Read any books lately?

[Kreskin]

I'm going back in time, reading Alvin Toffler's "The Third Wave". It's a pretty good read, although I'm not finished with it. It offers a unique insight to the effects of the industrialization and the many ways it has changed society. He even claims feminism rose because of the impact it had on the family unit. It was written in 1980. It's kind of interesting to look back at the vision of a futurist and see how it relates to where we are today. I think it worth reading if you can find a copy in a secondhand store.

Any recommended readings of that nature that is fresh out?

What are you reading or finished reading?

 

[snfu73]

I'm trying to finish a book called "London Underground" about...well...the interesting stories that are found in the tunnels, basements, sewers, etc of London...the history, the experiences, the...wierdness.

 

[Phil B]

I'm trying to finish a book called "London Underground" about...well...the interesting stories that are found in the tunnels, basements, sewers, etc of London...the history, the experiences, the...wierdness.

A friend of mine works for the LU and apparently they keep finding things every now and then - Like buildings and tunnels that they forgot they even had in the first place.

 

[Blackleaf]

I must be reading about 8 or 9 books at the same time, which is slightly confusing.

The reason for that it because I once bought a book, read a few pages of it, then the next day I bought another. Then I read a few pages of that and the next day I bought another, and so on and so on, which has left me part of the way through several books, so I take it in turns to read a little bit of each one.

I prefer reading non-fiction and most books that I get are history ones.

I'm reading a book about the history of the Royal Navy, from the time it was founded by King Henry VIII - who increased it from just a 5 ships to a proper navy of 58 ships although it didn't earn the title of "Royal Navy" until Charles I came along - right up to the Falklands War of 1982. It tells you about the exploit of great English sailors such as Drake, Frobisher, Raleigh and Hawkins.

And I'm reading a book about Tyburn, the dreaded "Triple Tree" tripod-shaped gallows of London which were used to hang people from the 12th century until the 19th Century and could hang up to 10 people at once. I like gory history.

I'm also reading "Violent London", a history of violence in London throughout the centuries, such as the Gordon Riots of 1788 which burnt down Newgate Gaol.

 

[Kreskin]

I must be reading about 8 or 9 books at the same time, which is slightly confusing.

The reason for that it because I once bought a book, read a few pages of it, then the next day I bought another. Then I read a few pages of that and the next day I bought another, and so on and so on, which has left me part of the way through several books, so I take it in turns to read a little bit of each one.

I prefer reading non-fiction and most books that I get are history ones.

I'm reading a book about the history of the Royal Navy, from the time it was founded by King Henry VIII - who increased it from just a 5 ships to a proper navy of 58 ships although it didn't earn the title of "Royal Navy" until Charles I came along - right up to the Falklands War of 1982. It tells you about the exploit of great English sailors such as Drake, Frobisher, Raleigh and Hawkins.

And I'm reading a book about Tyburn, the dreaded "Triple Tree" tripod-shaped gallows of London which were used to hang people from the 12th century until the 19th Century and could hang up to 10 people at once. I like gory history.

I'm also reading "Violent London", a history of violence in London throughout the centuries, such as the Gordon Riots of 1788 which burnt down Newgate Gaol.

I go to a used bookstore and buy them 5 for $1. I'm like you, I have a number of books on the go.

 

[#juan]

Just read, Giles Foden's "Last King of Scotland", It is well worth the read. Idi Amin was twice the lunatic we all thought him. Coincidentally, I also just watched the movie of the same name. My suggestion, Read the book, then see the movie.

 

[gopher]

I just completed Helen C Rountree's Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough --- Three Indian Lives Changed By Jamestown. Yes, the Pocahontas myth ain't the way you always thought.

 

[Twila]

Head Hunter - Timothy Findley. I like his style. Weird, but not too weird. Slightly left of normal.


Juan, why the book first then the movie? is the movie true to the book? And are either true to fact?

 

[sanctus]

Just read, Giles Foden's "Last King of Scotland", It is well worth the read. Idi Amin was twice the lunatic we all thought him. Coincidentally, I also just watched the movie of the same name. My suggestion, Read the book, then see the movie.

Just bought the book the other day. Haven't opened it yet. You've certainly provided me a reason to do son soon!

I just finished "Social Psychology for the 21st Century", not bad.
Also working my way through the "Teaching of the Christ" and for fun, am re-reading "Salem's Lot" by King.

 

[gopher]

Every once in a while, I just prefer to read a handful of poems rather than a full length book, esp those of the Belle of Amherst:

 

[talloola]

I am working my way toward reading my first book for some time, as, other than the computer, I
don't like being still for very long. I used to read years ago, but left it alone for a long time, and can't
seem to return, BUT, my daughter is deeply involved in a belief system called 'Gnosticism', and I
want to learn about it, so the first book to help me in this endeavor is called
'Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening'. Perhaps this is a belief system that will make sense to me. It is written by Cynthia Bourgeault

 

[Dalreg]

I try to have four or five books on the go at any one time. From light and fluffy fiction to bio's to non fiction. Almost every night before bed I will pick up what ever I'm in the mood for.

 

[#juan]

Head Hunter - Timothy Findley. I like his style. Weird, but not too weird. Slightly left of normal.


Juan, why the book first then the movie? is the movie true to the book? And are either true to fact?

My wife hasn't read the book and she found that the movie was sometimes hard to follow. I read the book and had no trouble following the movie. Both the book and the movie are fiction, based on the career of the dictator, Idi Amin of Uganda, and the young Scotsman who became his personal physician.

 

[talloola]

I try to have four or five books on the go at any one time. From light and fluffy fiction to bio's to non fiction. Almost every night before bed I will pick up what ever I'm in the mood for.

My problem in that respect is that, I go to bed so late that I would hardly be able to see the words,
let alone read them.
I will have to set aside an hour or so during the day, and one place that would be good for me is at
the ocean edge, where we drive almost every day, so I will work on that concept.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

...my daughter is deeply involved in a belief system called 'Gnosticism', and I want to learn about it...

Try The Laughing Jesus by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy. It's subtitled "Religious Lies and Gnostic Wisdom." The first half is pretty good as an explanation of what they think is wrong with organized religion and why gnosticism is better, the second half sinks into a kind of mystical reverie that looks to me like just replacing one set of misconceptions with another one, but you might find it useful.

Back to the OP:

I've got over half a dozen books on the go right now, which is about normal for me. The Fabric of Reality by David Deutsch, The End of Faith (a scary book) and Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris, 1491 by Charles Mann, God: The Failed Hypothesis by Victor Stenger, On The Take by Stevie Cameron, and for light bedtime reading, a couple of Anne Perry's mystery novels.

And waiting for me on the "to read" shelf in my study for when I'm finished those are Jared Diamond's Collapse, Tom Harpur's The Pagan Christ, Michael Shermer's The Science of Good and Evil, Brian Clegg's The God Effect, and Jack Granatstein's The Last Good War. And for some day when I feel really ambitious, there's Roger Penrose's The Road to Reality and von Neuman and Morgenstern's Theory of Games and Economic Behaviour.

I read a lot.

 

[Colpy]

Read Vimy and The Great Depression by Pierre Berton, then got into A Long way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Bael. All good, although The Great Depression gets a little preachy in spots. A Long Way Gone is rough in style and content, but God is it ever revealing.

then read some pulp.........Koontz. Guy really spins some suspense.

 

[gopher]

``` I read a lot.```

That is a most impressive reading list.

 

[talloola]

Try The Laughing Jesus by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy. It's subtitled "Religious Lies and Gnostic Wisdom." The first half is pretty good as an explanation of what they think is wrong with organized religion and why gnosticism is better, the second half sinks into a kind of mystical reverie that looks to me like just replacing one set of misconceptions with another one, but you might find it useful.

My daughter read the book you mention above, and agrees with your assessment of it.
She suggests this book " living gnosis',- a practical guide to gnostic christianithy- by tau malachi

 

[beatric3]

I just read if you could see me now - cecelia ahern, just love it. she writes so well.. started on ps i love you, same author.