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Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?
- Thread starter Huntn
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An anthology of fantasy writing: Swords & Dark Magic - edited by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders.
Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency (Barton Gellman, 2008).
Already had this book in audio format, but my use of audiobooks is generally upstairs on a timer, and one that's always set too optimistically for how much attention I'll be paying before I fall asleep
I had been enjoying what I remembered of this particular book (and ruefully rewinding each morning to roughly where I figured I nodded off). Finally sprang for the ebook so I can have a little more continuity in reading Mr. Gellman's take on an interesting and controversial character.
Already had this book in audio format, but my use of audiobooks is generally upstairs on a timer, and one that's always set too optimistically for how much attention I'll be paying before I fall asleep
I had been enjoying what I remembered of this particular book (and ruefully rewinding each morning to roughly where I figured I nodded off). Finally sprang for the ebook so I can have a little more continuity in reading Mr. Gellman's take on an interesting and controversial character.
I will be interested to know what you think of it. I have Tom Holland's well reviewed translation (2013) of Herodotus on a wait list from the library but that list is apparently quite long so who knows, I might have time for an excursion through Holland's view of the rise and fall of the Roman empire in the meanwhile.
I will be interested to know what you think of it. I have Tom Holland's well reviewed translation (2013) of Herodotus on a wait list from the library but that list is apparently quite long so who knows, I might have time for an excursion through Holland's view of the rise and fall of the Roman empire in the meanwhile.
This is a re-read; I first read the book around 15 years ago, and thought it excellent, and now think it is due a re-read or a fresh visit.
In essence, it is about the Roman Republic, what it was, what it achieved, and why its internal (philosophical) contradictions - among other things - led to its downfall.
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I am currently reading Containment (Children of Occam Book 1) on my Kindle.
https://www.amazon.com/Containment-...F8&qid=1551112089&sr=1-3&keywords=containment
https://www.amazon.com/Containment-...F8&qid=1551112089&sr=1-3&keywords=containment
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974) by Robert Pirsig.
Third time I read this book.
First time I was a teen, and I can't say that I understood why Pirsig was so obsessed with Quality.
Second time, I was a young father, and I had other stuff in life. I was also very young for the workplace and to see the direction in front of me.
Third Time, is now. Many years have passed, two teenagers boys lives in my household, I am very happily married, and I am in a completely different career than what I would've imagined just 10 years ago. I am also more consistent at work and in what I do, and now I am myself somewhat obsessed with Quality. Quality of time, of discussion, of my work, of my health, of mind, and - at times - of my food. Now, I look for Quality; it's just not a passive element in this distraction prone era but a treasure that keeps speaking to us and yet is often not listened at.
Is this a great book? You decide.
Is this a book that should be read in order to think about its concepts? Absolutely Yes.
Is this a book that one should accept in its entirety? Absolutely Not.
Third time I read this book.
First time I was a teen, and I can't say that I understood why Pirsig was so obsessed with Quality.
Second time, I was a young father, and I had other stuff in life. I was also very young for the workplace and to see the direction in front of me.
Third Time, is now. Many years have passed, two teenagers boys lives in my household, I am very happily married, and I am in a completely different career than what I would've imagined just 10 years ago. I am also more consistent at work and in what I do, and now I am myself somewhat obsessed with Quality. Quality of time, of discussion, of my work, of my health, of mind, and - at times - of my food. Now, I look for Quality; it's just not a passive element in this distraction prone era but a treasure that keeps speaking to us and yet is often not listened at.
Is this a great book? You decide.
Is this a book that should be read in order to think about its concepts? Absolutely Yes.
Is this a book that one should accept in its entirety? Absolutely Not.
Finally finished this. Very impressive work of scholarship. It's more concerned with his theological views than a blow by blow account of the politics but I guess thats the underpinning of everything. To be honest at times I found it hard work as you're constantly swamped with detail but it's well worth reading if you even have a passing interest in English history. It shouldn't be your first book about him though, I would read something else first - either Mantel or Borman's (sp?) biography of Cromwell.
Currently reading:
Very good. Almost an autobiography at times for the author but if you have any kind of interest in big 'proper' dinosaurs then there's a lot of fascinating and bang up to date insights from recent finds.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974) by Robert Pirsig.
Third time I read this book.
First time I was a teen, and I can't say that I understood why Pirsig was so obsessed with Quality.
Second time, I was a young father, and I had other stuff in life. I was also very young for the workplace and to see the direction in front of me.
Third Time, is now. Many years have passed, two teenagers boys lives in my household, I am very happily married, and I am in a completely different career than what I would've imagined just 10 years ago. I am also more consistent at work and in what I do, and now I am myself somewhat obsessed with Quality. Quality of time, of discussion, of my work, of my health, of mind, and - at times - of my food. Now, I look for Quality; it's just not a passive element in this distraction prone era but a treasure that keeps speaking to us and yet is often not listened at.
Is this a great book? You decide.
Is this a book that should be read in order to think about its concepts? Absolutely Yes.
Is this a book that one should accept in its entirety? Absolutely Not.
This is one of those "classics" that I have never read, though, naturally enough, I have heard of it. Is it worth reading?
Finally finished this. Very impressive work of scholarship. It's more concerned with his theological views than a blow by blow account of the politics but I guess thats the underpinning of everything. To be honest at times I found it hard work as you're constantly swamped with detail but it's well worth reading if you even have a passing interest in English history. It shouldn't be your first book about him though, I would read something else first - either Mantel or Borman's (sp?) biography of Cromwell.
Currently reading:
Very good. Almost an autobiography at times for the author but if you have any kind of interest in big 'proper' dinosaurs then there's a lot of fascinating and bang up to date insights from recent finds.
Two fascinating books.
I have read quite a bit about Cromwell, and this does look interesting.
And who can resist dinosaurs?
Ah, interesting question. Is it worth reading? I'd say yes, but it's not a one-size-fits-all book. I bet that many people despise it.
Honestly, I think that living in Texas and doing many road trips in the desolated areas that the author describes really helps to bring out the visualizations that he tries to write about it. I also had the opportunity to "meditate" behind the wheels for hours (even 10/12 hours at a time) while driving in the middle of nowhere. As for the philosophical parts of the book, I find the question(s) intriguing, and very appropriate for the times we live in where no one can focus for more than two minutes on a single task. The fact that it's a 1970's book makes it more interesting in my opinion as the author discusses technology and computers.
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Very good. Almost an autobiography at times for the author but if you have any kind of interest in big 'proper' dinosaurs then there's a lot of fascinating and bang up to date insights from recent finds.
Mandatory pic.
I think he's actually more of a theological historian and that comes through strongly. There are history books where you think, you know what, I've read these bits in other books previously - a sort of a book version of one of those TV best bits programs.
Well, this one certainly isn't one of those... The research that must have gone into it must have been utterly colossal. If there's a criticism it's that its all rather overwhelming really.
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Ah... There's some great stuff about T Rex's senses (sight, ability to detect movement etc) that they've extrapolated from brain case casts recently. I really wouldn't take Dr Malcolm's advice on how to survive an encounter...
Sounds interesting.
Well, I've read G R Elton, Borman, Mantel, among others, so I have some knowledge of the subject matter, and, in an earlier life, I used to teach Renaissance and Reformation history.
Well, in that case I think you need to trot down to a bookshop
And those tiny arms & hands.
An article I read a few years ago attempted to argue that Tyrannosaurus Rex was a high order scavenger, rather than a classic predator and killer.
I am not so sure, but would certainly love to read more about this.
When I was around five or six, my mother gave me books on dinosaurs; I've been fascinated by them ever since.
I never bought the whole scavenger stuff - and the surely arms must have had a use...
Well, in this book.... ooooh ... better not ... no-one likes a plot spoiler!
Got a museum nearby that denies their existence with irrefutable (self-made) evidence
Excellent. I reread it over Christmas this last year and it still entertains me.I will be interested to know what you think of it. I have Tom Holland's well reviewed translation (2013) of Herodotus on a wait list from the library but that list is apparently quite long so who knows, I might have time for an excursion through Holland's view of the rise and fall of the Roman empire in the meanwhile.
If you read Rubicon (I think Tom Holland's best book) or Persian Fire etc you'll enjoy his translation.
Now, what I want to get my hands on is the The Landmark Herodotus: The Histories. More because I love footnotes and this edition promises lots of those.
Edit: I see Tom Holland's latest book is on pre-order at Amazon… Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind
Edit 2:
Just finished Margaret Atwood's Penelopiad again.
Started Der nasse Fisch together with its English translation Babylon Berlin. Brushing up on my very rusty German. Having a German husband only goes so far in acquiring a passable German knowledge. And with Brexit going disastrously wrong, it might come in handy.
Spoilers won't bother me.
I do recall seeing the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex when I was an undergrad visiting the Natural History Museum in London, and having been utterly awestruck.
Teeth like large steak knives or chef's knives.
Got a museum nearby that denies their existence with irrefutable (self-made) evidence
Perhaps I'll give it a miss, in that case.
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Agree completely re Rubicon (I think it Tom Holland's best book by far, as well), followed by Persian Fire. Nothing he has written since approached that pair of books for scholarship, insight, accessibility, and readability.
I didn't much care for his book on the House of Caesar; as an historian, there is the issue of accessibility and writing comprehensible and readable English, and there is a laddish overuse of crude Anglo-Saxon while trying to appear 'cool'.
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You described exactly why I didn't finish it.
An over sensationalized account, IMHO.
I'd like to be all smug and British about this but on a relatively recent trip to Portsmouth I came across a dinosaur / fossil museum. Wow, I'm going in there I think... Once inside, the displays (which all look like they were done in the 70s by artists with more enthusiasm than talent) are something of a surprise as they seem to comprehensively prove that the earth is no more than about 4,000 years old...Got a museum nearby that denies their existence with irrefutable (self-made) evidence
Made the trip actually, and far, far more amusing than traipsing round the nearby shopping centre! I even found they have a real website - https://www.genesisexpo.org.uk
Some years ago, when the book was first published, and I had read it, I tackled him on Twitter about this, - the excessive use of crude and loutish vulgar language - the English language is rich, exceptionally nuanced, and very flexible, which means that you can readily make your point without recourse to crude sensationalist vulgarity, or, if you must use it, use it sparingly, which renders its use far more effective - and he became somewhat defensive, blaming his editors.
That is a nonsense, and pure rubbish, and - worse - is a clear case of not owning what you write and what appears under your name.
For what it is worth, I'm a published author (of history), and I recall very few instances where my publisher (a respected university press) made suggestions re possible amendments, and moreover, I will reluctantly concede that the few suggestions that were proffered were well worth heeding.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974) by Robert Pirsig.
Third time I read this book.
First time I was a teen, and I can't say that I understood why Pirsig was so obsessed with Quality.
Second time, I was a young father, and I had other stuff in life. I was also very young for the workplace and to see the direction in front of me.
Third Time, is now. Many years have passed, two teenagers boys lives in my household, I am very happily married, and I am in a completely different career than what I would've imagined just 10 years ago. I am also more consistent at work and in what I do, and now I am myself somewhat obsessed with Quality. Quality of time, of discussion, of my work, of my health, of mind, and - at times - of my food. Now, I look for Quality; it's just not a passive element in this distraction prone era but a treasure that keeps speaking to us and yet is often not listened at.
Is this a great book? You decide.
Is this a book that should be read in order to think about its concepts? Absolutely Yes.
Is this a book that one should accept in its entirety? Absolutely Not.
I have about half a dozen copies of this book, all gifted, and I haven't gotten through it. Why half a dozen copies, because I don't believe those who gift it to me really have any idea what it is about. I truly believe they gift it because they know I ride motorcycles and when looking for motorcycle/motorcyclist related gifts, this one pops up.
Racing in the Rain seems to be another confusing gift for some people.I have about half a dozen copies of this book, all gifted, and I haven't gotten through it. Why half a dozen copies, because I don't believe those who gift it to me really have any idea what it is about. I truly believe they gift it because they know I ride motorcycles and when looking for motorcycle/motorcyclist related gifts, this one pops up.