So, What Are You Reading?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Ted Heiks, Jul 27, 2013.

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  1. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    OK - if we can have another Stryper post (and that's fine with me) then I can temporarily derail us with one last reference to Rick James (Superfreak etc.)

    Dr. Rich Douglas was right. Although Rick James made some great songs, I, too, think Prince has/had more going for him -- I'd call him a "musician's musician." He's still going strong; I hear there's going to be a 30th Anniversary edition of the "Purple Rain" album.

    Rick James spent some time in my part of Canada back in the 60s. The Mynah Bird was a really "happening" club in Yorkville - the coffee-house district of Toronto. (I was in Yorkville fairly often, back then.) Both Rick James and Neil Young were in a band that played there - called the Mynah Birds, from the name of the club.

    A few of their tunes from then still survive on YouTube.

    The Mynah Birds - featuring Neil Young and Rick James - YouTube
    RICK JAMES - NEIL YOUNG - THE MYNAH BIRDS - "IT'S MY TIME" - YouTube

    OK - back to books... :smile:

    "The Old Curmudgeon formerly known as Johann"
     
  2. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    Oh boy, I'm agreeing with Johann and RD? Scary. But, yeah Prince was/is the man. His music may have been on the raunchy side, but that dude is one talented musician. Always preferred him over Michael Jackson.

    Rick James? Only knew him for one song, being in jail for kidnapping and being made fun of by Chappelle.

    Stryper? Meh, not so much. I like my metal satanic.

    I'm still not reading many books anymore.
     
  3. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    I have more falsehoods from the book ( now, I know there are many books with many falsehoods...LOL),

    Here are a couple:

    For example, “Killing Lincoln” makes multiple references to the Oval Office; in fact, Emerson points out, the office was not built until 1909.

    At one point O’Reilly writes of generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, “The two warriors will never meet again.” In fact, according to the review, Grant and Lee met for a second time in 1865 to discuss prisoners of war.

    The book says that Ford’s Theatre “burned to the ground in 1863.” In fact, the fire was in 1862, according to the review.

    And those are what I could glean from the book. I am just saying, the book kinda struck a raw nerve with me. It seemed sloppy. Again, that is me. Maybe it is my doctoral history professor at UH ( now at UNC) Joe Glatthaar screaming.."No No No"...LOL in my ear. He is a Civil War historian and I absolutely loved the man. Awesome. Told it like it was, no fluff. I came out of that class thinking I should be a plumber or something. That was three hours that worked me over. In a good way. Like a good running workout. Back to the book, Ted, to each his own. You know that. I will not begrudge you for liking it. Like I said, give me April 1865 any day of the week. I have read it 5 times. :)
     
  4. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    And April 1865 was written by whom? I think I have the book (I was sup[posed to read it for one of my AMU classes), but I just can't seem to remember the author's name.
     
  5. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Just finished reading Jordan Brown's Elizabeth Blackwell Physician (New York: Chelsea House, 1989).
     
  6. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    Jay Winik. O'Reilly mentions the book in Killing Lincoln.
     
  7. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Finished reading Tristan Boyer Binns' Elizabeth Blackwell: First Woman Physician last night.
     
  8. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Tricks of the Trade by Howard Becker.
     
  9. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I got my thirteen year old a copy of Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. As for me, I just finished the three books in John Barnes's "Daybreak" series, and decided to continue the "ZOMG technology stops working!" apocalypse theme by finally getting around to S.M. Stirling's "Dies the Fire" series.
     
  10. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    Currently reading The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 by David McCullough and On the Beach by Nevil Shute
     
  11. lawrenceq

    lawrenceq Member

    48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
     
  12. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
     
  13. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    So I read Dies the Fire. It was okay, not as good as some of Stirling's other stuff, which is odd since it's the series of his that he himself obviously favors. I'll probably continue with it, but in the meantime I'm on The Daedalus Incident by Michael Martinez because I'm a sucker for Horatio Hornblower in space.
     
  14. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    Just got The 4-Hour Workweek from the library and I'm about half done. I love books that feel counter-intuitive. Interesting ideas, anyone read it?
     
  15. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    on my summer list ;)
     
  16. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    Currently reading The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins. I also have The Great Gatsby checked out, but haven't opened it yet. It's short enough so that I should be able to start and finish tomorrow.
     
  17. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I have. What did you think about the instructions for quickly developing a reputation for being an expert in something? I thought it would be a dangerous ploy for someone who didn't already know what they were talking about. :smile:
     
  18. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Read Carl Sandburg's Mary Lincoln: Wife and Widow.
     
  19. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    I've finished it. I'm actually going through it one more time to take notes on a few things I glossed over the first time. I think his interpretation is perceptive. I can think of dozens of examples where lay people use their own criteria to decide if someone is an expert. Example- is Oprah an expert in anything? No letters after her name. But she sure is respected and her opinion sways millions of people. Same for Dr. Oz. He's a medical doctor getting lots of flack right now for the nutrition fiction that he peddles on his TV show. Of course most people think doctors must know tons about nutrition. He must read between surgery patients. :) On the other hand, I work with scientists who hold PhDs and are absolutely research experts in the most narrow topics. These guys aren't being experts for the lay population, they are being experts for their peers. It's interesting.

    There were some things I really liked though, one being his take on efficiency vs effectiveness. I'm going to (try) building a website this year, and I've put it off (and off, and off, and off) because I didn't understand it. In my screwed up brain, I couldn't imagine just hiring it out. Huh. Maybe I will. Anyway, enjoyed it very much.

    I've just cracked open Start by Jon Acuff
    I love summer reading!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 16, 2014
  20. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Read Donald A. Davis' Stonewall Jackson.
     

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