What are you reading?

Tour2ma
Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
edited June 2013 in Music & Movies
Since this is the entertainment section of the forum... and I've a pretty fair library in town.

Just started on a Christmas present, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. This, the first installment of his Teddy Trilogy, won Morris a Pulitzer. If the book is half as good as its Prologue - 1907, this will be a good read.

Recent Reads I'd recommend highly:
The Big Short - Inside the Doomsday Machine - Michael Lewis
Too Big to Fail - Andrew Ross Sorkin (soon to be an HBO movie)

They are two different perspectives on the financial crash. While you might expect an accounting lesson, both read more like "can't put it down" novels. Taken in combination you'll get a better understanding of the crash than you ever thought possible.
More later,
Tour...
Vox Copuli
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

"Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
"It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
"There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited December 2010
    I recently finished "Libby Prison Breakout" by Joseph Wheelan. Unbelievable treatment of Union prisoners, just heartbreaking.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited December 2010
    I just read the back of a shampoo bottle while on the throne.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • jflail2
    jflail2 Posts: 2,868
    edited December 2010
    "A$$holes Finish First"- Tucker Max

    I admittedly like some rather crude humor, so this book had me rolling.

    "War"-Sebastian Junger

    This was a phenomenal read; one of the best war books I've read in a LONG time. After you've read this (preferrably twice), check out the associated documentary, "Restrepo". It's currently available on Netflix instant queue.
    2007 Club Polk Football Pool Champ

    2010 Club Polk Fantasy Football Champ

    2011 Club Polk Football Pool Champ


    "It's like a koala bear crapped a rainbow in my brain!"
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  • fatchowmein
    fatchowmein Posts: 2,637
    edited December 2010
    Current readings because I have the attention span of a 2 year old and can't stick with just one book.

    The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch, translated by Lee Chadeayne (Kindle, $3.99). A hangman investigates a boy's murder in a German town in 1660.

    Decision Points by George W. Bush (Kindle, $9.99).

    The Second Ship (The Rho Agenda: Book One) by Richard Phillips (Kindle $.99). Door to the Roswell spacecraft is open (that's as far as I got reading multiple books and going to parties all week :biggrin: ).
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,224
    edited December 2010
    This thread.......

    I am re-reading WatershipDown
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  • Polkersince85
    Polkersince85 Posts: 2,883
    edited December 2010
    I'm about halfway through the second volume of The War Between the States published 1868 by Alexander H. Stephens. I went to school for the 1st-3rd grades right behind Liberty Hall.

    If we don't know our history, we may repeat it.
    >
    >
    >This message has been scanned by the NSA and found to be free of harmful intent.<
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  • kefranklin
    kefranklin Posts: 141
    edited December 2010
    Conrad- Heart of Darkness
    Burroughs- The Adding Machine
    Vonnegut- The Sirens of Titan
    One for while I listen to classical, one for while I ****, and one for before bed.
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited December 2010
    Dead or Alive by Tom Clancey
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited December 2010
    Something new for my classes: Coming of Age in Second life: An Anthropologist Explores the Virtually Human, Boellstorff, T.

    A kind of Ethnography about the Virtual world of Second Life. Some of you probably know that world better than I, because I'm not a 30 something? And don't do Matrix Realities? But they are interesting, as are their PARTICIPANTS!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2010
    Interesting collection so far...

    You Civil War buffs owe yourselves some time with Shelby Foote's Trilogy.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • DAGLJAM6
    DAGLJAM6 Posts: 635
    edited December 2010
    Tour2ma wrote: »
    Interesting collection so far...

    You Civil War buffs owe yourselves some time with Shelby Foote's Trilogy.

    A fine set and he, Shelby Foote, was interviewed extensively for The PBS/Ken Burns documentary "The Civil War"
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited December 2010
    When I have time to truly read: The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 by David G. McCullough

    On the train: Reinventing Gravity: A Physicist Goes Beyond Einstein by John W. Moffat

    For fun: The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited December 2010
    Programming in Python, and some papers on object oriented programming with XOTCL. :mad:

    But it does pay the bills, and support the audio habit. :biggrin:
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited December 2010
    Hello Tour,
    Yes, I agree Foote's Civil War volumes are a must, also his fiction writing is very good.
    Ken
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  • Rivrrat
    Rivrrat Posts: 2,101
    edited December 2010
    I'll be starting "Moscow Rules" by Daniel Silva tonight.
    My equipment sig felt inadequate and deleted itself.
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited December 2010
    The wheel of time -book 13
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
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    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
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    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited December 2010
    "Infinite Dreams" The First Collection Of Short Stories by Joe Haldeman (science fiction)
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited December 2010
    shack wrote: »
    "Infinite Dreams" The First Collection Of Short Stories by Joe Haldeman (science fiction)

    I like Haldeman.. he's the author of the Forever War series right? great books..
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited December 2010
    punk-roc wrote:
    I like Haldeman.. he's the author of the Forever War series right?

    Yes...he is.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • Cosmic_American
    Cosmic_American Posts: 114
    edited December 2010
    A People's History of the United States - Howard Zinn
    2 channel:
    SDA CRS+
    Harman Kardon HK 3490
    Music Hall mmf-2.2
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  • joeparaski
    joeparaski Posts: 1,865
    edited December 2010
    I've been reading most of the books put out by James Redfield.

    The Celestine Prophecy
    The Tenth Insight
    The Secret of the Shambhala

    I'm currently on.... The Celestine Vision
    And then... The Celestine Prophecy..An Experiential Guide


    I wish I had more time to read.

    Joe
    Amplifiers: 1-SAE Mark IV, 4-SAE 2400, 1-SAE 2500, 2-SAE 2600, 1-Buttkicker BKA 1000N w/2-tactile transducers. Sources: Sony BDP CX7000es, Sony CX300/CX400/CX450/CX455, SAE 8000 tuner, Akai 4000D R2R, Technics 1100A TT, Epson 8500UB with Carada 100". Speakers:Polk SDA SRS, 3.1TL, FXi5, FXi3, 2-SVS 20-29, Yamaha, SVS center sub. Power:2-Monster HTS3500, Furman M-8D & RR16 Plus. 2-SAE 4000 X-overs, SAE 5000a noise reduction, MSB Link DAC III, MSB Powerbase, Behringer 2496, Monarchy DIP 24/96.
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited December 2010
    Cosmic_American wrote: »
    A People's History of the United States - Howard Zinn

    An interesting read. This was required reading for a course I took in college but never read it (still got an A :biggrin: ). I found it sitting in a box of text books and decided to finally give it chance. Very good, although with a heavier bias than i'd like, But still good.
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
    edited December 2010
    Right now I'm reading Decision Points.....now, up front, I'm a fan of George W. Bush and I take him at face value when he says what he says...but, I think I would have sprung for a ghost writer. Talk about pretty dry reading....whew.

    Also read Afghanistan: A Military History from Alex. the Great to the War Against the Taliban by Stephen Tanner. Interesting read.

    I also read Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett a few days before Christmas. Liked it, not one of his best. Could have been about 500 pages shorter.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited December 2010
    Pema Chodron - Start Where You Are.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • Cosmic_American
    Cosmic_American Posts: 114
    edited December 2010
    newrival wrote: »
    An interesting read. This was required reading for a course I took in college but never read it (still got an A :biggrin: ). I found it sitting in a box of text books and decided to finally give it chance. Very good, although with a heavier bias than i'd like, But still good.

    You're right, it is biased - but like Zinn says it is a specific telling of history that has been left out of text books, the story from the point of view of the Native Americans, slaves, immigrants, women and working class peoples. It definitely makes you reconsider the history you were taught in school.
    2 channel:
    SDA CRS+
    Harman Kardon HK 3490
    Music Hall mmf-2.2
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,224
    edited December 2010
    joeparaski wrote: »
    I've been reading most of the books put out by James Redfield.

    The Celestine Prophecy
    The Tenth Insight
    The Secret of the Shambhala

    I'm currently on.... The Celestine Vision
    And then... The Celestine Prophecy..An Experiential Guide


    I wish I had more time to read.

    Joe


    Stop buying projectors and BR dvdps....you might have some time :wink:
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited December 2010
    Cosmic_American wrote: »
    You're right, it is biased - but like Zinn says it is a specific telling of history that has been left out of text books, the story from the point of view of the Native Americans, slaves, immigrants, women and working class peoples. It definitely makes you reconsider the history you were taught in school.

    Yeah, I really liked the perspective, as well as the the overall themes. I just felt it was a tad heavy-handed. For most of the text it was a compelling read. There were a few moments, however, where it just seemed like he had an axe to grind.
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2010
    DAGLJAM6 wrote: »
    A fine set and he, Shelby Foote, was interviewed extensively for The PBS/Ken Burns documentary "The Civil War"
    Yes... and it took almost half of Volume 1 to get his slo-o-ow, southern country gentleman drawl out of my head so I could pick up the pace... 20 years of the man's life went into this work... RIP Mr. Foote...

    Ken,
    Knew he was a novelist and that his background dictated his style in the trilogy, but never sought out his novels. I'll do so.
    newrival wrote: »
    For fun: The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss
    LOL…. Finally, a practical listing… I look forward to your review…
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,978
    edited December 2010
    Decision Points by George W. Bush


    It's more interesting and compelling than most people think or would give him credit for.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,335
    edited December 2010
    The Holy Bible.
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