Book Recommendations

[FrodoSaves]

Here are 4 brilliant books I've read recently: Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief, Sebastian Faulks' Human Traces, Ian McEwan's Black Dogs & Hitchens' Hitch-22.

For what it's worth, there's no greater pleasure in life than settling into a good book, with the possible exception of extended (physical, verbal, or otherwise) foreplay with a beautiful, sensual, & intelligent woman, or say, listening to Dylan or a Bach partita for solo violin or cello, after an evening of wanton indulgence of the senses, with friends...

What else are we here for, if not to have fun & give as much pleasure & joy to ourselves & others as we can, while we can?

I can vouch for The Book Thief and Hitch-22 (with a long review of the latter to follow in a couple of days).

[MacGyverJr]

For fun I've been re-reading one of my favorite unfinished Series "The Dresden Files", but in honor of the 85th anniversary of the Scopes Trial, I am working my way through Summer of the Gods. A very in-depth piece on the trial, it's buildup and follow up. It's quite good, a little dry if you aren't a history person though.

I am a history person so I will check it out.

Having finished it a while back, and having had time to reflect on it now, it's truely interesting how little thinks have changed in regards to the creation/evolution "debate" in the last 100 years.

Scientists find evidence ... creationists deny evidence because it's {insert phrase here}

• Evil
• Not what the bible says
• Unprovable without an eternal "standard"
• Responsible for making kids act like animals
• Responsable for numerous atrocities
• et al

[Vagon]

Mid way through reading Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven". I'd previously read "Into Thin Air" and "Into the Wild" but this seems to be more comprehensively written. What's more its scathing about fundies, in this case Mormon fundies.

I'm about a 1/4 of the way through and holy cow - this is A grade, fucked up, paedophilia-saturated, magic underwear crazyness just being throughly exposed. I just hope he keeps the pace and research level as high as it currently is.

[Happy Humanist]

Mid way through reading Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven". I'd previously read "Into Thin Air" and "Into the Wild" but this seems to be more comprehensively written. What's more its scathing about fundies, in this case Mormon fundies.

I'm about a 1/4 of the way through and holy cow - this is A grade, fucked up, paedophilia-saturated, magic underwear crazyness just being throughly exposed. I just hope he keeps the pace and research level as high as it currently is.

I saw that movie "Into the Wild." Very despressing. Thoreau he was not.

[Happy Humanist]

I am reading Stephen Hawking's new book The Grand Design and all I can say is WOW. It blows your mind and I'm having quite a trip reading it.

It is different than any other physics book that I've ever read, including his other books. I love Hawking's style and his subtle sense of humor interspersed thoughout the book. I am about half way though (it's a surprisingly easy read).

Without spoiling it for anyone, I will just say be prepared for some radically new insights (even though the actual science has been around at least 10-15 years).

[Vagon]

Mid way through reading Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven". I'd previously read "Into Thin Air" and "Into the Wild" but this seems to be more comprehensively written. What's more its scathing about fundies, in this case Mormon fundies.

I'm about a 1/4 of the way through and holy cow - this is A grade, fucked up, paedophilia-saturated, magic underwear crazyness just being throughly exposed. I just hope he keeps the pace and research level as high as it currently is.

I saw that movie "Into the Wild." Very despressing. Thoreau he was not.

Yeah the controversy about whether he was extremely naive or extremely ideal is commented a lot better in the book, but the cinematography in the film is beautiful. Considering Thoreau was a fat bastard and fairly hypocritical in his ideals I'm not sure saying he wasn't Thoreau is too much of a thorn in his side

[FrodoSaves]

Mid way through reading Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven". I'd previously read "Into Thin Air" and "Into the Wild" but this seems to be more comprehensively written. What's more its scathing about fundies, in this case Mormon fundies.

I'm about a 1/4 of the way through and holy cow - this is A grade, fucked up, paedophilia-saturated, magic underwear crazyness just being throughly exposed. I just hope he keeps the pace and research level as high as it currently is.

I saw that movie "Into the Wild." Very despressing. Thoreau he was not.

Yeah the controversy about whether he was extremely naive or extremely ideal is commented a lot better in the book, but the cinematography in the film is beautiful. Considering Thoreau was a fat bastard and fairly hypocritical in his ideals I'm not sure saying he wasn't Thoreau is too much of a thorn in his side

Yeah, depressing film. Can't say I was too convinced by his misguided idealism, but I agree about the filming. I enjoyed Into Thin Air so thanks for the recommendation Vagon.