I guess something like "Boats for Dummies" or something that teaches on boat engine maintainance and service along with manuals for my new Imperial 26-footer.
What's on your reading list?
What do you plan to read this summer? What are you reading now?
I am currently reading "Degrees Kelvin" by David Lindley, published by Joseph Henry Press. The biography of Sir William Thomson, Lord Kelvin. He was a 19th century physicist probably best known for dicsovering the temperature at which atoms cease to move: -273.15 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Kelvin or absolute zero). He also performed a lot of the early groundwork for theories of electromagnetism and thermodynamics. Lord Kelvin devised a new compass for ships that would work well when surrounded by steel as the world's ship building began to move from wooden to iron vessels. A fascinating figure from history.
I am currently reading "Degrees Kelvin" by David Lindley, published by Joseph Henry Press. The biography of Sir William Thomson, Lord Kelvin. He was a 19th century physicist probably best known for dicsovering the temperature at which atoms cease to move: -273.15 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Kelvin or absolute zero). He also performed a lot of the early groundwork for theories of electromagnetism and thermodynamics. Lord Kelvin devised a new compass for ships that would work well when surrounded by steel as the world's ship building began to move from wooden to iron vessels. A fascinating figure from history.
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When it comes to reading I have a very bad habit of starting many books and finishing very few. Right now I'm in the midst of between 5 and 10 books in varying stages. Some of them have to do with the history of the Mongol invasions of Europe, the Middle East and Japan, the art and personality of Leonardo Da Vinci, Galilleo's letters to his daughter, a Native American biography and a book about an ex-KBG man who snuck box loads of secret documents out of Moscow over a twenty year period. Last summer I was engrossed in Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, and The Da Vinci Code, and when the new Harry Potter book is released that will probably jump to the top of the stack. Thanks for giving me a kick in the pants Slipknot1! Reading in an air conditioned room while camped in my listening chair is a nice way to pass a hot day. |
"The Culture of Make Believe" by Derrick Jensen. I'm re-reading this disucssion of our world for the 3rd time. I believe it is a must read for everyone. Perhaps the most enlightening and disturbing book I've ever read. "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryston. Again, I'm re-reading a great book. What a book to share with young folk! |
I started about 7 books since December and finished none of them. Most of these books are English translated books by Hegel, Merilieu Ponte (sp), and I just can't stand how choppy the translations are. Only book that remains is the Lexus and the Olive tree which is my bathroom reader at the moment. I read about 5 pages per visit... |
Wazzup All! Just finished 'In The Company Of Heroes'. A first-hand account by helicopter pilot(Night Ranger) Michael Durant. He was the chopper pilot who went down and was captured in Mogadishu, as depicted in the book and movie 'Black Hawk Down'. Talk about a profile of courage. One of the most interesting facts in the book was a revelation about none other than Ross Perot. I never knew (most people don't) what a benefactor he is to our troops. Apparently whenever a special ops soldier is in any kind of jam and the resources of our govt. are limited, in steps Perot. Providing financial, medical, and in the case of M. Durant, was a major player in the negotiations for his freedom. He never asks for any kind of acknowledgement or thanks for his efforts but according to the book, the special ops forces are all aware of his benevolence and love him for it. You know, when he ran for office many thought that his ideas were too off the wall, bordering on nuts. In retrospect, I realize now that the man is a true patriot and a hero. Too bad he doesn't feel like running now....... |
Hooked on Phonics! Actually I've been doing more writing than reading over the last few months. I've completed one short story and have three others that I am currently working on, not to mention a novel about half done. The last couple of books I read were collections of short stories. If you want a good laugh, find a copy of Steven Leacock's "Nonsense Novels." He is unbelievably funny. Great with the turn of a phrase! |
Florida Roadkill was a fun read. Frankly all of that series is great airplane fodder. While modern fiction is my normal fare, I seem to have taken a detour into Jeffrey Steingarten's world, having just polished off _It Must Have Been Something I Ate_ and being now in the midst of _The Man Who Ate Everything_. JS is the food editor for Vogue (who ever thought Vogue readers actually *ate*?). In terms of obsessiveness, he'll give any audiophile a run for the money, 'cept his gig is the eaten arts. Damn funny guy. |
Recently, "Everybody Pays" short stories by Andrew Vachss. A great "hard-boiled" detective writer with moral content. Lost in a good book by Jasper Fforde and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Fun fantasy writings. An if when nothing else is available, I'll reread anything by Kinky Friedman. "Kill two birds and get stoned" being the most recent and best. Also waiting for a new book by Christopher Moore or Joe R. Lansdale. |
Hey Rufusfolks - I love Vachss writing. If you have not yet, check out his early Burke novels.....GREAT stuff if you like that gritty revenge, anti-hero, moral crisis stuff. I like the way he writes. Check out his site too if you have not already. He's a pretty amazing individual! You can even see my dog, Jax, in his "Backup Pack"! Marco |
Hey Marco, are you really Wheezer from the Little Rascals? Jax looks like Pete the Pup! And the way you photographed her with Chilla they look like they could be waiting for Stymie, Furina, Dickey Moore, Spanky and the rest of the gang for a hike out in the wild Los Angeles woods. Beautiful lighting and cast shadows! |
The Davinci Code--only to properly deride it, just like Brown's other terribly popular books. I just read Angels and Demons, and I can't believe people like this stuff! How is it that Brown makes a beautiful, female Italian scientist, a german policeman, an Italian priest, and WASP Harvard professor sound, think, and react to situations in exactly the same manner? Sheesh! The characters on Scooby Doo are more ably drawn! |
Jax is (was 3/6/90 - 6/9/03) the same breed as Petey! Pete the pup was the first dual-registered Amstaff/Pit Bull. Acorging to Ripley's Believe it or Not, the original Petey did have a black circular ring around one of his eyes. The ones that followed in his paw prints had the circle painted in by the talented SFX crew! Those dogs are amazing, wonderful and devoted creatures! It's a great shame that people use them for less than noble purposes. Careless breeding and poor training makes things much worse. Hey, kind of like you and me, eh, Dean!? I ain't no Wheezer, I'm the Boogie Man! Thanks, but God created those shadows in my back yard. I just had the dogs sit there and photographed them. They were huntin' pussy at the time, and used those masks get'sum! That image ran as an Avanti Press card for five years. The birthday card has been running for over ten years and is still available. It was with Avanti Press for five and now is sold through my stock agency, Graphistock. Marco |
Crazy4blues, I agree. DaVinci Code was a real letdown but taking a side trail, I read a The Templar Revelation, which while a bit heavy-handed, is a thought-provoking read (check the Amazon reviews for more). Rhyno, in the same market vein, I would recommend "Fooled by Randomness" by Nassim Taleb (and if professionally interested in the subject and derivatives, his earlier "Dynamic Hedging" is among the best out there). I disliked Niederhoffer's "Education of a Speculator" so much that while I will normally read new books in the genre, I have avoided PS. In a less 'practical' vein, I heartily recommend "Reminiscences of a Stock Operator" by Edwin Lefevre. I make it a point to read it every year or so. I'm waiting on his "Sampson Rock" now. For the several people who enjoy detective novels, two European detective writers (as hard-boiled but less flashy than Vachss) I like very much are Michael Dibdin and Ian Rankin. For the next month or so, I have both of the above-mentioned Steingarten books and "1421: The Year China Discovered the World" waiting for me. |
Crazy4blues, You make a great points about Dan Brown's books. Angels and Demons and DaVinci Code seemed like they were created from the exact same template, just change the location and the names and the title. Even though they can get very over the top and are based on very shakey history, I still got sucked into them. And the luscious female Italian physicist from Angels and Demons? You forget, she was a master yogi too! Heheh. |
Crazy4blues, I think Harrison Ford is too old, heheh! I have an actor's face in my head for the upcoming DaVinci Code movie, but I can't think of his name. Rats! I think he's in his forties though, much closer to the Robert Langdon character. Remember, he's gotta have the ability to engage in underwater mortal combat against an evil assassin in one of those dangerous Itlaian fountains! I see Sophie Marceau for the part of Sophie Neveu in DaVinci Code and Maria Grazia Cucinotta as the 6 foot tall yogi master physicist in Angels and Demons! LOL But you're right, Hollywood doesn't cast the best people for the parts, just ones that'll bring in the most dough. |
Rhyno, I was also going to recommend George Soros' AoF & BG's Intelligent Investor but I guess I don't have to. I will, however, recommend Against the Gods by Peter Bernstein and Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles MacKay as interesting 'historical' reads (if you haven't already). Also, Jack Schwager's & John Train's books are decent compendiums of people who have 'been there, done that'. On the "how to" front, I find Martin Zweig's research to be very well done. I have heard decent things about a new "how to" book by James Altucher but have not read it. |