Happy Atheist Forum

General => Media => Topic started by: Cecilie on May 22, 2010, 06:47:44 AM

Title: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Cecilie on May 22, 2010, 06:47:44 AM
Similar to "What Are You Listening To". I've been wondering why nobody has posted this topic before.

I am currently reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.

EDIT: You could also tell me your favorite book thus far.

 :-)
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: pinkocommie on May 22, 2010, 06:50:20 AM
Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body by Neil Shubin

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0375424474
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Sophus on May 22, 2010, 07:29:12 AM
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MariaEvri on May 22, 2010, 02:53:02 PM
reading the invinsible man by h. g. wells
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tom62 on May 22, 2010, 06:00:49 PM
Under the Dome - Stephen King
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: KDbeads on May 22, 2010, 06:13:20 PM
I'm waiting on a box of Kurt Vonnegut that should have been here today but the tracking number still says DFW  :mad:
Just finished City of bones and Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells.
Picked up at the thrift store yesterday:
The woodworker's bible-Percy Blandford
Complete guide to texas gardening - Neil Sperry
The wood wright's Eclectic Workshop - Roy Underhill (this is a major score!!  it's out of print and getting hard to find)
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: EssejSllim on May 23, 2010, 05:30:25 AM
The Cider House Rules - John Irving
Thus spoke Zarathustra - Friedrich Nietzsche

Also recently finished Watchmen
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Rastelin on May 23, 2010, 05:45:38 AM
Currently reading Terry Pratchett - Unseen Academicals

Favorite book Richard Dawkins - The God Delusion
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: hismikeness on May 23, 2010, 05:54:04 AM
I just finished Dexter By Design by Jeff Lindsay.

I am currently reading A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Very reccommended thus far.

My favorite book is either Fight Club by Chuck Pahlaniuk or Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: AlP on May 23, 2010, 06:06:40 AM
I'm reading Fundamentals of Corporate Finance by Ross, Westerfield and Jordan. It contains efficient market baloney but is otherwise interesting.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: jrosebud on May 23, 2010, 05:58:56 PM
I just finished Diary by Chuck Palahniuk in the wee hours of the morning.  I've read three of his other books - Invisible Monsters, Survivor, and Choke - within the past couple of weeks.  Good stuff.

My favorite quote of his so far:

"Nothing of me is original.  I am the combined effort of everybody I've ever known."  (from Invisible Monsters)
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Squid on May 23, 2010, 06:13:38 PM
Since I've been working for a long while now with journal articles, technical reports, monographs and the like I think it's time I finally picked up something to read for my own enjoyment.  I'm not sure what though.  I have an emergency medicine text I bought not too long ago but I also have a bunch of books that have been sitting on my shelf for some time that I have yet to read.  For instance, I picked up Dennett's "Freedom Evolves" when it first came out in 2003 - haven't gotten around to reading it yet.  However, the behavioral endocrinology text I bought a while ago is enticing as well...so many choices...

What am I reading?  Nothing at the moment, because I can't seem to decide  :D
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: pinkocommie on May 23, 2010, 06:53:09 PM
Quote from: "jrosebud"I just finished Diary by Chuck Palahniuk in the wee hours of the morning.  I've read three of his other books - Invisible Monsters, Survivor, and Choke - within the past couple of weeks.  Good stuff.

My favorite quote of his so far:

"Nothing of me is original.  I am the combined effort of everybody I've ever known."  (from Invisible Monsters)

When I was younger, I LOVED Invisible Monsters.  Reading that book inspired me to shave my head after I realized what a huge part my own vanity played in my negative self image.  That was almost 10 years ago though.  I have hair and a pretty good self image now.   :bananacolor:

Also, my favorite books include -

Anything by my hero, Kurt Vonnegut.  I love that man's writing, regardless of the story.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Sewer, Gas, and Electric by Matt Ruff
Monkey Girl: Evolution, Education, Religion, and the Battle for America's Soul by Edward Humes
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: harriedheretic on May 23, 2010, 07:23:52 PM
I'm reading the "Red Mars" trilogy

QuoteThe Mars trilogy is a series of award-winning science fiction novels by Kim Stanley Robinson that chronicle the settlement and terraforming of the planet Mars through the intensely personal and detailed viewpoints of a wide variety of characters spanning almost two centuries. Ultimately, more utopian than dystopian, the story focuses on egalitarian, sociological, and scientific advances made on Mars, while Earth suffers from overpopulation and ecological disaster.

The science is incredibly good, and the relationships among the settlers on Mars is very plausible. The realism is extremely well done.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tank on May 23, 2010, 10:07:47 PM
Currently.

Origin of Species.
Zima Blue, short Si-Fi stories by Alistair Reynolds
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: mama_ape on May 24, 2010, 12:55:29 AM
Just finished Memoirs of Cleopatra and have begun From a Buick 8 by Stephen King
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: FTLebanon on June 06, 2010, 05:05:58 AM
I've just finished Richard Dawkins' incredible book "The Greatest Show on Earth".. I would really recommend it to anyone who's interested in reading about what makes evolution such a wonderful theory and about the many facts and evidences that are there for all of us to check out but which are overlooked by all those closed-minded creationists.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MariaEvri on June 06, 2010, 02:50:50 PM
I'm currently re-reading the fellowship of the rings.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: kenh on June 06, 2010, 06:58:27 PM
Currently reading Philip K. Dick's Time Out of Joint.  I've been warned not to read  P.K. Dick books back-to-back, due to the schizophrenic and mind-boggling nature of his writings.  Having just read his Martian Time Slip novel, I may start posting a little more disjointedly than usual...  :D
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tank on June 06, 2010, 07:51:01 PM
Quote from: "FTLebanon"I've just finished Richard Dawkins' incredible book "The Greatest Show on Earth".. I would really recommend it to anyone who's interested in reading about what makes evolution such a wonderful theory and about the many facts and evidences that are there for all of us to check out but which are overlooked by all those closed-minded creationists.
It's a good book but this one Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Evolution-True-Jerry-Coyne/dp/0199230846) is a little better. More facts, less polemic and a little better structure.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: fiendmf on June 07, 2010, 06:04:10 PM
Currently I'm undertaking the book entitled Mind Penetration: The Ancient Art of Mental Mastery. Excellent read thus far.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Cecilie on June 11, 2010, 05:01:47 PM
'Fractured' by Karin Slaughter. It's a crime novel. I never read crime novels, unless maybe on easter.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tanker on June 11, 2010, 05:28:16 PM
Just started "the Change" serries by S.M. Stirling (well the second serries aperently the first I think is call "the Nantucket" serries) Seems pretty good...in a post apocalyptic sort of way. First book is called "Dies The Fire"
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: KDbeads on June 11, 2010, 06:44:56 PM
I have decided to read my copy of Dies the Fire finally.... have 4 books in front of it though, probably won't get to it for a week.....  Hubby tried reading it but never got past the first couple of chapters.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tanker on June 11, 2010, 07:16:14 PM
Quote from: "KDbeads"I have decided to read my copy of Dies the Fire finally.... have 4 books in front of it though, probably won't get to it for a week.....  Hubby tried reading it but never got past the first couple of chapters.

Yeah it's been on my "too read" list for a couple months just sitting on the shelf. It's been good so far, I'm about halfway through now. I have to admit I'm probably biased because it takes place in my home state so It kinda drives the visuals home for me.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tom62 on June 11, 2010, 07:43:07 PM
I'm reading a couple of books in parallel:
- Jack Williamson's "Beachhead"
- Stephen King's "Under the Dome"
- Josh Clarke's "iWork 09: The Missing Manual".

After that I'm looking forward to read Stieg Larsson's "Millenium Triology".
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: The Black Jester on June 12, 2010, 05:03:11 AM
I have a frustrating inability to read one book at a time.  So I'm also reading several in parallel:

The Origin of Species
The God Delusion
The Emotional Construction of Morals (Jesse Prinz)
The Quest for Consciousness: A Neurobiological Approach (Christoph Koch)
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: thelittlefinch on June 12, 2010, 11:16:09 AM
QuoteBlink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Great book! I also loved his other book, The Tipping Point. I'm waiting for Outliers to come out in paperback because I really don't want to spend more money on a hardcover - I'm still a broke college student!

QuoteI'm waiting on a box of Kurt Vonnegut that should have been here today but the tracking number still says DFW
Haha, me too! I read Breakfast of Champions and decided that I had to have the rest of his book (or at least the ones I found for pennies on Amazon.com!)

Currently reading:

With the Old Breed by E.B. Sledge (found it in my boyfriend's stash and realized it was the same Sledge from HBO's The Pacific. I had to steal it from him!)

The God Delusion
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MrDavidBowers on June 17, 2010, 05:00:12 AM
It took me a while, but I just read God is not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Awesome!!!!
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Cecilie on November 29, 2010, 07:05:51 PM
Well, this thread has been dead for a while.
Anyway, I'm reading The Shining by Stephen King. You may have heard of it.  :P
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: hismikeness on November 29, 2010, 08:33:46 PM
In Fifty Years We'll all be Chicks by Adam Corrolla. That one is a chapter a night in bed.
Death by Black Hole by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I just started this one, it's by my chair in the living room.
Death to the BCS by Dan Wetzel, Josh Peter and Jeff Passan. This is strictly bathroom reading.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tom62 on November 30, 2010, 07:45:11 AM
I'm reading "Objective-C 2.0 Programmierung für Mac OS X und iPhone" and Harlan Ellison's "Earthman Go Home"
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Inevitable Droid on November 30, 2010, 10:52:14 AM
Russ Shafer-Landau's Moral Realism: A Defense - http://www.amazon.com/Moral-Realism-A-Defence-ebook/dp/B002BWPIJS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1291110143&sr=1-1
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Babylon Fell on December 13, 2010, 08:32:35 PM
William Shakespeare - The Taming of the Shrew
L. E. Modesitt - The Soprano Sorceress


Quote from: "hismikeness"I am currently reading A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Very reccommended thus far.

Dude, Bill Bryson is the shit. I just read three of his books: A Walk In the Woods, Neither Here Nor There, and his biography of Shakespeare (the exact title escapes me).
Title: Valhalla by Ari Bach
Post by: Inevitable Droid on December 14, 2010, 12:49:48 PM
Valhalla by Ari Bach is a fun sci-fi adventure novel, in the category of military sf, zeroing in on a single soldier, a female special operative by the name of Violet MacRae.  It takes place in what I like to call the midldle future, where a number of technological and political trends of today have progressed as one would logically expect, but we haven't yet colonized other planets to any meaningful extent.  I totally enjoyed this book from cover to cover.  If you like military sf, female heroines, stories of the middle future, and storytelling that mostly wants to be fun, you'll like this book.  Learn more about it here: Valhalla by Ari Bach at Lulu - http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/valhalla/12044639?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Saeriva on March 13, 2011, 11:30:14 PM
I just finished Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and, having read it, am now convinced I'd never get through the original. Without the random bits of Lovecraftian horror and dark humor sprinkled in, I probably would have grown bored of it ages ago. Now I'm considering Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: fester30 on March 14, 2011, 01:24:34 AM
Just started Tom Clancy's Dead or Alive.  I've read all of his main fiction novels (not the ones that he put his name on that others wrote, like ops center).  I've been waiting for this for 7 years.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: The Black Jester on May 01, 2011, 01:01:42 PM
Descartes' Error - Antonio Damasio
The Passion of the Western Mind - Richard Tarnas - highly recommended if you have any interest in the history of Western thought.
Phantoms in the Brain - V. S. Ramachandran
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Melmoth on May 01, 2011, 03:09:38 PM
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach

Naked Lunch - William Burroughs
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Velma on May 01, 2011, 05:40:11 PM
Denialism by Michael Specter
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: hermes2015 on January 27, 2020, 03:21:02 AM
A lovely site for book-lovers.

https://justforbooks.tumblr.com/
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Biggus Dickus on February 02, 2020, 04:17:45 AM
This is a picture from inside "John King Used and Rare Books" store in Detroit...I think I was there about 3 hours today. Not sure, lost track of time.

(https://i.imgur.com/vacRLPg.png)
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on February 10, 2020, 05:39:46 AM
Those of us who are readers, and are fascinated by old book stores, are a special, but vanishing, breed of cat.

I dearly love my public library because of its books.  But the library has to attract clients in so many other ways.  My library has all sorts of programs that have little or nothing to do with reading.  There are a variety of computer instruction classes, sections that embrace classical music, accompanied by real live musicians, sewing classes for youths, art instruction classes, caligraphy instruction sessions, Geneology study classes, and a lot more activities that may be cleverly designed to attract patrons in such a way that they might be exposed to ....BOOKS.  Marion the Librarian is one of my favorite characters both in my library and also in the play; Music Man

My current Library book is: The Math Of Life And Death. By Brit author Kit Yates.  Seven mathematical principles that shape our lives.    Not at all a math instruction manual but an explanation about how math does in fact steer us and largely determine our destiny.   

Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on February 10, 2020, 11:00:58 AM
i refuse to go into used bookstores. if i do i spend all the money i have on me.

i have a bad history with old books anyway. i am not a good custodian.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Recusant on February 10, 2020, 07:40:35 PM
Apologies to the book club, but I finally got America's Constitution: A Biography (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/843764.America_s_Constitution), having hankered after it for years, and am currently deriving considerable enjoyment from it.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Bad Penny II on February 03, 2021, 10:59:17 AM
Patrick O'Brian, again I'm up to book 13 in the series again, Thirteen Gun Salute.

Quote'What a satisfaction. And yet, do you know, Maturin, after all these hours of lying here I have come to the conclusion that there is something not displeasing in this solitude, perpetual travelling, perpetual confinement, remoteness from all society, cares, activity . . . If reasonable food were forthcoming, I am by no means sure that I should wish it ever to come to an end. There is a great deal to be said for suspended animation.' He paused, staring at the bulkhead, and then he said, 'I wonder if you know the author of the lines I have ventured to translate

When the bells justle in the tower
The hollow night amid
Then on my tongue the taste is sour
Of all I ever did.'

From Fox's tone it was evident to Stephen that this was the preliminary to a confidence, a confidence prompted not by any high degree of friendship or esteem but by loneliness and a desire to talk. From the nature of the verse it was reasonably certain that the confidence would be of a somewhat scabrous nature, and Stephen did not wish to hear it. Restored to society, cares, activity and his usual environment, Fox would undoubtedly regret having made it; he would resent Stephen's knowledge of his intimate life, and that would make working together in Pulo Prabang far more difficult. Collaboration and indifference might agree; collaboration and resentment could scarcely do so. He said, 'I do not know the author. Can you remember the original?'
   'I am afraid not.'
   'It cannot be an ancient: the pagans, as far as my reading goes, were never much given to self-hatred or guilt about their sexual activities. That was reserved for Christians, with their particular sense of sin; and as "all I ever did" clearly refers to ill-doing, I must suppose it to be of a sexual nature, since a thief is not always stealing nor a murderer always murdering, whereas a man's sexual instincts are with him all the time, day and night. Yet it is curious to see how the self-hater often succeeds in retaining his self-esteem in relation to others, usually by means of a general denigration: he sees himself as a worthless creature, but his fellows as more worthless still.'
   As a check to unwanted confidences this was effective, but Stephen had added the last words in another spirit, following his own reflection, and the effect was too harsh by far. He saw with regret that he had wounded Fox, who, with an artificial smile, said, 'Oh, I quite agree,' and went on to a very proper speech of thanks for Dr Maturin's great kindness in looking after him and for his great skill in curing a most disagreeable complaint. He was sorry to have been such an importunate nuisance.
   'Where is the moral advantage now?' Stephen asked himself, walking along the half-deck to the companion-ladder. 'Heavy stupidity, incomprehension would have been much better.' He was just about to climb up it when a boy came hurtling down, took a great leap to avoid him, missed his footing and fell flat.
   'Are you quite well, Mr Reade?' he asked, picking him up.
   'Quite well, sir, thank you. I beg pardon for tumbling about, but the Captain sent me to tell you we have sighted Java Head. Java Head, sir! Ain't it prime?'

It may seem turgid but you go with the flow after a while.
I wanted to quote the self hater thing long ago but couldn't find it.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on June 27, 2021, 10:20:34 AM
A friend, who is a conspiracy theorist, gave me a nice new copy of Orwell's 1984.  I had read that book many moons ago.  I started reading it again.  It is a bit much.  My friend is afraid that there is a new world order conspiracy afoot.

The book becomes rather tedious but for some reading I continue to read it.  Has anyone else read or reread this book?
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Bad Penny II on June 27, 2021, 11:30:40 AM
Quote from: Icarus on June 27, 2021, 10:20:34 AM
A friend, who is a conspiracy theorist, gave me a nice new copy of Orwell's 1984.  I had read that book many moons ago.  I started reading it again.  It is a bit much.  My friend is afraid that there is a new world order conspiracy afoot.

The book becomes rather tedious but for some reading I continue to read it.  Has anyone else read or reread this book?

I've read it, probably 35 years ago, I think it's an important book.
I don't know why it would appeal to conspiracy theorists.
I'd of thought the dystopia portrayed would make a person value the systems we have, although they are flawed of course.
The Trumpian types endangering democratic institutions were doing a dangerous thing I think, and the book was formative in my thinking.
The book should make a person value the degree of truth a person can find today, not indulge in bullshit because it's more fun than reality, not about the important things anyway.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on June 27, 2021, 12:24:51 PM
it was a cold day in april

and the clocks were striking thirteen

i read the book as a child, along with animal farm, and sought out everything orwell wrote-- burmese days, keep the aspidistra flying, the road to wigan pier, everything i could find, including letters and essays. down and out in paris and london lft a huge impression on me. spent all my money at foyles in charing cross

orwell was a police officer in burma during the colonial days, and at the time i lived in the malaya, so some of what he wrote struck sympathetic chords.

his short stories and essays are sometimes superb, sometimes too topical to mean much today.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Anne D. on June 28, 2021, 04:03:34 AM
Adrian McKinty's Sean Duffy books. I'm on Gun Street Girl. Really interesting window into life in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Dark Lightning on June 28, 2021, 05:08:05 AM
Currently reading John Derbyshire's "Unknown Quantity". It's not an algebra text- it covers the history of algebra- but covers the necessary learning for those interested, in appendices. When people these days think that people back then weren't smart, they should read this book, and others like it. People 5k years ago were doing things that some people today can't or won't do. And they didn't even have the concept of zero or decimal arithmetic back then.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on June 29, 2021, 12:42:00 AM
I could probably like that book DL.  I am not a math wizard but I continuously use up scrap paper to do fundamental math stuff.  I have used the law of cosigns and the law of signs to try to construct some of the many identities that we...well at least me,  have long forgotten.

I do all this because it is fun, but I also hope that it is therapeutic.  An idle brain is the devils workshop and all that stuff. 
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Dark Lightning on June 29, 2021, 03:25:32 AM
Well, I'm kind of a math groupie, in a way. I have a lot of math under my belt, having taken 48 semester units of it at uni, all the the way from trig and algebra, through calculus and differential equations, linear algebra, probability (the one with calculus) and applied mathematics, the last one in both the math and physics departments. After all that, filling in the historical development is quite enjoyable. I have to prop my feet up some times during the day because of circulation issues in my legs. What better than a math history book with a bunch of math in it for those times? :lol: Yes, I am a nerd.

I recently bought a book on kumiko art. I made some jigs to aid in the precision cutting of the pieces. Those jigs got finished today, and I'm hoping to have some artwork done soon. It's a lot like carving wood, except it's just cutting a lot of little pieces very precisely and fitting them into a pattern. I'm not giving up carving by any means, but this is another creative outlet I'll enjoy, once I get over the frustration of making the jigs. I've had to tweak some of my wood working equipment to tighter tolerances. If I was doing it in metal, and had access to the machine shop like I did when I was still working, it would be a piece of cake. Eh, that's what makes it an art, I guess.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Bad Penny II on June 29, 2021, 02:59:12 PM
Quote from: Dark Lightning on June 28, 2021, 05:08:05 AM
When people these days think that people back then weren't smart, they should read this book, and others like it. People 5k years ago were doing things that some people today can't or won't do.

How could they be smart?
They didn't even have cars.
And 1984 and all those whining Soviet dissident gulag novels, they aren't relevant to me.
Your Russian is prone by nature to seduction by totalitarian types.
Similar thing with those South American stories, Chile: Hasta Cuando?
Probably never because it's in their nature.
I think it did end.
Shut up Green.
The civilised countries haven't avoided shit holeness by accident, no, it is because  the civilised countries contain civilised people.
That's why it is OK to vote for BUFFOONS and attacking the seat of government is acceptable if you're an acceptable person.
Fuck truth and reality and government restriction that doesn't accord with my biases.
Settle, settle, I can give you a marshmallow now but if you wait ten minutes I can give you two.
GIVE ME BOTH THOSE MARSMALLOWS NOW!
And no, I'm not going to wear a stupid mask or have unnatural needles stuck in me either.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on June 30, 2021, 12:30:16 AM
BP some of those old guys were plenty smart.  I have a book by an old Brit guy named Lancelot Hogben.  It is one of the best and most comprehensive math books ever.  Originally printed in 1937.  Another of the old guys who were exceptionally smart was Silvanus Thompson born 1851.  He too was a Brit.  His book Calculus Made Easy is among the best of all.  He manages to explain in ways that even dumb asses like me can understand.

I  suspect that DL may be aware of those books.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Dark Lightning on June 30, 2021, 02:32:36 AM
Quote from: Icarus on June 30, 2021, 12:30:16 AM
BP some of those old guys were plenty smart.  I have a book by an old Brit guy named Lancelot Hogben.  It is one of the best and most comprehensive math books ever.  Originally printed in 1937.  Another of the old guys who were exceptionally smart was Silvanus Thompson born 1851.  He too was a Brit.  His book Calculus Made Easy is among the best of all.  He manages to explain in ways that even dumb asses like me can understand.

I  suspect that DL may be aware of those books.

Actually, I'm not. But I could go look at them, maybe. It's interesting what sort of nuggets one finds in the older books.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: hermes2015 on June 30, 2021, 04:29:51 AM
I remember owning and readings many sections of Lancelot Hogben's book when I was a boy. I think it was called Mathematics for the Million.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on July 01, 2021, 05:01:14 AM
Good call Hermes.  That is the title and the book has been reprinted numerous times since the first edition.   The story goes that the author was long term bed ridden in the hospital when he began to write the book.

The title of the other book, Calculus Made Easy, does not make it quite as easy as the title implies.  The author is very clever in that he shows us how the principles of calc were derived. Makes more sense when the student is so informed.

One of the most humbling math books in my library is an Australian high school book.  If Ausssie kids comprehend  at that level I am truly impressed.  Some really brain wrenching stuff in that book.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tank on September 13, 2021, 06:35:30 PM
'Making Money' a discworld novel by Terry Pratchett.

"Moist von Lipwig is bored with his job as the Postmaster General of the Ankh-Morpork Post Office, which is running smoothly without any problems, so the Patrician tries to convince him to take over the Royal Bank and Royal Mint. Moist, content with his new lifestyle, refuses. However, when the current chairwoman, Topsy Lavish, dies, she leaves 50% of the shares in the bank to her dog, Mr Fusspot (who already owns 1% of the bank, giving him a majority and making him chairman) - and she leaves the dog to Moist. She also makes sure that the city's Assassins' Guild will fulfil a contract on Moist if anything happens to the dog or if he does not do as her last will commands."

I miss Terry  :'(
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Davin on September 13, 2021, 07:16:05 PM
I'm on Small Gods right now in that series.

The great god Om is traveling the mortal world in a not so great tortoise form. Om is finding out, from a devout follower of the religion that worships Om, that the religion doesn't quite match up with the god and that many of the prophets have made up quite a few things over the generations.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on March 20, 2022, 09:07:54 PM
 
(https://i.imgur.com/GSwsFHcl.png)

When patriot Mike rescues feminist Ricki from a post-Trump rally riot, the clash of opposites sets off sparks between them. But the gentleman giant refuses to leave the side of the spunky half-pint until he and his pickup truck deliver her home, safe and sound. Ricki attends the rally to scoop the racism of the Trump crowd in a blog post. But she's forced to spin a false narrative when her mistaken assumptions fail to materialize. When Ricki's lies get Mike doxxed, and his construction worksite becomes the target of anti-fascist thugs, his righteous anger forces her to reckon with the truth. Ricki wants to fix the damage and regain Mike's trust. But that means facing the wrath of the liberal mobs. Will Ricki find the courage to leave the left for a lifetime of old-fashioned true love?

https://www.amazon.com/Ladies-First-MAGA-Romance-Book/dp/1735683019/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YX4A9SYB92UM&keywords=liberty+adams&qid=1647808814&sprefix=liberty+ada%2Caps%2C1573&sr=8-1
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Anne D. on March 26, 2023, 02:24:04 AM
Laidlaw by William McIlvanney. On a Tartan Noir run.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tank on March 27, 2023, 10:04:07 AM
The rise and fall of the dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Anne D. on March 28, 2023, 02:43:31 AM
Quote from: Tank on March 27, 2023, 10:04:07 AMThe rise and fall of the dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte.

Just googled this and saw all the glowing reviews. Sounds like a good one.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tank on March 28, 2023, 08:47:13 AM
Quote from: Anne D. on March 28, 2023, 02:43:31 AM
Quote from: Tank on March 27, 2023, 10:04:07 AMThe rise and fall of the dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte.

Just googled this and saw all the glowing reviews. Sounds like a good one.


It is good. It's written in quite a conversational style, not at all academic. But equally it brings the fossils and timelines together in a very understandable way. He puts dinosaurs into their evolutionary context with other species. Eye opening.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on March 29, 2023, 03:19:17 AM
Reading;Calculus for Dummies.  It is a good refresher about a lot of basic stuff before it gets to the calc part.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Recusant on March 29, 2023, 03:49:05 AM
Quote from: Anne D. on March 26, 2023, 02:24:04 AMLaidlaw by William McIlvanney. On a Tartan Noir run.

Only have read Rankin when it comes to that vein. McIlvanney's stuff looks worthwhile though--thanks for the tip.  :)
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Anne D. on April 04, 2023, 01:58:01 AM
His son's (Liam McIlvanney's) stuff is good too, as is Alan Park's. Ian Rankin is next on my list.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on April 24, 2023, 02:29:55 AM
I am rereading Andy Lee's Do Not Open This Book series for the grossly immature. It's very good. It's very inventive. It travels the same line every time and always comes up with a different ending.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on April 24, 2023, 10:43:06 PM
Reading is a romance - love them or leave them. I read for pleasure, not necessity. What have I read lately that I really liked? Well, there's Little Bear's Treasure by Stella Dreis. Beautifully illustrated, brilliantly written, it's just a joy. Your kids will love it and so should you.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on May 02, 2023, 12:42:44 AM
A most informative book about cooking. The title is; Salt, Fat, Acid, heat. I heartily recommend the book to anyone who is interested in why some components and processes work in your recipe and some of them do not. Sort of a low level chemistry lesson.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on May 02, 2023, 02:18:24 AM
i have heard of that book.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 02, 2023, 08:43:12 AM
I will be reading a chick book soon, The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman. Parochialism has something to say for itself, anyhow it is not the most  important thing, is it a good book or not?
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 05, 2023, 10:27:47 PM
First things first, How to Shame the Devil by Ros Thomas, another Western Australian. I have tried to read this book before but I quickly tired of it. I might have more patience now for it.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tom62 on May 06, 2023, 04:19:43 AM
I've just finished ,,Ik wou dat Stef Bos mijn vader was" a book written by my niece. It is an autobiographical and heartbreaking book about growing up as a child with parents that have psychological problems and alcohol addictions.

FYI: my oldest brother drank and smoked himself to death. He was never able to handle money and reality. He was in a toxic relationship with his partner, totally dominating her. His partner was depressive and tried to commit suicide a couple of times. Growing up in such a household was an ordeal.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 06, 2023, 04:56:23 AM
Quote from: Tom62 on May 06, 2023, 04:19:43 AMI've just finished ,,Ik wou dat Stef Bos mijn vader was" a book written by my niece. It is an autobiographical and heartbreaking book about growing up as a child with parents that have psychological problems and alcohol addictions.

FYI: my oldest brother drank and smoked himself to death. He was never able to handle money and reality. He was in a toxic relationship with his partner, totally dominating her. His partner was depressive and tried to commit suicide a couple of times. Growing up in such a household was an ordeal.

That's so painful to hear, my sympathies.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 11, 2023, 11:38:11 PM
I've given up reading any Western Australians again. I couldn't even start the last two as my heart just wasn't into it.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on May 11, 2023, 11:41:41 PM
ouch
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 12, 2023, 09:47:09 AM
What's really needed here in this section is a recommendations thread? I've started enough topics to sink a battleship. If you think that you've got the goods, go for it. It's a tough ask but someone might step up.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on May 14, 2023, 10:47:27 PM
Here is a topic that can be both fun and occasionally serious. It is a lot of huff and puff about punctuation.

https://getpocket.com/collections/the-best-writing-about-punctuation-full-stop?utm_source=pocket-newtab
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on May 15, 2023, 12:35:41 AM
back when i was a technical writer i used three or four major style manuals to cover what i needed.

computer writing was punctuation-sensitive and i wrote without typoes using correct speling too.

lots of rules, from that/which to the oxford comma to correct leading within ordered and unordered lists. and so on.

lots of anal retentive stuff
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Asmodean on May 15, 2023, 02:48:40 PM
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.

It's a part of a epic fantasy series. I approve. (There may even be a book review in a week or so - will have to see what laziness has planned for me ;-) )
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 17, 2023, 04:52:16 AM
I'm reading heaps of shit on the internet but not much else right now.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 17, 2023, 05:19:18 AM
Libraries are a boundless source of energy.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 17, 2023, 05:28:10 AM
I might get a book out of the local library on libraries, real and imagined.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 17, 2023, 03:14:08 PM
I found it:

The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders by Stuart Kells

So far, so good.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 20, 2023, 06:05:22 AM
My mind tends to wander. I should be reading right now.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 22, 2023, 09:01:39 AM
Library books smell of common people.  (Inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche)
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on May 23, 2023, 04:26:56 AM
This thread should be pinned.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tank on May 23, 2023, 08:50:46 AM
Yes. I agree. Done.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on June 09, 2023, 04:36:49 AM
I "read" Aaron Becker's wordless picture book, The Tree and the River, it was simply beautiful.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on June 09, 2023, 06:24:39 AM
I "reread" Aaron Becker's wordless picture book trilogy: Journey, Quest and Return - it was coherent throughout.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on June 09, 2023, 11:18:52 PM
Rereading The Hacking Of The American Mind. How big business cons us into believing whatever they want us to believe. That persuasion is cleverly orchestrated and eventually profitable. We are also conned by politicians and religious leaders. Persuasive bullshit rules.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on June 10, 2023, 12:52:06 AM
Quote from: Icarus on June 09, 2023, 11:18:52 PMRereading The Hacking Of The American Mind. How big business cons us into believing whatever they want us to believe. That persuasion is cleverly orchestrated and eventually profitable. We are also conned by politicians and religious leaders. Persuasive bullshit rules.

Persuasion is an art.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Anne D. on June 10, 2023, 01:17:09 AM
Quote from: billy rubin on May 15, 2023, 12:35:41 AMback when i was a technical writer i used three or four major style manuals to cover what i needed.

computer writing was punctuation-sensitive and i wrote without typoes using correct speling too.

lots of rules, from that/which to the oxford comma to correct leading within ordered and unordered lists. and so on.

lots of anal retentive stuff

In another life I was a technical writer too. Chicago Manual of Style is my go to. I found Microsoft's style manual helpful for instructions dealing with any user interface. Had fun writing some in-house style guides. Sometimes I really miss doing that work.

Currently reading Ian Rankin's Knots and Crosses. Having a hard time getting through my books these days. I read at night in bed and either fall asleep after a couple pages or reread the same page mindlessly over and over while thinking about work.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on June 10, 2023, 02:13:37 AM
i prefer the chicago as well, but some customers speciied others, some completely out of date these days.

id d some contract technical editing, too, for some east coast publishers. very mixed results. i got applauds from some customers, and hates from others who were too ego-invested in their preferred punctuation.

for a while i was a tech documentations manager-- look, here is one of my writers!  i did the outlining and editing on the work she did for me, but i refused to ever put my name on my writers stuff-- i made sure that all the credit was theirs.

https://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Steering-Suspension-Alignment-Manual/dp/0065001672/ref=sr_1_9?qid=1686359438&refinements=p_27%3AChek-Chart+Publications&s=books&sr=1-9

when i did IBM MVS/CMS stuff i ran away with my best writer and married her. now shes planting chestnuts on the farm

Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tank on June 10, 2023, 05:17:54 PM
I have just finished The Architect trilogy by Adrian Tchaikovsky. 1,700 pages of excellent space opera. He writes the most alien aliens I have ever come across.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on June 12, 2023, 11:54:26 PM
I want to read Peter Carey's first novel Bliss, but I cannot find the time because I am lazy.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on June 13, 2023, 12:48:24 AM
im reading whatever i can on advancing and retarding cam timing on old triumph motorcycles
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on June 13, 2023, 09:34:34 PM
I'm finished reading. Time to die.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on June 14, 2023, 01:12:59 AM
https://vintagebikemagazine.com/technical-articles/cam-timing-and-the-meaning-of-life/


QuoteThe useful lobe centers are typically between 99 and 112 degrees, but if you discover a trend of improvement, you must follow it wherever it leads.

kevin cameron is a man of my heart. i believe in usng conventional wisdom to start, but then to experiment. motors dont care about theory-- they either work better, or they work worse. if nature says so, you must abandon everything you think you know and do what nature says. period. nature does not care.

most racing triumphs use cam lobe centers of around 101/104. i use 106/109, and im faster than anyone else has ever been, ever, with this motor.

fuck science. fuck experience. i go where the timing slips tell me to go.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on June 26, 2023, 04:33:40 AM
I read When We Say Black Lives Matter by Maxine Beneba Clarke, a children's picture book for the very young. It's not pedantic which helps.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on June 26, 2023, 08:28:29 AM
I am rereading Jack Kerouac's Book of Haikus, published by Penguin. So many good poems, it's wonderful.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on June 29, 2023, 12:51:37 AM
Billy, I also used to be a Kevin Cameron fan. He had a lot of good tidbits for we ambitious motorhead types. Rob Muzzy had some pretty good stuff for us too.

Valve timing, the result of cam layout, is subject to all manner of selection variables, even barometric pressure. We can gear our cam setup to deliver torque or we can have it deliver RPM. Your are constrained to a realistic rev limit with the Triumph. Rev it beyond its component threshold and you'll have to use a broom and dustpan to collect the bits and pieces.

 Have you ever contemplated using longer rods and shorter piston compression height? The Esslinger Ford 2.4, as used in midget race cars and racing hydroplanes, uses that ploy among other mods.Some sweet geometry is involved.....piston side thrust, piston acceleration rate, and all that....

Just be sure that the exhaust valve is not going to be late to the party. Make damned sure that the exhaust valve, during the overlap period, is not in the way of the angry piston. Whatever cam timing you find best, just make sure there is sufficient space between the ex valve and the piston when at or near TDC. While you are at it, make sure that the ex valve springs have not gotten soggy......................Yeah you know all that, I am just reminding you to check all of those details more than once. 

I have a hunch that the new ignition system will give you a little better output than that mangey old magneto could.

We will be rooting for you and maybe talking to the FSM about not letting you wipe out at speed.     
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on July 16, 2023, 07:28:52 PM
Molly Guy, Tasmanian devil, is as smart as a whip and twice as funny.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on July 17, 2023, 11:38:46 PM
Books are magic - wicked.

You know the religious - ready to condemn anything.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on July 18, 2023, 01:15:43 AM
smokey yunick was also a fan of long rods, because of the longer piston dwell at overlap.

im constrained by a budget to go with more conventional rods and pistons. my pistons are already custom forged and there isnt a lot of selection in rods unless i want to spend a shit ton more money.

i always clay the pistons when i put new ones in or when i change the timing.

this time around i was hoping to try 108/111 on valve timimg, but it gave me only 0.053 clearance on the rxhaust valve. so i went back to 107/108 and got about 0.065? i look for 060 on exhsust and 040 on intake.

i just got from maine a couple of hours ago. the boys did 108.433 and 108.814 on the little ninja, both records, but the older boy did the fastest time first, so the slower record didnt count.

i put a go pro on it so i could see the tach and theyre pushing 14000 rp. before the lights. i didnt have a smaller sprocket so im ordering two- one 2 teeth and the other 4 teeth down.  if that doesnt force a higher speed before rev limiter i dont know what else to do
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on July 18, 2023, 10:53:24 PM
I am about to start reading A Ted Hughes Bestiary, but first, I have to get rid of these pesky, particularly good haikus.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on July 18, 2023, 11:15:53 PM
Quote from: MarcusA on July 18, 2023, 10:53:24 PMI am about to start reading A Ted Hughes Bestiary, but first, I have to get rid of these pesky, particularly good haikus.

Sylvia Plath was a neurotic bitch who couldn't understand why she had trouble with men.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: MarcusA on July 21, 2023, 06:48:47 AM
What is the use of reading if I am not going to read anything properly again?
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Icarus on July 27, 2023, 11:37:45 PM
Those who might be interested or curious can find some informational reading at Religion dispatches.org  The content is marginally leftist and tends toward criticism of organized religion. Most of the articles are well written. 
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: billy rubin on July 29, 2023, 01:05:12 AM
The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration. Fourth Edition by Bruce M. Metzger, Bart D. Ehrman

the local presbytarian priest here was a student of metzgars

this work is dated, but if your are ontrrested in the creation of the greek new testamment, metzgar is still the place to stsrt
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Anne D. on July 29, 2023, 03:14:51 AM
Ian Rankin's Hide & Seek. And articles about Trump's many legal woes.
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: Tank on September 02, 2023, 07:36:10 PM
I have just finished the 2nd book in the Children of Time trilogy by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Woe betide anybody who tries to take this to the screen. The only way you'll get to understand these stories is to read them. How he writes these is beyond me. His ability to write in an alien mind is astonishing. They are far from an easy read, 565 pages and every word counts towards the story. I have the next book ready to go!
Title: Re: What Are You Reading?
Post by: The Magic Pudding.. on March 20, 2024, 11:33:56 AM
Some years ago I saved a few lists of the greatest books in a few different genres.

QuoteBecause iocane comes from Australia, as everyone knows. And Australia is entirely peopled with criminals.

I come from Australia.

There was a website where you could grab stuff at the time, so I did, hardly visited the library since, for the odd CD maybe.
I know I'm morally deplorable, but I wouldn't have bought them, and I've saved carbon on trips to the library not made, hence I'm virtuous.

So I'm reading The Flashman Papers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flashman_Papers)
Ye, he is deplorable.
Ridiculously deplorable.
I almost gave up after the first but I persevered.
He's beyond awful yet refreshingly rational, at times.