Books you're currently reading??? - Page 23

Torrere · 12-27-2005, 02:46 AM

I've been reading the letters of Richard Feynman (Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track). Some of them are funny, others are powerful, and I think they give a good picture of him. I wish that they included more early, early letters from when he was my age. I'm tempted to find and read compilations of letters by other people.

wolf · 12-27-2005, 08:28 AM

Oh, man. I didn't need to see that either. I've read several of Feynman's books as well as several books about Feynman, including the one that was a part of the Cellar Book Club. (If anyone with more initiative than I have wants to get that started again, that would be really cool *hint* *hint*)

Crimson Ghost · 12-29-2005, 02:25 AM

I'm just finishing "Angels & Demons" from Dan Brown.

Also just finished "American Hardcore" from Simon Blush.

Maui Nick · 01-26-2006, 09:38 AM

About 2 months ago, I picked David Weber's On Basilisk Station (the first Honor Harrington novel) off my bookshelf and reread it -- I owned the first two books in the series and had for many years but life had gotten in the way after that.

Now I own all the books in the series and have been reading them in order. I'm a third of the way through War of Honor and have Shadow of Saganami (the next-to-last book released) and the new hardcover of At All Costs (1) waiting behind it; once I get through the latter I'll be up-to-date.

(1) Which comes with a CD-ROM containing just about everything David Weber has ever written. Sweet.

Troubleshooter · 01-26-2006, 10:30 AM

Games People Play

maffick · 01-26-2006, 10:48 AM

I just finished "Freakonomics" liked it. I also just finished "Amazing Maurice and his educated rodents" by Pratchett, loved it... I am currently reading "The life of John Muir" - very intereting (not right this minute of course!) I am also reading http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037...lance&n=283155 "First Great Triumph: How Five Americans Made Their Country a World Power" which is sortof good, but looooong.... It is bascially a history of our imperialism....

wolf · 01-26-2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

Games People Play

Wow. I had no idea that still existed. I thought TA went the way of Primal Scream therapy. (although one of my schizophrenic gaming friends did go to The Primal Institute in California where they gave him a radical cashectomy and in return added some interesting flavoring to his pre-existing delusional systems. Last I heard, by the way, he was working for the IRS.)

Troubleshooter · 01-26-2006, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Wow. I had no idea that still existed. I thought TA went the way of Primal Scream therapy. (although one of my schizophrenic gaming friends did go to The Primal Institute in California where they gave him a radical cashectomy and in return added some interesting flavoring to his pre-existing delusional systems. Last I heard, by the way, he was working for the IRS.)

I'm only just starting it. The surface premise is reasonable. I'll know more in a few weeks. I'm reading seven texts this semester in school.

Griff · 01-26-2006, 08:11 PM

The Invasion by Gerald Griffin. Vikings are invading Old Ireland. It is really interesting to read something written by a relative quite removed in time and space. I really understand the conflicted feelings he carried about his people [Irish], religion [Pagans/ Catholics], and government [how to throw out the Brits is the real question]. He's not a bad fantasy/ faux history writer but for me the cool part is to read someone whose thoughts were in part formed by my ancesters thoughts. Bottom line there is some damn good libertarian soliloquy buried in there. There is a difference in hero building compared to modern writers. In modern books heros arise when circumstances demand one. In this one, Elim (our hero) develops himself over time knowing that he's called to greatness. Interesting.

wolf · 01-26-2006, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maui Nick

About 2 months ago, I picked David Weber's On Basilisk Station (the first Honor Harrington novel) off my bookshelf and reread it -- I owned the first two books in the series and had for many years but life had gotten in the way after that.

Welcome to The Cellar, Maui Nick!!

Maui Nick · 01-26-2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Welcome to The Cellar, Maui Nick!!

Thanks.

Wasn't sure where to put my first post and this thread seemed as good as any.

Happy Monkey · 01-26-2006, 12:18 PM

Jorge Luis Borges: Collected Fictions, translated by Andrew Hurley. Very strange and interesting short stories.

wolf · 01-26-2006, 02:09 PM

Just finished: The Truth About Chernobyl - Grigori Medveyev

(minute by minute account of the disaster, and the several days following, including details of some amazing clusterfucks along the way)

Mildly hard to grasp ... this year marks the 20th anniversary.

Trilby · 01-26-2006, 03:23 PM

GUNS, GERMS AND STEEL: The Fate of Human Societies
Jarod Diamond.

YIKES.

BigV · 01-26-2006, 04:55 PM

What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles.

Recommended to me by footfootfoot, for which I am indebted. This is not my first time through this collected wisdom. Many years ago I read it like a kid takes medicine, and when the job happened, I forgot the unpleasantness of the bulk of the work of the book. I am now catching up on a considerable backlog of deferred maintenance on my career.

Thank you, footfootfoot. Nine chapters down on my first lap. Keep you all posted.

12-27-2005, 08:28 AM	#2
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Oh, man. I didn't need to see that either. I've read several of Feynman's books as well as several books about Feynman, including the one that was a part of the Cellar Book Club. (If anyone with more initiative than I have wants to get that started again, that would be really cool hint hint) __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

12-29-2005, 02:25 AM	#3
Crimson Ghost Larger than life and twice as ugly. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,264	I'm just finishing "Angels & Demons" from Dan Brown. Also just finished "American Hardcore" from Simon Blush. __________________ We must all go through a rite of passage. It must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark. I have no knowledge of the events which you are describing, and if I did have knowledge of them, I would be unable to discuss them with you now or at any future period. Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years

01-26-2006, 10:30 AM	#5
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Games People Play __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

01-26-2006, 10:48 AM	#6
maffick Maffick Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 26	What I am reading / read I just finished "Freakonomics" liked it. I also just finished "Amazing Maurice and his educated rodents" by Pratchett, loved it... I am currently reading "The life of John Muir" - very intereting (not right this minute of course!) I am also reading http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037...lance&n=283155 "First Great Triumph: How Five Americans Made Their Country a World Power" which is sortof good, but looooong.... It is bascially a history of our imperialism....

01-26-2006, 08:11 PM	#9
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	The Invasion by Gerald Griffin. Vikings are invading Old Ireland. It is really interesting to read something written by a relative quite removed in time and space. I really understand the conflicted feelings he carried about his people [Irish], religion [Pagans/ Catholics], and government [how to throw out the Brits is the real question]. He's not a bad fantasy/ faux history writer but for me the cool part is to read someone whose thoughts were in part formed by my ancesters thoughts. Bottom line there is some damn good libertarian soliloquy buried in there. There is a difference in hero building compared to modern writers. In modern books heros arise when circumstances demand one. In this one, Elim (our hero) develops himself over time knowing that he's called to greatness. Interesting. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-27-2005, 02:46 AM	#1
Torrere a real smartass Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 1,121	I've been reading the letters of Richard Feynman (Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track). Some of them are funny, others are powerful, and I think they give a good picture of him. I wish that they included more early, early letters from when he was my age. I'm tempted to find and read compilations of letters by other people.

01-26-2006, 09:38 AM	#4
Maui Nick ... is not really in Maui. Weird, huh? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Near the beach Posts: 153	About 2 months ago, I picked David Weber's On Basilisk Station (the first Honor Harrington novel) off my bookshelf and reread it -- I owned the first two books in the series and had for many years but life had gotten in the way after that. Now I own all the books in the series and have been reading them in order. I'm a third of the way through War of Honor and have Shadow of Saganami (the next-to-last book released) and the new hardcover of At All Costs (1) waiting behind it; once I get through the latter I'll be up-to-date. (1) Which comes with a CD-ROM containing just about everything David Weber has ever written. Sweet.

01-26-2006, 12:18 PM	#12
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Jorge Luis Borges: Collected Fictions, translated by Andrew Hurley. Very strange and interesting short stories. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

01-26-2006, 02:09 PM	#13
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Just finished: The Truth About Chernobyl - Grigori Medveyev (minute by minute account of the disaster, and the several days following, including details of some amazing clusterfucks along the way) Mildly hard to grasp ... this year marks the 20th anniversary. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

01-26-2006, 03:23 PM	#14
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	GUNS, GERMS AND STEEL: The Fate of Human Societies Jarod Diamond. YIKES.

01-26-2006, 04:55 PM	#15
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles. Recommended to me by footfootfoot, for which I am indebted. This is not my first time through this collected wisdom. Many years ago I read it like a kid takes medicine, and when the job happened, I forgot the unpleasantness of the bulk of the work of the book. I am now catching up on a considerable backlog of deferred maintenance on my career. Thank you, footfootfoot. Nine chapters down on my first lap. Keep you all posted. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

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