Read any good books lately?
08-03-16, 07:25 PM
#576
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The Sixth Extinction; An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert. Great read if you are into the natural sciences (and I am).
08-03-16, 10:32 PM
#577
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Richard's Bicycle Repair Manual by Richard Ballantine & Richard Grant.
A lucky yard sale find from early June that has allowed me to identify what the exact parts are that people around here keep on talking about.
A lucky yard sale find from early June that has allowed me to identify what the exact parts are that people around here keep on talking about.
08-04-16, 06:03 AM
#578
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I've been on a history podcast bender recently. If you are willing to listen instead of sit down & read (good way to pass the time while wrenching or riding), Dan Carlin's 6-part series on WWI called "Blueprint for Armageddon" is great. It's part of his ongoing Hardcore History podcast series. Each episode is around 3+ hours long, and not only gives a detailed account of the events but also a visceral feel to the experiences of the front-line soldiers and really engaging narrative style. Highly recommended. This series is still available free on his Hardcore History Library or you can subscribe on iTunes, etc. (Only the most recent few series are available free before rotating out so catch this now before you have to pay for it.)
And if that interests you, I also recommend Daniele Bolelli's History on Fire podcast, and the Revolutions podcast by Mike Duncan (creator of the History of Rome podcast series), though not on WW1.
And if that interests you, I also recommend Daniele Bolelli's History on Fire podcast, and the Revolutions podcast by Mike Duncan (creator of the History of Rome podcast series), though not on WW1.
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"The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience."
08-04-16, 06:37 AM
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Reread Gary Zukav's [I]The Dancing Wu Li Masters[I]. Great read about physics.
08-04-16, 12:51 PM
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"Food of the Gods", by Terrence McKenna.
08-04-16, 03:53 PM
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"The Girl with Seven Names" by Hyeonseo Lee
"Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee-A Look Inside Norh Korea" by Jang Jin-sung
Just getting up to speed on North Korean issues/concerns/wonderments. I highly recommend both books.
"Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee-A Look Inside Norh Korea" by Jang Jin-sung
Just getting up to speed on North Korean issues/concerns/wonderments. I highly recommend both books.
08-09-16, 08:16 AM
#583
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Anything by Larry Corriea
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Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
08-09-16, 08:22 AM
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I just made it through about 50 pages of Murakami's 1Q84. Ugh.
I kind of liked The Wind Up Bird Chronicles. But this giant pile of self-indulgent wordplay left me cold.
Now I'm on to a book of essays by George Orwell.
I kind of liked The Wind Up Bird Chronicles. But this giant pile of self-indulgent wordplay left me cold.
Now I'm on to a book of essays by George Orwell.
08-09-16, 12:18 PM
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Just finished "Kolyma" by Robert Conquest, about the Soviet death camps in the gold fields of Siberia. Currently reading "The Island: a Journey to Sakhalin" by Anton Chekhov, about the Tsarist prison colonies on Sakhalin Island in Easternmost Siberia.
08-09-16, 01:30 PM
#586
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I'm currently reading Saving Capitalism by Robert Reich. His ideas are not what I expected!
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
08-09-16, 03:23 PM
#588
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Someone told me The Stand, by Stephen King was the best book they ever read. I saw it and it was THICK! I downloaded it onto my ebook App and jumped in. I had to renew it about 3 times because after 2 weeks it would "expire" and it was really, really long. After the 3rd time renewing, I decided to just forget it.
I like 200-400 page mystery suspense type books. Anyone got any suggestions?
I like 200-400 page mystery suspense type books. Anyone got any suggestions?
08-10-16, 06:16 AM
#589
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Someone told me The Stand, by Stephen King was the best book they ever read. I saw it and it was THICK! I downloaded it onto my ebook App and jumped in. I had to renew it about 3 times because after 2 weeks it would "expire" and it was really, really long. After the 3rd time renewing, I decided to just forget it.
I like 200-400 page mystery suspense type books. Anyone got any suggestions?
I like 200-400 page mystery suspense type books. Anyone got any suggestions?
If you would be willing to give Stephen King a chance again, IT is one of the best horror books I have read. It's still more than your preferred length (I think my paperback copy is in the 800s), but it is a quicker read than The Stand. For light-hearted reading, try A dirty Job by Christopher Moore.
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"The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience."
"The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience."
08-10-16, 08:01 AM
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Update:
Nearly finished with Sometimes a Great Notion by Kesey. What a fine novel. He was (is) a very good writer.
While I liked the movie, and would like to watch it again if I could find it, like many movies made out of great novels, it is a mere shadow of the book. Kind of like the difference between seeing Gauguin's The Siesta, on a coffee mug or greeting card, versus standing in front of the real thing.... For instance.
Nearly finished with Sometimes a Great Notion by Kesey. What a fine novel. He was (is) a very good writer.
While I liked the movie, and would like to watch it again if I could find it, like many movies made out of great novels, it is a mere shadow of the book. Kind of like the difference between seeing Gauguin's The Siesta, on a coffee mug or greeting card, versus standing in front of the real thing.... For instance.
08-10-16, 09:47 AM
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The Swerve, by Stephen Greenblatt
Non-fiction, takes place, mostly, in the 15th Century. Not difficult, difficult reading... Or, better, it was easy to read, but difficult from a more emotional standpoint. I had to keep something else to read at hand (BBC news, etc) to take my mind off it. I will read other works of his, very impressive from an in-depth research point of view.
I'm not a novel reader, but my wonderful daughter (you should see what she wrote inside the book, LOL!) gave me The Martian, by Andy Weir. An easy, fast, well written and worthy read, if unnecessarily heavily salted with salty language. I have one objection, but won't mention it as I don't wish to spoil someone else's read.
Non-fiction, takes place, mostly, in the 15th Century. Not difficult, difficult reading... Or, better, it was easy to read, but difficult from a more emotional standpoint. I had to keep something else to read at hand (BBC news, etc) to take my mind off it. I will read other works of his, very impressive from an in-depth research point of view.
I'm not a novel reader, but my wonderful daughter (you should see what she wrote inside the book, LOL!) gave me The Martian, by Andy Weir. An easy, fast, well written and worthy read, if unnecessarily heavily salted with salty language. I have one objection, but won't mention it as I don't wish to spoil someone else's read.
08-10-16, 10:18 AM
#592
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I'm about 11% into Saving Capitalism. Have you finished it? We should discuss!
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New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
08-10-16, 01:39 PM
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Someone told me The Stand, by Stephen King was the best book they ever read. I saw it and it was THICK! I downloaded it onto my ebook App and jumped in. I had to renew it about 3 times because after 2 weeks it would "expire" and it was really, really long. After the 3rd time renewing, I decided to just forget it.
I like 200-400 page mystery suspense type books. Anyone got any suggestions?
I like 200-400 page mystery suspense type books. Anyone got any suggestions?
08-10-16, 07:41 PM
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I just ordered "Beyond Outrage" by Reich.
This one too. Democracy in America (Penguin Classics)
by Alexis de Tocqueville
This one too. Democracy in America (Penguin Classics)
by Alexis de Tocqueville
08-14-16, 09:09 PM
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If you're into a pithier read, I'd suggest Umberto Eco's 'The Name of the Rose' (or, what if Sherlock Holmes was a 14th-century Franciscan monk?), and 'Foucault's Pendulum'.
Btw, The Name of the Rose is also a good intro to basic Latin.
As for me, I'm currently reading (yet) more Borges, and 'Doctor Illuminatus, A Ramon Llull Reader'. Llull was one of those bizarro late-medieval figures, with one foot in the Renaissance & one in the troubadouric past; an early highlight of Catalan literature.
Last edited by DIMcyclist; 08-14-16 at 09:19 PM. Reason: Spelling errors.
08-14-16, 09:27 PM
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As a medievalist I feel compelled to link you this review of The Swerve, in order that it may save you from various misconceptions and blatant biases presented throughout the text by Greenblatt. Due to its popularity, it may well be one of the most counterproductive books written about late medieval history in decades.
Stephen Greenblatt's The Swerve racked up prizes ? and completely misled you about the Middle Ages - Vox
Stephen Greenblatt's The Swerve racked up prizes ? and completely misled you about the Middle Ages - Vox
08-15-16, 12:47 AM
#600
Junior Member
My favorite cycling related book is 'The Rider' by Tim Krabbe. It's a first person account of a one day race, pretty good light duty read.
Another good read is 'No Hands' by Judith Crown and Glen Colman. It cronicles the rise and fall of the Schwinn bicycle company and how Ignaz's heirs ruined the co.....I'm looking at you Ed.
Another good read is 'No Hands' by Judith Crown and Glen Colman. It cronicles the rise and fall of the Schwinn bicycle company and how Ignaz's heirs ruined the co.....I'm looking at you Ed.
Last edited by Wright Bros; 08-18-16 at 09:01 AM.