Post: #151

If I could only recommend a single work of non-fiction to intelligent men, it would be The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes (1987).

The tale of this consequential invention is one of the greatest stories in the history of mankind and Rhodes tells it in masterly fashion. Every angle is covered, from the larger-than-life personalities to the politics and geopolitics, to a full account of the horrors of the "conventional" war that made the military use of the Bomb the most foregone conclusion ever. Although Rhodes is not a technologist his descriptions of the physics are remarkably accurate and accessible to non-technical minds.

I don't make this recommendation lightly, as the 900-page book weighs in at just under three pounds. (At least if you don't like it you can use it as a door-stop.) But if you have any interest in "an epic worthy of Milton" as physics Nobel Laureate I.I. Rabi called it, check out this book.

(Note: I'm posting this now because it did not escape me at the meet-ups both in Berlin and in DC that when normal, healthy men congregate their conversations so naturally tend to roam to martial topics of warfare and weapons, often including nuclear weapons.)

Post: #152

(07-14-2015 01:16 AM)Tokyo Joe Wrote:  If I could only recommend a single work of non-fiction to intelligent men, it would be The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes (1987).

Nice recommendation.

In return, a quick and enjoyable read for you that covers similar territory:

http://www.amazon.com/Uranium-Energy-Roc...014311672X

Post: #153

(07-14-2015 01:16 AM)Tokyo Joe Wrote:  If I could only recommend a single work of non-fiction to intelligent men, it would be The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes (1987).

Rhodes is a hell of a writer. His book on the SS Einsatzgruppen was outstanding. I'll be reading this next. Thanks for the recommendation!

Post: #154

I finished Narcissus and Goldmund. It was absolutely beautiful and haunting.

It is the story of a boy Goldumnd who is in training to be a monk. In the cloister where he trains and studies he meets and befriends Narcissus, a man not much older than him. Narcissus, who is a master at reading people, encourages Goldmund to go out and explore the world. He sees that Goldmund was not made for cloister life, and that his is not the life of the monk but of an artist, wanderer and player.

Good stuff. Also, its the only work of Herman Hesse I have read.

Post: #155

Norah Vincent: Self Made Man. As discussed here.

Post: #156

I would recommend "Straight to Hell: True Tales of Deviance, Debauchery, and Billion-Dollar Deals" By John LeFavre. If any of you are familiar with the GSElevator twitter handle this is written by the same guy who operates that. Its mainly a collection of stories about the authors time working as an investment banker, bond trading desk, and mostly takes place in Hong Kong. Great entertaining read, whether you like finance or not.