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Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?
- Thread starter Huntn
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A further search - I had mispelt the author's name last night - yielded a better result.The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265BC-146BC (2012) by Adrian Goldsworthy.
The book explores the three Punic Wars in great detail, from the first skirmish in Sicily, to Hannibal's almost complete conquest of Rome (I never realized it was such a pricey endeavor in terms of lives and resources), to the complete destruction of the Carthaginian civilization by the hands of the Romans. Goldsworthy explores the causes of the wars, the individuals involved, and the consequences of the events. It is no secret that the Punic Wars are what made the Roman Republic mutate from a regional force to a dominating powerhouse. The book is a bit heavier on military technology than what I'd like, but it's not the author's fault. He explains very well why technology was a game changer and why it must be scrutinized by any serious reader of the age of the Romans. After reading this book, I am very impressed by the logistics that both the Romans and the Carthaginians had to put in place to maintain their impressive military operations.
Highly recommended, no fan of history will regret this purchase.
Anyway, I have now placed a hold on the book, and thank you for your recommendation.
Looks like I misspelled it 😂glad you found it.
"Scoff - A History of Food and Class in Britain" - by Pen Vogler.
Interesting, informative, witty, and full of fascinating, intriguing, and sometimes and unexpected insights.
Interesting, informative, witty, and full of fascinating, intriguing, and sometimes and unexpected insights.
The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265BC-146BC (2012) by Adrian Goldsworthy.
The book explores the three Punic Wars in great detail, from the first skirmish in Sicily, to Hannibal's almost complete conquest of Rome (I never realized it was such a pricey endeavor in terms of lives and resources), to the complete destruction of the Carthaginian civilization by the hands of the Romans. Goldsworthy explores the causes of the wars, the individuals involved, and the consequences of the events. It is no secret that the Punic Wars are what made the Roman Republic mutate from a regional force to a dominating powerhouse. The book is a bit heavier on military technology than what I'd like, but it's not the author's fault. He explains very well why technology was a game changer and why it must be scrutinized by any serious reader of the age of the Romans. After reading this book, I am very impressed by the logistics that both the Romans and the Carthaginians had to put in place to maintain their impressive military operations.
Highly recommended, no fan of history will regret this purchase.
Just downloaded a sample to my Kindle. Thanks for sharing this, @yaxomoxay
Visited the library today, returned some books, and collected a few that had been held for me.
These included The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles, as recommended on these threads by @Clix Pix, and The Fall of Carthage, by Adrian Goldsworthy, as recommended by @yaxomoxay.
These included The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles, as recommended on these threads by @Clix Pix, and The Fall of Carthage, by Adrian Goldsworthy, as recommended by @yaxomoxay.
I'm currently reading Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard, which is beautiful. It often gets called a work of natural history, and it surely is that, but also much more. Matthiessen is no tourist; he is a grateful, compassionate observer. So far so good.
I've also taken up some basic, 101-level material to learn Statistics. It was a toss up between programming and statistics for me, but I gravitated toward the latter somehow. Currently reading about regression analysis.
I've also taken up some basic, 101-level material to learn Statistics. It was a toss up between programming and statistics for me, but I gravitated toward the latter somehow. Currently reading about regression analysis.
I haven't read Blue Meridian, but have heard some very good things about it. Looks like I have to take it up soon
I know that some who post here are rather partial to scifi/fantasy (and I read fantasy - which I thoroughly enjoy - for relaxation).
In recent years, I have devoured the works of Elizabeth Moon, which are excellent, (and far prefer her space worlds - the Serrano/Suiza series, and the Vatta series, to her 'medieval' fantasy Paksenarrion series and its sequels) but, in the past week, I have come across - and am reading my way through - the Vorkosigan Saga/world of Lois McMaster Bujold.
This is outstanding stuff; absolutely superb: Terrific writing, wit, superlative characters - along with some exceptionally well written female characters - (and character development), excellent world building and wonderful stories, and narrative arcs.
In recent years, I have devoured the works of Elizabeth Moon, which are excellent, (and far prefer her space worlds - the Serrano/Suiza series, and the Vatta series, to her 'medieval' fantasy Paksenarrion series and its sequels) but, in the past week, I have come across - and am reading my way through - the Vorkosigan Saga/world of Lois McMaster Bujold.
This is outstanding stuff; absolutely superb: Terrific writing, wit, superlative characters - along with some exceptionally well written female characters - (and character development), excellent world building and wonderful stories, and narrative arcs.
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I recognize that name from my days working in the library! Very popular author with SciFi/Fantasy fans at the library..... Her reputation is well deserved.
They really are excellent; not only very, very witty (there is a hysterically funny - as in laugh aloud funny - disastrous dinner - one of the best dinner party scenes I have ever read - hosted by the protagonist of much of the series, Miles Vorkosigan, in one of the books, A Civil Campaign), superb (and strong) female characters, wonderful world building, but the books as a whole are not just witty, but simpatico, psychologically insightful, compassionate, intelligent, informed, with some seriously good stories, outstanding characters - and there is development of those characters, not something you often see in fantasy writing - and beautifully written.
The battles are damned good, too, but (fortunately, their function is to) serve the story, serve the narrative, rather than being the story, or being the point of the story.
Now, I love the works (and writing) of Elizabeth Moon - but really must say that I think Lois McMaster Bujold is superb.
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Actually, I'm astounded that in a books thread that has run for years, (the best part of a decade), with over 330 pages, and nearly 8,500 posts, - along with many posts about scifi/fantasy works, or extolling the virtues of fantasy/scifi works, and plenty of recommendations of individual works, that her name - Lois McMaster Bujold - has not come up before now.
Seriously, she rocks; these are outstanding books. I can't recommend them highly enough.
Seriously, she rocks; these are outstanding books. I can't recommend them highly enough.
Received an ad for this and the description is completely off from what the actual book is about. I believe it is self published... His writing style is a little reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy, imho.
I'm paraphrasing but it was billed as a " ... a moonshiner set on revenge after his talking dog is kidnapped..."
There was more in the description that made it sound like a comic romp through the backwoods of the deep south.
It's actually about a loner moonshiner whose dog, a pit bull that doesn't talk - he only imagines it, is actually kidnapped by a dog fighting ring and left for dead. He goes on a rampage to get the people who committed this crime.
Because of the nature of the subject, dog fighting, I am having a hard time finishing this one. I want him to get these bastards but he is taking his time and I don't how much longer I can last. I will not read the following book in this series.
Really looking forward to this one:
Its a good one, I have an autographed copy of Africa Silences that got sent to me, apparently he found out I used to leave a copy of The Tree where Man was Born wherever I was staying in East Africa. I think its a wonderful book about the area and the people, its a habit I picked up from my parents, leaving books in far off lands, (plus reduces the weight of my bag, as I collect things on the trip). My wife wherever we go leaves copies of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, these days the book plates we have in them have email addresses, they used to have my home address. So I would occasionally get letters from people about where they read they read the book. To this day, I would love to know how one of my books got to K2 base camp, but probably one of my climbing friends sent it there as a joke.
Are you studying Statistics for a career, or just because? If for a career, probably more jobs on the programming front, but statistics is always interesting.
-Tig
Not just finally into it; I spent the entire day reading it.