Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[JagdTiger]

Two books at once, one on the women's suffrage movement in New York State and the other on a likely lesser known but vigorous anti-suffrage movement that paralleled it. There are indeed a number of books on the USA anti-suffrage effort, which ran strongest from about 1895 to about 1930, a full ten years after women received the right to vote nationally via Tennessee's ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

No Votes for Women: The New York State Anti-Suffrage Movement (Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History) -- Susan Goodier, 2013

Women Will Vote: Winning Suffrage in New York State - Goodier and Karen Pastorello, 2017

Together, these are a fascinating history of some of the struggle over women's rights in New York State, with ramifications on the national debate and subsequent related legislation. Many of us --men and women-- do today take most women's rights for granted, but some still believe respect for those rights has infringed upon a perceived and prior "separate but equal" right of control over a once rather generously defined domain of American household management that was not just "left to" women but came with expectations they would excel at the job. The table there certainly wasn't cleared just because "the ladies" finally got the vote, either!

'Nuf said I guess, since I don't mean to politicize the books thread, except with that with members' gracious forbearance I'll just say this: I was surprised at first to find the 2013 Goodier book in the e-books library locally, considering how many political and other nonfiction e-books I seek there and get a no-hit on. Then I remembered I live in a red going purple electoral district. Vive la différence. At least they did have both books, so "to be fair" lol I checked them both out. 21 days will practically evaporate divvied up between them.

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When woman got the right to vote it may have just been the start of the downfall of society.
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I am reading the book called "lying wonders of the red planet" exposing the lie of ancient aliens by S.DUOGLAS WOODWARD.

 

[LizKat]

When woman got the right to vote it may have just been the start of the downfall of society.

You need to take that to the PRSI thread, where it would be a fine thing to discuss...

 

[JagdTiger]

You need to take that to the PRSI thread, where it would be a fine thing to discuss...

It was kinda humour.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Spartan Up! (2013) by Jon De Sena. Mr. De Sena is the crazy guy behind the Spartan race and the Death race. I liked this book. Lots of encouraging, but practical content. There's the obvious "sales pitch" of his products (Spartan race as the best thing ever above all), but I don't think that it affects the content. Only criticism I have is that he talks s==t about marathons, bodybuilding, etc. as if those were not good accomplishments. While I do understand and agree that a Spartan race is on a next level, this doesn't mean that other accomplishments aren't great either.

 

[yaxomoxay]

The 48 Laws of Power- Robert Greene

Great book.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Ok I must ask. What's a good book that explains viruses, pandemics, etc. in layman (=someone totally ignorant about biology; I hereby deny I am NOT referring to myself...….) terms?

 

[RootBeerMan]

Ok I must ask. What's a good book that explains viruses, pandemics, etc. in layman (=someone totally ignorant about biology; I hereby deny I am NOT referring to myself...….) terms?

Depends. There are a huge number of scholarly works out there on the subject. Most of them very heavy reads. You'd probably be better off looking up layman's articles online for a decent overview of the subject. Google will be your friend (or enemy, since it also features lots of BS articles, as well). If you want a book about how an epidemic unfolds and gets responded to I cannot but recommend, highly, "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston (this is book 1 in a series. "The Dark Biology" series). It's an awesome book and good look at disease outbreaks.

 

[Strider64]

I know it's weird, but I'm re-reading "The Stand" for the third time.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Still immersed in the brilliant The Mirror and the Light (by Hilary Mantel).

However, the next book I plan to read is "A Journal of the Plague Year" by Daniel Defoe (which I recall reading as an undergrad, and thinking that it was superb).

 

[LizKat]

Well I've elected for some escapist virtual travel during the coronavirus constraints on personal adventure... so at the moment I'm on the Orient Express with Paul Theroux in The Great Railway Bazaar.

From the blurb:

"First published more than thirty years ago, Paul Theroux's strange, unique, and hugely entertaining railway odyssey has become a modern classic of travel literature. Here Theroux recounts his early adventures on an unusual grand continental tour. Asia's fabled trains -- the Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Frontier Mail, the Golden Arrow to Kuala Lumpur, the Mandalay Express, the Trans-Siberian Express -- are the stars of a journey that takes him on a loop eastbound from London's Victoria Station to Tokyo Central, then back from Japan on the Trans-Siberian. Brimming with Theroux's signature humor and wry observations, this engrossing chronicle is essential reading for both the ardent adventurer and the armchair traveler."​

​

 

[S.B.G]

I started this the other day. The owner of my favorite local diner brought it for me to read. He's a pretty good guy who immigrated from Albania a number of years ago. He sees me come in most days with a book in hand and we've sat down to chat about books, politics (mostly Albanian politics) and other stuff too.

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos
by Jordan B. Peterson

"What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.

Humorous, surprising, and informative, Dr. Peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.

What does the nervous system of the lowly lobster have to tell us about standing up straight (with our shoulders back) and about success in life? Why did ancient Egyptians worship the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods? What dreadful paths do people tread when they become resentful, arrogant, and vengeful? Dr. Peterson journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure, and responsibility, distilling the world's wisdom into 12 practical and profound rules for life. 12 Rules for Life shatters the modern commonplaces of science, faith, and human nature while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its listeners."

 

[Sword86]

Almost halfway through a month in Mexico and all I’m doing is reading.
Just finished Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight....highly recommended.
Down goes Brown....McIndoe. (100 year history of the NHL) So so
Born a Crime....Trevor Noah. Highly recommended.
Sniper on the Eastern Front...Wacker. Highly recommended.
Sharkbait...Guy Clark. A Vietnam memoir...Junk, stopped after about 1/4 way through. Pilot and Doctor = Massive ego.
Currently reading Operation Whisper....Carr...Looks like a keeper.

S

 

[RootBeerMan]

Just started "All These Worlds" by Dennis E. Taylor. This is book 3 of the Bobiverse series. If you like good Science Fiction, this series is a must read!

 

[AVBeatMan]

Almost halfway through a month in Mexico and all I’m doing is reading.
Just finished Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight....highly recommended.
Down goes Brown....McIndoe. (100 year history of the NHL) So so
Born a Crime....Trevor Noah. Highly recommended.
Sniper on the Eastern Front...Wacker. Highly recommended.
Sharkbait...Guy Clark. A Vietnam memoir...Junk, stopped after about 1/4 way through. Pilot and Doctor = Massive ego.
Currently reading Operation Whisper....Carr...Looks like a keeper.

S

Loved “Shoe Dog”. Very enjoyable.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just started "All These Worlds" by Dennis E. Taylor. This is book 3 of the Bobiverse series. If you like good Science Fiction, this series is a must read!

Are the female characters good?

I ask because I do like good science fiction (and fantasy); however, these days, for me, such works must also contain strong and well written female characters.

 

[S.B.G]

Just started "All These Worlds" by Dennis E. Taylor. This is book 3 of the Bobiverse series. If you like good Science Fiction, this series is a must read!

Sounds interesting. I'll add the series to my 'to-read list'.

 

[JBGoode]

I know it's weird, but I'm re-reading "The Stand" for the third time.

Not weird at all, I've read it three times as well! It's one of my top reads of all time. I read the original publication twice and the uncut version once. It's been a long time (decades)since my last read though but I'm sure I will read again in my lifetime. I'm looking forward to the new TV series.

 

[RootBeerMan]

Are the female characters good?

I ask because I do like good science fiction (and fantasy); however, these days, for me, such works must also contain strong and well written female characters.

The few that are in it are done OK. It's not a female-centric novel, as the main characters are AI's based off a man who died and was "resurrected" as an AI. So, it's primarily about him, and the subsequent "clones" he creates and saving humanity.
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Sounds interesting. I'll add the series to my 'to-read list'.

You will not regret it! I have yet to meet anyone who has read the trilogy that has anything bad to say about it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The few that are in it are done OK. It's not a female-centric novel, as the main characters are AI's based off a man who died and was "resurrected" as an AI. So, it's primarily about him, and the subsequent "clones" he creates and saving humanity.
.....

Thanks.

A novel (even sic/fi or fantasy) doesn't have to be female-centric for me to like it, but the female characters must be rendered as though they are competent, autonomous, credible human beings, (and not just a romantic interest - or revenge motivation - for the protagonist, or hero).

In other words, it must pass the novel equivalent of the Bechdel Test.

 

[mikzn]

Just started "All These Worlds" by Dennis E. Taylor. This is book 3 of the Bobiverse series. If you like good Science Fiction, this series is a must read!

Sounds interesting. I'll add the series to my 'to-read list'.

Thanks RootBeerMan - Looks very interesting - great reviews on amazon too 👍 - got it on my list too - have to finish a few others first

 

[RootBeerMan]

Thanks.

A novel (even sic/fi or fantasy) doesn't have to be female-centric for me to like it, but the female characters must be rendered as though they are competent, autonomous, credible human beings, (and not just a romantic interest - or revenge motivation - for the protagonist, or hero).

In other words, it must pass the novel equivalent of the Bechdel Test.

So, far I have run across no bad female characters in the series. They are secondary characters, (as are the majority of male human characters), but they are well written, (and I like the primary one in the 3rd book).

 

[S.B.G]

For a strong female lead character, look to the Honor Harrington series. Excellent writing and sci-fi reading.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

So, far I have run across no bad female characters in the series. They are secondary characters, (as are the majority of male human characters), but they are well written, (and I like the primary one in the 3rd book).

Fair enough.

For a strong female lead character, look to the Honor Harrington series. Excellent writing and sci-fi reading.

Others on this forum (@Don't panic, I seem to recall) have also strongly recommended the Honor Harrington series to me.

Personally, I am very partial to the Heris Serrano (The Serrano Legacy) series by Elizabeth Moon (who herself had served as a USMC lieutenant among many other things); excellent story, strong and credible (but not necessarily always nice) female characters, terrific world building and a real feel for a military setting in the context of space.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Siddhartha (1922) by Herman Hesse. This is another book that I kept on my to-read list for decades. Now, I've read it. This is by far one of the best, most touching, deepest books I've ever read. I am already re-reading it, highlighting passages, meditating on their meaning (if there is one...). In other words, I just loved it.

I think that some credit is due to cheap publishers, like Dover. While the magic of a nice, hardcover, leather bound book is unmatched, there is something to be said about the idea that I am obtaining the deepest knowledge and wisdom by paying only a couple of bucks. I think I paid a total of $5 for Moby Dick and Siddhartha, for example. Marcus Aurelius' Meditations and Epictetus' Enchiridion go for another $2 or $3 a piece . If you think about it, it's amazing, if not truly liberating.

 

[Huntn]

Almost halfway through a month in Mexico and all I’m doing is reading.
Just finished Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight....highly recommended.
Down goes Brown....McIndoe. (100 year history of the NHL) So so
Born a Crime....Trevor Noah. Highly recommended.
Sniper on the Eastern Front...Wacker. Highly recommended.
Sharkbait...Guy Clark. A Vietnam memoir...Junk, stopped after about 1/4 way through. Pilot and Doctor = Massive ego.
Currently reading Operation Whisper....Carr...Looks like a keeper.

S

I had a friend from Minnesota who used to spend every Winter just South of Cancun. Is this something for work or pleasure?