So, What Are You Reading?

I'm impressed. There are about 600 in total. I looked at titles etc. for the first 300 or so. Reasonable price, too. Certainly worth a look.

(Sigh). It appears, like many other good books, these are also available by download/pilferage on the Internet in PDF form, for the very reasonable price of $0.00 - this series mostly from European sites. It never stops...

J.

 

You could (but you shouldn't) download 400+ "Very Short Introduction" books in one archive and quickly burn them to a single DVD, flash drive etc. Some years back, I think in the 90s, I read a science-fiction book in which all new works, worldwide, were uploaded daily to the Internet, by the Chinese. It's happened. But not just by Chinese -- or Russian sites. Far from it.

Increasingly difficult and discouraging to be an author, these days. Or a musician, for that matter.

J.

 

I once read Philosophy - A Very Short Introduction for a philosophy class at Cal State D'Hills.

 

I am......

currently re-reading The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean.

 

Who is the author? I might add this one to my reading list.

 

The author is John Millius. right here:

https://www.ebay.com/i/311642721646?chn=ps&dispctrl=1

That judge was a hoot man!

 

Read Gwyn Jones' A History of the Vikings.

 

Just finished the Autobiography of Gucci Mane and picked up What Made Maddy Run and Glass Houses. I've decided to start reading the NY Times Best Sellers...even the fiction. Well, maybe some of the fiction, as long as it's bumped between a couple non-fiction for good measure.

Gucci Mane. Hum. Not sure what to say about that one. I have a son that listens to his music, but after reading the autobiography, I just returned the book and didn't pass it along to him. I was unimpressed- the first 80% was all the crime, drugs, profanity and poverty you care to endure- the last 20% was how he's changed and embracing his sobriety and post-prison life. (He's been out about 5 minutes). Excuse me if I don't believe him just yet.

I did have some remarkable insight though, that despite dozens of sociology courses hadn't really occurred to me before Gucci's book. I think that a huge issue that perpetuates generation after generation of poverty is that there is no aspiration to become part of the middle class. It's either to be successful among your peers (who are in your social class) or a millionaire (baller, rapper, or dealer). Going to college to get a business degree and working as a manager so you can lease a car get married take your kids to soccer and shop at JC Penny isn't on the "to do list" of the young kids in the projects.

 

Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and The Land Of America by Douglas Brinkley.

 

Read T. Michael Parrish's Richard Taylor: Soldier Prince of Dixie.

 

Read Samuel Eliot Morison's The European Discovery of America: The Southern Voyages.

 

Read Charles Higham's and Roy Moseley's Elizabeth and Philip.

 

Just started The Vanishing American Adult by Ben Sasse. Meaty and full of deep and probing questions....loving it so far.

 

From The Great Courses: Zero to Infinity: A History of Numbers. Prof. Edward B. Burger, Williams College.

I can easily see why Prof. Burger is a prize-winning math teacher! Printed guidebook and 24 lectures on 4 DVDs. Total cost: $3.60! (Thrift Shop).

J.

 

Read Samuel Eliot Morison's The European Discovery of America: The Northern Voyages.

 

Just started reading Daniel Dennett, Freedom Evolves.

 

C'mon, Maniac! You KNOW there's no bigger thrill than to play Internet detective on DI and find that "new school" is run from a shopping plaza in Tashkent, Uzbekistan - right beside a shashlik takeout.

(1) We both need help.
(2) None here.

J.

 

SAMS - Teach Yourself TCP/IP - Joe Casad. Bought this morning (new condition) at thrift shop, 50 cents, including 2 CDs. I learned the basics of TCP/IP in college as a young whippersnapper in my 50s, back in '95 and '96. I need a refresher and this'll do nicely.

J.

 

Read Edwin C. Fishel's The Secret War for the Union.