Post: #1

There are alot of ways of passing on book recommendations. But I just wanted to restrict it to just one book. Your favourite of the past couple of years. That way more recent books might get a shout out.

My choice would be a non-fiction work called The Emperor Of All Maladies. It is a history of the fight against cancer. It is really well written and the details are fascinating. This was the first book written by the author (a cancer researcher) and it went on to win the Pulitzer Prize.

I can't imagine how smart you have to be to get top grades and scholarships at an Ivy league University and to then start a career trying to find a cure for cancer. Before then taking a year off so that you can go win the Pulitzer prize.

Anyway - one of the reasons the book was written is because there has never before being a comprehensive history of cancer. So - this book filled an important need.

The story is (obviously) a serious one. But it is also a really interesting one. It is like a detective novel watching generations of scientists trying to grapple with this disease. And some of the apparent triumphs which turn out to be mirages are just heartbreaking.

Since it won the Pulitzer prize. I imagine there will be others here who have read it as well.

------------------------

On a lighter note. Here is my favourite magazine article of the past couple of years. It is a funny and weird look at the history of Compound Interest:

http://www.laphamsquarterly.org/essays/t...p?page=all

Compound Interest is a fascinating thing. Albert Einstein once said it was 'the most powerful force in the world.'

The article is by my favourite writer - Paul Collins. He is an essayist/historian who concentrates on the interesting and overlooked aspects of history and science.

Post: #2

The best two books that I've read in the last 6 months were both Manosphere books.

The Way Of Men, by Jack Donavan. This was one of the most unique books that I have ever read.

Enjoy the Decline, by Aaron Clarey. While I already knew most of what Aaron was saying, he presents it in an extremely clear and easy to read manner.

Post: #3

The Fountainhead

-Ayn Rand

Post: #4

Umberto Eco, "The Name of the Rose."

Post: #5

edit

Post: #6

Dead Bat, no doubt. It's not exactly intellectual, but it's been my most enjoyable.

Post: #7

Lila by Robert M Pirsig - changed my view of society.

Post: #8

Tie:

1.) White Gold- The Extraordinary Story of Thomas Pellow and Islam's One Million White Slaves

Riveting account based on unpublished letters and manuscripts by the slaves themselves and also by the padres and ambassadors trying to free them. The brutality and torture was horrific and eventually led to Barbary Wars. An often forgotten piece of history.

2.) King Leopold's Ghost-A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa

Another forgotten piece of history. King Leopold of Belgium was responsible for 10 million deaths in the Congo, which led to the modern Civil Rights era.

Post: #9

48 Laws. It just stuck with me. I'll buy it in paperback some day.

Post: #10

NOT the typical military book. Unbelievable story that I'll never forget.

Post: #11

"The Idiot", by Dostoevsky.

Post: #12

Another good one is 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', I read it in one sitting. Unputdownable.

Post: #13

The Devils, by Dostoevsky.

Dostoevsky. He is the master.