Books Ok for the high brow crowd what books you are reading - Page 140

big nasty kcnut · 03-11-2006, 10:37 PM

I'm reading The New American Revolution by tammy bruce. She is a great thinker and funny.

stevieray · 07-30-2013, 12:48 AM

28 part study on the Book of Genesis...

NewChief · 07-30-2013, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Finished Neuromancer tonight. Goddamn, that was difficult to follow. As hard as almost any high modern fiction.

Yeah. It's deceptively hard to follow. Philip K. Dick and China Mieville are similarly difficult for me, though I enjoy both.

Finished:
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson Mccullars
Geronimo Rex by Barry Hannah
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lampiri

Red Beans · 07-30-2013, 05:23 AM

This thread reminded me that I'm going to the library today. I just graduated with my Master's this weekend and for the first time in 3 years I'm going to read for my own enjoyment.

Fairplay · 07-30-2013, 05:30 AM

All good and recommended

John Adams by David McCullough
Jack Reacher 61 Hours by Lee Child
Who Am I by Pete Townsend

Great Expectations · 07-30-2013, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

Finished Atlas Shrugged last week. That one took me a bit of time. First book on the Kindle, so I didn't have a great perspective on how long it was. Just finished Inferno as well. Reminded me of Angels and Demons. Thought it was as step up after Lost Symbol. There is a lot of cookie cutter stuff to the Langdon novels, and Brown isn't the best writer in the world, but I still really enjoy that series.

Inferno was pretty good, but the twists were a little easier to see than Angels and Demons. It had the best ending of any of his novels; Lost Symbol had a horrible ending.

I've been struggling to finish Atlas Shrugged, I'm about 1300 pages in or 65% finished.

Red Beans, I think you'd really like the Conqueror series by Conn Iggulden.

Braincase · 07-30-2013, 07:34 AM

Inferno by Dan Brown

blaise · 07-30-2013, 07:35 AM

Billy Bathgate.

Braincase · 07-30-2013, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Audiobook-wise, I'm about to finish Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series. Enjoyable military space opera.

Paper-wise I'm taking weeks upon weeks to finish the final Wheel of Time book. This one just isn't resonating with me for some reason. The voices of the main characters seem so far removed from what they were under Jordan. Except for Mat. I've already read all his chapters for the entire novel.

I did both parts of that as audiobooks during my commute. After awhile I started substitute Futurama characters. Black Jack Geary can sound alot like Zapp Brannigan.

mesmith31 · 07-30-2013, 08:32 AM

Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins. This should be required reading before anyone is allowed to start any discussion of partisan politics.

In a nutshell: When governments realized that nuclear war was not a viable option they figured out the best way to achieve global empire was to dummy up loan applications for countries and then get the World Bank to give them loans that they could never repay. Once they defaulted they would have to give their pound of flesh (via military bases on their land, giving up their U.N. votes, preferential treaties, etc).

Topics covered: Invasion of Panama, Venezuela, Iraq, Guatemala. Rise of Enron. Use of missions organizations by oil companies in Latin America. How the Japanese almost built a new Panama Canal.

keg in kc · 07-30-2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braincase

I did both parts of that as audiobooks during my commute. After awhile I started substitute Futurama characters. Black Jack Geary can sound alot like Zapp Brannigan.

Audiobook-wise I started up Weber's Honor Harrington series again, to keep the military space opera theme going. Good series so far (I'm on book 6 now I think; I've listened about this far before, but it's probably been 7 or 8 years so it's basically new to me).

**DaKCMan AP** · 07-30-2013, 10:12 AM

Finished Lie Down With Lions

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-30-2013, 11:44 AM

Finished Palahniuk's Damned last week. It's the first book of what looks like a trilogy. Funny and mellower than Palahniuk's usual fare, but not for religious zealots. It skewers the hell out of Hollywood liberalism, though.

**Easy 6** · 07-30-2013, 01:36 PM

The Men of Waterloo: Sutherland - Extremely enjoyable read on a subject i didnt know much about until now, i feel like a real smartass now. But yeah, just learning about this and the men involved was really cool. Wellington, while brilliant, was a bastard of a man to his men, loved to dole out very harsh punishments for minor infractions, despised most of them to his core, thought "most enlisted for the drink (booze)", same feelings went for many of his officers, particularly artillerymen, though he depended heavily on them.

This man was quite the elitist snob and in later years hated and opposed pretty much any kind of modern reforms, both for the military and civilian govt... absolutely hated the thought of the hoi polloi having access to a ballot box.

Napoleon in contrast, wasnt just popular with his men, he was practically worshipped as a god, just the sight of him would rouse his men to extreme acts of bravery... he personified charisma. But what got him at Waterloo, though he felt a genuine affection for all of them, was a kind of disregard for the lives of his men... instead of working complicated flanking maneuvers that had won him so many battles in the past, he had started to rely on full frontal charges that wasted huge amounts of his manpower, his men would charge ahead more than willingly, but too many were wasted for no reason.

Imagine a 10,000 man cavalry charge across an area no wider than 500 yards... the detailed battle accounts are truly awesome, some real life set piece chess on an unimaginable scale for those times.

Before that... Shut Up and Give Me the Mic: Dee Snider - never was a big twisted sister fan, but this is one HELLUVA entertaining read, basically reads like a "how not to" for the music business. Dude bought into his own press and ego, along with various band members being worthless turds and backstabbers at various times. If you like reading about rock stars, you should definitely read this, though it is free from "tales of ribaldry" that so many other band stories are chock full of and that i enjoy... most of the band were teetotalers to some extent.

Gah, i've read atleast twenty books in the last two months, been on a real tear and cant remember them all... Fred Bears Field Notes was damned interesting, shooting alaskan brown bears with a bow from behind nothing more than a tree, taking elephant charges, the works, fun read.

frankotank · 07-30-2013, 01:36 PM

just finished Killing Jesus: The Unknown Conspiracy Behind the World's Most Famous Execution by Stephen Mansfield.

it was a pretty quick read and very interesting. a more scientific & political take on the subject. historically, even without the bible, there is simply no doubt that Jesus was a real dude who claimed to be the son of God and had followers who died rather than recant their belief that he was who he said he was. wow.

AdumbGuy · 07-30-2013, 02:42 PM

Just finished The Rum Diaries by Hunter S. Thompson - brilliant.
Reading random short stories by Barthelme

03-11-2006, 10:37 PM
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $-2159100	Ok for the high brow crowd what books you are reading I'm reading The New American Revolution by tammy bruce. She is a great thinker and funny.
Posts: 19,392

07-30-2013, 12:48 AM	#2086
stevieray Most things I worry about… Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Under Pressure Casino cash: $-1254727	28 part study on the Book of Genesis...
Posts: 74,094

07-30-2013, 05:23 AM	#2088
Red Beans Not dead yet... Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Indian Creek Casino cash: $1659903	This thread reminded me that I'm going to the library today. I just graduated with my Master's this weekend and for the first time in 3 years I'm going to read for my own enjoyment.
Posts: 2,796

07-30-2013, 05:30 AM	#2089
Fairplay A certain set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: texas Casino cash: $10026683 VARSITY	All good and recommended John Adams by David McCullough Jack Reacher 61 Hours by Lee Child Who Am I by Pete Townsend
Posts: 25,265

07-30-2013, 07:34 AM	#2091
Braincase Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pond> Me <Barn Casino cash: $11298284	Inferno by Dan Brown __________________ BrainCase
Posts: 15,429

07-30-2013, 07:35 AM	#2092
blaise In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $9989900	Billy Bathgate.
Posts: 22,189

07-30-2013, 08:32 AM	#2094
mesmith31 Starter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: West Des Moines, Iowa Casino cash: $10005205	Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins. This should be required reading before anyone is allowed to start any discussion of partisan politics. In a nutshell: When governments realized that nuclear war was not a viable option they figured out the best way to achieve global empire was to dummy up loan applications for countries and then get the World Bank to give them loans that they could never repay. Once they defaulted they would have to give their pound of flesh (via military bases on their land, giving up their U.N. votes, preferential treaties, etc). Topics covered: Invasion of Panama, Venezuela, Iraq, Guatemala. Rise of Enron. Use of missions organizations by oil companies in Latin America. How the Japanese almost built a new Panama Canal.
Posts: 364

07-30-2013, 10:12 AM	#2096
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $5604952	Finished Lie Down With Lions __________________
Posts: 35,714

07-30-2013, 11:44 AM	#2097
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $7169572	Finished Palahniuk's Damned last week. It's the first book of what looks like a trilogy. Funny and mellower than Palahniuk's usual fare, but not for religious zealots. It skewers the hell out of Hollywood liberalism, though. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 75,081

07-30-2013, 01:36 PM	#2098
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $-112225	The Men of Waterloo: Sutherland - Extremely enjoyable read on a subject i didnt know much about until now, i feel like a real smartass now. But yeah, just learning about this and the men involved was really cool. Wellington, while brilliant, was a bastard of a man to his men, loved to dole out very harsh punishments for minor infractions, despised most of them to his core, thought "most enlisted for the drink (booze)", same feelings went for many of his officers, particularly artillerymen, though he depended heavily on them. This man was quite the elitist snob and in later years hated and opposed pretty much any kind of modern reforms, both for the military and civilian govt... absolutely hated the thought of the hoi polloi having access to a ballot box. Napoleon in contrast, wasnt just popular with his men, he was practically worshipped as a god, just the sight of him would rouse his men to extreme acts of bravery... he personified charisma. But what got him at Waterloo, though he felt a genuine affection for all of them, was a kind of disregard for the lives of his men... instead of working complicated flanking maneuvers that had won him so many battles in the past, he had started to rely on full frontal charges that wasted huge amounts of his manpower, his men would charge ahead more than willingly, but too many were wasted for no reason. Imagine a 10,000 man cavalry charge across an area no wider than 500 yards... the detailed battle accounts are truly awesome, some real life set piece chess on an unimaginable scale for those times. Before that... Shut Up and Give Me the Mic: Dee Snider - never was a big twisted sister fan, but this is one HELLUVA entertaining read, basically reads like a "how not to" for the music business. Dude bought into his own press and ego, along with various band members being worthless turds and backstabbers at various times. If you like reading about rock stars, you should definitely read this, though it is free from "tales of ribaldry" that so many other band stories are chock full of and that i enjoy... most of the band were teetotalers to some extent. Gah, i've read atleast twenty books in the last two months, been on a real tear and cant remember them all... Fred Bears Field Notes was damned interesting, shooting alaskan brown bears with a bow from behind nothing more than a tree, taking elephant charges, the works, fun read.
Posts: 98,428

07-30-2013, 01:36 PM	#2099
frankotank I like 'em mustard & biscuits Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Hill Casino cash: $10011076	just finished Killing Jesus: The Unknown Conspiracy Behind the World's Most Famous Execution by Stephen Mansfield. it was a pretty quick read and very interesting. a more scientific & political take on the subject. historically, even without the bible, there is simply no doubt that Jesus was a real dude who claimed to be the son of God and had followers who died rather than recant their belief that he was who he said he was. wow. __________________ A naked American man stole my balloons.
Posts: 6,787

07-30-2013, 02:42 PM	#2100
AdumbGuy Starter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Dominica, no seriously. Casino cash: $10004900	Just finished The Rum Diaries by Hunter S. Thompson - brilliant. Reading random short stories by Barthelme __________________ We threw for 8 TDs in 2012, so we got a guy that once threw 18tds! IN ONE SEASON! That's like 10 times as many! - Dante Hall's Mullet
Posts: 559