MTB
The WHY is important. please try to give 4 sentences or more, on each book why you liked it too.
I am looking for books to read. :)
Thanks!
I am looking for books to read. :)
Thanks!
Top 3 Books you've Read in your Life, & WHY
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classic1
I prefer non-ficton to fiction in general. Here's my top three.
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich - William L Shirer. The story of the Nazis rise to power, the events leading up to WWII, the early German victories, then the fall. Well told, thorough, plenty of information back room deals and information on the rogues gallery that was the Nazi Party. Shirer was a witness to many of the events and is an excellent writer IMO.
The Conquest of Mexico - Hugh Thomas. Unputdownable. Way better than his book on the slave trade. The book reads like a thriller. Cortes is a fascinating character. Shrewd, cunning, greedy, manipulative. Its difficult to comprehend how clever and driven he was. Paints a colourful picture of the conquistadors and the Mexica.
Day of the Jackal - Frederick Forsythe. FF is a right wing boofhead, but when he is on form he tells a mean story. The detail and research is amazing, the story has plenty of pace and again is very hard to put down.
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich - William L Shirer. The story of the Nazis rise to power, the events leading up to WWII, the early German victories, then the fall. Well told, thorough, plenty of information back room deals and information on the rogues gallery that was the Nazi Party. Shirer was a witness to many of the events and is an excellent writer IMO.
The Conquest of Mexico - Hugh Thomas. Unputdownable. Way better than his book on the slave trade. The book reads like a thriller. Cortes is a fascinating character. Shrewd, cunning, greedy, manipulative. Its difficult to comprehend how clever and driven he was. Paints a colourful picture of the conquistadors and the Mexica.
Day of the Jackal - Frederick Forsythe. FF is a right wing boofhead, but when he is on form he tells a mean story. The detail and research is amazing, the story has plenty of pace and again is very hard to put down.
twobikes
The Bible, because if Christ has risen from the dead, nothing else matters; and if Christ has not been raised from the dead, nothing else matters. (This may sound like double-talk, but think about it for a few seconds.)
PC Helpdesk in a Book by Mark Edward Soper, because I am "responsible" for keeping about four different computers working for myself and for other people, and we are all utterly dependent upon those computers. This book has enabled me to get around various problems quickly with little or no pain.
The Long War against God by Henry M. Morris, because macro-evolution is widely perpetuated and believed; but it is really a case of "the emperor has no clothes." Yet, the idea of macro-evolution has colored every aspect of our daily lives and assumptions.
PC Helpdesk in a Book by Mark Edward Soper, because I am "responsible" for keeping about four different computers working for myself and for other people, and we are all utterly dependent upon those computers. This book has enabled me to get around various problems quickly with little or no pain.
The Long War against God by Henry M. Morris, because macro-evolution is widely perpetuated and believed; but it is really a case of "the emperor has no clothes." Yet, the idea of macro-evolution has colored every aspect of our daily lives and assumptions.
grey poupon
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lol
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lol
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twobikes
MTB,
I did some additional thinking about books I really like and would like to add to the list, since you did not get many responses. Tastes in reading are about as individual as tastes in eating or dress, but you might like these. Certainly, they will provide some moments of intellectual discovery.
Connections by James Burke, because Burke has an interesting way of starting with some very minor thing and following a chain of fascinating developments to show how it led to some very big thing, like computers or atomic power. The book is not so readily available now, but was a PBS series in the 1970s.
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam by Robert Spencer, because our media go out of their way to hide some very basic things about who the terrorists are and why they want to destroy us.
I have seen comments asserting every educated person needs to read Thomas S. Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. I bought it and tried to read it. It is hard reading. I hope to finish it one day.
I did some additional thinking about books I really like and would like to add to the list, since you did not get many responses. Tastes in reading are about as individual as tastes in eating or dress, but you might like these. Certainly, they will provide some moments of intellectual discovery.
Connections by James Burke, because Burke has an interesting way of starting with some very minor thing and following a chain of fascinating developments to show how it led to some very big thing, like computers or atomic power. The book is not so readily available now, but was a PBS series in the 1970s.
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam by Robert Spencer, because our media go out of their way to hide some very basic things about who the terrorists are and why they want to destroy us.
I have seen comments asserting every educated person needs to read Thomas S. Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. I bought it and tried to read it. It is hard reading. I hope to finish it one day.
Relaxer
Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S Thompson
Just my favorite book of all-time. It appeals to every part of my wild side, and I spent a lifetime trying to replicate the glory and insanity. Also a very interesting time capsule of the 60s/early 70s.
The Final Days - Woodward & Bernstein
An unbelievably gripping book. Even though you know how it's going to end, it's so suspenseful watching one of the most brilliant political minds trying to survive a scandal and slowly, day by day, drip by drip, failing.
Our Band Could Be Your Life/Please Kill Me (tie) -- I just can't choose one. Our Band is an excellent chronicle of 16 or so classic punk/hardcore bands and how they formed and thrived. Please is an oral history of 70s punk and new wave. I might give the edge to Our Band since it chronicles the time that I was growing up, but I've read them both more than a dozen times.
Women - Charles Bukowski -- I'm a huge Bukowski fan. I love his voice, his writing style, his subjects. I love his poetry, but his novels are even better, and this one is his best.
In Dubious Battle - Steinbeck -- A wonderful book that truly captures a lost time in our country's history. This is a book that truly gives a deep understanding to how the class structure formed in society today.
Just my favorite book of all-time. It appeals to every part of my wild side, and I spent a lifetime trying to replicate the glory and insanity. Also a very interesting time capsule of the 60s/early 70s.
The Final Days - Woodward & Bernstein
An unbelievably gripping book. Even though you know how it's going to end, it's so suspenseful watching one of the most brilliant political minds trying to survive a scandal and slowly, day by day, drip by drip, failing.
Our Band Could Be Your Life/Please Kill Me (tie) -- I just can't choose one. Our Band is an excellent chronicle of 16 or so classic punk/hardcore bands and how they formed and thrived. Please is an oral history of 70s punk and new wave. I might give the edge to Our Band since it chronicles the time that I was growing up, but I've read them both more than a dozen times.
Women - Charles Bukowski -- I'm a huge Bukowski fan. I love his voice, his writing style, his subjects. I love his poetry, but his novels are even better, and this one is his best.
In Dubious Battle - Steinbeck -- A wonderful book that truly captures a lost time in our country's history. This is a book that truly gives a deep understanding to how the class structure formed in society today.
wabbit
Everything that rises must converge:collection of stories by Flannery O'Connor
The Group, by Mary McCarthy
Rememberance of things Past: M Proust
Honorable Mentions: Bad, or the Dumbing of america by Paul Fussell (hilariously witty)
Sole Survivor: Elliot Leyton (Chilling study of kids who kill their parents)
Hunting Humans, by Elliot Leyton
The God Delusion: Richard Dawkins (not the best but thought provoking...in my case preaching to the converted so to speak...LOL)
I've read so many...it's hard to pick just three....
The Group, by Mary McCarthy
Rememberance of things Past: M Proust
Honorable Mentions: Bad, or the Dumbing of america by Paul Fussell (hilariously witty)
Sole Survivor: Elliot Leyton (Chilling study of kids who kill their parents)
Hunting Humans, by Elliot Leyton
The God Delusion: Richard Dawkins (not the best but thought provoking...in my case preaching to the converted so to speak...LOL)
I've read so many...it's hard to pick just three....
bikebuddha
100 Years of Solitude: Because reading it convinced me there's nothing in life as important as love so I came home and married my girlfriend.
Walden: There's a simple elegance there that touched me.
The Masks of God (all 4 volumes):Despite the fact that I've never been a religious man I'm deeply interested in religion and mythology.
Walden: There's a simple elegance there that touched me.
The Masks of God (all 4 volumes):Despite the fact that I've never been a religious man I'm deeply interested in religion and mythology.
old scratch
"surely you're joking mr feynman" - you cant beat richard feynman for incredible brilliance mixed with the ability to relate to regular folk.
"the mysterious stranger" this is technically a short story, so it doesnt count and i will get an extra book at the end of my list. mark twain later in life, when he had become more cynical, and i think more entertaining. this is the best thing i have ever read overall.
'the adventures of tom sawyer" - most people will say huck finn, and i cannot argue, but i will go with sawyer. the way twain characterizes people is unbearably accurate.
"a choice of days" HL mencken. this is a compilation of three autobiographical volumes by mencken, whose use of words is beautiful. i would rather read mencken than shakespeare. he is hilarious and i adore everything he ever wrote.
"the mysterious stranger" this is technically a short story, so it doesnt count and i will get an extra book at the end of my list. mark twain later in life, when he had become more cynical, and i think more entertaining. this is the best thing i have ever read overall.
'the adventures of tom sawyer" - most people will say huck finn, and i cannot argue, but i will go with sawyer. the way twain characterizes people is unbearably accurate.
"a choice of days" HL mencken. this is a compilation of three autobiographical volumes by mencken, whose use of words is beautiful. i would rather read mencken than shakespeare. he is hilarious and i adore everything he ever wrote.
FatguyRacer
It's Not About The Bike: My Journey Back To Life - Lance Armstrong/Sally Jenkins. Did he or didnt he dope aside, a very good book and very inspirational. Around the time I read it in late 2001, my mother in law had already been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was in chemo for the 1st time. She passed last summer.
One Knee Equals Two Feet: And Everything Else You Needed To Know About Football - John Madden. Quite possible the funniest football book, nay sports book ever written. Everything i learned about football came from this book. Unfortunately the book was written over 20 years ago and i read about 20 years ago. Football and football players will never be like that again. Todays jocks are wimps compared to the old guys.
No One Here Gets Out Alive - Danny Sugarman. I read this biograhpy of Jim Morrison more than 20 years ago when i was a young man pretty much bent on living the rock star lifestyle (sans the money and fame of actually being one). The way the book portrayed Morrison's wretched excess left an indelible impression on me. Although i've toked weed and drank more booze than anyone needs too, it's never been to excess, never lead to harder stuff and for the most part i've lived a decent almost drug free life since. The book probably doenst stand up to a repeat reading, but it was the right book at the right time for me.
One Knee Equals Two Feet: And Everything Else You Needed To Know About Football - John Madden. Quite possible the funniest football book, nay sports book ever written. Everything i learned about football came from this book. Unfortunately the book was written over 20 years ago and i read about 20 years ago. Football and football players will never be like that again. Todays jocks are wimps compared to the old guys.
No One Here Gets Out Alive - Danny Sugarman. I read this biograhpy of Jim Morrison more than 20 years ago when i was a young man pretty much bent on living the rock star lifestyle (sans the money and fame of actually being one). The way the book portrayed Morrison's wretched excess left an indelible impression on me. Although i've toked weed and drank more booze than anyone needs too, it's never been to excess, never lead to harder stuff and for the most part i've lived a decent almost drug free life since. The book probably doenst stand up to a repeat reading, but it was the right book at the right time for me.
Relaxer
That Madden books looks great, as I love books like that. Accordingly, I just ordered it (for $.01, plus $3.99 shipping) from Amazon. Thanks for the recommendation. I recently read Feinstein's 'Next Man Up' about one season with the Baltimore Ravens. It's very good, as it captures the highs and lows of a contending team. Unfortunately, the Ravens weren't that hot that year, so it was a little anticlimactic, but still a really good read.
Kestrelman
Mine - with openings....
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller. I read this at least every 5 years in order to maintain my sanity.
It was love at first sight. The first time Yossarian saw the chaplain he fell madly in love with him. Yossarian was in the hospital with a pain in his liver that fell just short of being jaundice. The doctors were puzzled by the fact that it wasn't quite jaundice. If it became jaundice they could treat it. If it didn't become jaundice and went away they could discharge him. But this just being short of jaundice all the time confused them.
Gravity's Rainbow - Thomas Pynchon. Stunning and so multi-leveled you need to read it at least 5 times before you even start to get it. (Disclaimer: As many times as I've started, I've never actually finished reading it. I don't know of anyone who has - do you?)
A screaming comes across the sky. It has happened before, but there was nothing to compare it to.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert Pirsig. This book cracked my whole viewpoint wide open in my early twenties and I've been thankful for that ever since.
I can see by my watch, without taking my hand from the left grip of the cycle, that it is eight-thirty in the morning.
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller. I read this at least every 5 years in order to maintain my sanity.
It was love at first sight. The first time Yossarian saw the chaplain he fell madly in love with him. Yossarian was in the hospital with a pain in his liver that fell just short of being jaundice. The doctors were puzzled by the fact that it wasn't quite jaundice. If it became jaundice they could treat it. If it didn't become jaundice and went away they could discharge him. But this just being short of jaundice all the time confused them.
Gravity's Rainbow - Thomas Pynchon. Stunning and so multi-leveled you need to read it at least 5 times before you even start to get it. (Disclaimer: As many times as I've started, I've never actually finished reading it. I don't know of anyone who has - do you?)
A screaming comes across the sky. It has happened before, but there was nothing to compare it to.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert Pirsig. This book cracked my whole viewpoint wide open in my early twenties and I've been thankful for that ever since.
I can see by my watch, without taking my hand from the left grip of the cycle, that it is eight-thirty in the morning.
Gee3
1. To Kill A Mockingbird - A very good book by Harper Lee about the injustices in the South back in the 60's and the coming of age of a girl and her fight between what's right and wrong in our world. It still rings true even today. It was just a very well written book that really touches your soul and the rights of human beings.
2. It's Your Ship - This started out as a book club book at work but it was a very good book on learning to work well with others even if it means bending the rules a bit. It also talks about taking responsiblity in your work and your people's work, even when the chit hits the fan. And trusting others to do the job right by empowering them to come up with their own ideas even if it's different from the ways of old.
3. Failure Is Not An Option by Gene Kranz - You've seen/read the Right Stuff, Apollo 13 and all those movies. Well this book goes through the beginnings of the space program through the flight controllers eyes, Gene Kranz. It gives you the perspective of the people on the ground and what they had to do to get troubled astronauts down from space by making quick decisions without the experience of doing it before. They basically had to write their own rules while learning their job. Any wrong decision they make could mean death to the astronauts. And they sometimes only had seconds to make them. The book is relatively short but very engrossing, even if you grew up during this time. It's a nice view of the "other" side of the space craft.
Bonus - The Harry Potter series. The books were written in a way that grabs you from the start and you can't put it down. It's an easy read because of it, even though the books get bigger as you go through books 1 through 7.
Bonus 2 - Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. If you liked the DaVinci Code you'll really like this story. It's a page turner and is fast paced for an easy read. It's similar to DaVinci but this was written before that one, I believe. There is only one part that was a bit of a stretch but it doesn't take away from the story as a whole.
Hope you find a book you like!
2. It's Your Ship - This started out as a book club book at work but it was a very good book on learning to work well with others even if it means bending the rules a bit. It also talks about taking responsiblity in your work and your people's work, even when the chit hits the fan. And trusting others to do the job right by empowering them to come up with their own ideas even if it's different from the ways of old.
3. Failure Is Not An Option by Gene Kranz - You've seen/read the Right Stuff, Apollo 13 and all those movies. Well this book goes through the beginnings of the space program through the flight controllers eyes, Gene Kranz. It gives you the perspective of the people on the ground and what they had to do to get troubled astronauts down from space by making quick decisions without the experience of doing it before. They basically had to write their own rules while learning their job. Any wrong decision they make could mean death to the astronauts. And they sometimes only had seconds to make them. The book is relatively short but very engrossing, even if you grew up during this time. It's a nice view of the "other" side of the space craft.
Bonus - The Harry Potter series. The books were written in a way that grabs you from the start and you can't put it down. It's an easy read because of it, even though the books get bigger as you go through books 1 through 7.
Bonus 2 - Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. If you liked the DaVinci Code you'll really like this story. It's a page turner and is fast paced for an easy read. It's similar to DaVinci but this was written before that one, I believe. There is only one part that was a bit of a stretch but it doesn't take away from the story as a whole.
Hope you find a book you like!
Keith99
Discourses
of
Niccolo Machiavelli
On the First Ten (Books) of Titus Livius
Just so I can start with a serious work and while many have read "The Prince" few have read this longer work. Machiavelli is unfairly reviled, he pretty much simply states what works, often actually wishing it was otherwise. But the Price is OK too, if you read either work do read the introductions and dedication. BTW this book is available online as in free. Just google "the discourses".
Glory Road By R.A. Heinlein. I could likely name off at least a dozen by Heinlein worth reading. It is hard to pick which one. This one is on the border of Science Fiction and fantasy. But at the same time it as sort of anti-fantasy as in anti 'and they lived happily ever after' and action over everything. Parts of this work drag. I will not say which parts, it will be obvious, they should drag, if you understand why they should you understood the work. This is also noteworthy from a historical standpoint. Publishers did not like that parts drag, they wanted them cut. If Heinlein had produced this work just a year earlier they likely would have gotten their way. When he did produce it he had the money and power to tell them to bugger off.
The Ring trillogy by Tolkein. There is depth to both the story and the characters. The characters fit the world. Like Glory Road this is also Anti-Fantasy, it is not a disney happily ever after. Also like Glory Road parts drag and again like Glory Road there are good reasons. One part that illustrates the characters fiting the world is a burial scene. Someone dies in battle and his friends are concerned about a proper burial, even though others are still alive and at risk. I am as far from that way of thinking as you can get. Let my husk lie or let the Wolves have it. But for Tolkeins world, a world where dreams matter and symbols can be more important than soldiers it fits, it is right for that world.
Bonus list:
The War Prayer - Mark Twain. If I gave 20 sentences I would have the whole work. Perhaps the shortest adult book ever. But hard hitting. The cover blurb is about 2/3 as long as the whole book. The end of that blurb goes something like this, it is Twains reply to the question of if he will have it published: "In this I have told the whole truth, that is something no living man can do, it can be published after I am dead. (I ahve a nasty feeling he was quite wise in his decision).
The Mote in Gods Eye - Niven And Pournelle. To explain is to tell too much. But perhaps a little. It is in one aspect a first contact story. Most such stories are absurd. Anyone who can travel light years in a reasonable time could kick our butts without trying, and even otherwise the odds are that there will be an imbalance of power so great that things are no contest even if we meet other races when exploring. (Though there is little to help decide if it would be us or them that is the stronger). This story has a unique solution to the imbalance problem. Oh and Crazy Eddy is worth 'meeting' .
I'd also include almost anything of Heinlein except his last few works. Here are a few
Farnhams Freehold - Just because it is about as politically incorrect as you can get.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - It is funny just who in a story you find you care about.
Starship troupers - Heinlein got more complaints about this work than any other, yet it kept selling. Worth a read just to see just how far a movie can depart from a book and how obvious it can be that some reviewers never read the work they are reviewiing. (Many reviewers of the book claimed that Heinlein set forth ideas about why the form of government in the book worked, when in fact he found a rather clever way to argue the exact opposite). Also there is a rather trite martial arts scen in the book. But look at the copyright date.
I Will Fear No Evil - With where medical science has gone so far and some current social trends this story has become very scary. Again look at the copyright date.
Magic Inc. - One of his few true fantasy stories, but with a science fiction flavoring. If you read this think about a deamon that is rather helpful to the hero and just what it implies come tax time.
The Long Watch - Just a short story, one that will never happen, but could have. Worth a read because it shows you can give away the ending yet still tell a riveting story. After all when the opening sentence is something like "Nine ships took off from moonbase and once in space eight fromed a sphere arround the ninth, on which there was no living thing, only a lead lined coffin and a geiger counter that was never quiet". Unless one is an idiot is it pretty clear the Hero stops the bad guys and does not survive. A bright person can figure out other details.
of
Niccolo Machiavelli
On the First Ten (Books) of Titus Livius
Just so I can start with a serious work and while many have read "The Prince" few have read this longer work. Machiavelli is unfairly reviled, he pretty much simply states what works, often actually wishing it was otherwise. But the Price is OK too, if you read either work do read the introductions and dedication. BTW this book is available online as in free. Just google "the discourses".
Glory Road By R.A. Heinlein. I could likely name off at least a dozen by Heinlein worth reading. It is hard to pick which one. This one is on the border of Science Fiction and fantasy. But at the same time it as sort of anti-fantasy as in anti 'and they lived happily ever after' and action over everything. Parts of this work drag. I will not say which parts, it will be obvious, they should drag, if you understand why they should you understood the work. This is also noteworthy from a historical standpoint. Publishers did not like that parts drag, they wanted them cut. If Heinlein had produced this work just a year earlier they likely would have gotten their way. When he did produce it he had the money and power to tell them to bugger off.
The Ring trillogy by Tolkein. There is depth to both the story and the characters. The characters fit the world. Like Glory Road this is also Anti-Fantasy, it is not a disney happily ever after. Also like Glory Road parts drag and again like Glory Road there are good reasons. One part that illustrates the characters fiting the world is a burial scene. Someone dies in battle and his friends are concerned about a proper burial, even though others are still alive and at risk. I am as far from that way of thinking as you can get. Let my husk lie or let the Wolves have it. But for Tolkeins world, a world where dreams matter and symbols can be more important than soldiers it fits, it is right for that world.
Bonus list:
The War Prayer - Mark Twain. If I gave 20 sentences I would have the whole work. Perhaps the shortest adult book ever. But hard hitting. The cover blurb is about 2/3 as long as the whole book. The end of that blurb goes something like this, it is Twains reply to the question of if he will have it published: "In this I have told the whole truth, that is something no living man can do, it can be published after I am dead. (I ahve a nasty feeling he was quite wise in his decision).
The Mote in Gods Eye - Niven And Pournelle. To explain is to tell too much. But perhaps a little. It is in one aspect a first contact story. Most such stories are absurd. Anyone who can travel light years in a reasonable time could kick our butts without trying, and even otherwise the odds are that there will be an imbalance of power so great that things are no contest even if we meet other races when exploring. (Though there is little to help decide if it would be us or them that is the stronger). This story has a unique solution to the imbalance problem. Oh and Crazy Eddy is worth 'meeting' .
I'd also include almost anything of Heinlein except his last few works. Here are a few
Farnhams Freehold - Just because it is about as politically incorrect as you can get.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - It is funny just who in a story you find you care about.
Starship troupers - Heinlein got more complaints about this work than any other, yet it kept selling. Worth a read just to see just how far a movie can depart from a book and how obvious it can be that some reviewers never read the work they are reviewiing. (Many reviewers of the book claimed that Heinlein set forth ideas about why the form of government in the book worked, when in fact he found a rather clever way to argue the exact opposite). Also there is a rather trite martial arts scen in the book. But look at the copyright date.
I Will Fear No Evil - With where medical science has gone so far and some current social trends this story has become very scary. Again look at the copyright date.
Magic Inc. - One of his few true fantasy stories, but with a science fiction flavoring. If you read this think about a deamon that is rather helpful to the hero and just what it implies come tax time.
The Long Watch - Just a short story, one that will never happen, but could have. Worth a read because it shows you can give away the ending yet still tell a riveting story. After all when the opening sentence is something like "Nine ships took off from moonbase and once in space eight fromed a sphere arround the ninth, on which there was no living thing, only a lead lined coffin and a geiger counter that was never quiet". Unless one is an idiot is it pretty clear the Hero stops the bad guys and does not survive. A bright person can figure out other details.
cyclezealot
Can't do it is less than four. Since its a college text, won't mention Complete Pelican Shakespeare.
My biggest zealotry. Cycling.
A tie between "Long Distance Cycling by Burke adn Pavelka and Armstrong's
"It's not about the Bike." and other stuff.
Kolko's "Wealth and Power in America.
Howard Zinn's , "People's History of the United States.
Labor's Untold Story, by Boyer Morais.
Just because all mentioned form the key elements of my Social Philosophy.
Honorable Mentions.
Asphalt Nation by Jane Holtz Kaye and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.
My biggest zealotry. Cycling.
A tie between "Long Distance Cycling by Burke adn Pavelka and Armstrong's
"It's not about the Bike." and other stuff.
Kolko's "Wealth and Power in America.
Howard Zinn's , "People's History of the United States.
Labor's Untold Story, by Boyer Morais.
Just because all mentioned form the key elements of my Social Philosophy.
Honorable Mentions.
Asphalt Nation by Jane Holtz Kaye and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.
Crash716
Tuesdays with Morrie....Good lessons for life..
The Bible...more good lessons for life, and better to live your life believing and be wrong than not to believe and be wrong.
Henderson the Lion King...Cause we are all that guy that messes up the lifes of those around us at one point or another
The Bible...more good lessons for life, and better to live your life believing and be wrong than not to believe and be wrong.
Henderson the Lion King...Cause we are all that guy that messes up the lifes of those around us at one point or another
Hickeydog
Black Hawk Down: Great non-fiction about modern warfare. It gives a very unbalanced account of the Battle of Mogadishu (1993). Also, it gives great insight into the causes of warfare and it gives a very detailed chronology of events leading up to the battle. I highly recommend that EVERYONE reads this book
The DaVinchi Code: Gripping thriller. You will NOT be able to put that book down, so I recommend having about 2 days to dedicate to reading. DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE!! it sucked. But back to the book. Very original and very detailed book. Read it, but remember that it was designed as entertainment. NOT AS A HISTORY LESSON. The Catholic Church has some difficulty distinguishing between the two.
The Hunt for Red October/ Rainbow 6: Two books, actually. Both written by Tom Clancy. Very long, very detailed, and very good. Tom Clancy's style is much like Dan Brown, but with much more detail. For instance, in Rainbow 6, Clancy goes into deep analysis of how a 10mm bullet is so much more effective than a 9mm. Just an example. Very good reads.
I highly recommend anything by Mark Bowden, Dan Brown, or Tom Clancy.
The DaVinchi Code: Gripping thriller. You will NOT be able to put that book down, so I recommend having about 2 days to dedicate to reading. DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE!! it sucked. But back to the book. Very original and very detailed book. Read it, but remember that it was designed as entertainment. NOT AS A HISTORY LESSON. The Catholic Church has some difficulty distinguishing between the two.
The Hunt for Red October/ Rainbow 6: Two books, actually. Both written by Tom Clancy. Very long, very detailed, and very good. Tom Clancy's style is much like Dan Brown, but with much more detail. For instance, in Rainbow 6, Clancy goes into deep analysis of how a 10mm bullet is so much more effective than a 9mm. Just an example. Very good reads.
I highly recommend anything by Mark Bowden, Dan Brown, or Tom Clancy.
operator
The Hunt for Red October/ Rainbow 6: Two books, actually. Both written by Tom Clancy. Very long, very detailed, and very good. Tom Clancy's style is much like Dan Brown, but with much more detail. For instance, in Rainbow 6, Clancy goes into deep analysis of how a 10mm bullet is so much more effective than a 9mm. Just an example. Very good reads.
I highly recommend anything by Mark Bowden, Dan Brown, or Tom Clancy.
Sorry to burst your bubble, the the R6 novels were complete ghost-written trash - he even manges to get the designation of the mp5 wrong in the novel.
Red october however was freaking brilliant.
I highly recommend anything by Mark Bowden, Dan Brown, or Tom Clancy.
Sorry to burst your bubble, the the R6 novels were complete ghost-written trash - he even manges to get the designation of the mp5 wrong in the novel.
Red october however was freaking brilliant.
hockeyteeth
I'm terrible at evaluating literature; That's why I got a C in ENC1102. Here are my top 2:
East of Eden by John Steinbeck - Great characters, themes of morality and such, and enough story lines to keep your attention from first to last page. My favorite book.
Most stuff by Hemingway - Hemingway writes about human interaction and motives. I am very naive and reading about a pessimist's social situations has helped me realize why I don't like the majority of modern society. Top Hemingway novels would be: The Sun Also Rises, and A Farewell to Arms.
I don't have a third favorite.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck - Great characters, themes of morality and such, and enough story lines to keep your attention from first to last page. My favorite book.
Most stuff by Hemingway - Hemingway writes about human interaction and motives. I am very naive and reading about a pessimist's social situations has helped me realize why I don't like the majority of modern society. Top Hemingway novels would be: The Sun Also Rises, and A Farewell to Arms.
I don't have a third favorite.
Choccy
Mine are quite lame really as I don't do much reading unless it's on the internet or I'm on holiday as I get bored sunbathing.
McMahon: The Bare Truth About Chicago's Brashest Bear: Just liked the realistic way in which the guy tells his story.
It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life: Well what can I say, except it helped me to stop smoking and start enjoying life.
The Hogfather: I love most of the Discworld novels but Death is one of my favorite characters, and is so funny trying to be like humans in this book.
McMahon: The Bare Truth About Chicago's Brashest Bear: Just liked the realistic way in which the guy tells his story.
It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life: Well what can I say, except it helped me to stop smoking and start enjoying life.
The Hogfather: I love most of the Discworld novels but Death is one of my favorite characters, and is so funny trying to be like humans in this book.
FatguyRacer
I read Tom Clancy's first 5 books as they came out. I think i lost interest after the 5th one for some reason. His 2nd book, Red Storm Rising literally scared the crap outta me. Considering the world view at the time I read it in the mid 80's and his writing style, just made the book's whole scenario entirely plausable.
Second Mouse
Bill Bryson, Neither Here Nor There. In his youth, Bryson went to Europe for a few weeks. As an "adult,", he retraces his steps. Most of Bryson's books make me snort. This one especially. My wife read it and didn't understand why I thought it was so funny.
Wallace Stegner, Recapitulation. The story is set in Salt Lake City, where I live, but even so, few people can put words together like Stegner. Angle of Repose might be a better fit for you than Recapitulation. Some folks find Stegner dry or tiring. Definitely not a quick read--his books need to be savored.
Steven Womack, the Harry James Denton (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/steven-womack/) murder mystery series. Sometimes you just need to read a good, trashy murder mystery. The six books in this series are set in Nashville (mostly), and if you're in the mood, they're great fun.
Wallace Stegner, Recapitulation. The story is set in Salt Lake City, where I live, but even so, few people can put words together like Stegner. Angle of Repose might be a better fit for you than Recapitulation. Some folks find Stegner dry or tiring. Definitely not a quick read--his books need to be savored.
Steven Womack, the Harry James Denton (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/steven-womack/) murder mystery series. Sometimes you just need to read a good, trashy murder mystery. The six books in this series are set in Nashville (mostly), and if you're in the mood, they're great fun.
colorider
Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry. While the miniseries was excellent it still didn't cover all of McMurtry's western. Just a thoroughly enjoyable read that I couldn't put down. The subsequent sequels were ok but no where near as good as LD.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain - Twain's take on time travel placing an 1900th century yankee back in Arthurian England.
A Walk in the Woods - Bill Bryson - Funny as hell story of two tenderfoots attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail end to end.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain - Twain's take on time travel placing an 1900th century yankee back in Arthurian England.
A Walk in the Woods - Bill Bryson - Funny as hell story of two tenderfoots attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail end to end.
caloso
I read Tom Clancy's first 5 books as they came out. I think i lost interest after the 5th one for some reason. His 2nd book, Red Storm Rising literally scared the crap outta me. Considering the world view at the time I read it in the mid 80's and his writing style, just made the book's whole scenario entirely plausable.
Same as me, but I know exactly why I lost interest. In one book (I think it was the one where the JAL plane crashes into the Capitol and Ryan becomes President), Clancy refers to Absolut as Finnish vodka. It's from Sweden and a 10 minute trip to the Safeway liquor aisle would have been sufficient background research. I figured if Clancy couldn't be bothered to find out something so basic, how could I believe he knew what he was talking about regarding the avionics of a Su-27?
Same as me, but I know exactly why I lost interest. In one book (I think it was the one where the JAL plane crashes into the Capitol and Ryan becomes President), Clancy refers to Absolut as Finnish vodka. It's from Sweden and a 10 minute trip to the Safeway liquor aisle would have been sufficient background research. I figured if Clancy couldn't be bothered to find out something so basic, how could I believe he knew what he was talking about regarding the avionics of a Su-27?
colorider
Same as me, but I know exactly why I lost interest. In one book (I think it was the one where the JAL plane crashes into the Capitol and Ryan becomes President), Clancy refers to Absolut as Finnish vodka. It's from Sweden and a 10 minute trip to the Safeway liquor aisle would have been sufficient background research. I figured if Clancy couldn't be bothered to find out something so basic, how could I believe he knew what he was talking about regarding the avionics of a Su-27?
I lost interest in his books after that one as well. Just tired of the genre I guess. I had read all his stuff prior, but Executive Orders was just a slog for me. Admittedly I liked it towards the end but must've false started it 3-4 times before getting into it.
I lost interest in his books after that one as well. Just tired of the genre I guess. I had read all his stuff prior, but Executive Orders was just a slog for me. Admittedly I liked it towards the end but must've false started it 3-4 times before getting into it.
TheKillerPenguin
The Day of the Jackal- Its like nothing else you'll ever read. Forsythe melds history and his characters so well that it wouldn't suprise me if it all really happened. Like Classic1 I found it nearly impossible to put down.
1984- I read it years ago, and its surely the book that has affected me the most. Its vision of the future is grim and its ending is haunting. I couldn't put it down.
100 Years of Solitude- I've spent a lot of time thinking about it and I can't figure out why, but this book affected me in a deep way. Its a great book. Part of the fun of it comes in trying to keep all the Buendia's names straight.
Damn you for making me leave off King Leopold's Ghost, MTB.
1984- I read it years ago, and its surely the book that has affected me the most. Its vision of the future is grim and its ending is haunting. I couldn't put it down.
100 Years of Solitude- I've spent a lot of time thinking about it and I can't figure out why, but this book affected me in a deep way. Its a great book. Part of the fun of it comes in trying to keep all the Buendia's names straight.
Damn you for making me leave off King Leopold's Ghost, MTB.
Losoccer14
1) Between A Rock and A Hard Place - Aron Ralston, Inspirational book about Aron getting literally stuck in a canyon for many days without food or water, and how he managed to survive by eventually cutting through his own arm to free himself. If you enjoyed It's not About the Bike, you would love this book as well.
2) The Only Road North - Erik Mirandette, A personal friend of mine wrote this book about his 'adventure' in Africa, Beyond the fact that Erik is a good friend, it is an excellent book.......here is the summary from Amazon,
Mirandette made headlines when he and two friends were severely injured by a terrorist bomb in Cairo, Egypt, in April of 2005. His brother, Alex, who was weeks away from his 19th birthday, died in the attack. It was a tragic end to a journey that began in Cape Town, South Africa, months earlier when three young men (a fourth joined them later) set out on the journey that would change their lives. Mirandette had felt God's insistent call while studying at the U.S. Air Force Academy; he left the U.S. to help a relief organization in Melilla, Spain, then to assist earthquake victims in Morocco. But he felt he needed to see and experience the rest of Africa, so the young men took off together. His account of their 9,000-mile motorcycle journey is riveting. They faced wild animals, hostile people, civil wars, a lack of food and several crashes along the way, but this intrepid group never wavered in their resolve to finish the trip—until a bomb ripped their worlds apart. Mirandette reveals his own religious searching, questions and qualms, yet urges readers to make the choice to "follow and believe." This is a tale of spiritual quest and huge adventure that ends in tragedy but not regret. (Apr.)
http://www.amazon.com/Only-Road-North-Erik-Mirandette/dp/0310274354
3) Its Not About the Bike - Lance
2) The Only Road North - Erik Mirandette, A personal friend of mine wrote this book about his 'adventure' in Africa, Beyond the fact that Erik is a good friend, it is an excellent book.......here is the summary from Amazon,
Mirandette made headlines when he and two friends were severely injured by a terrorist bomb in Cairo, Egypt, in April of 2005. His brother, Alex, who was weeks away from his 19th birthday, died in the attack. It was a tragic end to a journey that began in Cape Town, South Africa, months earlier when three young men (a fourth joined them later) set out on the journey that would change their lives. Mirandette had felt God's insistent call while studying at the U.S. Air Force Academy; he left the U.S. to help a relief organization in Melilla, Spain, then to assist earthquake victims in Morocco. But he felt he needed to see and experience the rest of Africa, so the young men took off together. His account of their 9,000-mile motorcycle journey is riveting. They faced wild animals, hostile people, civil wars, a lack of food and several crashes along the way, but this intrepid group never wavered in their resolve to finish the trip—until a bomb ripped their worlds apart. Mirandette reveals his own religious searching, questions and qualms, yet urges readers to make the choice to "follow and believe." This is a tale of spiritual quest and huge adventure that ends in tragedy but not regret. (Apr.)
http://www.amazon.com/Only-Road-North-Erik-Mirandette/dp/0310274354
3) Its Not About the Bike - Lance
pushthatpedal
The three books I like are The Little Prince, How kill a mockingbird and hamlet. I love these books because the plots of the novels where good and also these 3 chosen books are all page turners.
muccapazza
No Country for Old Men - Cormac McCarthy
Really stays with you after you read it, the movie is also really good particularly the first part and follows the book amazingly closely.
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson
Mona Lisa Overdrive, Virtual Light, Pattern Recognition, all by William Gibson
Cool cyberpunk
The Water-Method Man - John Irving
Funniest book I've ever read, equal to or exceeding my first encounter with Dave Barry's Bad Habits
FOr short stories, George Sanders can't be beat his stories are wounding and he has two compilations, CivilWarLand in Bad Decline and Pastoralia.
Really stays with you after you read it, the movie is also really good particularly the first part and follows the book amazingly closely.
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson
Mona Lisa Overdrive, Virtual Light, Pattern Recognition, all by William Gibson
Cool cyberpunk
The Water-Method Man - John Irving
Funniest book I've ever read, equal to or exceeding my first encounter with Dave Barry's Bad Habits
FOr short stories, George Sanders can't be beat his stories are wounding and he has two compilations, CivilWarLand in Bad Decline and Pastoralia.
midschool22
1-The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. For years I thought I was doing ok with money. Turns out, I'm just average and normal. This book changed my outlook on money forever. I am now on the right track and winning with money.
2-The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley/William D. Danko. This book focuses on the buying, spending and saving habits of the average millionaire. You would be surpirised at the results. Very informative.
3-T.B.A.
2-The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley/William D. Danko. This book focuses on the buying, spending and saving habits of the average millionaire. You would be surpirised at the results. Very informative.
3-T.B.A.
Canadian
Slaughterhouse Five (Kurt Vonnegut)
Vonnegut's best novel, imo. This guy has sharp command over his ability to choose words to tell a great story, and on top of that, he tells the greatest stories. It's the best of both worlds. Also, his writing is morally thought-provoking. But his profound depth of thought is almost secondary to his writing abilities.
Fifth Business (Robertson Davies)
Wow. Just... wow. It's a triology. The first book blew me away, though. (Novel.)
A Short History of Nearly Everything (Bill Bryson)
Bryson's an absurdly clear and conscise writer, who is also entertaining. He's great b/c he tells the history of science (and thus humankind's views of reality) in a captivating way that makes you want to keep reading (even when you don't have the time) to "just read one more page!"
This is the stuff that should be used in junior high instead of dry texts. It helps to conceptualize the importance of asking "why" with regards to physics/astronomy/chemistry, etc.
Vonnegut's best novel, imo. This guy has sharp command over his ability to choose words to tell a great story, and on top of that, he tells the greatest stories. It's the best of both worlds. Also, his writing is morally thought-provoking. But his profound depth of thought is almost secondary to his writing abilities.
Fifth Business (Robertson Davies)
Wow. Just... wow. It's a triology. The first book blew me away, though. (Novel.)
A Short History of Nearly Everything (Bill Bryson)
Bryson's an absurdly clear and conscise writer, who is also entertaining. He's great b/c he tells the history of science (and thus humankind's views of reality) in a captivating way that makes you want to keep reading (even when you don't have the time) to "just read one more page!"
This is the stuff that should be used in junior high instead of dry texts. It helps to conceptualize the importance of asking "why" with regards to physics/astronomy/chemistry, etc.
NotTooSlo
Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurty: This was already listed but it's my number one too. It's a fantastic portrayal of life in the West (US) at the time when it was still not quite settled. The story follows 2 great characters through a transition period in thier lives that sets them off on a 2500 mile journey from south Texas to Montana. There's drama, romance, tragedy, etc. etc. etc. (it even won a Pulitzer Prize, for whatever that's worth)
Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follet: A novel set in 12th Century England centered around the building of a Cathedral and the impact of this on the men, women and children that built it and the town around it. This may not sound too exciting but it is a phenominal tale that grabs everyone that I know that has read it.
The Stand, Steven King: Story of the "end of days" where the survivors of a plague that wipes out most of the earths population coalesce in two main camps (good and evil). King is a great storyteller and the story, characters and background though somewhat outragous never the less seems to work.
Enjoy
Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follet: A novel set in 12th Century England centered around the building of a Cathedral and the impact of this on the men, women and children that built it and the town around it. This may not sound too exciting but it is a phenominal tale that grabs everyone that I know that has read it.
The Stand, Steven King: Story of the "end of days" where the survivors of a plague that wipes out most of the earths population coalesce in two main camps (good and evil). King is a great storyteller and the story, characters and background though somewhat outragous never the less seems to work.
Enjoy
Elmo
I like these books:
Harlan Ellison's Spider Kiss - If you haven't read anything by Ellison, then you are not well read. Everything he writes will grab you by the throat and won't let go from the very first page.
Steven King's The Dark Tower the Gunslinger. Great story that is very, very unpredictable.
Catcher in the Rye. JD Salinger's book is so funny you'll pee your pantaloons!
Harlan Ellison's Spider Kiss - If you haven't read anything by Ellison, then you are not well read. Everything he writes will grab you by the throat and won't let go from the very first page.
Steven King's The Dark Tower the Gunslinger. Great story that is very, very unpredictable.
Catcher in the Rye. JD Salinger's book is so funny you'll pee your pantaloons!
Bikepacker67
Steven King's The Dark Tower the Gunslinger. Great story that is very, very unpredictable.
Stephen King's opus for sure.
It ties everything together...
Hearts in Atlantis
The Talisman
Salem's Lot
The Shining
Rose Madder
Insomnia
The Regulators
etc., etc.
SK is seriously underrated... but then again, so was Willie S., in his time.
Stephen King's opus for sure.
It ties everything together...
Hearts in Atlantis
The Talisman
Salem's Lot
The Shining
Rose Madder
Insomnia
The Regulators
etc., etc.
SK is seriously underrated... but then again, so was Willie S., in his time.
Viking55803
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: The saddest (and funniest) book I've ever read as well as the best writing by an American and as perfect a piece of fiction as has been written.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand: The Libertarian bible
The Stranger by Albert Camus: The existential masterpiece.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand: The Libertarian bible
The Stranger by Albert Camus: The existential masterpiece.
Oleanshoebox
Factotum-I don't know why I obsess over Charles Bukowski, I just do. This book and Post Office are the ones that I read over and over and miss like an old friend when I am not reading them. The subject matter is not very compelling, the prose is very basic and straightforward. It is beautiful.
Slaughterhouse Five-As cliche as it might be to name Vonnegut's most famous book, it is without a doubt his best. My father in law has almost all of his works and I have read almost all of what he has. This book is enriching and entertaining on many levels. Read it now or die.
Ask The Dust-There is a desperate, throbbing angst in John Fante's voice that is undeniably invading. Once you start to get what he is doing there is no turning back. Pure, smooth, unadulterated reading pleasure. Some of his other stuff is good, but Ask The Dust is a masterpiece.
I feel bad not listing any Kerouac here but I honestly like these three books better than any of his. He is definitely my favorite poet, however, and if you have not read On The Road you should.
Slaughterhouse Five-As cliche as it might be to name Vonnegut's most famous book, it is without a doubt his best. My father in law has almost all of his works and I have read almost all of what he has. This book is enriching and entertaining on many levels. Read it now or die.
Ask The Dust-There is a desperate, throbbing angst in John Fante's voice that is undeniably invading. Once you start to get what he is doing there is no turning back. Pure, smooth, unadulterated reading pleasure. Some of his other stuff is good, but Ask The Dust is a masterpiece.
I feel bad not listing any Kerouac here but I honestly like these three books better than any of his. He is definitely my favorite poet, however, and if you have not read On The Road you should.
blueskytheory
thus spoke zarathustra - fw nietzsche
nausea - jp sartre
solaris - stanislaw lem
Each is the perfect wedding of prose and philosophy!
runner-ups: heart of darkness, moby dick, his master's voice, the sailor who fell from grace with the sea
nausea - jp sartre
solaris - stanislaw lem
Each is the perfect wedding of prose and philosophy!
runner-ups: heart of darkness, moby dick, his master's voice, the sailor who fell from grace with the sea
Shifty
Gosh, there are SO many great books I could list. I'll pick a few at random.
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey this book instantly turned me into an environmentalist by opening my eyes to nature and the deserts of the southwest. All of his books are fantastic, A Fool'sProgress and The Monkey Wrench Gang are also beautifully written, thought provoking and fun to read. I read Desert Solitaire every five years or so, I never tire of it.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. A classic tale that makes you laugh out loud and cry like a baby. I'm not sure if it is Kesey's best book, but it is so powerful and I got so attached to the characters.
The World According to Garp by John Irving. Epic tale of human spirit and love. Rich characters, gripping story and powerful examination of love and life.
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey this book instantly turned me into an environmentalist by opening my eyes to nature and the deserts of the southwest. All of his books are fantastic, A Fool'sProgress and The Monkey Wrench Gang are also beautifully written, thought provoking and fun to read. I read Desert Solitaire every five years or so, I never tire of it.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. A classic tale that makes you laugh out loud and cry like a baby. I'm not sure if it is Kesey's best book, but it is so powerful and I got so attached to the characters.
The World According to Garp by John Irving. Epic tale of human spirit and love. Rich characters, gripping story and powerful examination of love and life.
Takabrash
My 3 faves in no particular order are:
The Road by Cormac McCarthy, amazingly moving story of a man and his son trying to survive after an apocalypse
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, super gripping and intense, awesome even if you're not into sci-fi
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, absolutely hilarious snapshot of a part of America, the characters will stay with you long after you finish
The Road by Cormac McCarthy, amazingly moving story of a man and his son trying to survive after an apocalypse
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, super gripping and intense, awesome even if you're not into sci-fi
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, absolutely hilarious snapshot of a part of America, the characters will stay with you long after you finish
late
I have read thousands of books. Here are a few I liked
Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowatt
Hysterically funny, true, read it twice the day I bought it.
http://www.amazon.com/Never-Cry-Wolf-Farley-Mowat/dp/B000H2G7ZS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208129510&sr=1-3
After you, Marco Polo ... newlyweds follow Marco Polo's route to China at the height of the Cold War.
http://www.amazon.com/After-Marco-Polo-Jean-Bowie/dp/B0007DKBEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208128745&sr=1-1
The Wheels of Commerce by Braudel ..if you want to understand why the world is the way it is... this is one of the books you want to read
http://www.amazon.com/Wheels-Commerce-Civilisation-Capitalism/dp/1842122886/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208128857&sr=1-1
Cities and the Wealth of Nations by Jane Jacobs ...this book became a classic the day it was published. Everyone should read it.
http://www.amazon.com/Cities-Wealth-Nations-Jane-Jacobs/dp/0394729110/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208128936&sr=1-1
The Complete Walker by Colin Fletcher.. I love backpacking.
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Walker-IV-Colin-Fletcher/dp/0375703233/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208129104&sr=1-1
An introduction to Go ..the finest game yet devised by Man, the intellectual challenge of learning it will teach ways of thinking you had never considered.
http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Go-James-Davies/dp/4871870308/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208129191&sr=1-6
Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowatt
Hysterically funny, true, read it twice the day I bought it.
http://www.amazon.com/Never-Cry-Wolf-Farley-Mowat/dp/B000H2G7ZS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208129510&sr=1-3
After you, Marco Polo ... newlyweds follow Marco Polo's route to China at the height of the Cold War.
http://www.amazon.com/After-Marco-Polo-Jean-Bowie/dp/B0007DKBEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208128745&sr=1-1
The Wheels of Commerce by Braudel ..if you want to understand why the world is the way it is... this is one of the books you want to read
http://www.amazon.com/Wheels-Commerce-Civilisation-Capitalism/dp/1842122886/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208128857&sr=1-1
Cities and the Wealth of Nations by Jane Jacobs ...this book became a classic the day it was published. Everyone should read it.
http://www.amazon.com/Cities-Wealth-Nations-Jane-Jacobs/dp/0394729110/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208128936&sr=1-1
The Complete Walker by Colin Fletcher.. I love backpacking.
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Walker-IV-Colin-Fletcher/dp/0375703233/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208129104&sr=1-1
An introduction to Go ..the finest game yet devised by Man, the intellectual challenge of learning it will teach ways of thinking you had never considered.
http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Go-James-Davies/dp/4871870308/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208129191&sr=1-6
myx74
the davinci code- actually read this after the movie. liked the book better though
real boys
harry potter-sorry, can't help not typing this. i really do love the books.:)
___________________
michelle--If you haven't checked out book trailers, or if you want to see some really cools ones I've found a few places that are really good. My favorite is on YouTube at www.youtube.com/booktrailers, but I also like the new ones on the BN.com site at www.bn.com and go to the BN Studio, and I love the Borders Media site too. VidLits are pretty cool www.vidlits.com. http://www.youtube.com/booktrailers
real boys
harry potter-sorry, can't help not typing this. i really do love the books.:)
___________________
michelle--If you haven't checked out book trailers, or if you want to see some really cools ones I've found a few places that are really good. My favorite is on YouTube at www.youtube.com/booktrailers, but I also like the new ones on the BN.com site at www.bn.com and go to the BN Studio, and I love the Borders Media site too. VidLits are pretty cool www.vidlits.com. http://www.youtube.com/booktrailers
OPC
There are certainly more entertaining books I've read, but the following are the most influential.
The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America --Louis Menand
The Words We Live By: An Annotated Guide to the U.S. Constitution --Linda Monk
Tao Te Ching --Lao-tzu (Jane English translation)
Honorable Mention:
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies --Jared Diamond
The Greatest Generation --Tom Brokaw
The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America --Louis Menand
The Words We Live By: An Annotated Guide to the U.S. Constitution --Linda Monk
Tao Te Ching --Lao-tzu (Jane English translation)
Honorable Mention:
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies --Jared Diamond
The Greatest Generation --Tom Brokaw
cbchess
top three books is hard to pick.
The Baroque Cycle ( Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World) by
Neal Stephenson
This, of course is a trilogy, but I have to include it as one. Well written and fun to read. The Characters are tracked through many years and worldly developments.
I think about this (these) book(s) often. I miss reading them.
Starship Troopers by Heinlein: The worst movie -A great book. Worth re-reading every year or so. Many great ideas are in this book.
Foucault’s-Pendulum (http://www.amazon.com/Foucaults-Pendulum-Umberto-Eco/dp/0345368754) by Umberto Eco. This is every Occult conspiracy rolled into one big tasty pie.
The Baroque Cycle ( Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World) by
Neal Stephenson
This, of course is a trilogy, but I have to include it as one. Well written and fun to read. The Characters are tracked through many years and worldly developments.
I think about this (these) book(s) often. I miss reading them.
Starship Troopers by Heinlein: The worst movie -A great book. Worth re-reading every year or so. Many great ideas are in this book.
Foucault’s-Pendulum (http://www.amazon.com/Foucaults-Pendulum-Umberto-Eco/dp/0345368754) by Umberto Eco. This is every Occult conspiracy rolled into one big tasty pie.
HardyWeinberg
I am huge on Eyelids Of Morning (http://www.amazon.com/Eyelids-Morning-Graham/dp/0877015392), which really brings you right into living life as part of nature (and that is not necessarily very romantic). Amazing photos, some hilarious text, along with a lot of thought provoking.
Keith99
top three books is hard to pick.
The Baroque Cycle ( Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World) by
Neal Stephenson
This, of course is a trilogy, but I have to include it as one. Well written and fun to read. The Characters are tracked through many years and worldly developments.
I think about this (these) book(s) often. I miss reading them.
Starship Troopers by Heinlein: The worst movie -A great book. Worth re-reading every year or so. Many great ideas are in this book.
Foucault’s-Pendulum (http://www.amazon.com/Foucaults-Pendulum-Umberto-Eco/dp/0345368754) by Umberto Eco. This is every Occult conspiracy rolled into one big tasty pie.
Starship Troopers is one of the most misrepresented books out there. It would be worth reading just to see how many errors you can find in reviews. Possible spoiler coming. As with many books vrs. films the book simply has more, there are scenes or whole parts of the story omitted from the film, even good adaptations, which this film is not. One of those parts is when Johnny goes to Officer Candidate School. What happens there is priceless. Oh not in storyline but in reviewers PWNd. For the students get asked some questions about their society, the why do we do it this way kind. They give some answers, answers that most reviewers say is what Heinlein is saying. They then get slapped down by the instructor, because the answers are wrong. Heinlein creates a construct to make it very clear what he is saying and what he explicitly is not saying and the reviewers get it backwards.
Hey cbchess check out the Science fiction and fantasy thread. (Blantant self promotion since I started it).
The Baroque Cycle ( Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World) by
Neal Stephenson
This, of course is a trilogy, but I have to include it as one. Well written and fun to read. The Characters are tracked through many years and worldly developments.
I think about this (these) book(s) often. I miss reading them.
Starship Troopers by Heinlein: The worst movie -A great book. Worth re-reading every year or so. Many great ideas are in this book.
Foucault’s-Pendulum (http://www.amazon.com/Foucaults-Pendulum-Umberto-Eco/dp/0345368754) by Umberto Eco. This is every Occult conspiracy rolled into one big tasty pie.
Starship Troopers is one of the most misrepresented books out there. It would be worth reading just to see how many errors you can find in reviews. Possible spoiler coming. As with many books vrs. films the book simply has more, there are scenes or whole parts of the story omitted from the film, even good adaptations, which this film is not. One of those parts is when Johnny goes to Officer Candidate School. What happens there is priceless. Oh not in storyline but in reviewers PWNd. For the students get asked some questions about their society, the why do we do it this way kind. They give some answers, answers that most reviewers say is what Heinlein is saying. They then get slapped down by the instructor, because the answers are wrong. Heinlein creates a construct to make it very clear what he is saying and what he explicitly is not saying and the reviewers get it backwards.
Hey cbchess check out the Science fiction and fantasy thread. (Blantant self promotion since I started it).
cbchess
thanks!
bentleys
one flew over the cuckoo's nest, by ken kesey
the sportswriter, by richard ford
catch-22, by joseph heller
all very funny books, but also sad and introspective in their own way. all really take a good look into the male psyche, and its reaction to the restraints of society (cuckoo's nest), the aftermath after a crisis (the sportswriter), and the realities of war (catch-22). they're all classics, and have had the biggest effect on me as a person.
the sportswriter, by richard ford
catch-22, by joseph heller
all very funny books, but also sad and introspective in their own way. all really take a good look into the male psyche, and its reaction to the restraints of society (cuckoo's nest), the aftermath after a crisis (the sportswriter), and the realities of war (catch-22). they're all classics, and have had the biggest effect on me as a person.
veggie_lover
I have a list of 100+ non-fiction favourite books here (http://www.mynonsense.net/personal/books.php). My four favourite would be:
1. It's not about the bike - Lance Armstrong , Down to earth and easy to read. Actually got the audiobook and finished it on two bike commutes
2. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah - Bloody but captivating story of what its like to be caught in a war.
3. The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets Of Americas Wealthy - Taught me the importance of living frugally
4. Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town: by Paul Theroux - Great humorous travel writing, with Paul poking fun of all that is dumb .
1. It's not about the bike - Lance Armstrong , Down to earth and easy to read. Actually got the audiobook and finished it on two bike commutes
2. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah - Bloody but captivating story of what its like to be caught in a war.
3. The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets Of Americas Wealthy - Taught me the importance of living frugally
4. Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town: by Paul Theroux - Great humorous travel writing, with Paul poking fun of all that is dumb .
Flying Merkel
Top 3?
"Roughing It" & "Life on the Mississippi" by Mark Twain. Gave me a huge insight on the real history of the U.S.
"Gulag Archipelago" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Not just a history of the Soviet prison system, but a condemnation of totalinarism in all its forms.
Third place is hard to pick. Wallace Stegner is a favorite writer and Jared Diamond is a good read with interesting points. "And the Band Played On" is a classic of investigative journalism. "Cadillac Desert" about the history of water projects in the American West is a slow-motion horror story that's coming true today. Long time ago, my grandfather gave me a book called "American Science and Invention". I still re-read it after 30+ years. Another good history of the U.S.
"Roughing It" & "Life on the Mississippi" by Mark Twain. Gave me a huge insight on the real history of the U.S.
"Gulag Archipelago" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Not just a history of the Soviet prison system, but a condemnation of totalinarism in all its forms.
Third place is hard to pick. Wallace Stegner is a favorite writer and Jared Diamond is a good read with interesting points. "And the Band Played On" is a classic of investigative journalism. "Cadillac Desert" about the history of water projects in the American West is a slow-motion horror story that's coming true today. Long time ago, my grandfather gave me a book called "American Science and Invention". I still re-read it after 30+ years. Another good history of the U.S.
Little Darwin
In no particular order... and without authors, since I don't recall.
The Earth Abides. A compelling story of life after most of mankind dies off and civilization slowly decays. No zombies or roving bands of blood thirsty bandits or supernatural events, just a slow decline into a different society. This book was suggested to me right after I read the Stand, and was out of print, but available in the used book store where it was suggested.
Two Years Before the Mast - A true story of a man who signed on to be on the crew of a ship to sail from Boston to the West coast and load animal skins etc, then sail back. A great story of the hardships of a sailors life in the mid 1800's and a glimpse into the life in California including a bit into the missions and Indian oppression in California during the period. This was the person's only voyage, and I believe he became a lawyer after he returned.
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. A trilogy (or were there more than three) that I read during my early adulthood as they came out. I found the concept of the reluctant hero to be very compelling during my years in the Marines, and looked forward to each new book being released. The fact that when Thomas, the White Gold Wielder was in "The Land" he no longer suffered from leprosy and had powers that he didn't understand, while others seemed to (at some level) added to the mystery.
The Earth Abides. A compelling story of life after most of mankind dies off and civilization slowly decays. No zombies or roving bands of blood thirsty bandits or supernatural events, just a slow decline into a different society. This book was suggested to me right after I read the Stand, and was out of print, but available in the used book store where it was suggested.
Two Years Before the Mast - A true story of a man who signed on to be on the crew of a ship to sail from Boston to the West coast and load animal skins etc, then sail back. A great story of the hardships of a sailors life in the mid 1800's and a glimpse into the life in California including a bit into the missions and Indian oppression in California during the period. This was the person's only voyage, and I believe he became a lawyer after he returned.
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. A trilogy (or were there more than three) that I read during my early adulthood as they came out. I found the concept of the reluctant hero to be very compelling during my years in the Marines, and looked forward to each new book being released. The fact that when Thomas, the White Gold Wielder was in "The Land" he no longer suffered from leprosy and had powers that he didn't understand, while others seemed to (at some level) added to the mystery.
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cycling jerseys, shorts, socks, shoes and bike equiptment selection.