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what are you reading?
- Thread starter jonathan_matos5
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Brew Like a Monk: Trappist, Abbey, and Strong Belgian Ales and How to Brew Them by Stan Hieronymus
Garcia: An American Life by Blair Jackson
...and about 20 different kid books this weekend.
Garcia: An American Life by Blair Jackson
...and about 20 different kid books this weekend.
Just finished two--both new releases--in the past week, and both eagerly anticipated by yours truly:
1) 'Hannibal Rising' by Thomas Harris. It's basically the prequel to series 'Red Dragon'/'Silence of the Lambs'/'Hannibal'.
2) Michael Crichton's 'Next'. MC is of course the 'Jurassic Park' guy, and in a sense this returns to that one's theme of genetic engineering, except updated to what it actually means, right now, to you and me--you won't like the implications. All this while being an all-nighter-page-turner, as usual.
These two guys, along with Raymond Chandler, have kind of ruined reading popular fiction for me--they're just too astonishingly good; nobody else measures up. And, of course, the movies are never as good as the books.
And I recently revisited a fave from 1995:
3) 'The Physics of Immortality' by Frank Tipler. Question: what's so important about the exploration of space? His answer: How about being resurrected by God to eternal life, at the end of Time? I'd say that's an important topic to most people, in their private thoughts.
This book tells exactly how and why you and I will meet in Heaven--at least in the opinion of this cosmologist. All physics, no faith.
1) 'Hannibal Rising' by Thomas Harris. It's basically the prequel to series 'Red Dragon'/'Silence of the Lambs'/'Hannibal'.
2) Michael Crichton's 'Next'. MC is of course the 'Jurassic Park' guy, and in a sense this returns to that one's theme of genetic engineering, except updated to what it actually means, right now, to you and me--you won't like the implications. All this while being an all-nighter-page-turner, as usual.
These two guys, along with Raymond Chandler, have kind of ruined reading popular fiction for me--they're just too astonishingly good; nobody else measures up. And, of course, the movies are never as good as the books.
And I recently revisited a fave from 1995:
3) 'The Physics of Immortality' by Frank Tipler. Question: what's so important about the exploration of space? His answer: How about being resurrected by God to eternal life, at the end of Time? I'd say that's an important topic to most people, in their private thoughts.
This book tells exactly how and why you and I will meet in Heaven--at least in the opinion of this cosmologist. All physics, no faith.
I just got done with "God Emperor of Dune" a few days ago and am now reading a Conan novel. I will pick up the Dune series again after I'm done with the Conan.
Ayn Rand can write a mean story. The problem is that when you read her stuff you come away thinking that because she writes such a great story, the moral system imbedded in it must be correct.
Do yourself a favor and read something that totally opposes her view after you finish Atlas Shrugged. Everyone (including myself and all of my friends) who has read Ayn Rand becomes a Randroid for a few months after because one gets tricked into thinking that what she spouts is correct. This is promptly cures (or at least challenged - I mean, if you really think that Objectivism explains the world, that's your prerogative) any Randianism after you finish it. If you're philosophically inclined, try reading Kant's The Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals after.
But also don't forget to read The Fountainhead, which to me is the pinnacle of her storytelling.
Long post short - Ayn Rand's Objectivism seems correct at the time of reading, but it isn't a very tenable world-view. When you finish reading her and enjoying her stories, read something opposed to it, and learn. If you come out thinking Objectivism is correct, at least you'll have some ammo to back you up (and you'll need it).
EDIT: Forgot to say what I'm reading:
Rereading Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, which is my second-favorite novel.
Trudging through Ludwig Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus in an attempt to understand how Kierkegaard's writings influenced Wittgenstein.
PS - I'm a philosophy major.
right now i'm reading Made in America by bill bryson. i'm a huge fan of all of bryson's work: http://www.amazon.com/Made-America-...bbs_sr_11/102-0372830-2688942?ie=UTF8&s=books
and for school i constantly have my nose burried in Dipiro's Pharmacotherapy, all 2802 pages of it...
and for school i constantly have my nose burried in Dipiro's Pharmacotherapy, all 2802 pages of it...
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The God Delusion is next on my list as well.
Currently working on: Guns, Germs, and Steel, and The Portrait of Dorian Gray.
Also, +1 on the George R. R. Martin, that series is incredible.
Dan
Currently working on: Guns, Germs, and Steel, and The Portrait of Dorian Gray.
Also, +1 on the George R. R. Martin, that series is incredible.
Dan
Excellent book.
I am currently reading The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniv. Edition):
Link Removed
Yes, I am an LOTR geek.
I have read the "trilogy" many times. Before I dove into it this time, however, I read The Silmarillion followed by The Hobbit. When I finish the trilogy, I plan on moving on to Unfinished Tales.
Agreed. He's such a ridiculously good writer. I can't wait for the next one.
You read any Steven Erikson, by chance?
The Tragedy of Doctor Faustus - Christopher Marlowe
The Lemon Table - Julian Barnes
Summer Impressions - Fyodor Dostoevsky
Never Drank The Kool-Aid - Touré
The Lemon Table - Julian Barnes
Summer Impressions - Fyodor Dostoevsky
Never Drank The Kool-Aid - Touré
I'm in the middle of this one - it is a fairly quick read and presents a portrait of Jesus from a progressive Christian viewpoint.
Most recently finished was this one - Moving the Chains
Probably too much Brady if you are not a Pats fan; but I like Pierce's style and he has a very sharp eye for telling details.
Agreed. He's such a ridiculously good writer. I can't wait for the next one.
You read any Steven Erikson, by chance?
No, I haven't. Am I missing anything?
Harmonies of the World by Johannes Kepler. Pretty dry stuff. Reading it for a history of science class. Doubt that I would read it by choice. After I'm done with this, I'll move on to books titled Kepler, Kepler's Witch, and another text about Kepler with a really long frikken name that I don't want to type. I am very sick of Kepler and his stinking astronomy right now.
I would argue so. If you get the chance, pick up "Gardens of the Moon." If you like it, he's got a whole series called "The Malazan Book of the Fallen." Book 7 of 10 comes out in April.
A really good writer, imo. He's really up there with his contemporaries (again, imo).
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