Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[Scepticalscribe]

Apropos of today being Abraham Lincolns birthday (Feb 12, 1809), I just finished reading this book this morning. A most excellent read, highly motivational and very recommended to anyone in leadership or management positions.

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times
by Donald T. Phillips

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough T…

You think you have it rough? Only ten days before Abra…

www.goodreads.com

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After finishing the Lincoln book this morning, I began this one. Another one I picked up a the local library book sale a few months back, along with the Lincoln book.

Thomas Jefferson
(The American Presidents #3)
by Joyce Appleby, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (Editor)

Thomas Jefferson

An illuminating analysis of the man whose name is synonymous with American democracy Few presidents have embodied the American spirit as...

www.goodreads.com

View attachment 893754

One of the things that has struck me most about Lincoln (he was my childhood hero, and my poor father spent ages scouring book-shops on his travels, when I was a child, seeking out biographies of Lincoln - and histories of the American Civil War - a mutual interest of ours - for me) was how he matured and developed as a person and political leader, both, while serving as President.

He was a better - and finer - man, more thoughtful, insightful, philosophical, showing better judgement, political, social, human - by far, in 1864, than he had been in 1861, for example.

In my experience, most leaders - even the best - remain or stay at the same state of human development, sometimes arrested human development - that they were in when they first assumed office. They may show signs of aging while in office, - the burden and stress of the office all do that - they may show good political judgement, - but rarely do they show signs of developing further, or further maturing, as responsible and composed, and mature, human beings during their term of office.

Lincoln was extraordinary; over time, he transcended his circumstances, - and that while serving in the most challenging political environment a president probably ever had to face - a brewing, and then, actual, civil war, while despised not just by the Southern political leaders, but also - initially, by his Northern colleagues, and - again, initially, not at all au fait with military needs, especially military needs in the total war economy required to fight and win a civil war.

He was even able to articulate, think about, and offer, an impressive and worthwhile political and social and human vision, as he did so.

That he fought - and won - an election in the middle of all of this is impressive and an extraordinary achievement and a testament to his character.

 

[Huntn]

Apropos of today being Abraham Lincolns birthday (Feb 12, 1809), I just finished reading this book this morning. A most excellent read, highly motivational and very recommended to anyone in leadership or management positions.

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times
by Donald T. Phillips

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough T…

You think you have it rough? Only ten days before Abra…

www.goodreads.com

View attachment 893753

After finishing the Lincoln book this morning, I began this one. Another one I picked up a the local library book sale a few months back, along with the Lincoln book.

Thomas Jefferson
(The American Presidents #3)
by Joyce Appleby, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (Editor)

Thomas Jefferson

An illuminating analysis of the man whose name is synonymous with American democracy Few presidents have embodied the American spirit as...

www.goodreads.com

View attachment 893754

When I think of Lincoln, I think Civil War, and The Killer Angels, an outstanding Civil War book.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

When I think of Lincoln, I think Civil War, and The Killer Angels, an outstanding Civil War book.

Fact or fiction?

 

[Huntn]

Fact or fiction?

Fact, or I should say based on facts with no fictional characters inserted. Pulitzer Prize winner. Outstanding read, making history come alive.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Fact, or I should say based on facts with no fictional characters inserted. Pulitzer Prize winner. Outstanding read, making history come alive.

View attachment 893786​

Ah, okay; thanks for the clarification.

 

[Macky-Mac]

Yeah, I first read it over 40 years ago under its other title, "Starship". Amazingly enough, the book has held up well over the years.

yes, I also read it under the title "Starship". It's possible I still have a copy packed away in a box somewhere

 

[JamesMike]

Received In A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age, by historian William Manchester and will start it tomorrow.

 

[SnowWhiteLovesApple]

I loved the Eragon Series. I read it when it was still pretty popular. Now Im reading Red Seas Under Red Skies, a continuation from the Lies of Locke Lamora but Scott Lynch. Its about an orphan who was adopted into a specific "Church" because of his talents with petty thievery and he grows up to become a "gentlemen bastard". Basically playing games with wealthy people around his city and in the world to steal large sums of their money. The second book he gets found out and blackmailed into becoming a pirate so a wealthy nobleman can start a civil war to gain power. Its a fantasy novel but its really interesting.
Ive also read a ton of Vampire novels like Anne Rice, Cirque du Freak (if you could really call it a vampire series.)

 

[RootBeerMan]

Sounds interesting.
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I wonder why they changed the name (now or then)?

Different publishers and a different country. Used to happen all the time, back in the day.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I loved the Eragon Series. I read it when it was still pretty popular. Now Im reading Red Seas Under Red Skies, a continuation from the Lies of Locke Lamora but Scott Lynch. Its about an orphan who was adopted into a specific "Church" because of his talents with petty thievery and he grows up to become a "gentlemen bastard". Basically playing games with wealthy people around his city and in the world to steal large sums of their money. The second book he gets found out and blackmailed into becoming a pirate so a wealthy nobleman can start a civil war to gain power. Its a fantasy novel but its really interesting.
Ive also read a ton of Vampire novels like Anne Rice, Cirque du Freak (if you could really call it a vampire series.)

The Gentlemen Bastard series by Scott Lynch - of which The Lies of Locke Lamorra is the first volume - so far comprises three books (out of a planned total of seven).

While the first book is very good, personally, I think the maritime - or shipboard setting - of the second book (the second half of the second book) Red Seas Under Red Skies simply superb.

The Republic of Thieves (the third book in the series) was published seven years ago, while the fourth book - entitled The Thorn of Emberlain - is, after several delays, supposed to be published later this year.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I wonder why they changed the name (now or then)?

Not an uncommon thing. For instance, the first book of the Harry Potter series.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling.

The book was first published in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997 by Bloomsbury. It was published in the United States the following year by Scholastic Corporation under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Huntn]

Not an uncommon thing. For instance, the first book of the Harry Potter series.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Yes, that was for release in different markets where the title Philosopher’s Stone would not have the same impact as sorcerer. The original name Starship was something that would draw attention, so I was curious as to why it was replaced with a more abstract name.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Moby Dick (1851) by Herman Melville. I don't know why I waited this long to read this masterpiece. I guess I wasn't ready. What a voyage!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Moby Dick (1851) by Herman Melville. I don't know why I waited this long to read this masterpiece. I guess I wasn't ready. What a voyage!

In my experience, it is not just "not being ready" - though this may be a part of it - it is also the fear of finding out that this book, this work of fiction that is widely regarded as a masterpiece, may prove to be a disappointment when you finally come to read it, you fear that it may not fully live up to its reputation.

Sometimes, you meet a book too early (you don't fully understand it), or too late (the lessons it has to teach or story it has to tell mean little, or you can no longer relate to it), or not at the right time for that book to make sense.

And then, sometimes, - and this happened to me when I read Wuthering Heights - you meet a book freighted with the weight of such a reputation, and you worry until you start to read, and then you realise that this formidable reputation is more than fully justified.

 

[yaxomoxay]

In my experience, it is to just "not being ready" - though this may be a part of it - it is also the fear of finding out that this book, this work of fiction that is widely regarded as a masterpiece, may prove to be a disappointment when you finally come to read it, you fear that it may not fully live up to its reputation.

Sometimes, you meet a book too early (you don't fully understand it), or too late (the lessons t has to teach or story to has to tell mean little, or you can no longer relate to it), or not at the right time for that book to make sense.

And then, sometimes, - and this happened to me when I read Wuthering Heights - you meet a book freighted with the weight of such a reputation, and you worry until you start to read, and then you realise that this formidable reputation is more than fully justified.

Very true!
I don't think I would've fully grasped this masterpiece if I had read it years ago. While reading Moby Dick I realized how I noticed many elements just because I have worked on them for the past ten years of so. An example; the first chapter mentions Seneca and the Stoics. Check my current avatar. I have known about stoicism for ages (I mean, being born and raised in Italy I had to study them at least to a point), but I can appreciate the contextualization of them in this work only because a couple of years ago I started studying them in a more serious way, as I am studying Greek philosophy more than I previously did. All the passages on Christianity, and all the comments on Hinduism or Eastern Religion, or the passages that speak about meditative forms...ten years ago I would've not understood how sublime those mentions are.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Very true!
I don't think I would've fully grasped this masterpiece if I had read it years ago. While reading Moby Dick I realized how I noticed many elements just because I have worked on them for the past ten years of so. An example; the first chapter mentions Seneca and the Stoics. Check my current avatar. I have known about stoicism for ages (I mean, being born and raised in Italy I had to study them at least to a point), but I can appreciate the contextualization of them in this work only because a couple of years ago I started studying them in a more serious way, as I am studying Greek philosophy more than I previously did. All the passages on Christianity, and all the comments on Hinduism or Eastern Religion, or the passages that speak about meditative forms...ten years ago I would've not understood how sublime those mentions are.

Exactly.

And it is wonderful when you can spot - and recognise - and thrill to the pleasure of - those references or grace notes or asides, in a work of fiction.

 

[pachyderm]

In my experience, it is not just "not being ready" - though this may be a part of it - it is also the fear of finding out that this book, this work of fiction that is widely regarded as a masterpiece, may prove to be a disappointment when you finally come to read it, you fear that it may not fully live up to its reputation.

Sometimes, you meet a book too early (you don't fully understand it), or too late (the lessons it has to teach or story to has to tell mean little, or you can no longer relate to it), or not at the right time for that book to make sense.

And then, sometimes, - and this happened to me when I read Wuthering Heights - you meet a book freighted with the weight of such a reputation, and you worry until you start to read, and then you realise that this formidable reputation is more than fully justified.

That's happened to me more than once.

Well put by the way.

 

[Macky-Mac]

Moby Dick (1851) by Herman Melville. I don't know why I waited this long to read this masterpiece. I guess I wasn't ready. What a voyage!

In my experience, it is not just "not being ready" - though this may be a part of it - it is also the fear of finding out that this book, this work of fiction that is widely regarded as a masterpiece, may prove to be a disappointment when you finally come to read it, you fear that it may not fully live up to its reputation.
...

Sometimes the reason a book doesn't get read is a matter of simple chance. Moby Dick is (or was?) taught in many high school English classes but it wasn't a book that was read in any of my classes.....too many classics and not enough time for all of them I suppose.

I read it recently and while it had its interesting moments, generally I found it to be a disappointment for something with such a reputation.

 

[decafjava]

I think it’s time to re-read some Melville. Thanks @yaxomoxay

 

[Scepticalscribe]

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett.

 

[Huntn]

In my experience, it is not just "not being ready" - though this may be a part of it - it is also the fear of finding out that this book, this work of fiction that is widely regarded as a masterpiece, may prove to be a disappointment when you finally come to read it, you fear that it may not fully live up to its reputation.

Sometimes, you meet a book too early (you don't fully understand it), or too late (the lessons it has to teach or story it has to tell mean little, or you can no longer relate to it), or not at the right time for that book to make sense.

And then, sometimes, - and this happened to me when I read Wuthering Heights - you meet a book freighted with the weight of such a reputation, and you worry until you start to read, and then you realise that this formidable reputation is more than fully justified.

For Whom The Bell Tolls was a book like that for me, I hesitantly started reading it.
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Moby Dick (1851) by Herman Melville. I don't know why I waited this long to read this masterpiece. I guess I wasn't ready. What a voyage!

I think I read Moby Dick, it would have been a long time ago. I’ve had good luck lately on second reads.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

City of Blades - Robert Jackson Bennett.

 

[BornAgainMac]

Apache Tomcat 7 Essentials.

 

[LizKat]

Some of Natalia Ginzburg's essays, gathered into a book bearing the title of one of them, The Little Virtues... not after all the slight virtues, but some of the larger ones that we might consider passing on to our "little ones"... or indeed to their children.

That title essay (placed last) and others in the book are provocative, if perhaps not always in the way Ginzburg may have intended. Best way to read them is probably to suspend cynicism and criticism both and just get in her shoes with appreciation of the times in which she was writing.

Things change and keep changing, and Ginzburg created snapshots for herself of times as they were...and sometimes are no longer, even if the old saw is true that "history always repeats, just gets some details wrong."

Her accounts of place, people and culture of the England and Italy of her era may not be so much matters of fact now, even if her observations may strike an amused or annoyed feeling in those who can remember a time when their reflections via expatriate kin and community in our own countries might have seemed true enough.

But her writings of how life is in time of war, how life then remains evermore in some ways after surviving war: those are heartbreaking and echoed every day by people we all know (or refuse to know) in our own times.

I still remember my surprise hearing a colleague and friend describe how her parents fled two wars, first leaving China and then Cuba, and ever after sleeping with passports under their pillows, no matter if in a sleepy little community in upstate New York. She in turn was somewhat taken aback in noting my surprise, and then --knowing my politics and outspoken ways, and knowing also that I did not then have a passport-- advised "you should get papers while they still let people like you have them!"

We both laughed... and then I went to the post office to get a passport application. My deeper appreciations of Ginzburg's writing may be vicarious but are nonetheless grounded in realities closer to home than I might have imagined as a child in the USA to which my own ancestors had fled so long ago.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

City of Miracles - Robert Jackson Bennett.