Post: #376

I just finished Unbroken, story about a WWII pilot who goes down in the Pacific, he was also a famous track runner before the war. I would highly recommend it.

Post: #377

(09-18-2014 04:22 AM)bojangles Wrote:  I finished reading Quintus' book a few days, I'm moving onto some of the works he's mentioned in there, starting with Cicero

After I read Quintus' book I was turned on to H. G. Wells from what he wrote about him in Thirty-Six. So about a week ago I picked up The Time Traveller and read it in about three days. I was hooked from the beginning, great short read.

Post: #378

Just started Black Swan Green by David Mitchell, completely different from Cloud Atlas but excellent prose as per usual.

Post: #379

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

I know this is a hugely popular book. And I like it. It is a bit detailed for me. I find myself skimming a lot.

Post: #380

A small book by Rochelle Morton, Eat your Lonely Heart out. Came out in 1999 but found it in an old box. Woman puts an ad in the dating section of loot, looking for 'fun' times. Goes on 700 dates doing research on dating. Hilarity ensues.

Post: #381

Grain Brain by Dr David Perlmutter, I went on a low-ish carb diet and saw some decent results and decided to go to the book store to pick up Wheat Belly but couldn't find it, but I stumbled upon this one. The premise of the book is that carb consumption leads to degenerative brain problems such as dementia and Alzheimer's and he recommends ways to go about preventing these problems, mainly diet but also lifestyle. Its very interesting and easy to read, its not too scientific, which is why I like it so much, I plan on following through with the dietary and lifestyle recommendations in the book.

Post: #382

The Holocaust Industry by Norman Finkelstein. Just started reading it, pretty interesting so far.

Post: #383

I'm a trader, a volatility junkie. I collect books on volatility, and I guess it's my prime interest nowadays.

Of all the books I have been reading lately, "Trading Regime Analysis: the Probability of Volatility," keeps coming back into focus.

Takeaway: "Everything works... some of the time."

Insight relevant to a lot of things other than trading.

Post: #384

(10-07-2014 09:27 AM)heavy Wrote:  A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

I know this is a hugely popular book. And I like it. It is a bit detailed for me. I find myself skimming a lot.

I felt the same way. I really enjoyed it but found myself skimming some of the denser material.

I just finished The Great Bridge by David Mccullough. I loved it. A lot of inspiring stuff in here. The great engineers of the 19th century in America are to me some of the ideal examples of masculine lives well lived. Also reading Arguably, a collection of essays by Christopher Hitchens. Highly recommended.

Post: #385

The Tao of Pooh
Easy to read introduction to Tao and other eastern philosophies

“But isn't the knowledge that comes from experience more valuable than the knowledge that doesn't? It seems fairly obvious to some of us that a lot of scholars need to go outside and sniff around - walk through the grass, talk to the animals. That sort of thing.”
“...you'd be surprised how many people violate this simple principle every day of their lives and try to fit square pegs into round holes, ignoring the clear reality that Things Are As They Are. We will let a selection from the writings of Chuang-tse illustrate: Hui-tse said to Chuang-tse, "I have a large tree which no carpenter can cut into lumber. Its branches and trunk are crooked and tough, covered with bumps and depressions. No builder would turn his head to look at it. Your teachings are the same - useless, without value. Therefore, no one pays attention to them."
...
"You complain that your tree is not valuable as lumber. But you could make use of the shade it provides, rest under its sheltering branches, and stroll beneath it, admiring its character and appearance. Since it would not be endangered by an axe, what could threaten its existence? It is useless to you only because you want to make it into something else and do not use it in its proper way.”

Travels with Charlie
John Steinbeck writes about his cross country trip with his dog in order to learn more about the US. It actually has a lot of Tao elements to it. I looked into it and apparently Steinbeck was into Tao philosophy. Lots of interesting observations about society that is applicable even today.

"When the virus of restlessness begins to take possession of a wayward man, and the road away from Here seems braod and straight and sweet, the victim must first find in himself a good and sufficient reason for going. This to the practical bum is not difficult. He has a built-in garden of reasons to choose from. Then he must plan his trip in time and space, choose a direction and a destination. And last he must implement the journey. How to go, what to take, how long to stay. This part of the process is invariable and immortal. I set it down only so that newcomers to bumdom, like teen-agers in a new-hatched sin, will not think they invented it."

"The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.I feel better now, having said this, although only those who have experienced it will understand"

It was by chance I read these at the same time, but they really work well when read in this order.

Post: #386

The last book I read that I really enjoyed was Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross by Albrecht Wacker

Its portrayal of the savagery on the Eastern Front and a German sniper's role in all of it is simply amazing and, at times, horrifying. The conditions faced by the men in both the German and Soviet armies were often so poor that it's simply hard to believe.

One of my favorite parts was reading his account of a particularly harsh winter day when it was several degrees below zero and just too cold to fight. He and a small group of comrades and some Soviet soldiers were only yards away from each other just trying to survive huddled up. They saw one another but didn't bother with combat.

In another part of the book he describes the official Wehrmacht sniper school he attended way after he became a sniper and pretty much taught himself how to do everything with a captured Soviet sniper rifle. I thought it was ridiculous that they'd make a man who was self-taught and survived through all sorts of stuff go to a formal school and in the end he seems to get value out of it by having a chance to talk to other snipers and compare notes.

I'm not going to give away any particularly juicy details but he saw a lot of action so there are plenty of hair-raising battle stories in the book. Like the time he and a couple comrades came upon a sleeping Soviet platoon whose guard had fallen asleep on watch. If you were ever in the military and got chewed out for falling asleep on watch, after reading this part of the book it'll become abundantly clear why you were.

I highly recommend it.

http://www.amazon.com/Sniper-Eastern-Fro...1412872624

Post: #387

What To Say When You Talk To Yourself by Shad Helmstetter, came across this while I was reading Matt Forney's blog. It's simple and easy to apply, self conversation is fun and I believe many forum members are conversing with themselves already, couldn't find the thread by Beyond Boders though

Post: #388

The Book of Pook, The Last Days of Socrates, and I'm going to finish up Common Sense by Thomas Paine today.

Post: #389

Just finished reading "House of Leaves", it was pretty sweet.

For anyone that doesn't know it's a combination of three stories being told in a pretty experimental format. I don't want to give anything away, but the main story is about a famous photographer, loosely based on Kevin Carter, who discovers that his house is slightly larger on the inside than the outside. It expands pretty quickly from there. Definitely recommend it to anyone who likes experimental fiction. Also one of the only two books that has ever given me a nightmare.

I also gave up on Gravity's Rainbow after a 100 pages or so. Has anyone here read it? I felt like I was getting nothing from it.

Post: #390

Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy and Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.

Post: #391

Reading 'And No Birds Sang' by Farley Mowat.



Background: Before he was a notable Canadian author, Mowat was an officer with a Canadian Regiment that landed in Sicily in 1943. This book is a first-hand account of him and his squad moving through Sicily and into Italy.

I've read quite a few books about WW2, but not a ton that were first person accounts. This is one of the best books I have read belonging to that category even though I'm only halfway through it. His skill at writing is one of the reasons why this is so, as many soldiers do not become renowned literary greats after they get discharged. I also find it gripping because my great great uncle was a medic in Mowat's division, and was killed there.

Awesome read for anyone into military and/or Canadian history.

Post: #392

I am a huge fan of ancient Roman history. So much to learn from it which applies for today as well.

Post: #393

Read "Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Journey" a couple of weeks ago. One of my favorite books ever. Amazing story told in amazing detail. Makes you think about the kind of guts the Endurance crew had to survive so long in such an inhospitable scenario.

Now reading "King Leopold's Ghost", about the colonization of Congo.

Both books were downloaded for free using my Kindle Unlimited trial, as detailed here.

Post: #394

My last book was an unabridged copy of Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo.
At 1243 pages it wasn't light but most certainly a good read. I'd highly recommend it, especially for anyone looking for insights into the halcyon days of European society.

Right now I've got a copy of Dante's The Divine Comedy sitting on my armrest. The language is a little tricky to follow but I'm really enjoying the imagery and metaphors.

I've also got copies of Bang and Day Bang to go through.

Post: #395

The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker

Post: #396

Think Like a Freak by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. These are the guys who wrote Freakonomics.



I'm about 20 pages in. I'll likely post a review here as I did for Never Eat Alone and Give and Take.

Post: #397

The Art of Learning

Here's a quote I like from it about reflecting on what works and what needs change:

I have long believed that if a student of virtually any discipline could avoid ever repeating the same mistake twice- both technical and psychological- he or she would skyrocket to the top of their field. Of course such a feat is impossible-we are bound to repeat thematic errors, if only because many themes are elusive and difficult to pinpoint. For example, in my chess career I didn't realize I was faltering in transitional moments until many months of study brought the pattern to light. So the aim is to minimize repetition as much as possible, by having an eye for consistent psychological and technical themes of error.

Post: #398

I actually read Gone Girl a few weeks ago when the movie was getting a lot of hype in the theaters. Entertaining story. Sometimes it's good to read something light and easy (readability, terseness, pace, etc.--not the storyline). I had dived into and abandoned some more classic/serious novels this summer because they were a bit boring--it just depends on the mood you're in, I guess. I'd recommend reading it if you haven't seen the movie. I don't really want to see the movie now since I've seen it in my head already, perfectly.

Post: #399

Finished reading Think Like a Freak and posted a review.

I'm now reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.

I've long considered myself an introvert; studying game has allowed to to become a pseudo-extrovert when the time calls for it. There was a thread here about having a "game mode" involving intentionally "turning on" before becoming sociable. I think Roosh also mentioned somewhere that he also has to consciously turn on. Seems to be common amongst introverted types; most of the guys I hang with when going out are by nature introverted smart guys who learned how to become practiced pseudo-extroverts.

This book seems to be favored by many people; it was recommended to me by a very smart girl who struggled for years with introversion and shyness.

Post: #400

These