Post: #1

I like to pick up shorter books, partly because I can finish them quicker on my commute or lunch hour (and not get distracted from everything else, including work) and partly because in my own writing efforts, I'm cultivating a style that's short, insightful and to-the-point. And also because i like small asses, but hey, I'm going to Brazil this year

Who can recommend some shorter works-fiction, nonfiction, any subject or era-that aren't overlong and still have substance?

Post: #2

I recommend "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". The book is way better than the movie (which toned things way down). It's got a great red pill theme and is funny as hell.

I've read quite a bit so if you're more specific on topic, I can be more specific on recommendations.

Post: #3

Everyone should read We by Zamyatin



It was written in 1921, but could never be published for obvious reasons. I think orwell and huxley got their hands on a copy and it influenced 1984/brave new world a lot. solid book. Blew my brain up.

http://mises.org/books/we_zamiatin.pdf

Post: #4

(02-22-2013 01:39 PM)Martel Wrote:  I recommend "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". The book is way better than the movie (which toned things way down). It's got a great red pill theme and is funny as hell.

I've read quite a bit so if you're more specific on topic, I can be more specific on recommendations.

Haven't read but thought it was a great movie. Will pick that one up.
On topic? I just recently read lots of books that were shorter than ususal.
Not out of laziness, they were just authors or topics i was interested in. Some of them were:
Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange and The Wanting Seed
The Essays of Montaigne and Francis Bacon
Eric Hoffer's The True Believer
Edward Carr's What is History?
Marvin Harris' Cannibals and Kings
Susan Sontag's On Photography
Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
I also used to buy 3 or 4 of these at a time [url=http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0/minisites/greatideas/index.html] because the series is a great introduction to new authors.


I read longer works too-currently sweating The Wealth of Nations-I just admire when an author can make a short work engrossing. I'm writing a shorter work of fiction right now, and also ressurected some essays I started when I was a student, and I was focusing on cutting out lengthy character asides or introductions, to produce brief books that still manage to have impact. Authors like these are great models for style, and they're enjoyable reads too- I recommend all the titles to RVF members, especially Burgess.

Post: #5

(02-22-2013 01:52 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  Everyone should read We by Zamyatin



It was written in 1921, but could never be published for obvious reasons. I think orwell and huxley got their hands on a copy and it influenced 1984/brave new world a lot. solid book. Blew my brain up.

http://mises.org/books/we_zamiatin.pdf

Interesting

Post: #6

The New Bret Easton Ellis is really short and f'n awesome: Imperial Bedrooms

A lot of pop biographies are kind of long but read so fast I'd consider them short. I liked Duff McKagan (Guns N Roses) and Russell Brand's Booky Wook.

Short stories: TC Boyle is awesome for the "humanity" of it. Philip K Dick for the paranoid psycho ideas. Salinger's Nine Stories for pure awesomeness. Kafka to make you miserable. haha

Post: #7

Heart of Darkness by Conrad is a short classic (inspired the basic plotline for Apocalypse Now). L'Etranger by Camus is also easily digestible. The Lesson of the Master by Henry James is a good short story if you can stand the formal language.

Post: #8

(02-22-2013 01:52 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  Everyone should read We by Zamyatin



It was written in 1921, but could never be published for obvious reasons. I think orwell and huxley got their hands on a copy and it influenced 1984/brave new world a lot. solid book. Blew my brain up.

http://mises.org/books/we_zamiatin.pdf

Checking this out now, the first couple of entries seem pretty interesting

Post: #9

Michel Houellebecq - Platforum
Jack London - The Sea Wolf

Post: #10

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon