What nonfiction book are you currently reading?

[arnisador]

(This is a continuation of this thread (http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4436).)

Isaac Newton, by James Gleick

[pesilat]

Depraved by Harold Schechter

[Cthulhu]

Finished David Kushner's "Masters of Doom" a few days ago. Pretty interesting. About the people behind id Software, creators of Doom, Quake, and the classis Wolfenstein 3-D.

Cthulhu

[arnisador]

Duty First, by Ed Ruggero

[don bohrer]

I was reading a Doc Savage book until my friend swiped it. :shrug:


don

[michaeledward]

Deterring Democracy - Noam Chomsky

Although it was written 11 years ago, there are some spooky parallels to what has been going on in Iraq & Afghanistan over the past two years in the first 60 pages.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Mike

[rmcrobertson]

Robert Hughes' "The Fatal Shore."

Good to see somebody else who likes Chomsky's arguments.

[Randy Strausbaugh]

Martial Musings by Robert W. Smith

It's even better the fifth time. :)

[Blindside]

The Age of Fighting Sail by C.S. Forster

[Posiview]

Malcolm X by Malcolm X

[Cliarlaoch]

Marxism and Human Nature by Sean Seyers

[RCastillo]

Stalin's Last Crime
The Plot Against The Jewish Doctors, 1948-1953

[arnisador]

Originally posted by RCastillo
Stalin's Last Crime
The Plot Against The Jewish Doctors, 1948-1953

What's this about? I don't think I know the incident(s).

[RCastillo]

Originally posted by arnisador
What's this about? I don't think I know the incident(s).

It was of his favorites that died while under the care of several physicians. It's coming down to who really killed him, the doctors due to poor medical decisions among themselves, or did Stalin have a hand in it to help eliminate those that had fallen out of favor with him.

[rmcrobertson]

Nice to see somebody else likes Robert W. Smith's books besides me.

By the way, the new Russell Crowe movie, "Master and Commander," is taken from the first in a series of absolutely wonderful seafaring books, set around the Napoleonic Wars, by Patrick O'Brien. I can't say enough good things about them...

[shotmanuk]

Battleaxe by John McSweeney

Good Read:asian:

[Blindside]

By the way, the new Russell Crowe movie, "Master and Commander," is taken from the first in a series of absolutely wonderful seafaring books, set around the Napoleonic Wars, by Patrick O'Brien. I can't say enough good things about them...

Heh,

I've got Master and Commander sitting on my bookshelf, its the next one in line....

Lamont

[hardheadjarhead]

"The Redneck Manifesto" by Jim Goad.

Interesting read. The guy manages to say something that will offend everybody...but he makes some interesting points.

SCS

[ABN]

Rereading Living The Martial Way by Forrest Morgan.
Great book! Also reading Man of the Century a biography of John Paul II.

andy

[someguy]

The book of 5 rings
art of war
buch of stuff for schoool

[Spud]

By the Sword: A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions by Richard A. Cohen

[Blindside]

The Bread Baker's Bible by Christine Ingram and Jennie Shapter

I got into artisan bread baking last winter, now I'm trying new techniques and recipes from this book. I will say that I made my best baguettes ever using a modified version the recipe from this book.

Lamont

[Doc]

"The Ten Things You Can't Say In America."
By Larry Elder.

[arnisador]

Who Killed Homer?: The Demise of Classical Education and the Recovery of Greek Wisdom (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1893554260/), by Victor Davis Hanson and John Heath

Waiting: The True Confessions of a Waitress (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060932813/), by Debra Ginsberg

[arnisador]

She's Not There, by Jennifer Finney Boylan

[arnisador]

The Meaning of Language, by Robert M. Martin

[arnisador]

The Problems of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell

[Black Bear]

Haw haw, Arnisador is the only guy here who reads. :D

An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, which is a memoir of the life of Rich Mullins.

Why Marriages Succeed or Fail, by John Gottman.

Some conference proceedings from last October. I'm about to quit on that one, it's mostly academic fluff. Strange--the conference was good.

[Touch Of Death]

Dune "Machine Crusade"

[Blindside]

Dune "Machine Crusade"

Uh ToD, that would be FICTION.

In any case I'm reading "The Holy Kingdom" a book describing archeological and historical evidence for the "real" King Arthur.

Lamont

[Touch Of Death]

Originally posted by Blindside
Uh ToD, that would be FICTION.

In any case I'm reading "The Holy Kingdom" a book describing archeological and historical evidence for the "real" King Arthur.

Lamont OOPS! What I meant to say was the "Dictionary of the Khazar's" by Milorad Pavi'c. Its a collection of short stories and intersting facts about the region known as Serbia. The place has been a hotbed since the crusades. It may also count as fiction, but it really helps you understand just what the hell happened to make them all want to kill eachother off.
Sean

[Posiview]

Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life by: Jon Lee Anderson

Wanted to read this book for a long time. Very good, detailed read.

The Man of the Century: Winston Churchill and His Legend Since 1945 by: John Ramsden

Only read a little, but the book provides an inside into arguably the greatest ever Briton.

The Los Angeles Diaries by: James Brown

Excellent short book that really made me realise what a great life I have and that I need to realise every minute of it – HIGHLY recommended read.

[Elfan]

The Man of the Century: Winston Churchill and His Legend Since 1945 by: John Ramsden

Only read a little, but the book provides an inside into arguably the greatest ever Briton.

I've thought the difference in Winston Churchill's legend in America and Briton is interesting. Americans tend to remember him almost exclusively for his finest hour speech while the British seem to have a more balanced view of him. I was wondering if The Man of the Century covers this at all.


Who Killed Homer?: The Demise of Classical Education and the Recovery of Greek Wisdom (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1893554260/), by Victor Davis Hanson and John Heath

Cold you post a review arnisador? It sounds interesting.

-----
The Making of the Atomic Bomb (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684813785/qid=1082933359/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-2806355-2060050) by Richard Rhodes

To quote from the Amazon review: "If the first 270 pages of this book had been published separately, they would have made up a lively, insightful, beautifully written history of theoretical physics and the men and women who plumbed the mysteries of the atom. Along with the following 600 pages, they become a sweeping epic, filled with terror and pity, of the ultimate scientific quest: the development of the ultimate weapon. "

I strongly recommend this book. Its definatly got the Pulitzer Prize for a reason.

[arnisador]

It was interesting, though rather polemic. Let me think about it before I post a review.

[Elfan]

The God Particle: If the Universe is the Answer, What is the Question (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0385312113/qid=1086578753/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-9042372-0139359?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) by Leon Lederman - funniest Physics book I've ever reed. I've seen Leon Lederman (who was asked by the King of Sweden to stop by to chat about some of his work) and I sat through his whole talk with my eyes wide not even realizing I was sitting next to one of my best friends.

[shesulsa]

I'm re-reading the three Jin Shin Jyuitsu books by Mary Burmeister

Essential Reiki, A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art by Diane Stein

Eseential Anatomy for Healing and Martial Arts by Marc Tedeschi
Study, study, study.

[Blindside]

Blackhawk Down by Bowden - as usual the book was WAY better than the movie. Far more viewpoints are shown than simply that of the American soldiers. I highly recommend this book, and it gives a feeling of what our troops in Iraq are going through right now.

Great Basin Riparian Ecosystems, Ecology, Management, and Restoration
Mostly for my professional developement, unfortunately it is a bit dryer than my normal fiction. :)

Lamont

[Cryozombie]

"Poor Man's Raygun"

Its a book about how to make a Microwave Beam Weapon out of your Microwave oven.

[Elfan]

The Hedgehog, the Fox, and the Magister's Pox : Mending the Gap Between Science and the Humanities (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1400051533/qid=1086902811/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-6885863-1650538?v=glance&s=books) by Stephen Jay Gould - Basically the science and humanities are there own thing and a complete understanding of particle physics can not be expanded upwards to explain everything. Gould is an excellent writer but this is definite not his best work, it is extremely monotonous.

Blindside, I have read Black Hawk Down as well and highly recommend it.

How's that review coming arnisador?

[arnisador]

Ouch! I'll get back to it.

[shesulsa]

"Poor Man's Raygun"

Its a book about how to make a Microwave Beam Weapon out of your Microwave oven.
DAMN!!

[Rich Parsons]

Boss: " Do you read"

Rich: Blank Stare

Boss: "Of course you read. Do you read books for pleasure?"

Rich: "Yes, I do. I read every night before I go to bed."

Boss: "Well, I think you should read this book. It is written in kind of a corny story manner, yet, it does cover the point, and is good to read."

Rich: "Sure I will read it, I enjoy learning."

Boss: "Here is my personal Copy, I'll want this back when you are done."

** This came after a bad week or so, followed by me not going on vacation this last week, to help resolve some of the follow up issues and reports required to explain what happened and why and how will it not happen again. Some very high level management, was upset, and reports, I put together, for my boss, went to Group VP and President of the corp. I was seriously concerned about having a future with the corp. Yet, if the boss gives you a book to read and tells you to give it back after reading then I must have some future even if it is just short term ;).

The Book Title: The Goal, "A Process of Ongoing Improvement"

By Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox.

Now the book is about a plant in trouble and how the plant manager tries to save it.

Now I begin to wonder if my program is the plant and if I have the same three months given in the book to resolve the issues? :idunno:

[arnisador]

Spoken Here: Travels Among Threatened Languages, Mark Abley

[Cryozombie]

DAMN!!

Yeah, Its a little light reading. Odd books like that always interest me. its only like 20 - 30 pages long.

Of course, I have not built one, as I need someplace to nuke frozen Burritos, I cannot sacrifice my Cooking appliance.

[michaeledward]

Boss: "Here is my personal Copy, I'll want this back when you are done."

** This came after a bad week or so, followed by me not going on vacation this last week, to help resolve some of the follow up issues and reports required to explain what happened and why and how will it not happen again. Some very high level management, was upset, and reports, I put together, for my boss, went to Group VP and President of the corp. I was seriously concerned about having a future with the corp. Yet, if the boss gives you a book to read and tells you to give it back after reading then I must have some future even if it is just short term ;).

The Book Title: The Goal, "A Process of Ongoing Improvement"

By Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox.

Now the book is about a plant in trouble and how the plant manager tries to save it.

Now I begin to wonder if my program is the plant and if I have the same three months given in the book to resolve the issues? :idunno:

The Goal is an excellent introduction in to the 'Theory of Constraints'. Eli Goldratt is AMAZING. While the story is cute, the theory behind it is pretty impressive. I have about 6 of Goldratt's books in this office, right now. The concepts are simple to understand, but quite difficult to put into practice. Good Luck.

By they way ... I am reading "What Liberal Media" by Eric Alterman; which goes about explaining how the 'Media' (whatever that is), is not 'BIASED' to the left at all.

[Blindside]

The next book on my "books to read" pile was "Band of Brothers" by Ambrose. Good book so far, but since I recently finished Blackhawk Down, I thought I would leaven the special forces emphasis with some re-reading of "A Sand County Almanac" by Leopold. If you are a naturalist, environmentalist, or someone who doesn't like either label, but cares about the world around them, it is a must read. Very calming after reading about the Battle of the Bulge.

Lamont

[Feisty Mouse]

Re-reading my boyfriend's copy of The Filipino Martial Arts by Dan Inosanto. Also (I tend to read several books a bit at a time) The Ape and the Sushi Master by Frans de Waal, Time's Arrow, Time's Cycle by Stephen Jay Gould, and Pigs at the Trough by Arianna Huffington.I read Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser a little while ago. Very well done. (ha ha)

[captnigh]

The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins

[Bammx2]

"A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking.

[Flatlander]

"A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking.
Awesome book. How far into it are you? Are you digging it?

[hardheadjarhead]

Awesome book. How far into it are you? Are you digging it?

I'm not making this up...I know a seven year old boy who is reading Hawking. The kid is brilliant. He's going to sit down and explain it to me when he's done.

I'm reading "Violence: Reflections of a national epidemic" by James Gilligan, M.D. A fascinating work.

I'm also reading "From The Folks Who Brought You The Weekend; A short illustrated history of lablor in the United States." by Priscilla Murolo and A.B. Chitty. Also a pretty good book...recommended to me by a local Union Rep.


Regards,



Steve

[Flatlander]

I just decided yesterday to re-read the Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra. I don't think I'll ever have read it enough times. This is my fifth time, I think.

[PeachMonkey]

I'm re-reading "Listening to Prozac" by Peter D. Kramer. Fascinating work on the history of psychopharmacology and recent trends related to treatment of mood and other disorders.

[hardheadjarhead]

I'm re-reading "Listening to Prozac" by Peter D. Kramer. Fascinating work on the history of psychopharmacology and recent trends related to treatment of mood and other disorders.

That's one of the best books I've read in the last decade. I like the way he addresses the ethical implications of meds.

I recommend that to anyone.


Regards,


Steve Scott

[michaeledward]

Presidential Good and Evil - The Ethics of George W Bush's Presidency


Very interesting!

[Bammx2]

I've just gotten about half way thru the book because of other things getting in the way......

I think I may open a department for starfleet academy when I'm donehttp://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif
It very informative and I think its great!
that 7yr old may just open starfleethttp://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon12.gif

[BlueDragon1981]

Don't read many non-fiction books. I always buy and sometimes read books on things like "The history of ?" or "All about ?", I also have some computer books and business books I'm thuming my way through. Not really ready....more of reference.

[hardheadjarhead]

Just bought Al Franken's book "Lies and the lying liars who tell them."

Very, very funny. I love the way he cracks on Bill O'Reilly.



Regards,


Steve

[Kenpo Mama]

Currently reading "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki and "Kenpo Karate ... The Art of Spontaneity" by Sascha Williams. Just some light casual summer reading for the poolside.

Donna :)

[Seig]

TV guide

[arnisador]

My Life, Bill Clinton

[Kevin Walker]

THEODORE REX by Edmond Morris, this is the third biography I have read about the life of President Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt.

And I am starting the book: 'SEVEN TAOIST MASTERS: A Folk Novel of China' by Eva Wong.

[Flatlander]

Just starting into The Universe In A Nutshell, by Stephen Hawking. Man, what an expensive book!

[Feisty Mouse]

But flatlander...you get the whole universe in a book! :)

I've also started reading Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right.

[Blindside]

Baa Baa Black Sheep by Gregory "Pappy" Boyington

[michaeledward]

Imperial America


Reflections on the United States of Amnesia



Gore Vidal

[hardheadjarhead]

Where the Right Went Wrong: How Neo conservatives Subverted the Reagan Revlolution and Hijacked the Bush Presidency. By Pat Buchanen.


Interesting book. I think conservatives, liberals and libertarians all would find it a fascinating read...particularly if you're a lover of history...which Buchanen clearly is.


Regards,


Steve

[RandomPhantom700]

"The Buffalo Creek Disaster", by Gerald M. Stern. It's the story of how a group of mining accident survivors sued the company and won, told by the plaintiff lawyer.

[PeachMonkey]

Makers of Modern Strategy: from Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age.

An excellent collection of essays that I haven't read in well over a decade.

[Patrick Skerry]

THE GENTLE ART OF VERBAL SELF-DEFENSE (c. 1980) by Suzette Haden Elgin


VERBAL JUDO: The Gentle Art of Persuasion (c. 1994) George J. Thompson


Very applicable!

[KajuMom]

Eddie Would Go by Stuart Holmes Coleman The Fighting Spirit of Japan by E. J. Harrison

[Martial Tucker]

Critical Path, by Buckminster Fuller

[sifu nick]

I too am reading Verbal Judo. Great book. Thompson is hilarious. We watched the video and went through the training in the Police Academy. It has gotten me out of quite a few situations unscathed.

[bassplayer]

-Qigong: The Secret of Youth (Yang)

-Six Not So Easy Pieces (Feynman)

-The World Treasury of Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics (forgot who compiled it)

Also Wing Chun Kung Fu (Ip Chun)

[ppko]

The Mighty Atom

Life and Times of Joseph L Greenstien
This is a great book and a very inspirational story I suggest this to everyone

[pakua]

Fritjof Capra's The Tao of Physics

[hardheadjarhead]

An Incomplete Education by Judy Jones and William Wilson.

A fun book...it briefly covers a number of topics like law, art, technology, history. Gives the reader a very brief background on a number of things.


Regards,


Steve

[michaeledward]

An Incomplete Education by Judy Jones and William Wilson. A fun book...it briefly covers a number of topics like law, art, technology, history. Gives the reader a very brief background on a number of things.
It is such a fun book, isn't it? I will often read a couple of pages over my breakfast. I am always amazed at how little I actually learned about some of the included topics. Sometimes I get frustrated that they don't go further into some of the included articles.

Mike

[bassplayer]

Fritjof Capra's The Tao of PhysicsPakua, how is this book? I've seen the title a couple of times but never picked it up.
I'm stuck between the writing for the layperson (not quite enough) and the hardcore textbooks (too much, at times!) ...I have a lot of catching up to do on my math!!! :)

[Chicago Green Dragon]

Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams

This is the 4th time ive read it.

Good Book if you can get a copy of it.

Chicago Green Dragon

:asian:

[hardheadjarhead]

It is such a fun book, isn't it? I will often read a couple of pages over my breakfast. I am always amazed at how little I actually learned about some of the included topics. Sometimes I get frustrated that they don't go further into some of the included articles.

Mike

Maybe they'll come out with an "Incomplete Education II" or something. When you think of it, its a mini-Encyclopaedia. Of course, I'm the geek that reads encyclopaedias.


Regards,


Steve

[michaeledward]

"Nicked and Dimed" ...

Research into Low-wage work around the country. Very interesting. Very spooky.

[someguy]

School books I guess count so
A book on iron technology in Africa that I can't think of the name of at the moment.
I just finished Dostoevsky's "Notes from under ground" and am supposed to be reading Kafka's "The Trial"
I'm also reading "Metropolitain change" by some sociologist or something like that.
And probably there is something else I can't think of at the moment.
of course this will have change by next week.
Reading for pleasure??? What's that? :confused:

[pakua]

Bassplayer- Tao of Physics is good. I'm taking it slowly- it's many years since undergrad physics. But you don't need maths! Give it a try.

CGD- I saw Hyam's book in a second hand shop the other day, but didn't have enough cash on me (my wife had raided the SF section by then) and the shop's not electronic. I aim to get it next time.

Reading Capra made me think of Fuzzy Logic which I studied a few years ago, and it rang some bells in my mind. So I'm also now re-reading Koskos' Fuzzy Thinking- got it from the library but I'll ask the bookshop to keep an eye out for a 2nd hand copy.

[bassplayer]

I dig on the math, actually :) I'm just not as well versed as I'd like to be in it! What topics does it cover?

[michaeledward]

Chain of Command - The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib

Seymour M. Hersh

[D_Brady]

Presidential Leadership (Rating the best and the Worst in the White House.

By.
James Taranto, The Wall street Journal.
Lenard Leo,The Federalist Society.

Based on a survey of 78 liberal and conservative scholars

[Patrick Skerry]

THE DANCING WU-LI MASTERS: An Overview of the New Physics, 1984, by Gary Zukov.

While this books presents a good overview of quantum physics for the lay reader, the author unfortunately interprets those physics in terms of new age cult propaganda. Some physicists have vehemently disagreed with those interpretations while admiring the presentation of the facts.

[hardheadjarhead]

"The Seven Daughters of Eve: The science that reveals our genetic ancestry," by Bryan Sykes.

I just finished "Violence" by James Gilligan, M.D.



Regards,


Steve

[Flatlander]

"The Seven Daughters of Eve: The science that reveals our genetic ancestry," by Bryan Sykes.Steve, want to give me a quick review and reccommendation on this? Sounds interesting.

[hardheadjarhead]

Steve, want to give me a quick review and reccommendation on this? Sounds interesting.


Sykes talks about the adventures he had sequencing mitochondrial DNA in various groups. Mitochondrial DNA is passed down through the mother, and is an accurate way of telling a person's ancient heritage.

He's narrowed Europe's ancestors to seven women. These seven women gave rise to clans that ended up populating all of the west. All of us of European descent are descended from one of these seven.

That's it in a nutshell...gotta go teach class.

I didn't do it justice. Fun book. Other reviews online might do a better job.


Steve

[hardheadjarhead]

Got two going right now (actually more...I always read about six books at a time)....


Crimes Against Logic: Exposing the bogus arguments of politicians, priests, journalists, and other serial offenders. By Jamie Whyte

A scathing use of logic against irrational thought. This guy has no political bias...though you sense he might be an atheist. He goes after liberals and conservatives who defy reason and use argumentative fallacies. Fun book that makes you think.

Made In America: An informal history of the English Language of the United States. By Bill Bryson.

This is a fun book for those that love history and love the English language. I'm really enjoying it.


Regards,


Steve

[michaeledward]

The Worldly Philosophers.

It is a text book about the rise of economics. With a short look at many of the great thinkers in the field. I continue to amaze myself with how little I know. Bit-by-bit, I hope to expand my knowledge.

[pakua]

Made In America: An informal history of the English Language of the United States. By Bill Bryson.

This is a fun book for those that love history and love the English language. I'm really enjoying it.


I love that book- I take it out of the library every now and then for a browse. Have you read some of his other books? Notes from a Small Island is about his trip round Britain when he lived there, prior to returning to the US. Notes from a Big Country is his articles from when he got back to the US, having been in the UK for some decades. Also try Down Under about his travels in Aussie.

For a Yank he's got a good sense of humour- could almost be a Brit *ducks

[hardheadjarhead]

I love that book- I take it out of the library every now and then for a browse. Have you read some of his other books? Notes from a Small Island is about his trip round Britain when he lived there, prior to returning to the US. Notes from a Big Country is his articles from when he got back to the US, having been in the UK for some decades. Also try Down Under about his travels in Aussie.

For a Yank he's got a good sense of humour- could almost be a Brit *ducks


Nope...never saw those books. I'll have to check 'em out.


This morning I started "What Liberal Media?" by Eric Alterman. I'm also reading Alterman's "The Book on Bush." Very intelligent guy, Alterman. Also funny.


Regards,


Steve

[hardheadjarhead]

Just picked up and read in two hours "Savage Spawn:Reflections on violent children," by Jonathon Kellerman.

Best known for his novels, Kellerman is also a psychologist. This is an excellent book...though I don't agree with him on certain points as to how to deal with psychopaths.



"Ethically and morally, kids are works in progress. Throw in psychopathy and you've got a soul that will never be complete."

In this powerful, disturbing book, bestselling author and noted child psychologist Jonathan Kellerman shines a penetrating light on antisocial youth--kids who kill without remorse--asserting that "psychopathic tendencies begin very early in life, as young as three, and they endure." Criticizing our quick impulse to blame violent movies or a "morally bankrupt" society, Kellerman convinces us that it is the kids themselves who need to be examined. Carefully.

How do children become cold-blooded killers? Kellerman warns that today's aggressive bully is tomorrow's Mafia don, cult leader, or genocidal dictator. Violently psychopathic youths possess an overriding need for power, control, and stimulation, and all display a complete lack of regard for the humanity of others. He examines the origins of psychopathy and the ever-shifting debate between nurture and nature, offering some controversial solutions to dealing with homicidal tendencies in children.

As timely as today's headlines, more gripping than fiction, Savage Spawn is a provocative look at the links between society and biology, children and violence. Kellerman's sobering message will remain with you long after the last page is turned.

That is not an overblown review, in my opinion.

Regards,


Steve

[Makalakumu]

I'm reading "Science goes to War," by Ernest Volkman. This book is pretty good so far. He has done a fair bit of research into the ancient world and into the scientific breakthroughs that allowed a civilization's military success. A couple of my students are interested in ancient weapons and I'm trying to bring the real story for them rather then the unofficial D&D version.

[tshadowchaser]

I have just started "The Rising Sun" by John Toland. The book was printed by Random House in 1970.
This book details, from a Japanese point of view, the catastropic conflict of World War II, starting with the invasion of Manchuria and ending with the Atomic Bomb.

[ABN]

I'm reading The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley, (colicky baby), and In the Company of Heroes by Michael Durant. He was the Blackhawk pilot who survived being shot down in Somalia in 1993.

[Makalakumu]

I'm reading The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley, (colicky baby)...

Good book. It helped with our daughter. Watch out for the Baby-Wise alternative though. I really think that kind of stuff is damaging to a kid. I can't imagine loving parents practicing that system.

[ABN]

Thanks for the tip. We just started the book and haven't gotten to that part yet.

Andy

[Makalakumu]

Thanks for the tip. We just started the book and haven't gotten to that part yet.

Andy

Sorry, I should have made this more clear. The Baby-Wise method is a different book. It advocates putting your kid on a strict feeding schedule and letting them "cry it out" when they are distressed. In my opinion, the book is advocating a "ignore your child until it shuts up" method.

[bignick]

Bought the US Army Survival Manual last saturday...sat down and read the whole thing over Thanksgiving Day

[ABN]

It advocates putting your kid on a strict feeding schedule and letting them "cry it out" when they are distressed. In my opinion, the book is advocating a "ignore your child until it shuts up" method.

There's no way that could happen anyway. With the set of lungs our daughter came equipped with, she could wake the dead.

[Feisty Mouse]

I just picked up Jared Diamond's latest book, Collapse. I am looking forward to reading it - I think he did an excellent job in Guns, Germs, and Steel, and I'm hoping he continues with this book.

[hardheadjarhead]

Diamond is first rate. Check out also his book, "The Third Chimpanzee."

Now I'm reading "Reality Isn't What It Used to Be: Theatrical Politics, Ready-To-Wear Religion, Global Myths, Primitive Chic, and Other Wonders of the Postmodern World," by Walter Truett This is an older book, published in the early nineties, but I'm finding it to be a real gem. The guy is brilliant...and funny. This is a real keeper.

I just finished Steve Allen's "On the Bible, Religion and Morality," and am also close to finishing Bertand Russell's "God and Religion." Same essential topic, two different authors. They too are brilliant and funny. It turns out Allen had a sequel to his book. Russell, of course, has a few out himself (he said, tongue in cheek.) I have several of them.


Regards,


Steve

[FearlessFreep]

Just finished "Searching For God knows what" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0785263713/qid=1105566889/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/002-9985196-8228819?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) by Donald Miller

[AC_Pilot]

Not reading one currently, aside from martial arts and military history books.. I study every art I can in order to analyze techniques, and weapons for familiarity .


I will soon be reading:

http://www.secretsofthetomb.com/

[Feisty Mouse]

Collapse so far is very good.

Also reading The Life of Odysseus (I believe that's the title) - excellent scholarship from several decades ago.

[hardheadjarhead]

I'm right now finishing up Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs, and Steel."

I finished "Aristotle's Children," by Richard Rubinstein, yesterday.

I'm currently reading "Why I Am Not a Christian" by Bertrand Russell (a collection of essays including the title piece), and "Clear Thinking by Hy Ruchlis.

I like Russell. This is the fourth book of his essays I've read. He's bright, but not condescending. I love his dry sense of humor...which some might mistake for pretentiousness. Don't.

The latter book is an excellent resource for those who like to debate here on MT. It is somewhat basic, but provides some angles to critical thinking I hadn't thought of. If you teach children or have children, it is a good guide for working on their reasoning skills. Isaac Asimov did the introduction...how's that for a plug?


Regards,


Steve

[Feisty Mouse]

Ah, it's The World of Odysseus, by M I Finley.

[Flatlander]

I just recently completed The Lexus and the Olive Tree, and From Beirut to Jerusalem, both by Thomas L. Friedman. They were both excellent.

[arnisador]

On Popper, Mark A. Notturno

(A brief primer on Karl Popper's works.)

[Tgace]

Love "Master and Commander". Have the DVD. Maybe Ill start reading some of those.

NonFiction: "Criminal Investigations"

[Feisty Mouse]

"Lost Worlds". I'll have to check out the author. Sad, clever, quite a good read.

[arnisador]

Quiddities, W.V.O. Quine

[arnisador]

Philosophy of Mathematics, J.R. Brown

[dubljay]

Philosophy of Mathematics, J.R. Brown

The mere title of that book gives me a headache

[arnisador]

Occupational hazard in my case. On the fiction side I am re-reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy to balance it out.

[Makalakumu]

"Why We Do It" by Niles Eldridge.

It's a good book that differentiates between the Dawkins opinion on genetics and the Darwin opinion.

[Ray]

I just finished "How Greek Philosophy Corrupted the Christian Concept of God" by Richard R. Hopkins.

[TimoS]

"Unante, the secrets of karate" by John Sells. Interesting book so far

[hardheadjarhead]

I'm always reading at least seven books at any one time. Two I'll note here:

"Rats: Observations on the history and habitat of the city's most unwanted inhabitants" by Robert Sullivan. Its a fascinating book about...rats. He takes some interesting digressions that explore the history of New York, the extermination industry, the history of rats and disease...a really fun, fun book.

The other...

"Legends, Lies and Cherished Mythis of American History," by Richard Shenkman. This book was published in the mid-eighties, but still has much going for it. It debunks much of what we think of "the good old days," and shows that life wasn't always as virtuous in days of yore. I bought it yesterday evening, and finished it this morning.


Regards,


Steve

[arnisador]

"On Kripke" by Consuelo Preti

[hardheadjarhead]

"Why I am not a Christian," by Bertrand Russell. I've been working on this one for awhile, and am in the appendix.

"The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager," by Thomas Hine.

"Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The white male body and the challenge of modernity in America," by John F. Kasson. Odd title, yet a really interesting book. If you ignore the social theory Kasson puts into the book you still get a fascinating biography of Eugene Sandow, Harry Houdini, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. The social theory is interesting, though.

We have here in Indiana a place called "Half Priced Books." I get a bunch of these books at reeeeally great prices. They're good books, too. I bought "Not In Front of the Children: Indecency, Censorship, and the Innocence of Youth" by Marjorie Heins for just under three bucks...HARDBOUND. A great deal.

That was a good book, too.


Regards,


Steve

[FearlessFreep]

Adventures in Missing the Point (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0310253845/ref=pd_sxp_f/102-4946253-7979342?v=glance&s=books)
How the Culture Controlled Church Neutered the Gospel

[arnisador]

Philosophy of Science, Samir Okasha

[Loki]

Just finished Thomas Gilovich's "How We Know What Isn't So", and moved on to "Human Cloning and Human Dignity" by Bush's Bioethics Council and "On Globalization" by George Soros.

Steve, based on what you're reading, I think we'd get along well ;-)

[hardheadjarhead]

"Women Without Superstition: 'No Gods, No Masters.'" edited by Annie Laurie Gaylor.

This is a collection of brief biographies of--and works by--women freethinkers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Women like Francine Wright, Lucretial Mott, Ernestine Rose and others not only helped drive the abolitionist and women's rights movement...they also were a major force in American secularism.

I'm really enjoying it. These women are very bright, and very good speakers and writers. Francine Wright is one of my new heroes.

Loki, you're probably right.


Regards,


Steve

[michaeledward]

I am reading the 2nd Edition - Revised, of the International Best-Seller (Over 1 Million copies in print)


How to **** in the Woods - An environmentally sound approach to a lost art.


Kathleen Meyer.



Honest!
Anyone who hikes, climbs, kayaks, rafts, camps, treks, bikes, caves, fishes, should get a copy of it. You will be incredibly grossed out, but you will keep turning the pages.

Mike

[hardheadjarhead]

Nanofuture: What's next for nanotechnology, by J.Storrs Hall, PhD.

A bit technical in the first chapters. A good background in science is helpful. I'm barely getting through that portion of it. Still, Hall talks about the theoretical potential of nanotechnolgy in ways that authors K. Eric Drexler and Ed Regis (and others) couldn't do years ago when they first addressed the topic. Hall takes a hard look at some of the hurdles of the technology, and provides insights into the future of it based on recent research.

There is still a lot of almost science fiction hype in the book...which makes it fun. Hall talks about how a nano driven engine the size of person's palm could conceivably put out 100,000 horsepower. He talks about how Drexler has designed a computer smaller than a bacteria that will have run at six gigaherz. He talks about "utility fog," which can essentially form itself into just about anything...a building, a chair, a voluptuous maid that will clean your house (okay, that's MY utility fog, not his). And of course...he addresses flying cars.

Hall, like Drexler, Merkel and other nanophiles, believes strongly in the potential of the technology. Problem: As they conceive it, it doesn't exist...right now. They have yet to actually build a working assembler that will allow them to build and test the machines they've designed.

If they do, and their computer simulations prove correct, the world as we know it will drastically change. Hopefully for the better.


Other good books on the topic: Nano, by Ed Regis and The Engines of Creation, by K. Eric Drexler.

Sorry for getting carried away with the review.


Regards,


Steve

[michaeledward]

Nanofuture: What's next for nanotechnology, by J.Storrs Hall, PhD.

A bit technical in the first chapters. A good background in science is helpful. I'm barely getting through that portion of it. Still, Hall talks about the theoretical potential of nanotechnolgy in ways that authors K. Eric Drexler and Ed Regis (and others) couldn't do years ago when they first addressed the topic. Hall takes a hard look at some of the hurdles of the technology, and provides insights into the future of it based on recent research.

There is still a lot of almost science fiction hype in the book...which makes it fun. Hall talks about how a nano driven engine the size of person's palm could conceivably put out 100,000 horsepower. He talks about how Drexler has designed a computer smaller than a bacteria that will have run at six gigaherz. He talks about "utility fog," which can essentially form itself into just about anything...a building, a chair, a voluptuous maid that will clean your house (okay, that's MY utility fog, not his). And of course...he addresses flying cars.

Hall, like Drexler, Merkel and other nanophiles, believes strongly in the potential of the technology. Problem: As they conceive it, it doesn't exist...right now. They have yet to actually build a working assembler that will allow them to build and test the machines they've designed.

If they do, and their computer simulations prove correct, the world as we know it will drastically change. Hopefully for the better.


Other good books on the topic: Nano, by Ed Regis and The Engines of Creation, by K. Eric Drexler.

Sorry for getting carried away with the review.


Regards,


SteveYeah, but do you know how to **** in the woods? ....

:roflmao:

[hardheadjarhead]

Yeah, but do you know how to **** in the woods? ....

:roflmao:



I have been known to **** in the woods, and I have **** in the woods as well. In both instances toilet paper was involved, and in half of those instances I was alone.

Now, what verb are we using? To ****, or to ****?

I would ask which tense of the verb, but as I was tense in both instances (leading to the expression of the verb in question), I don't think it particularly valid.

In any case, please clarify whether you mean **** or ****, the latter of which required me to wipe my asterisk. Refer to Kurt Vonnegut for extra clout to that line.



Regards,


Steve

[lulflo]

Sun Tsu

The Art of War

[Andrew Evans]

Freakonomics. Check out http://www.freakonomics.com

[hardheadjarhead]

Freakonomics. Check out http://www.freakonomics.com


I assume you liked it? I thought it was pretty interesting. Highly controversial stuff.

I wrote the authors and complimented them...they were kind enough to write back. Apparently another book is in the works.



Regards,



Steve

[Andrew Evans]

Steve,

I agree that Freakonomics was controversial. Both conservatives and liberals alike would be bothered by many of its conclusions. To answer your question, yes I liked it. Anything to expand one's mind and learn new ideas is always a good thing. My bachelor's degree was in business administration and I must say that these guys make an otherwise boring subject very interesting. Their perspectives were very intellectually refreshing.

By the way, I saw them interviewed on the Charlie Rose show last night and the economist was not as nerdy as one would expect. He seemed like a fairly hip guy.

Take care,
Andrew

[shesulsa]

I went to Barnes & Noble today and ... I'll tell ya, I'm the biggest sucker for their bargain shelves they ever saw coming. They see me walking in from the parking lot and start jumping up and down with glee.

Today I (finally) bought 'The Art of War' - the only one I could find, but I don't think it's the one I was looking for ... it's translated by Yuan Shibing and is small (I figured I could read it while waiting for others or in the john or something until I get my hands on the bigger one). Hey, it was only $5.

But the one I've already begun reading is 'The Most Evil Women in History' by Shelley Klein. She essays on Lizzie Borden, Audrey Hilley, Valeria Messalina, Agrippina the Younger, Tz'u-Hsi, Catherine the Great, Queen Ranavalona, Elena Ceausescu, Mary Ann Cotton, Marie Noe, Rose West, Grace Marks, Aileen Wuornos, Myra Hindley and Karla Homolka. $7.

I noticed Martha Stewart and Nancy Reagan aren't on the list ... :rolleyes:

[hardheadjarhead]

Steve,

I agree that Freakonomics was controversial. Both conservatives and liberals alike would be bothered by many of its conclusions. To answer your question, yes I liked it. Anything to expand one's mind and learn new ideas is always a good thing. My bachelor's degree was in business administration and I must say that these guys make an otherwise boring subject very interesting. Their perspectives were very intellectually refreshing.

By the way, I saw them interviewed on the Charlie Rose show last night and the economist was not as nerdy as one would expect. He seemed like a fairly hip guy.

Take care,
Andrew


A number of Economists are getting into inter-disciplinary studies, looking at social theories and issues and analyzing the economic factors that impact them. They've come up with some interesting stuff.

You're right...he's not at all nerdy...well, maybe a little. At times on "The Daily Show" John Stewart would crack wise and Leavitt acted as if he didn't get it, or didn't think it funny. Or something.

'The Most Evil Women in History' sounds like a good book, Shesulsa. I'll check it out. Years ago I had the most incredible ability in finding those women. Then I'd date them.

The sex was always great, but the psychological torture...eh, not so much.

New book on the horizon for me...Generation Kill, by Evan Wright. Its about a company of Marines during the Iraq invasion. Somebody left it at the school...no one has claimed it so far. Finders keepers, after thirty days or so.


Regards,


Steve

[jkdhit]

i'm reading a book on shinkage swordsmanship

[Jonathan Randall]

I went to Barnes & Noble today and ... I'll tell ya, I'm the biggest sucker for their bargain shelves they ever saw coming. They see me walking in from the parking lot and start jumping up and down with glee.

Today I (finally) bought 'The Art of War' - the only one I could find, but I don't think it's the one I was looking for ... it's translated by Yuan Shibing and is small (I figured I could read it while waiting for others or in the john or something until I get my hands on the bigger one). Hey, it was only $5.

But the one I've already begun reading is 'The Most Evil Women in History' by Shelley Klein. She essays on Lizzie Borden, Audrey Hilley, Valeria Messalina, Agrippina the Younger, Tz'u-Hsi, Catherine the Great, Queen Ranavalona, Elena Ceausescu, Mary Ann Cotton, Marie Noe, Rose West, Grace Marks, Aileen Wuornos, Myra Hindley and Karla Homolka. $7.

I noticed Martha Stewart and Nancy Reagan aren't on the list ... :rolleyes:
Me too! I love the bargain shelves at B&N. I bought "Dracula" unabridged on cassette for $12.00 same with "Little Women"!

I saw the same book you speak of. I couldn't believe they didn't have a chapter on Elisabethe Bathory.

Right now I'm re-reading "Shogun". Great novel.

[hardheadjarhead]

The Closing of the Western Mind: The rise of faith and the fall of reason, by Charles Freeman.

A background in classical history might help a bit in approaching this...but it is a wonderful book. I'm going to have to check out Freeman's other books. He's very clear in his writing, and he takes intellectually weighty topics and makes them understandable. I do so hate writers who get caught up in jargon or who can't construct a concise sentence. Freeman is not one of those. He writes very, very well.



Regards,


Steve

[still learning]

Hello, I am currently enjoying reading all the books by "Marc, the animal, Macyoung

just read - Cheap Shots, Ambushes, and other lessons.
- Violence, Blunders and Fractured Jaws. and Ending Violence Quickly.

also on my on desk is "The Gentle Art of Self-Defense at Work by Suzette Elgin

Finish " What Holding You Back" and "Tongue Fu " by Sam Horn

Marc the aninmal was a tough guy and bouncer, his stories are real life stuffs and what can happen to you and how to avoid troubles.

"Judo Fu" is good too, The Kona Police department recommend their officers to read the book.


So many books....so little time..........Aloha (current collection on Martial art books is at just over 100 books so far)

[arnisador]

When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops, by George Carlin.

[arnisador]

The Extended Phenotype, Richard Dawkins

[hardheadjarhead]

I've often thought of getting Dawkins, but every book I've seen has print so damnably small that I couldn't read it even with reading glasses.

I'm reading Bryan Perrett's "Impossible Victories," and just finished the charge of the Gordon Highlanders at Dargai.


Regards,


Steve

[Korppi76]

Now reading "Secrets of Samurai" byOscar Ratti& Abele Westbrook.
Also reading "Introduction to GPRS" & "3 G systems"

[Loki]

The Extended Phenotype, Richard Dawkins
:asian: Kudos to you, fellow Dawkins reader!

I'm reading The Selfish Gene (also by Dawkins) and The Probability of God by Stephn D. Unwin.

Just finished Authenticity by David Boyle.

arnisador, how's Phenotype? and did you read Selfish Gene?

[KenpoTess]

Just started Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, Book One: Prodigal Son .. pulled me in on the first page :)

Just finished Harry Potter's 6th book, and Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1) by Christopher Paolini (who was only 15 when he wrote it.). looking forward to his next one due out this month.

~Tess

[arnisador]

arnisador, how's Phenotype? and did you read Selfish Gene?
I read The Selfish Gene and really got a lot out of it. I started Phenotype a few years back, got distracted and set it aside, and have just gone back to it. I'm halfway through it. I don't find it as eye-openeing as Gene, and in fact many parts amount to rebuttals to criticisms of Gene, but there's still much good stuff in there. Also, I understand that the final four chapters of Phenotype are where the good stuff is supposed to be.

I enjoy Dawkins' writings. He's realy thinking deeply about evolution, in a very broad sense.

[Shorin Ryuu]

I just got my reprint of Nakasone Genwa's Karatedo Taikan. It is definitely a treasure trove for a Japanese reading (I can fake it, at least) karateka. If all else fails, it serves as a great source of martial arts pictures from the early decades of the 1900s.

[arnisador]

On Ayn Rand, by Allan Gotthelf

[ed-swckf]

A book on shell scripting from o'reily

[arnisador]

Philosophy of Logic, W.V. Quine

[OnlyAnEgg]

Currently, I am reading The Te Of Piglet. My 13 year old daughter is reading my copy of The Tao Of Pooh, both by Benjamin Hoff.


egg

[someguy]

"America as Second Creation" David E. Nye
I can't put it down...Mainly because I can't seem to pick it up. Stupid classes making me read stupid books. Sigh I should go read now.

[bignick]

On Killing by Dave Grossman

[arnisador]

On Nietzsche, by Eric Steinhart

I like this On ... philosophy series, though the Kripke one was a let-down.

[Martial Tucker]

Currently have 2 non-fiction books in progress:

Critical Path, by Buckminster Fuller


Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh

[arnisador]

Introducing Bertrand Russell, by Dave Robinson

[hardheadjarhead]

Introducing Bertrand Russell, by Dave Robinson


Oh yes...OH YES...I knew there was something I liked about you, Arnisador. I sensed it. You're a closeted Russell fan.

I just got his four part interview with Alan Watts. Excellent interview. The man was brilliant.



Regards,


Steve

[arnisador]

Every mathematician knows his work, of course, and I liked his "The Problems of Philosophy," but I decided to get an overview before deciding where to go next. I hadn't realized how big an influence he and Wittgenstein had been on one another!

[hardheadjarhead]

Every mathematician knows his work, of course, and I liked his "The Problems of Philosophy," but I decided to get an overview before deciding where to go next. I hadn't realized how big an influence he and Wittgenstein had been on one another!


The man was truly a polymath...he was one of those few intellectuals that read everything, retained what they read, and could debate it as a topic. Take a smart man and give him a classical education...then watch out.

Tolkien was another one like that...so was Oscar Wilde.

I'm trying to think of Americans of that caliber...there aren't many.


Regards,


Steve

[tradrockrat]

The Edison Gene: ADHD and the Gift of the Hunter Child

[tradrockrat]

The man was truly a polymath...he was one of those few intellectuals that read everything, retained what they read, and could debate it as a topic. Take a smart man and give him a classical education...then watch out.

Tolkien was another one like that...so was Oscar Wilde.

C.S. Lewis and to certain extent, Mark Twain

[bignick]

I was in Barnes and Noble the other day and almost bought Bertrand Russell's Principles of Mathematics out of sheer curiousity, but grabbed PHP5, Apache, and MySQL Web Development along with A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking instead.

[hardheadjarhead]

Being innumerate, I will avoid his mathematics books and concentrate on his philosophy books and works concerning religion and politics.

"Religion and Science" is very good. I loaned it to one of the MT'ers here and he read it two and a half times...finally got it back from him. Now I can't find it. It is an interesting read when put in a modern context now that the I.D. argument (intelligent desing) is being debated. Much of Russell's stuff is simply timeless.


Regards,


Steve

[arnisador]

It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0446529117), by Michael Abrashoff

[bignick]

Kodokan Throwing Techniques by Toshiro Daigo, made even more interesting considering the tori in the book is one my jujutsu instructors first instructors..

[OnlyAnEgg]

Karate-do Kyohan, Funakoshi

[Flying Crane]

The Western Way of War, Infantry Battle in Classical Greece, by Victor Davis Hanson. It examines what life was like for the Greek hoplite in the phalanx. very interesting, but in a somewhat dry and academic way.

[arnisador]

A Darwinian Left, Peter Singer

A brief book that I figured would introduce me to this controversial figure.

[hardheadjarhead]

"The End of Faith," by Sam Harris.


Interesting...the guy manages to offend people from across the religious and political spectrum...and gets a best seller out of it.


Regards,


Steve

[Jonathan Randall]

I was in Barnes and Noble the other day and almost bought Bertrand Russell's Principles of Mathematics out of sheer curiousity, but grabbed PHP5, Apache, and MySQL Web Development along with A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking instead.

There's some light reading... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Jonathan Randall]

"Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer", by Jenna Glatzer. It is very well written and I'm enjoying it.

[Jonathan Randall]

On Killing by Dave Grossman

How is/was it? I've listened to several interesting interviews by the author.

[terryl965]

"Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer", by Jenna Glatzer. It is very well written and I'm enjoying it.

Yes that is a good read.
Terry

[terryl965]

I'm in the process of re-reading living the Martial Way, it is amazing how much you gain every time you read it.
Terry

[arnisador]

Life, Sex and Ideas: The Good Life Without God, by A. C. Grayling

A collection of short philosophical essays that originally appeared in a U.K. periodical.

[arnisador]

Greek for the Rest of Us, by William D. Mounce

[bobster_ice]

Secrets of the ninja, ashida kim.

So far, its rubbish.

[7starmantis]

Deep Survival (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393326152/qid=1133973581/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0748280-5335135?n=507846&s=books&v=glance) by Laurence Gonzales.

So far really good.

7sm

[arnisador]

Secrets of the ninja, ashida kim.

So far, its rubbish.

Frankly, it's fiction.

[bignick]

The Code Book: From Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography by Simon Singh...really interesting look at the use and development of cryptography throughout history

[bignick]

How is/was it? I've listened to several interesting interviews by the author.

Great, highly recommend it...

[arnisador]

The Power of Babel, by John McWhorter

[arnisador]

The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, by Thomas L. Friedman

[K Williams]

"Two Wheels Through Terror" by Glen Heggstad. It's about a Judo instructor that takes a motorcycle trip through South America, get kidnapped by rebels, then escapes, etc. Pretty good so far.

[bignick]

My pile is gettin' kinda high....doing some light reading with Retro Gaming Hacks but I've got Secrets of the Samurai and Clouds in the West waiting...

[TaiChiTJ]

A Pretext For War by Bamford


here is some info on it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C25WQS/qid=1136507347/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0014848-6315901?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

[arnisador]

I knew about his NSA stuff but hadn't heard about this one...I'll look for it!

[Jonathan Randall]

A Pretext For War by Bamford


here is some info on it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C25WQS/qid=1136507347/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0014848-6315901?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

I have it, but haven't read it yet. My pile's too big. His "Body of Secrets" was very good. Amazingly, pre-9/11, several of the people he interviewed prophesied that, because of the huge volume of intelligence out there, we would eventually miss something and the terrorists would have a successful major strike on U.S. Soil.

[Henderson]

but I've got Secrets of the Samurai...waiting
Well written, tons of info, I think you'll enjoy it Nick.

Frank

[Wes Tasker]

"The Self After Postmodernity"
-Calvin O. Schrag

"Calvin O. Schrag and the Task of Philosophy after Postmodernity"
-ed. Martin Matusik & William McBride

"No Time to Lose"
-Pema Chodron

"Creative Fidelity"
-Gabriel Marcel

"al-Hikmat al-Ishraqi / The Philosophy of Illumination"
-Suhrawardi

I have a problem reading one book at a time.......

-wes tasker

[Henderson]

I have a problem reading one book at a time...
You're just a freak reader, Wes! :)

[bignick]

Well written, tons of info, I think you'll enjoy it Nick.

Frank

Hope so...it's hefty, didn't look that big online. It came highly recommended from my instructor...so I'm sure it will be great. His MA library is like a little heaven on earth.

[shesulsa]

"On Killing" - Grossman .... assigned

[Wes Tasker]

"On Killing" is good. If you like it, his follow-up book "On Combat" is really good. I think those two books along with the following are good reads for any martial artist who wants to educate themselves on the psychological etc. aspects of violence/fighting.

"The Gift of Fear"
-Gavin de Becker

"Sharpening the Warrior's Edge"
-Bruce Siddle

"The Biology of Violence"
-Debra Niehoff

"Why They Kill"
-Richard Rhodes

"Blood Rites"
-Barbara Ehrenreich

"An Intimate History of Killing"
-Joanna Bourke

"Violence and Nonviolence"
-Gregg Barak

"Beyond the Trauma Vortex"
-Gina Ross

"Before Conflict"
-John D. Barnes

"Stress and Trauma"
-Patricia Resnick

"The Emotional Brain"
-Joseph LeDoux

I don't necesarily agree with everything that all these authors have to say. But they definitely provide some thought provoking material. Also, just to solidify my place in geekdom, I just received, and started reading, "Gateway to Sindarin - A Grammar of Elvish". I know, I know......

-wes tasker

[hardheadjarhead]

"The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture," by Bart Ehrman.

This is a graduate level text, with references to Greek sans direct translation at times...at other times it gives the translation, so it isn't totally inaccessable.

Interesting book that points out the Orthodox church changed scripture to enforce their view point and to undercut the many forms of Christianity then in existence (Gnostic, Adoptionist, Docetic, etc.), which they branded "heresies."

Also reading "How the Scots Ivented the Modern World," by Arthur Herman. A good book on the Scottish Englightenment...flawed by its organization, which jumps back and forth. The chronology is hard to track. I'd still recommend it. Don't be put of by the Celto-centric title.


Regards,


Steve

[Flying Crane]

The Campaigns of Alexander, by Arrian.

[arnisador]

Chinese Language for Beginners, by Lee Cooper

A delightful, short, child-oriented book that taught me a few symbols, a few words, and a bit of grammar. Well worth the read for someone like me who knew nothing! I definitely recommend it if you study the CMA but no nothing of the language.

[tradrockrat]

The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev.

A much more believable account of the ill fated Everest expedition than the more famous Into Thin Air by Krakauer

[Makalakumu]

Collapse by Jared Diamond. Very well written book with a powerful message and lots of insight.

[Carol]

Where The Right Went Wrong by Pat Buchanan is in my car at the moment.

I enjoy listening to what Mr. Buchanan has to say about politics...as long as he is not talking about religion or Israel.

[Kacey]

Sadly, all I have time for is my textbooks...

Child Development, 5th ed., Bukatko and Daehler

and

At-Risk Youth: A Comprehensive Response for Counselors, Teachers, Psychologists, and Human Service Professionals, 3rd ed., McWhirter, McWhirter, McWhirter, and McWhirter (the text does not have anything about the authors, but it is dedicated to "the youngest generation of the McWhirter clan", so I'm guessing they're related)

I probably ought to log off and go finish chapter 5 in the first one...

[Jonathan Randall]

Where The Right Went Wrong by Pat Buchanan is in my car at the moment.

I enjoy listening to what Mr. Buchanan has to say about politics...as long as he is not talking about religion or Israel.

Ditto. I read the book when it came out.

Although I disagree with him on many things, he often has great insights into matters. He is the freakiest writer/commentator around though, IMO, because he combines pearls of wisdom with the some of the most inane comments and positions. You could listen to an interview of him and nod your head at each point for a quarter of an hour, then for the last five minutes he'll have you shaking your head in disbelief and puzzlement that people in this day and age still believe the things he does on some issues.

[Jonathan Randall]

"On Killing" - Grossman .... assigned

Assigned by your MA instructor, or are you going to school? I'd really like to hear your take on the book and the author's positions when you've finished reading it.

[Zepp]

Collapse by Jared Diamond. Very well written book with a powerful message and lots of insight.

I just started Guns, Germs and Steel. I'm amazed that a history book can be so interesting. But perhaps that's because Jared Diamond is actually a biologist.

[aplonis]

"The Bible Unearthed"
By Israel Finkelstein & Neil Asher Silberman
ISBN 0-684-86912-8

This book is about how archeology directly contradicts much of what the Old Testament asserts.

1. The city of Jerico was not a walled city, never had been. It utterly lacks any trace of a former wall's foundation.

2. Most of the great cities attributed to Solomon in the early years of archeology now are known to date from...ahem...Ahab.

3. That Aramaic was the language of Aramea...an invader nation so dominate it overwrote much of the original culture right down to supplanting its language in everyday life.

4. There can be found no slightest trace of Moses having led an Exodus out of Egypt.

Lots of interesting little twists like that. Things we aren't supposed to know. These tidbits are the general consensus of modern archeology and somehow fail to find their way into textbooks...or pulpits.

[Brian R. VanCise]

Rain Storm

By Barry Eisley

The writing is good but not sure if I truly liked the overall
story.

Brian R. VanCise
www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com (http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com)

[Blindside]

Psst. Brian, this is a non-fiction thread. Fiction is over at:
http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9377

But I did like the book. :)

Lamont

[Martial Tucker]

"What If?.......Eminent Historians Imagine What Might Have Been"

A thick book full of short essays by historians such as Steven Ambrose and James Bradley. Each author takes an important event in history and writes a 10-20 page essay on how things could have gone differently, and the ramifications for the world if the event had indeed gone differently.

[someguy]

I just started Guns, Germs and Steel. I'm amazed that a history book can be so interesting. But perhaps that's because Jared Diamond is actually a biologist.
Hey now are you saying something about historians. Ahem well I have a long and boring lecture to give you about that. You see the reason history books often are boring goes back all the way to Roman times when....
Ahem oh yeah and I a reading Kant's Critique of Judgement. Arguably thoguh it may go under fiction because it is Kant... I don't think he really lived in the world that surrounded him.

[Wes Tasker]

oh yeah and I a reading Kant's Critique of Judgement

...are you reading this by choice???

-wes tasker

[someguy]

Class actually although I don't really need the class for anything so pretty much by choice.
What can I say I like philosophy. Love it and hate it.

[Wes Tasker]

I really like philosophy too, but reading Kant's three critiques nearly brought me to tears.....

-wes tasker

[someguy]

Oh the insanity contiunes for me and philosophy.
I'm planning to read during my spring break...
Beyond Good and Evil-Neitzche
Birth of Tragedy-same
Case of Wagner- umm same
Poetry, Language, Though-Heidegger
And probably more.
And this is all going to be the basis of a paper. I think I must have snapped. I'm turning 21 and I'm planning to spend a lot of time reading philosophy. Oh I'm insane.

[Cryozombie]

I just got THIS:

http://user.mc.net/%7Etknopnk/ljimages/egeg.jpg

[michaeledward]

I had to get Bruce Bartlett's new book ... although, I choked on him actually getting a royalty from my purchase.

"Impostor - How George W. Bush bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy"

I think just about everything Mr. Bartlett believes is wrong and bad for the country, but it is interesting to see what he has to say about our current president.

[bushidomartialarts]

coming home by thich nhat han

[empty cup]

In The Beginning - The opening in the game of Go
By Ikuro Ishigure

and
Graded Go Problems for Beginners volume one

By Kano Yoshinori


Man is this ever a hard game to learn !

[SFC JeffJ]

"The First Men In" by Ed Ruggero.

[MBuzzy]

Freakonomics, by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner

[shesulsa]

Re-reading for project:

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey

[Carol]

Digital Telephony Over Cable (Evans)

:idunno: It feeds my MA habit.

[Martial Tucker]

Your Immortal Reality,

by Gary Renard

[michaeledward]

Hubris - by Michael Isikoff and David Corn.

I have always been against this administrations aggressions, but this book spells out how painfully they abused the government to do so.

Please read this book.

[Martial Tucker]

God Is Red, A Native American View of Religion

by Vine Deloria, Jr.



They had it right...and we screwed it up....

[michaeledward]

I have finished Hubris. I can't recommend it more highly. Read it, and you will feel especially sad for all the actions the country has taken in the past six years. Although, the last pages did deal, perhaps a bit too heavily, upon the Valerie Plame scandal .... and the incredibly inappropriate actions of the White House staff, and the staff of the Vice President.

I am not reading State of Denial. This book just absolutely will piss off anyone who reads it. That our government was so incompetent. There is not a harsh enough punishment in our society for what Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld has done; and what Ms. Rice, Mr. Cheney, and Mr. Bush have allowed him to do. The arrogance and incompetence is infuriating.

I also, recently received and have started reading George W. Bush versus the US Constitution: The Downing Street Memos and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution, Coverups in the Iraq War and Illegal Spying.

http://www.academychicago.com/GeorgeWBush.html

Just not enough time in the day, sometimes, is there?

[mrhnau]

Just not enough time in the day, sometimes, is there?

Amen.

I'm working on The Oath by Frank Peretti. I read some of his stuff a good 10 years ago and recently picked up some of his stuff. I read Monster by Peretti last month. Good stuff.

[K Williams]

High Steel by Jim Rasenberger

http://www.amazon.com/High-Steel-Greatest-Skyline-Present/dp/0060004355/sr=1-2/qid=1161033434/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-7431458-1912956?ie=UTF8&s=books

Story of the Structural Ironworkers in NYC.

[searcher]

Amen.

I'm working on The Oath by Frank Peretti. I read some of his stuff a good 10 years ago and recently picked up some of his stuff. I read Monster by Peretti last month. Good stuff.


Peretti is a genius and one heck of a Christian.


I am currently reading The Fitness Professional's Guide to Musculoskeletal Anatomy.

[OnlyAnEgg]

Secrets of the Samurai: Martial Arts in Feudal Japan
by Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook

and

Karate-Do, My Way of Life
by Gichin Funakoshi

[Don Roley]

I am almost finished with the book, Unholy alliance; Radical Islam and the American Left by David Horowitz. It is an interesting book that explains why we just recently saw the leader of a radical Islamic country (Iran) and the socialist leader of a country (Venezuela) get together for a love fest.

In short, after decades of looking at America as the source of opposition to communism, a lot of the old leftists have gotten the instinct that anything that opposes the US is a good thing.

So Horowitz (who is like George Orwell in his political history) shows how a lot of individuals and groups who used to fight against captialism and America started protests against any military action within a few days of the attacks of 9-11 and continue to this day. And he shows how they are not unwilling to clothe themselves in such way to attract people who would be put off by their true message. Instead of waving communist flags and banners reading "bring the war home" the decision was made to wave American flags and banners reading "bring the troops home."

Horowitz is really cheesed off at the way people who claim to care about human rights for women, homosexuals, etc would run interference for folks like the Taliban. Most of the cases he lists are not actual help to Islam (though he does give some cases) but are more in trying to stop America from doing anything to deal with them and thus serving as a line of defense for the Islamic facists. He gives exact quotes, dates, names, etc to back up his version of events in a really shocking manner. The following is an example given by Lynne Stewert- the lawyer who defended Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.


"We have in Washington a poisonous government that spreads its venom to the body politic in all corners of the globe. We now resume... our quests...like David going forth to meet Goliath, like Beowulf the dragon slayer,... like Sir Galahad seeking the holy grail. And modern heroes, dare I mention? Ho and Mao and Lenin, Fidel and Nelsonmandala and John Brown, Che Guevera who reminds us, 'At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love.'"

I think this book is really a good insight into some of the people that have just been plugging along ever since 9-11 to try to find any way they could to interfere with the war on terror. The loathing they have for anything American is what drives them, but they won't say it outright. But Horowitz points out that not all people who oppose the war on terror are driven by these feelings- but he does show how the core seems to be built around these folks.

[grydth]

Servants of Evil by Bob Carruthers...... recollections of German service members from World War II..... subjective feeling on my part, but so far it seems that either the author found some blameless guys or their memory has dimmed on some of those minor details like the Holocaust, murdering Russian POWs by the millions, etc.

[Martial Tucker]

The Earth Shall Weep, by James Wilson


A History of Native America

[michaeledward]

While on vacation this past week, I took along Matthew Polly's new book; American Shaolin. The subtitle is interesting 'Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of the Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China'.

It took the first half of the book for me to get used to Mr. Polly's prose style. I don't think he is a very good writer. But, his stories are pretty interesting.

Mr. Polly spent two years ('92 - '94) in the Shaolin Temple as a kung fu student. There is a certain amount of wonderful fantasy in being able to take two years to study on your Senior Thesis in remote China.

His story culminates in a sanda match with the World Champion, in which he gets his butt handed to him, but does manage to take the World Champion off the leitai.

Just reading about the training undertaken by 'Monk Dong', the practioner of the afore mentioned 'Iron Crotch' kung fu was painful; it's a guy thing, don't you know.

[Don Roley]

Just reading about the training undertaken by 'Monk Dong', the practioner of the afore mentioned 'Iron Crotch' kung fu was painful; it's a guy thing, don't you know.

Please tell me you are joking. That is just so strange. I mean, monks don't even really have to worry about certain areas due to their vows. So why bother?:btg:

As for me, I just finished Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. I reccomend it to everyone. I first got wind of the book from Marc MacYoung who seems to have used part of it for his stuff about the Amygdala. The expanded version was an eye opener. I got something out of this book as a martial artist, a parent and school teacher. I already have a few books I would consider required reading if I ever started teaching self defense. I am considering adding this to the list.

[michaeledward]

Please tell me you are joking. That is just so strange. I mean, monks don't even really have to worry about certain areas due to their vows. So why bother?:btg:

The author recounts the time he was used to kick "Monk Dong" in a demonstration. He reports that he kicked the man in the crotch so hard, that it lifted him six inches off the ground.

And, although he was refered to as 'Monk', this man did not live at the temple, and apparently had four or five concubines and a wife.

According to the author, his demonstrations of 'Iron Crotch Kung Fu' were quite the aphrodesiac.

[mrhnau]

I already have a few books I would consider required reading if I ever started teaching self defense. I am considering adding this to the list.
What other books are on your list?

[Martial Tucker]

"The Unknown Life of Jesus", by Nicolas Notovitch.

The author was a Russian journalist who travelled to Tibet in the late 19th century. While there, he claims to have discovered ancient documents detailing how Jesus spent his adolescent years in India and Tibet. Allegedly, Jesus studied Hinduism while in India, and studied for years at a Buddhist monastery in Tibet before returning to Jerusalem.

The book is supposed to provide an explanation for what happened to Jesus between his early teens and late 20's, a period that is not discussed in the
bible.

[Don Roley]

What other books are on your list?

The Gift of Fear by Gavin DeBecker.

Ending Violence Quickly by Marc "The Mummy" MacYoung.

Street Smarts, Firearms and Personal Security by "Jim Grover."

The Japanese Art of War by Thomas Cleary

The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Soho

On Killing by David Grossman.

[MartialArtHeart]

I am reading several books at the moment.
I just finished a book on Pressure Points that one of my friends borrowed. And I also finished Ultimate Training for the Martial Arts, edited by John R. Little and Curtis F. Wong.
Both are great books. Recommended.
Right now I'm on three books that are absolutely wonderful from what I've read. A bit of Chicken Soup (despite the fact that I'm a vegetarian... oh well. lol). And then there's Mind Manipulation: Ancient and Modern Ninja Techniques by Dr. Haha Lung and Christopher Prowant. I know what you're thinking: bull. But it's more about history and such from what I've read, rather than feeding you the bull that you can do all this mystical crap.
And last, I've started on Code of the Samurai, by Thomas Cleary. I'd recommend any of these books to people wanting a good read. Normally, I despise nonfiction and realistic fiction, but I'll make an exception for good martial arts books.

[Jdokan]

"The Unknown Life of Jesus", by Nicolas Notovitch.

The author was a Russian journalist who travelled to Tibet in the late 19th century. While there, he claims to have discovered ancient documents detailing how Jesus spent his adolescent years in India and Tibet. Allegedly, Jesus studied Hinduism while in India, and studied for years at a Buddhist monastery in Tibet before returning to Jerusalem.

The book is supposed to provide an explanation for what happened to Jesus between his early teens and late 20's, a period that is not discussed in the
bible.
I would be very interested in your thoughts on the book once you're done...

[Jdokan]

I am currently reading two:
In the mornings for my commute I am currently reading JOB in a Cathloic version Bible.
My other book is Cisco ASA All-in One Firewall...by Jazib Frahim...

[Martial Tucker]

I would be very interested in your thoughts on the book once you're done...

It was quite interesting, and I've read very similar accounts in other books.
I think the book's message is quite credible.

Related to this topic, another book:
"The Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta"
by Swami Prabhavananda, discusses how the Bible's "Sermon on the Mount"
passages are very similar to concepts written much earlier in the Veda's, ancient Indian
Scriptures. The Veda's would have certainly been studied by Jesus, had he delved at all into Indian/Hindu Philosophy

If you're interested in topics like this, I'd also suggest:
"Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible, and Why"
by Bart Ehlman


Oh yeah.....I'm currently finishing "Divine Matrix", by Greg Braden,
and beginning "The End of Nature", by Bill McKibben

[Steel Tiger]

Currently I am reading two books:

War and Society in Ancient Mesoamerica by Ross Hassig

The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilisations: A comparative research based on a study of the ancient Mexican religious, sociological and calendrical systems by Zelia Nuttall

Both are very intriguing.

[Callandor]

Don't sweat the small stuff

A briefer history of time -S. Hawking

Wars of gods and men -Z. Sitchin

[CoryKS]

Into the Wild (http://www.amazon.com/Into-Wild-Jon-Krakauer/dp/0330351699/ref=pd_bbs_2/105-8428991-5207652?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181218828&sr=8-2) - Jon Krakauer
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (http://www.amazon.com/Tipping-Point-Little-Things-Difference/dp/0316346624/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-8428991-5207652?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181218899&sr=1-1) - Malcolm Gladwell

[JBrainard]

I am currently trying to wrap my mind around the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu.