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Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?
- Thread starter Huntn
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I would describe him as a militant atheist. I had to read that book for a class while I was in seminary and found it difficult to read, and not for the reasons you might think. His arrogance and condescending attitude towards people of faith made the book very difficult for me.
To those who view this book so favorably, I'd recommend How Christianity Changed the World.
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One can regard a book as one that must be read, - or ought to be read - without necessarily finding favour with all of its conclusions.
Richard Dawkins is a polemicist, and welcomes robust and sometimes antagonistic debate, as I suspect he is of the opinion that those who support organised religion have been allowed an intellectual pass for far too long, and not subjected to a sufficiently rigorous intellectual examination of their beliefs.
Personally, I find him worth reading, but the man himself is arrogant and deliberately courts controversy.
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Ah, Luchino Visconti made a powerful movie based on Thomas Mann's book Death in Venice which starred Dirk Bogarde.
The book itself is one of those books with a sort of elegiac 'mitteleuropa' flavours to it, and I seem to recall reading that von Aschenbach was loosely based on Gustav Mahler in terms of his physical appearance.
While I liked it a lot, of books written by Thomas Mann, I far preferred Buddenbrooks - which I thought brilliant - and the Magic Mountain - which - to my mind - is a very powerful and thought-provoking book.
And that is fine by me. However, there is no need to be such a ****** about though.
Well this is my first time reading Mann. I am looking forward to reading more; "The Magic Mountain" is next on my list
Well this is my first time reading Mann. I am looking forward to reading more; "The Magic Mountain" is next on my list
Take it slowly, as it really is an extremely interesting read, the sort of book you can lose yourself in.
And, I cannot recommend Buddenbrooks strongly enough. My German sister-in-law gave it to me as a present in the 1990s with a passionate recommendation that I read it, and I concur with her judgment.
Turning away from the overheated dystopia of a certain political convention to rummage through my unread books pile... stumbled onto Far North (Marcel Theroux), and figured well okay it's dystopian too, but at least it's set in an arctic clime, so sounds like a good summer break for me (not a fan of hot weather).
In light of recent events, I want to reread a novel I read 2-3 years ago but can't recall the name. It was literary fiction and it took place in a South American country on the eve of a coup.
[doublepost=1469269158][/doublepost]Zing! Bel Canto.
[doublepost=1469269158][/doublepost]Zing! Bel Canto.
As I recall, Bel Canto was a wonderfully charming and elegant book about a hostage and siege situation (and yes, politics) - would be revolutionaries - or terrorists - seized a house which was hosting a party for an eclectic groups of well heeled individuals (including members of the political elite).
Anyway, a lovely book.
I've rested the accounting books on the weekends now and I'm now reading 33 strategies of war.
Like the 48 laws of power, I don't buy into it but I like Robert Greene's writing style and how he presents some interesting historical tibits and bits from old books, I would not of come across otherwise.
If you read it as an adult/advance horrible history book it's enjoyable.
Like the 48 laws of power, I don't buy into it but I like Robert Greene's writing style and how he presents some interesting historical tibits and bits from old books, I would not of come across otherwise.
If you read it as an adult/advance horrible history book it's enjoyable.
I finished it a couple of days ago. I liked it, but I'm not sure if I'll read the rest. It wasn't as good as the Honor Harrington series.
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I just started In Enemy Hands the other day. I'm way behind in catching up to you in the series.
As the world seems to have gone completely mad recently I'm currently really enjoying:
Antifragile by Taleb. Black Swan made a real impression on me when I read it just before the full effects of the financial crisis, I guess, not far off ten years ago. I'm finding this book fascinating even if his character as an author is hard to like at times. I hope all those in charge at the moment have or are reading it!
Antifragile by Taleb. Black Swan made a real impression on me when I read it just before the full effects of the financial crisis, I guess, not far off ten years ago. I'm finding this book fascinating even if his character as an author is hard to like at times. I hope all those in charge at the moment have or are reading it!
I have finished the 13th book and am waiting on getting the 14th.
Strategic Management in Action by Coulter. I swear, her graphic description of implementing competitive strategy in the organization made me blush.
I just finished reading "A Concise History of Modern Painting" by Herbert Read after taking a break from it since I got busy. pretty awesome and this is coming from someone who didn't know anything/wasn't interested in art ~4 years ago.
Started "A History of Western Philosophy"by Bertrand Russell a few days ago. pretty epic too. his chapter on how Pythagoras influenced math and philosophy was pretty dope.
Started "A History of Western Philosophy"by Bertrand Russell a few days ago. pretty epic too. his chapter on how Pythagoras influenced math and philosophy was pretty dope.
Ah, excellent: You managed to lay hands on Bertrand Russell's 'A History of Western Philosophy'? Terrific - I've always thought it a very readable, engaging and enjoyable book.
Years later, (Russell wrote A History of Western Philosophy in the 1940s), in the 60s, he was arrested as part of an anti Vietnam war demonstration. At his court hearing, his lawyer pleaded advanced age (Russell was 88 at the time) and ill health.
Unspoken (but implied) was the matter of class and privilege - although his whole life had been spent as a (genuine) political radical, - during the First World War, along with his first wife, a Quaker, he had embraced feminism, socially & economically radical policies and pacifism - Bertrand Russell was a hereditary member of the House of Lords, and a grandson of the Liberal Prime Minister Lord John Russell.
Apparently, the judge flicked a glance up at him, and asked, mildly, "And what is your actual age, Lord Russell?" to which Bertrand Russell replied, politely, "88, my Lord," whereupon the judge observed, "If you are 88 years of age, my Lord, you are old enough to know better," and sentenced him to a week behind bars - which he served. (The story comes from Russell's autobiography).
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I never realized how much of a "radical" he was until i read a little about him. he seems like a chill dude. but yeah really enjoying the writing style/prose of this book so far
Check out the extraordinary story (and court case) about how he had been appointed as Professor of Philosophy - to the Chair of Philosophy - at the University of the City of New York in 1940 but was fired before he could even take up his position.
I avoided the initial reviews, so I could go in an appreciate this for what it is. Extremely short by comparison to the later books, with perhaps less character development than I would have liked, still a fun return to a beloved series.
I avoided the initial reviews, so I could go in an appreciate this for what it is. Extremely short by comparison to the later books, with perhaps less character development than I would have liked, still a fun return to a beloved series.
Hm, yes.
I have held off buying this, but will admit that I am sorely tempted to do so.