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Scepticalscribe

Suspended
Jul 29, 2008
65,135
47,525
In a coffee shop.
Visited the library yesterday, and picked up a book that was waiting for me.

"Packing For Mars - The Curious Science Of Life In Space" by Mary Roach.

This is a topic that has long fascinated me, (and not just because I was a fan of Star Trek, as a child, and later on, both STNG, and DS9, and vividly recall stuff such as space travel, and devour anything I can find to read about what life in space is actually like).

Thus far, I must say that it is brilliant - really well-written, with a lovely wry humour - and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
 
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rhett7660

macrumors G5
Jan 9, 2008
14,371
4,494
Sunny, Southern California
Finished Book 1 of the Warhammer series. While not the best, it did have some good stuff, so much so that I picked up Book 2 and started it.

False Gods: The Horus Heresy, Book 2

51gW+LMX4aL.jpg
 

KaliYoni

macrumors 68000
Feb 19, 2016
1,787
3,929
Mary Roach

Mary Roach is amazing at mixing humo(u)r and science. If you haven't read any of her other books, I enjoyed every one of them.

Speaking of space and women, I watched this interesting documentary yesterday:
 

KaliYoni

macrumors 68000
Feb 19, 2016
1,787
3,929
Just finished: Mr. B (Homans). Very well researched, but with slightly flat writing style. Still, a must read for anybody who enjoys Balanchine's ballets.

Currently reading: Agent Josephine (Lewis). Interesting topic and protagonists but workman like writing.

Up next: The Annotated Arabian Nights (Horta, ed., Seale, trans.)
 
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Scepticalscribe

Suspended
Jul 29, 2008
65,135
47,525
In a coffee shop.
Mary Roach is amazing at mixing humo(u)r and science. If you haven't read any of her other books, I enjoyed every one of them.

Speaking of space and women, I watched this interesting documentary yesterday:

Agree completely.

I've just read Grunt (by Mary Roach) - actually, I still have the last chapter yet to finish - and found it excellent, fascinating, interesting, and yes, brilliant at blending science and humour.

Thoroughly enjoying "Packing For Mars" - this is really absolutely fascinating stuff - and will most certainly order more of her books.

In any case, I've long been a fan of "popular" science books, the sort that Bill Bryson or Stephen Jay Gould (I read a lot of his stuff over twenty years ago) have written.
 
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bradl

macrumors 603
Jun 16, 2008
5,952
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After looking for it for a good 40 years, I finally have my hands on a copy. However, it is with some trepidation that I started reading this:

51OI6-7ZlCL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


I'm excited to read it as I have never read the original story that inspired the cartoon series, but hesitant of it because I'm not wanting it to shatter the image I have of the series. I know that not all of it will match up, but it would be good to know the original story that brought about one of the biggest childhood memories in my life.

BL.
 

KaliYoni

macrumors 68000
Feb 19, 2016
1,787
3,929
After looking for it for a good 40 years, I finally have my hands on a copy. However, it is with some trepidation that I started reading this:

51OI6-7ZlCL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


I'm excited to read it as I have never read the original story that inspired the cartoon series, but hesitant of it because I'm not wanting it to shatter the image I have of the series. I know that not all of it will match up, but it would be good to know the original story that brought about one of the biggest childhood memories in my life.

BL.

…and here I was, thinking you were in the wrong thread before reading the whole post…
;-)

 
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bradl

macrumors 603
Jun 16, 2008
5,952
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…and here I was, thinking you were in the wrong thread before reading the whole post…
;-)


A lot of people actually think that! The band got their name from the book! But also with it, there was a Japanese cartoon made that was based off of the book. If I remember right, the series was 52 episodes long, and aired on Nickelodeon here in the US. Still to this day, if it came on, no matter what I was doing, my day would stop to watch that show.

BL.
 
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ucfgrad93

macrumors Core
Aug 17, 2007
19,579
10,875
Colorado
I’m currently reading Himmler’s War by Robert Conroy. It is an alternative history story in which Hitler is killed in the summer of 1944 by Allied bombing attack.

Really enjoying it.

Edit: got the author’s first name wrong.
 
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MBAir2010

macrumors 604
May 30, 2018
6,975
6,354
there
this was a fun book when I read this upon the release.
Amsterdamn.jpg
BTW:
I need to find an online book seller, I have Powell (too far) Barnes&Knobles or BAM as my 3 choices.
IF anyone can recommend a great place to order book, let me know!

the shop I frequent these past years are really evil and bland people!
 
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MBAir2010

macrumors 604
May 30, 2018
6,975
6,354
there
I’m currently reading Himmler’s War by Robert Conroy. It is an alternative history story in which Hitler is killed in the summer of 1944 by Allied bombing attack.

Really enjoying it.

Edit: got the author’s first name wrong.
Some rumors and eyewitnesses state that a British messenger could have ended Adolph's career in the first WW
 
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MmkLucario

macrumors 6502
Sep 16, 2022
283
235
I’m reading this book:
image.jpg
This book is about how liberalism (not the political movement) is trying to explain Christianity with science and take out the supernatural. Here is a quote to prove that it’s not talking about the political movement: “But manifold as are the forms in which the movement appears, the root of the movement is one; the many varieties of modern liberal religion are rooted in naturalism — that is, in denial of any entrance of the creative power of God (as distinguished from the original course of nature) in connection with the origin of Christianity.”

Also, apologies for the bad glare.
 

bradl

macrumors 603
Jun 16, 2008
5,952
17,447
BTW:
I need to find an online book seller, I have Powell (too far) Barnes&Knobles or BAM as my 3 choices.
IF anyone can recommend a great place to order book, let me know!

the shop I frequent these past years are really evil and bland people!

Sounds like you're in the Portland, Oregon area. Which side of town?

BL.
 

ThisBougieLife

Suspended
Jan 21, 2016
3,259
10,664
Northern California
Just started the Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor (all published and unpublished short stories).

I seem to be going through a short fiction phase as I'm also still reading through John Cheever's complete short stories.
 

Rafterman

Contributor
Apr 23, 2010
7,267
8,809
This book seems interesting.


The problem with Strieber is, he's also a fiction author and the (in)famous author of Communion, the book that gave us the "classical" big black eyed alien. Many consider his Communion story a hoax. Leslie Kean's book is a much better UFO book. (though unfortunately, a part of it features the Belgium Petit-Rechain photo that the photographer admits was fake.)
 
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Lioness~

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2017
3,397
4,228
Sweden
Taking a break with:

Continuing reading on this one again:

As I seldom read fiction today, this is often how I read/study books who somehow overlaps and/or
have similar themes. Guess it comes from my University studies in Literature.
I’ve got deeper into the 2nd and it have studies that is more relevant at this moment.
 
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pachyderm

macrumors G4
Jan 12, 2008
10,751
5,417
Smyrna, TN
The problem with Strieber is, he's also a fiction author and the (in)famous author of Communion, the book that gave us the "classical" big black eyed alien. Many consider his Communion story a hoax. Leslie Kean's book is a much better UFO book. (though unfortunately, a part of it features the Belgium Petit-Rechain photo that the photographer admits was fake.)
I enjoyed the film with Christopher Walken...
 
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pachyderm

macrumors G4
Jan 12, 2008
10,751
5,417
Smyrna, TN
"Packing For Mars - The Curious Science Of Life In Space" by Mary Roach.

This is a topic that has long fascinated me, (and not just because I was a fan of Star Trek, as a child, and later on, both STNG, and DS9, and vividly recall stuff such as space travel, and devour anything I can find to read about what life in space is actually like).

Thus far, I must say that it is brilliant - really well-written, with a lovely wry humour - and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
Picking my copy up in a bit...


"Cheers!" in advance @Scepticalscribe ...
 
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