Favorite Books/ Books which you currently read

[NorCal]

[QUOTE=mvblair;463678]How so? What's your opinion now? I actively dislike Ayn Rand. I don't really know a whole lot about her writing, but I don't like her philosophy.


I was of the opinion before that Chamberlain's stratospheric numbers and weaker supporting cast made him a better all time player than Russell, especially if you go by the 'if you switched the two players what would have happened? theory'. However, after reading Simmon's chapter comparing the two I see all the reasons that Chamberlain's numbers, although great, aren't quite as impressive. And I see the detrimental attitude he had towards his teammates and the game of basketball overall.

[Czarkazem13]

The book was Fakers, Forgers, Phoneys by Magnus Magnusson. Not sure if it's the same dude who lifts huge tires on ESPN. It was a good read. The best book on the topic of frauds is Scoundrels & Scalawags. It was published by Reader's Digest, which I know is pretty corny, but the stories were excellent. I loved that back a lot. Still do. Very, very fun to read. I'm going to read it in December, I think. I'll have to look up Loewen too. I also like Zinn, but man, the guy does need to chill out every once in a while. He just doesn't stop, you know?

Will definitely look into that book. As much as I like Zinn, I like Lowen even more. Both are revisionists, but Lowen takes a more conservative look then say Zinn.

Though Zinn has stopped now.

[mvblair]

As much as I like Zinn, I like Lowen even more. Both are revisionists, but Lowen takes a more conservative look then say Zinn.

Though Zinn has stopped now.

Wow, I didn't even know Zinn had died until you mentioned this...I had to check out Wikipedia to see what you were talking about. The problem with Zinn is that he criticizes everything without giving much construction. That's too easy to do. It's very easy to say "well, this group of underdogs has been mistreated and that was wrong."

As for Loewen, I've only read "Lies My Teacher Told Me." It was an easy book to read and it made sense. Basically, it said that the history textbooks used in school are uncritical, overly patriotic, and uninteresting. I believe that. Now, I taught history for a few years and I know that our textbook was pretty bad. It provided no opportunities for students to compare ideas or people and it was just a straight-forward narrative. Too easy. The textbook was just boring. So, in that respect, I think Loewen is correct.

[Czarkazem13]

Wow, I didn't even know Zinn had died until you mentioned this...I had to check out Wikipedia to see what you were talking about. The problem with Zinn is that he criticizes everything without giving much construction. That's too easy to do. It's very easy to say "well, this group of underdogs has been mistreated and that was wrong."

As for Loewen, I've only read "Lies My Teacher Told Me." It was an easy book to read and it made sense. Basically, it said that the history textbooks used in school are uncritical, overly patriotic, and uninteresting. I believe that. Now, I taught history for a few years and I know that our textbook was pretty bad. It provided no opportunities for students to compare ideas or people and it was just a straight-forward narrative. Too easy. The textbook was just boring. So, in that respect, I think Loewen is correct.

Yeah, as someone who loved history, I hated the way it was presented/taught in grade school.

Anyway, I've now moved on to Welcome to the Terrordome by Dave Zirin.

[kaiziken_pinas]

Just finished Tami Hoag's suspense:
A thin Dark Line

and currently reading :

Justice by Kellerman

[kerouac82]

I've just gotten back into reading. First on my list is Gaiman and Pratchett's "Good Omens". Pretty fun stuff so far.

[fasoulaki]

Yesterday, I bought two books from Ferdinand von Schirach "Verbrechen"(Crime) and "Schuld" (Guilt) for my vacations. Both books have been bestsellers here in Germany.

von Schirach is a prominent defense attorney. The books are a collection of short stories about real criminal cases he had to deal with. These cases show the dysfunction of the judical system and rise moral and ethical questions reaching even a philosophical level.

Very interesting author (descendant of a high-ranking Nazi) with a very "absorbing" writing style.

[mvblair]

Yesterday, I bought two books from Ferdinand von Schirach "Verbrechen"(Crime) and "Schuld" (Guilt) for my vacations. Both books have been bestsellers here in Germany.

von Schirach is a prominent defense attorney. The books are a collection of short stories about real criminal cases he had to deal with. These cases show the dysfunction of the judical system and rise moral and ethical questions reaching even a philosophical level.

Very interesting author (descendant of a high-ranking Nazi) with a very "absorbing" writing style.

Sounds like great vacation material, Fasoulaki.

[kerouac82]

You should read Neil Gaiman's novel, Neverwhere. Gaiman created a magical world beneath London and gave a new meaning to London Underground stations names.

My girlfriend just finished Neverwhere and she liked the book a lot. I'll put it on my list.

[Fedfan]

I'm reading the Road by Cormac McCarthy - didn't even know that they plan to make a movie out of it bleh - and because I found it at a very cheap price also bought and begun reading the Pillars of the Earth.Which I find very boring but I want to give it a little more chance-I mean there must be a reason to justify all the hype.

Also started reading poetry by Attila József,who I "discovered" after a trip to Hungary by pure luck.Imo that's the best Hungary has to offer to the world.


Re: Persepolis.It's a mistake imo to read it as a comics because that was not the purpose of the author.It is more like a ..graphic novel to describe the story of Iran's modern history.The book is very short and easily read didn't take me more than 2 hours in all and left me with a pretty good idea about the life of her generation.
As far as comics go nothing can ever surpass the genious of Carl Barks the Duck man.

[JGX]

I bought the official book of Interbasket today:
http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Rims-F...2518565&sr=8-1

[sseppel]

The last book I read I really liked was Don Winslow's "The power of the dog". Great book, very enjoyable and easy to read.

Now I am with José Saramago's "The Gospel According to Jesus Christ" I expected more, so far. Weighty book, but still Saramago is great :P

[Fedfan]

The last book I read I really liked was Don Winslow's "The power of the dog". Great book, very enjoyable and easy to read.

Now I am with José Saramago's "The Gospel According to Jesus Christ" I expected more, so far. Weighty book, but still Saramago is great :P

ohhh it's not one of his best imo.Blindness is his most classical and known one.But imo his best is The year of Death of Ricardo Reis and the history of Siege of Lisbon.I love Saramago.So sad we lost him 2 months ago.

[sseppel]

ohhh it's not one of his best imo.Blindness is his most classical and known one.But imo his best is The year of Death of Ricardo Reis and the history of Siege of Lisbon.I love Saramago.So sad we lost him 2 months ago.

Yeah, it's a pity. He was very attached to Spain, he lived in Lanzarote (Canary islands), his widow is spanish and he spoke spanish. Here we felt his loss as our own. I felt so guilty I only read one of his books (Cain) that I bought Blindness (that book has been in my pending list for too long) and the Gospel.

I always thought his books must be a nightmore for the translators, since he has his own, peculiar writing style. At least translating it to spanish should be easier than making it in english or croatian... with this weird punctuation style that he has...

[CKR13]

Who ever knew that President Abraham Lincoln lead a covert life?

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter



by Seth Grahame Smith

[mvblair]

I bought the official book of Interbasket today:
http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Rims-F...2518565&sr=8-1

Wow! I never heard about that book before! Thanks so much for the tip, JGX. I just ordered it.

Have you read "Big Game, Small World"? Although it doesn't talk about strategy or players or anything (it's more like a travel book), I absolutely loved it. There is a section about the Philippines and a great section about the Royal family in Bhutan that plays basketball. Just a great read.

I'm really looking forward to "Pacific Rims." (Great title)

[kaiziken_pinas]

John Grisham's "A time to kill". I recommend it!

[sashikas]

This year could be officially named a Hermann Hesse year for me. Read these novels by him:
The Glass Bead game
Narcissus and Goldmund
Siddhartha
And now I am reading the Steppenwolf

As I could notice, reading is a favorite way to spending time during vacation for many here. During my vacation in Sardegna this year, I brought only one book (Narcissus and Goldmund), which was "eaten" in two days. The trip lasted longer, and I was already hooked up on reading, so the first thing, that I was searching for in a bigger city was a bookstore. The book, that saved me from boredom was Occupied city by David Peace, bought in one of the tiny bookstores of Alghero.

[dxjayrock2008]

Sun Tzu's Art of War.

[Fedfan]

Yeah, it's a pity. He was very attached to Spain, he lived in Lanzarote (Canary islands), his widow is spanish and he spoke spanish. Here we felt his loss as our own. I felt so guilty I only read one of his books (Cain) that I bought Blindness (that book has been in my pending list for too long) and the Gospel.

I always thought his books must be a nightmore for the translators, since he has his own, peculiar writing style. At least translating it to spanish should be easier than making it in english or croatian... with this weird punctuation style that he has...

haha it's a nightmare for reading as well,before you get used to his writing style..that's the problem with translations I'm sure I have missed a lot of Jose's genious only because of the translation.

Well the portugeuse government-together with the church was trying to censor him and burry his carreer,so I can understand him when he tried to make a new home in spain.Besides most of the portugeuse ppl hated him,only after he won the Nobel suddendly they started to be proud.

This year could be officially named a Hermann Hesse year for me. Read these novels by him:
The Glass Bead game
Narcissus and Goldmund
Siddhartha
And now I am reading the Steppenwolf

How do you like Steppenwolf?It's one of my favourites.