Author Topic: What books are you reading? (Read 737300 times)

MilesAhead · « **Reply #750 on:** September 07, 2016, 11:06 AM »

@derekbd I am about 2/3 of the way through the first volume of the 3 Body Trilogy. I am just at the part in the game where the 3 suns align and everything gets pulled apart etc..

Deozaan · « **Reply #751 on:** September 07, 2016, 02:28 PM »

I recently attended a lecture about studies and data on marriage and families (and how/why they're important to society). Thinking economics was just about money/finance and stock markets/exchanges, I was puzzled about why an economics professor was giving the lecture. I voiced my confusion to someone sitting nearby and was informed that economics covers a much broader scope than simply money, and had a book recommended to me: Naked Economics by Charles Wheelan.

Finally! A book about economics that won’t put you to sleep. In fact, you won’t be able to put this bestseller down. In our challenging economic climate, this perennial favorite of students and general readers is more than a good read, it’s a necessary investment—with a blessedly sure rate of return. Demystifying buzzwords, laying bare the truths behind oft-quoted numbers, and answering the questions you were always too embarrassed to ask, the breezy Naked Economics gives readers the tools they need to engage with pleasure and confidence in the deeply relevant, not so dismal science.
-http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7937510-naked-economics

The author promises that there will be no charts, graphs, or math formulas in the book. He explains in plain English what economics is, and perhaps more importantly, why it matters.

I had no idea!

I'm finding the book (and topic) fascinating so far. And even though I'm currently only 2 chapters into it, I'd recommend it, especially as an introduction to economics.

panzer · « **Reply #752 on:** September 14, 2016, 06:07 AM »

Started reading them, but they weren't attractive enough (at least not for me) so I abandoned them.

wraith808 · « **Reply #753 on:** September 14, 2016, 09:43 AM »

This one was a hard, but enlightening read.

In this day of hard economics, and even harder decisions, you want to help if you're blessed with more than others. But, as with everything, there's a good way to help, and a decidedly bad way. This book outlines how the best of intents can lead to really harmful actions. And more than that, it gives examples of how to turn that around.

Public service is a way of life for Americans; giving is a part of our national character. But compassionate instincts and generous spirits aren’t enough, says veteran urban activist Robert D. Lupton. In this groundbreaking guide, he reveals the disturbing truth about charity: all too much of it has become toxic, devastating to the very people it’s meant to help.

A good review of the book is found at Christianity Today: http://www.christian...w-toxic-charity.html

I read the review when it first came out, but it was apparently free for only a limited time, and now requires a subscription. But the excerpt given for free is still a good synopsis.

rjbull · « **Reply #754 on:** September 19, 2016, 05:09 PM »

What books are you reading?

Older children/YA level SF, but don't let that put you off. Outrageously entertaining!

“The Great Network is a place of drones and androids, Hive Monks, maintenance spiders and Station Angels. The place of the thousand gates, where sentient trains criss-cross the galaxy in a heartbeat.

It is also a place of great dangers – especially for someone who rides the rails and rides his luck the way Zen Starling does.

Meet Zen Starling:
Rebel, Adventurer, Imposter, Liar, Hero, Enemy, Ally
Destination: Unknown…”

rjbull · « **Reply #755 on:** September 19, 2016, 05:47 PM »

[...]
Started reading them, but they weren't attractive enough (at least not for me) so I abandoned them.
-panzer (September 14, 2016, 06:07 AM)

A Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay has been mentioned on DC before, originally by joiwind; my reply is here - Re: Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading List

This book appears on various "Greatest Novels of the 20th Century" lists. According to an interview with C.S. Lewis, each chapter is a tableau that represents a philosophical position, which Lindsay sets up - then immediately tears down. Philosophy is above my level; I haven't forgotten my mother's comment that everyone she'd ever met who had studied philosophy was totally incomprehensible. I only read it once, over forty years ago, didn't understand it, but fragments of it have stuck in my mind to this day.

panzer · « **Reply #756 on:** September 20, 2016, 04:59 AM »

panzer · « **Reply #757 on:** September 26, 2016, 04:33 AM »

rjbull · « **Reply #758 on:** September 26, 2016, 04:55 PM »

The Other Side of Silence by Philip Kerr, latest in his "Bernie Gunther" series. This one has Bernie working on the French Riviera in the early Cold War period, getting involved with the writer Somerset Maugham (who really had been a spymaster in the Great War), and discovering the lamentable state of British Secret Intelligence Services (MI5, MI6) in the wake of the defections of Burgess and Maclean.

What books are you reading?

panzer · « **Reply #759 on:** September 27, 2016, 06:10 AM »

panzer · « **Reply #760 on:** October 04, 2016, 05:34 AM »

tomos · « **Reply #761 on:** October 04, 2016, 01:44 PM »

^ Watership Down, still remember it reasonably well from reading it in the seventies as a young fella.
(I'm starting to sound like an auld fella now

)

panzer · « **Reply #762 on:** October 12, 2016, 05:23 AM »

MilesAhead · « **Reply #763 on:** October 12, 2016, 06:53 AM »

A Voyage to Arcturus
-rjbull (September 19, 2016, 05:47 PM)

I don't know if this is mentioned in the other thread, but the book is available as a free eBook

app103 · « **Reply #764 on:** October 12, 2016, 06:18 PM »

I am currently reading a book by a former employer. I had legal issues with him in the early 90's, related to wrongful termination and gender discrimination, and since I don't want him to make more money, especially at my expense, I bought it used for $0.01.

I'd tell you what the title is, but as I said...I don't want to help him make money. It's light "educational" reading, chock full of anecdotes, targeted at small business owners. So if you are into that sort of thing, PM me and perhaps I'll mail the book to you when I am finished with it. So far, there is nothing really earth shattering in it that will help you make a million bucks, so it's a rather useless piece of entertainment.

MilesAhead · « **Reply #765 on:** October 13, 2016, 07:15 AM »

I bought it used for $0.01
-app103 (October 12, 2016, 06:18 PM)

That is quite a bargain. Reminds me of the old 3 stooges routine where they are hawking something: "One for a dollar. Three for a quarter."

mouser · « **Reply #766 on:** October 13, 2016, 07:41 AM »

Warped Passages: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe's Hidden Dimensions by Lisa Randall

String theory physics book written for the layman but unfortunately largely incomprehensible to me.. Feels like I'm mostly reading about analogies that don't quite clarify things. But the huge scope and subject matter is wonderful. Feels like reading sci-fi.

Screenshot - 10_13_2016 , 7_40_47 AM.png

MilesAhead · « **Reply #767 on:** October 13, 2016, 08:00 AM »

String theory physics book written for the layman but unfortunately largely incomprehensible to me.. Feels like I'm mostly reading about analogies that don't quite clarify things.
-mouser (October 13, 2016, 07:41 AM)

I am not up on String Theory. But I'm sure one can get tangled up in it quite easily.

panzer · « **Reply #768 on:** October 19, 2016, 10:56 AM »

Another set of books that I didn't finish:

panzer · « **Reply #769 on:** October 20, 2016, 02:50 AM »

holt · « **Reply #770 on:** October 29, 2016, 10:16 PM »

WarGames novelization (unabridged audiobook).mp4 - narrated by Amy Mullin.

panzer · « **Reply #771 on:** November 03, 2016, 04:58 AM »

Deozaan · « **Reply #772 on:** November 03, 2016, 10:37 PM »

@panzer do you have any opinions or information on these books you're posting? What are they about? Are they good? Are they worth reading? Do you recommend them?

panzer · « **Reply #773 on:** November 04, 2016, 03:02 AM »

I post only books that I like. If you are interested in any of the books I've posted, just ask me what they are about.

tomos · « **Reply #774 on:** November 04, 2016, 06:10 AM »

-panzer (September 27, 2016, 06:10 AM)

all your images have disappeared here :-(
Here with BBCode disabled:

[IMG]http://i68.tinypic.com/152kot0.jpg[/img]
-panzer (September 27, 2016, 06:10 AM)