What book are you reading?

Discussion in 'Music, TV, Movies & other Media' started by Panzerkampfwagen, Sep 2, 2012.

  1. JBG

    JBG Well-Known Member

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    I just finished reading (or skimming) The Rediscovery of North America (Paperback) by Barry Lopez.Very poetically and persuasively written polemic. It's bottom line; successful white explorers bad, primitive savages good. Also, horribly misleading. I like Barry Lopez, b ut this book was a propaganda tract for a student union, not a serious essay or piece of work. No comparison with works of his that I've loved, to wit, Arctic Dreams by Barry López. Also this book does not take into account modern scholarship such as War before civilization by Lawrence H. Keeley. Spoiler alert; the natives were not peaceful with each other and did not live in harmony with the land.

    A definite "one star."
     
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  2. JBG

    JBG Well-Known Member

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    An excerpt:

    This was Judah P. Benjamin's reaction to the disparagement of his birth religion. Judah P. Benjamin was a remarkable historical figure, having been a successful Louisiana lawyer, a U.S. Senator, a Confederate Attorney General, Secretary of War and eventually Secretary of State. He thereafter fled to Great Britain and France, in part to reunite with his wife and daughter and in larger part to avoid he imprisonment and ignominy of being imprisoned or executed by the victorious Union.

    I just finished reading Judah P. Benjamin by Pierce Butler. I picked this up at random in my synagogue library. I had always been curious about the subject individual. The inside cover gives copyright dates of 1883 and 1910. I doubt the former since the book describes his death. The book was, no doubt, a hagiography. That being said, I'll still give it "five stars." It is definitely written in an older style, and unashamedly gives sanction to the anti-black bigotry of the age. That being said, it is a thrilling tale of the Civil War from a Southern point of view. It is a splendid biography of a man, who but for his taking the "wrong side" of the Civil War, would have been recognized as one of America's greats, perhaps in the same sentence as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Benjamin Rush. He was by all accounts a brilliant orator and advocate. Perhaps, ameliorating his negative side, a lawyer advocates for who hires them; full stop!
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2024
  3. JBG

    JBG Well-Known Member

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    I just finished reading : ℎ 2020 ℎ ℎ by Julio Rosas. I picked up the recommendation to read the book from another user of Goodreads. It was a good recommend. To my mind, the book focuses on misleading reporting by the major news outlets concerning the events following George Floyd murder in 2020. During this time, suddenly, covid was no longer a concern as far as locking people up in their apartments. It was more important for people to be allowed to riot.

    The book zooms in on the "abject failure of authorities to maintain order and ensure public safety-creating a power vacuum that existed for days" and "what happens when those entrusted to enforce the laws and protect the populace refuse to do so." One of the dramatic results, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was the eruption of vigilante justice. The author concludes that "that having a significant police presence and showing a willingness to act to protect civil order—would go a long way toward keeping the entire community safe."

    This is a subject that most authors are afraid to cover, at risk of banishment from polite, educated society. This does not deter him. In his words: "But what do I know? I'm just a college dropout." The book reads surprisingly well given his limited education. I am giving the book a "four" since I reserve "fives" for a select few; I would give it a 4 1/2.
     
  4. Pro_Line_FL

    Pro_Line_FL Well-Known Member Past Donor

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  5. Talon

    Talon Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    71fPMKUAt2L._SL1500_.jpg

    Just started reading Jonathan Turley's new book, which is primarily about the assault on freedom of speech in the United States. I'll review it later...
     
  6. yardmeat

    yardmeat Well-Known Member

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    I'm re-reading a lot of utilitarian stuff and coming back around on some of that. On the fiction side, I'm super into the Saint of Steel and Black Company books. I'll also be reading some of the suggestions on this thread. Any historical books about piracy to recommend? My best bud and I have been into that stuff lately.
     
  7. JBG

    JBG Well-Known Member

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    I thought I had posted this but I guess not. See below, Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates by David Cordingly. Excerpts:
    I just finished reading Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates by David Cordingly. I purchased this book on a whim from the gift shop of Fort Macon State Park in North Carolina, which I rarely do since it is a decidedly uneconomical way of obtaining reading material. It was decidedly worth the purchase. First the quibbles; it is a slower read than most since I had no previous familiarity with the subject matter, the history of piracy. My knowledge was limited to childhood entertainment such as Peter Pan and children's editions of the works of Robert Louis Stevenson and Daniel DeFoe. This goes back to Second Grade, 1964-5. Also, the descriptions of pirate violence, and of the civil authorities' execution of many of the pirates was quite graphic.

    Among the many things the author does is make clear that there was nothing romantic about pirate life, or civilian interactions with pirates. They were extremely violent. One could make a serious case that pirates could not coexist with civilization. In fact, according to the book, many were granted pardons and promptly returned to a life of violent crime. The book covered lots of material, and was thoroughly absorbing. Of particular interest to me, as a history buff, was the fact that pirates were rapidly eliminated as advanced commerce developed between Europe and the Americas. In fact, piracy is ongoing in many areas that are now called "Third World." The struggle against piracy can be analogized to modern "total warfare."

    I have included, below, a link to Great Big Sea's song "Captain Kidd" and a sea shanty version that is but one example of the romanticizing of pirate life.



     
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  8. JBG

    JBG Well-Known Member

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    I just finished re-reading The Great Gatsby (Paperback) by F. Scott Fitzgerald; in High School senior year, 1974-5 and now.Rereading classics without the pressure of a pending exam and the competitive pressure of an English honors class definitely helps enjoyment. Particular since I started honors track in Junior Year, I couldn't hope to compete with the eloquence of my class mates. One of many key excerpts:

    I have used this expression again and again, to describe people that don't mind damaging each other, and other people. One of many examples of great writing.

    Also, the book is a great period-peace of the halcyon days of the Prohibition Era, early 1920's, particularly those with the privilege of imbibing freely. I would write more and might start a thread. Re-reading classics that perhaps we were too young, or under too much academic pressure to appreciate has its values.
     
  9. yabberefugee

    yabberefugee Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
    Have read it many times before but it really is a lot to absorb.
     
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  10. JBG

    JBG Well-Known Member

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    I just finished reading Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team by George Jonas. As usual I have my quibbles, these somewhat more profound than usual. The book, about the Israeli government and intelligence efforts to kill those responsible for the 1972 Olympic massacre, is in the "non-fiction" category but just barely. A lot of the dialogue is necessarily invented. The protagonist of Vengeance, one ex-Mossad agent "Avner" is admittedly an invented person. Obviously, a Mossad agent with a price on his head, both my Arab terrorists and by some elements of the Mossad and his loose supervisors, was not going to be named in a book about him. More to the point though, much of the dialogue had to have been imagined or filled in, unless "Avner" had a superhuman memory. This invention of dialogue is necessary feature of many books about war, espionage or disaster. Can one, for example, reproduce the discussions on board The Titanic or the boat that sank in The Perfect Storm? Could Gordon Lightfoot known that the captain said "fellows it's been good to know you."

    That being said, however, it is a historical fact that most or all of the 1972 Olympics butchers met violent ends. It is known, from a study of current events, that strange things happen to terrorists who cross Israel. With those caveats in mind, I recommend reading Vengeance.
     
  11. Talon

    Talon Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Last year, I saw a fascinating lecture by Prof. Micah Lewis on C-SPAN titled "C.S. Lewis and Natural Law", and not surprisingly it referenced Mere Christianity and some of Lewis' other notable works. The lecture is based on the book Watson co-wrote with Justin Buckley Dyer called C.S. Lewis on Politics and the Natural Law, and while the book is interesting I think the lecture is better, partly because it highlights and condenses the most important points about Lewis' beliefs and writings on politics, natural law and Christianity. If you ever have the time and inclination I highly recommend it:

    Lectures in History
    C.S. Lewis and Natural Law
    Calvin University Professor Micah Watson discussed C.S. Lewis’s views on law, politics, and government and how they connected to his Christian beliefs. This lecture took place at the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
    June 22, 2023
    https://www.c-span.org/video/?530396-1/cs-lewis-natural-law
     
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  12. JBG

    JBG Well-Known Member

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    I just got finished reading Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. All I can say is "wow." "Gripping" would be an understatement; I work full time and read it in eight days cold. I could barely put it down.

    The comparison between the civilization of America and the rank savagery of much of the rest of the world is breathtaking. The first part of the book focuses on his accomplishments in the Berlin Olympics in 1936; itself a savage territory, temporarily concealing its bestiality. After his return from the Olympics, US involvement in World War Two began. He wound up in the Army Air Force, had not yet morphed into the Air Force. I will not spoil the story for future readers except that he spent 47 days floating on a raft in the Pacific, and wound up being captured by the Japanese in the Marshall Islands and subject to years of incredible abuse. Then he survived is unbelievable. Though the books title is unbroken, in many respects he really was broken. As cover I'm sure, where many people of that generation.

    There is some discussion of his “redemption” after the war. Let's just say that if that is redemption, I would want something a lot better. Den is now covered there was insufficient focus on the mental health needs of trauma victims. I don't know if that could have been handled better but I certainly would like to think so.
     
  13. JBG

    JBG Well-Known Member

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    I just got done reading Saving the Lost Tribe: The Rescue and Redemption of the Ethiopian Jews by Asher Naim. I didn't have that book on any list to read. I saw it in the library and was interested in the topic of the Falashas for a long time.

    While the book had perhaps some unnecessary detail, it did set the stage on just how primitive they were, and that they had trouble adjusting to the modern world. This group of Jews split from the rest of the Jewish population shortly after the Babylonian exile of 586 B.C.E. and does not have the benefit of the Talmud or Mishnah. In many cases they were illiterate. The book makes may fascinating observations about how antisemitic tropes even extend to them.

    I recommend reading it.
     
  14. JBG

    JBG Well-Known Member

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  15. robini123

    robini123 Well-Known Member

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    Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Highly recommend.
     
  16. Talon

    Talon Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Review, as promised - Great book. Largely about the troubled history of free speech and the First Amendment, which continues into our own time. Timely, much needed and highly recommended.
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2024
  17. Talon

    Talon Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    71wJAFm7B7L._SL1500_.jpg

    As the title suggests, this book is about the various forms of Critical Social Justice Theory and their roots in Postmodernism. The content can get seriously dense and esoteric, but those interested in exploring the nature and origins of "woke ideology" will find it interesting and informative.
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2024
  18. Jack Hays

    Jack Hays Well-Known Member Donor

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    A true story of World War Two, and a good, quick read.
    upload_2024-12-2_10-18-27.png
     
  19. B.Larset

    B.Larset Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    [​IMG]
     
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  20. Grey Matter

    Grey Matter Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    The Fiery Trial by Eric Foner - a recommendation I learned here at PF. It's most excellent, and scarily relevant to our times, seemingly to me anyway. (took me almost a year to get to....)
     
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  21. Chrizton

    Chrizton Well-Known Member

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    I am reading Roughing It by Mark Twain. Not sure how I never knew this book existed before now.
     
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  22. Grey Matter

    Grey Matter Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    An amazing collection of stories. The one I remember best has to do with cats and a mine shaft explosion.
     
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  23. JBG

    JBG Well-Known Member

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    I just finished reading Demain by Hermann Hesse. I felt some trepidation before reading this book. Back in the summer of 1973, I was on a teen tour called Trails West. one of my friends there, Jonathan, was a stunningly brilliant, straight-A Honor Student. I learned this book from his discussions with other people on the trip. I was sure that the book was above my intellectual level. I bought the book during approximately summer of 1980, but did not touch it until now. When I was randomly searching for my next book, I put my hands on it and decided “why not." I am rather pleased with myself that I did. Most “reviewers” on Goodreads classify this book as young adult. I find it to be deeply philosophical, and can be read at many levels. There are discussions of goodwill. The author seems to land quite solidly on both sides of the fence on whether or not people have free will.

    The parts that I related to most, however, concerned relationships with peer or near-peer mentors. While out of pride most people resist accepting mentorship, I have always gravitated there. And during my student days, not always to people in my own or older years. My view is that learning is less important than pride. The narrator of the book, Sinclair, except various mentors through the course of the book. And discarded some. I believe that the book takes a deep punch into mentorship, free will, and religion.It was a very worthwhile read, albeit 51 years after I was recommended it.
     
  24. Seth Bullock

    Seth Bullock Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    "Patriot" by Alexei Navalny

    His memoir. An anti-Putin politician, he died in February, 2024, in a Russian prison at the age of 47.

    A close look at his life and his brave struggle to bring freedom to Russia.

    Patriot.png
     
  25. Grey Matter

    Grey Matter Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Finally finished Led Zeppelin, When Giants Walked The Earth.

    Much more of a chronography than a biography.

    First detailed account I've read of the band's criminal behaviors to include raping a young girl with a mud shark and beating the crap out of Jim Matzorkis, a security dude on Bill Graham's staff at the 23APR77 Oakland Show.

    And then there's the deep dive into Pagey's interest in the occult. Led me to read a fellow Crowley acolyte's book - Ken Anger's Hollywood Babylon.

    Unlike Mick Wall's book, Ken Anger's is a super easy read chock full of what most folks including me would regard as sheer depravity.

    Quite interesting this connection of dark energy, why anyone would choose such a path is beyond me.

    Very entertaining if you find this sort of stuff entertaining, and unfortunately I do.

    Crikey, I can't hardly stop myself from watching Oxygen Network's "Homicide for the Holidays".

    Anyway, if you are up for it, it's a de rigueur Zeppelin fan read, imo. And Hollywood Babylon I reckon may be a supplemental requirement. Ugh.
     
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