to pick a script to direct next semester.)
Plutarch's Lives are currently the central focus. They're fascinating stuff (and required reading for an upcoming final).
In the opposite corner, I've got a bunch of books for a paper I'm writing on Philippos II of Macedon (Alex's dad.)
(Triumvirs, I have returned.)
I'm reading a really large book on world mythology, "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" by John Perkins, the April/May double issue of "Azimov's Science Fiction," and a variety of books on Greco-Bactria and the Indo-Greek kingdom.
How much history is conclusively known on the Indo-Greeks and Bactria? What are our sources for that region in that period?
I attended a lecture a while ago about the evolution of Hindu cosmological theories owing to prolonged contact with the mechanical Greek model. Fascinating subject.
Quote from: Kalos MerHow much history is conclusively known on the Indo-Greeks and Bactria? What are our sources for that region in that period?
Well, I was recently inspired to write a paper on the subject. My grand delusion is that I can combine political science (my major) and ancient history (my hobby) into some kind of useful study. This is probably false, but I was sufficiently moved to see what I could make of themes of imperialism, colonialism, and cultural/religious syncreticism that struck me as conceivably parallel in our world and the Hellenistic world. I've only just begun this study (that is to say, two days ago) so I'm not in much of a position to say what is conclusively known. Right now I'm reading modern scholarship, I will eventually see if I can find my way to the (translated) original texts once I establish exactly what the "original texts" on this subject are. Right now I'm just giving myself a general frame of reference with the scholarship available at my college library. The actual paper may have to wait for next year, as I will probably need interlibrary loan to actually do anything substantive.
So, in summary, I'm asking the same questions as you right now.
I just finished Cool Gardens by Serj Tankian.
Probably the only book of poetry you will ever get me to sit down and read, and I throughly enjoy it. The only problem with it is that it is relatively hard to find.
I'm currently working my way through the Wheel of Time series. I started now almost a year ago and find myself currently in book 10, Crossroads of Twilight, or Viersprong van de Schemer as the terribly translated Dutch title goes. I'm still undecided whether I even like Wheel of Time, though.
In the non-fiction department, I've been reading excerpts from various books on Social Philosophy (which I'm currently taking as a sidecourse), such as Politeia, The Prince, Leviathan, On Liberty, The Social Contract, and works (that I can't recall the name of) by Kant, Hegel, Marx, Rawls and Habermas.
For my major, I got involved in such things as Mathematical Analysis, Linear Algebra, Mathematical Modelling, Macro- and Micro-Economics, Accounting, Probability Theory and Statistics.
@KM: oooh, Philippos II. What about him?
The Leviathan is a great book, though you've got some other quality choices there too. Enjoy it!
My paper was an evaluation of the source material on his early campaigns against Thrace, Illyria, and so forth. He's great, isn't he?
Quote from: TúrinI'm currently working my way through the Wheel of Time series. I started now almost a year ago and find myself currently in book 10, Crossroads of Twilight, or Viersprong van de Schemer as the terribly translated Dutch title goes. I'm still undecided whether I even like Wheel of Time, though.
I think Jordan has done a great job with the series, but in all honesty, I'm glad he's almost done. I've read the series multiple times (ever since book 6, I've reread the series everytime a new book comes out, usually takes about 1 week per book), and still discover new things every time I read it. I would have recommended that you not start until they finally set a date on the last book, because now, you'll finish 11 soon and then have to wait probably 2 more years before 12 is out.
@KM: Yeah, he cool. I don't suppose you're getting into conspiracy theories about his death?
@Ishy: yeah well, I'll just read the final books when they appear. I did the same with King's The Dark Tower and it worked fine. I usually remember just enough of the previous books that I don't feel a reread is warranted. Either way, for me, rereading WoT would be undoable in a practical sense, as I just don't have/take the time to read those books in a week.
Reading a couple of books currently.
Because I want to:
- Old Icelandic: Egil's Saga, The Poetic Eddas, Friðþjófs Saga
- Svenska: A compilation of tales from Swedish folklore, primarily trolls.
- Norsk: The Ballad of Asmund Fraegdegjevar
- English: If Chins could Kill(Bruce Campbell's autobiography), Runelore(Edred Thorsson)
Because My Girlfriend told me to:
- English: The War of the Spider Queen(I've already read it once, but she hasn't and she doesn't yet understand D&D so I have to explain things to her as she comes across them)
I recently finished The Da Vinci Code. VERY good book.
QuoteRunelore(Edred Thorsson)
People still read that drek? :eew:
I needed a laugh
Quote from: ArnkelI needed a laugh
Definitely laugh-worthy. And puke-worthy.
On a better note,
1215: The Year of the Magna Carta, by Danny Danziger, is worth a read.
I am now reading
The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe by Roger Penrose. This book has been on my list for quite some time, and the Time is now. If math and physics are your thing, it is a must.
Quote from: WitchHuntI recently finished The Da Vinci Code. VERY good book.
I'm sorry, but... no. That book was truly TERRIBLE!
It is one of the few books I physically could not bear to finish reading. It was rubbish. I'm usually one for not minding rubbish as long as it's reasonably entertaining, but the Da Vinci Code was truly diabolical.
Not even the fact that my own father is extra in it could force me to watch the movie :P
Quote from: KindlingQuote from: WitchHuntI recently finished The Da Vinci Code. VERY good book.
I'm sorry, but... no. That book was truly TERRIBLE!
It is one of the few books I physically could not bear to finish reading. It was rubbish. I'm usually one for not minding rubbish as long as it's reasonably entertaining, but the Da Vinci Code was truly diabolical.
Not even the fact that my own father is extra in it could force me to watch the movie :P
I guess it depends on one's life viewpoint. While I have never read the book, I do feel compelled to see the movie because the Christian Conservatives and the Catholic Church are so enraged by it.
AS for the book, I find that my friends that are Recovering Catholics are the greatest proponents of this book.
Still the idea that Jesus was a married man is kind of silly. I thought everyone knew he was a mushroom.
:cow:
Don't get me wrong, the facts/theories about Christianity from the book are interesting, especially from an outsider's viewpoint, but they are available in other sources than poorly-written, trashy thrillers :)