Re: What Are You Reading?
 

Manhunt, about the search for JW Booth, is very good as well.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

has no one read Where the Red Fern Grows

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[QUOTE=EARTHQUAKE2689;449760]has no one read Where the Red Fern Grows[/QUOTE]

Of course, like 20+ years ago. I think in 5th grade maybe?

My favorite book from back then was definitely The Toothpaste Millionaire

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

The Caves of Perigord by Martin Walker. I was at the library right before closing, grabbed the coolest looking book (I judged a book by its cover) and had to run out -- been pretty happy with it.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

The last book I read was the Nikki Sixx Heroin Diaries.

I just purchased Meat Market. It's about college football recruiting.
[url=http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781933060392&itm=1]Barnes & Noble.com - Books: Meat Market, by Bruce Feldman, Hardcover[/url]

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=70Chip;449739]I take it Frank makes the case that issues like abortion have distracted ordinary Americans from voting their economic interest. They have been deceived into thinking that social issues are more important than financial ones. But, couldn't one also make the case that the Democratic Party has decided that abortion, homosexual rights, etc are more important to them than the economic interests of Middle America? It seems to me that he is letting one side off of the hook too easily. But, you've read the book so maybe you can help. Isn't it a bit unrealistic to expect our proverbial 'Kansan' to pretend that abortion is inconsequential when the Democrats have been telling us for 30 years how consequential it is? Does the author deal with this at all?[/quote]

What I think he would say is that nothing ever actually happens of substance in the culture wars; abortion isn't overturned, etc. That is, the conservative politicians who use cultural issues as wedge issues never actually deliver on the promises of any substantive cultural change. The only real substance that the working class foot soldiers of the conservative movement get is decreases in capital gains taxes and other economic outcomes that actually do them harm while benefiting the business class that makes up the durable historical constituency of the Republican party (the GOP has been about various things since the 1850s, but it has always been the party of business). He also would say that much of the cultural outrage directed at the 'decline' of American culture is misguided because what actually drives places like Hollywood (which so many cultural conservatives profess to loath) is not 'liberals' but profit margins. So by refusing to look at market capitalism with a critical eye and by de-coupling the language of economics from discussions of class, Conservatives have obscured one of the real targets that they should be aiming at.

Now, clearly Frank has a political horse to ride, but I'm not sure it in the name of the Democratic party that he writes. In the final chapter he says that the Democratic party has left itself open to cultural wedge issues because they have largely abandoned the language of class. The DLC of Clinton, McCullife, et al. attempted to move the party towards the right economically while holding onto issues like abortion. The hope, he says, was bringing more moderate Republicans into the fold while assuming that working class voters would stick with the party simply because they are slightly better (he would emphasize slightly) on economic issues for working class voters. But he says that by abandoning trade unions etc. in anything more than rhetorical flourishes the Democrats have abandoned the sort of economic justice issues that should really mark them as something distinct from Conservatives.

I think that might be something like what he would say. As I said, I think his historical analysis is lacking, I think he avoids talking about race (saying it doesn't play a role in Kansas politics, but I don't know how you can talk about modern political alignments and not discuss race), and I don't think he really takes religion as seriously as he should either. I'm kind of ambivalent about the book, but I think it is more complex (and much more personal ... partly his own memoir of growing up in Kansas) than just 250 pages saying 'culture trumps economics and therefore working class citizens who vote Republican are irrational'. If anyone else has read the book or would like to do so I'd be open to discussing further.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=SmootSmack;449761]Of course, like 20+ years ago. I think in 5th grade maybe?

My favorite book from back then was definitely The Toothpaste Millionaire[/quote]


yeah i first read it in 4th grade, man you are getting old smooty

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[QUOTE=Hog1;449700]Who has a good historical non-fiction they would recommend? I have a Stephen King in the wings, but not quite ready for that yet.[/QUOTE]

John Adams by Mcullough (spelling?) is great read if your into US history. I never would have realized how different the Founding Fathers were from each other.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[QUOTE=redsk1;449705]I'll recommend a good book that I read some time ago. I have 2 small kids so i don't get much ME time anymore. Freakonomics. [B]Very good book that makes you think about the real reason for certain social issues and opinions.[/B] Good book.[/QUOTE]

I borrowed that one from a friend and then bought it for myself. Totally get what you mean about the social issues. Also borrowed books by Paul Krugman from the same friend and thought they were pretty good (although I sort of got duped into buying The Great Unraveling which is not a book but a collection of editorials where Krugman rips the President a new one.)

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[QUOTE=SC Skins Fan;449774]What I think he would say is that nothing ever actually happens of substance in the culture wars; abortion isn't overturned, etc. [B]That is, the conservative politicians who use cultural issues as wedge issues never actually deliver on the promises of any substantive cultural change. The only real substance that the working class foot soldiers of the conservative movement get is decreases in capital gains taxes and other economic outcomes that actually do them harm while benefiting the business class that makes up the durable historical constituency of the Republican party (the GOP has been about various things since the 1850s, but it has always been the party of business).[/B] He also would say that much of the cultural outrage directed at the 'decline' of American culture is misguided because what actually drives places like Hollywood (which so many cultural conservatives profess to loath) is not 'liberals' but profit margins. So by refusing to look at market capitalism with a critical eye and by de-coupling the language of economics from discussions of class, Conservatives have obscured one of the real targets that they should be aiming at.

Now, clearly Frank has a political horse to ride, but I'm not sure it in the name of the Democratic party that he writes. In the final chapter he says that the Democratic party has left itself open to cultural wedge issues because they have largely abandoned the language of class. The DLC of Clinton, McCullife, et al. attempted to move the party towards the right economically while holding onto issues like abortion. The hope, he says, was bringing more moderate Republicans into the fold while assuming that working class voters would stick with the party simply because they are slightly better (he would emphasize slightly) on economic issues for working class voters. But he says that by abandoning trade unions etc. in anything more than rhetorical flourishes the Democrats have abandoned the sort of economic justice issues that should really mark them as something distinct from Conservatives.

I think that might be something like what he would say. As I said, I think his historical analysis is lacking, I think he avoids talking about race (saying it doesn't play a role in Kansas politics, but I don't know how you can talk about modern political alignments and not discuss race), and I don't think he really takes religion as seriously as he should either. I'm kind of ambivalent about the book, but I think it is more complex (and much more personal ... partly his own memoir of growing up in Kansas) than just 250 pages saying 'culture trumps economics and therefore working class citizens who vote Republican are irrational'. If anyone else has read the book or would like to do so I'd be open to discussing further.[/QUOTE]

I will definitely read it now. What you said above about abortion being used as a wedge issue reminded me of a sermon I watched on TV once where the pastor basically said the same thing. The pastor sort of gave a history about how the party machinery never gave two shits about abortion, even when guys like Dobson and Paul Wyrick tried to make it a political issue. The party only got on board once they realized abortion could swing votes to get tax rates reduced for the wealthy.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

I forgot to mention I'm reading Common Wealth and it sucks. Not worth buying.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=EARTHQUAKE2689;449760]has no one read Where the Red Fern Grows[/quote]

It's a fine story Quake. Dan and Anne if I remember correctly. And the part where he chops down a huge tree. 70Chip III enjoyed it not too long ago.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=SC Skins Fan;449774]What I think he would say is that nothing ever actually happens of substance in the culture wars; abortion isn't overturned, etc. That is, the conservative politicians who use cultural issues as wedge issues never actually deliver on the promises of any substantive cultural change. The only real substance that the working class foot soldiers of the conservative movement get is decreases in capital gains taxes and other economic outcomes that actually do them harm while benefiting the business class that makes up the durable historical constituency of the Republican party (the GOP has been about various things since the 1850s, but it has always been the party of business). He also would say that much of the cultural outrage directed at the 'decline' of American culture is misguided because what actually drives places like Hollywood (which so many cultural conservatives profess to loath) is not 'liberals' but profit margins. So by refusing to look at market capitalism with a critical eye and by de-coupling the language of economics from discussions of class, Conservatives have obscured one of the real targets that they should be aiming at.

Now, clearly Frank has a political horse to ride, but I'm not sure it in the name of the Democratic party that he writes. In the final chapter he says that the Democratic party has left itself open to cultural wedge issues because they have largely abandoned the language of class. The DLC of Clinton, McCullife, et al. attempted to move the party towards the right economically while holding onto issues like abortion. The hope, he says, was bringing more moderate Republicans into the fold while assuming that working class voters would stick with the party simply because they are slightly better (he would emphasize slightly) on economic issues for working class voters. But he says that by abandoning trade unions etc. in anything more than rhetorical flourishes the Democrats have abandoned the sort of economic justice issues that should really mark them as something distinct from Conservatives.

I think that might be something like what he would say. As I said, I think his historical analysis is lacking, I think he avoids talking about race (saying it doesn't play a role in Kansas politics, but I don't know how you can talk about modern political alignments and not discuss race), and I don't think he really takes religion as seriously as he should either. I'm kind of ambivalent about the book, but I think it is more complex (and much more personal ... partly his own memoir of growing up in Kansas) than just 250 pages saying 'culture trumps economics and therefore working class citizens who vote Republican are irrational'. If anyone else has read the book or would like to do so I'd be open to discussing further.[/quote]

Thank you for your thoughtful response. It sems to re-affirm my suspicion that Franks is merely re-packaging the old Marxist argument about false consiousness. The primary failing of the argument, IMO, is that it contends that ordinary people really don't deserve to have an opinion about things like abortion. These are extremely complicated issues that the proles out in the country needn't worry their tiny, supesrtitious brains with. The intelligentsia has decided that abortion is nesecarry because it reduces the growth of the underclass and that should be good enough for the rubes. What they miss and what Marx couldn't even begn to comprehend is that equality as defined by the American Revolution means that Everyman gets to own his own moral compass. If you're going to put over abortion on demand you'd better bring a moral argument to bear. If you attempt to do it by beauracratic fiat, you may find that Everyman gets annoyed.

Now, no one could argue with the fact that the Republican Party has received more than it has given when it comes to the abortion issue. Perhaps this fact should give some pause to those on the Left who believe strongly in abortion as a social good. I wish it would. However, the failure to deliver on a specific social policy by a given party really does not do anything to discredit the arguments or the motives of those true believers who maintain the ideological faith. African Americans haven't gotten much from the Democrats in the last few years so I guess we could be asking "What's the Matter with Compton?" Both parties tend to give the shaft to their most ardent supporters. It doesn't mean the supporters are wrong.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[QUOTE=70Chip;449807]Thank you for your thoughtful response. It sems to re-affirm my suspicion that Franks is merely re-packaging the old Marxist argument about false consiousness. The primary failing of the argument, IMO, is that it contends that ordinary people really don't deserve to have an opinion about things like abortion. These are extremely complicated issues that the proles out in the country needn't worry their tiny, supesrtitious brains with. The intelligentsia has decided that abortion is nesecarry because it reduces the growth of the underclass and that should be good enough for the rubes. What they miss and what Marx couldn't even begn to comprehend is that equality as defined by the American Revolution means that Everyman gets to own his own moral compass. If you're going to put over abortion on demand you'd better bring a moral argument to bear. If you attempt to do it by beauracratic fiat, you may find that Everyman gets annoyed.

[B]Now, no one could argue with the fact that the Republican Party has received more than it has given when it comes to the abortion issue. Perhaps this fact should give some pause to those on the Left who believe strongly in abortion as a social good. I wish it would. However, the failure to deliver on a specific social policy by a given party really does not do anything to discredit the arguments or the motives of those true believers who maintain the ideological faith. African Americans haven't gotten much from the Democrats in the last few years so I guess we could be asking "What's the Matter with Compton?" Both parties tend to give the shaft to their most ardent supporters. It doesn't mean the supporters are wrong.[/B][/QUOTE]

As someone who's been surrounded by racial tension and the abortion issue I could not disagree w/ you more ardently about the "black vote" and the "abortion vote." To your point that liberals have not come through for a main constituency in recent history common sense provides that proactive legislation requires the power of the bully pulpit i.e. the presidency. While Clinton was pres he delivered legislative victories from increased student aid for poor/minority children to the assault weapons ban, which thousands of mayors and police chiefs nationwide have attested to as the primary reason for a diminution in violent crime with inner cities and ghettos (they're also working very hard to have the ban reimplemented). In fact, when Clinton became pres there was a very strong push among conservatives to end student aid altogether (you probably remember this if your about 30 or older) because default rates on student loans were too high. The Clinton admin forced an inquiry and found a handful of colleges nationwide were responsible for most defaults, and that those institutions could be counseled and eventually cut off w/o significant improvement. Minorities are especially benefited by student aid and probably would not have access to grants/loans today w/o the dogged support of the democrat party.
For the last eight years its required fierce battle by progressives/liberals to guarantee the tenets of social security/public services last into the 21st century. Bottom line: the left has delivered for me and people like me over and over again.

The "abortion vote" and the republican party have a much different history however. The highest abortion rates in the history of the country we're during Reagan's presidency (largely because he slashed every facet of social expenditure) and nobody on the right said boo. When abortion rates plummeted during Clinton's presidency the right still screamed and cried to no end that a crisis was underway, and when Clinton proposed the Arkansas law of no third trimester abortions unless for the life of the mom be adopted nationally Gingrich and the conservatives would not let it pass. Many from that group were asked why until years later when it was quietly admitted that the bill would have largely taken the issue away. I have not read the book about Kansas, but it's obvious that the "abortion vote" never wained in the face of such guile, and more pointedly, it's obvious pro-life voters were not even paying enough attention to know what happened. If that is a point the author makes... it probably doesn't much matter.:)

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

I'm reading a book called "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson. It's about the significance of Chicago being awarded the World's Fair in 1893. It's got interesting sub-plots, some pretty cool architectural info, and a serial killer to boot. Very good read. I'm about halfway through it.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

Right now im reading "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA" by Tim Weiner. It's a great book if your interested in reading about the complete history of the CIA, their missions, and their utter incompetence.

Also recommended:
"Parallel Worlds" by Michio Kaku, "1984" by George Orwell, "The Age of Reason" by Thomas Paine, "Fingerprints of the Gods" by Graham Hancock, "The Cosmic Trigger" by Robert Anton Wilson, "Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life" by John Lee Anderson, "I am a Strange Loop" by Douglas Hofstadter, "Undiscovered Self" by Carl Jung, "Sirius Mystery" by Robert Temple, "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx, "The Second World" by Parag Khanna, "Supernatural" by Graham Hancock, "Dinner with a Cannibal" by Carole Travis-Henikoff.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=The Goat;449834]As someone who's been surrounded by racial tension and the abortion issue I could not disagree w/ you more ardently about the "black vote" and the "abortion vote." To your point that liberals have not come through for a main constituency in recent history common sense provides that proactive legislation requires the power of the bully pulpit i.e. the presidency. While Clinton was pres he delivered legislative victories from increased student aid for poor/minority children to the assault weapons ban, which thousands of mayors and police chiefs nationwide have attested to as the primary reason for a diminution in violent crime with inner cities and ghettos (they're also working very hard to have the ban reimplemented). In fact, when Clinton became pres there was a very strong push among conservatives to end student aid altogether (you probably remember this if your about 30 or older) because default rates on student loans were too high. The Clinton admin forced an inquiry and found a handful of colleges nationwide were responsible for most defaults, and that those institutions could be counseled and eventually cut off w/o significant improvement. Minorities are especially benefited by student aid and probably would not have access to grants/loans today w/o the dogged support of the democrat party.
For the last eight years its required fierce battle by progressives/liberals to guarantee the tenets of social security/public services last into the 21st century. Bottom line: the left has delivered for me and people like me over and over again.

The "abortion vote" and the republican party have a much different history however. The highest abortion rates in the history of the country we're during Reagan's presidency (largely because he slashed every facet of social expenditure) and nobody on the right said boo. When abortion rates plummeted during Clinton's presidency the right still screamed and cried to no end that a crisis was underway, [B]and when Clinton proposed the Arkansas law of no third trimester abortions unless for the life of the mom be adopted nationally Gingrich and the conservatives would not let it pass[/B]. Many from that group were asked why until years later when it was quietly admitted that the bill would have largely taken the issue away. I have not read the book about Kansas, but it's obvious that the "abortion vote" never wained in the face of such guile, and more pointedly, it's obvious pro-life voters were not even paying enough attention to know what happened. If that is a point the author makes... it probably doesn't much matter.:)[/quote]


I follow politics extremely closely and I don't remember Bill Clinton proposing any limits on abortion. In fact he vetoed the ban on the D and X and D and E procedures twice. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the late Democrat from New york referred to these procedures as "infanticide". They are sometimes called "partial birth abortions". Abortion was the one issue that Clinton would never triangulate because he knew that it was the only thing that the feminists really cared about. It helped insure that they overlooked his other proclivities. President Bush, of course, signed the ban on partial birth abortions and the Supreme Court has upheld it. So in at least one area the Republican Party has delivered on this issue and made a difference.

As for Clinton's relationship with African Americans, if they can't see what should be obvious by now - that he is a phony and a hypocrite who has cynically manipulated their passions and their votes all these years - then nothing I could say will make a difference.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=RMSkins;449848]Right now im reading "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA" by Tim Weiner. It's a great book if your interested in reading about the complete history of the CIA, their missions, and their utter incompetence.

Also recommended:
"Parallel Worlds" by Michio Kaku, "1984" by George Orwell, "The Age of Reason" by Thomas Paine, "Fingerprints of the Gods" by Graham Hancock, "The Cosmic Trigger" by Robert Anton Wilson, "Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life" by John Lee Anderson, "I am a Strange Loop" by Douglas Hofstadter, "Undiscovered Self" by Carl Jung, "Sirius Mystery" by Robert Temple, "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx, "The Second World" by Parag Khanna, "Supernatural" by Graham Hancock, "Dinner with a Cannibal" by Carole Travis-Henikoff.[/quote]

Good grief. That stuff will rot your brain like crack cocaine. (apart from Jung and Orwell- If you want to read a great book by Orwell read "Homage to Catalonia" - easily his best)

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=70Chip;449856]Good grief. That stuff will rot your brain like crack cocaine. (apart from Jung and Orwell- If you want to read a great book by Orwell read "Homage to Catalonia" - easily his best)[/quote]
Specifically what books are going to "rot my brain", and have you ever read those books? As for "Homage to Catalonia" I have read it and it was very good. The Spanish Civil War is an extremely interesting topic, and Orwell's account of it was fascinating.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=RMSkins;449858]Specifically what books are going to "rot my brain", and have you ever read those books? As for "Homage to Catalonia" I have read it and it was very good. The Spanish Civil War is an extremely interesting topic, and Orwell's account of it was fascinating.[/quote]

I was only joking. You might try branching out a little, though. Especially since the Socialist Movement has moved on to it's museum phase. Colleges and Universities are still awash in it, but nobody else thinks its relevant. Try reading Witness by Whittaker Chambers. A great read and it offers a slightly different perspective.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=70Chip;449859]I was only joking. You might try branching out a little, though. Especially since the Socialist Movement has moved on to it's museum phase. Colleges and Universities are still awash in it, but nobody else thinks its relevant. Try reading Witness by Whittaker Chambers. A great read and it offers a slightly different perspective.[/quote]
Yeah I know exactly what you're talking about with the Socialist Movement being extermely prevalent in the college scene. I am not a Socialist, but I am a history major and while Karl Marx and Che Guevara may be outdated I still find them to be two of the most interesting people in recent histroy.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=70Chip;449855]I follow politics extremely closely and I don't remember Bill Clinton proposing any limits on abortion. In fact [B]he vetoed the ban on the D and X and D and E procedures twice[/B].[/quote]

He vetoed them because the bills pushed through by the Republicans didn't include exceptions for the health and life of the mother. So, while I'm not sure I'd use The Goat's phrasing of Clinton "proposing" the Arkansas law, he (I assume The Goat is a dude?) was correct about Clinton's position.

Regarding books, [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_and_Margarita"]The Master and Margarita[/URL] is a great read.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[QUOTE=onlydarksets;449897]He vetoed them because the bills pushed through by the Republicans didn't include exceptions for the health and life of the mother. So, while I'm not sure I'd use The Goat's phrasing of Clinton "proposing" the Arkansas law, he (I assume The Goat is a dude?) was correct about Clinton's position.

Regarding books, [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_and_Margarita"]The Master and Margarita[/URL] is a great read.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for clarifying the exception point i'd forgotten.

The women who helped sponsor Clinton's legislation was a pro-lifer and she said it would reduce the number of abortions more than any other piece of legislation - i remember reading an op-ed piece that either quoted her or she wrote herself. It was the same law Clinton had put into place when he was governor and one of the most restrictive at the time. I never understood why people thought he was pro-abortion because his record showed different.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[QUOTE=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;449706]Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East.[/QUOTE]

Wow. I've almost bought this book about 4 times. I keep putting it down in the bookstore though. Looks very interesting.

As soon as I'm finished with David McCollough's "John Adams", I'm going to delve into the World War I era. I bought "Churchill's Folly", about the creation of Iraq, and "The Rise of the Third Reich" by Richard Evans. It's amazing how almost all of our current troubles in the middle east today were born with just two bullets fired at the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife. Then again, trouble was brewing there since about the beginning of time.

How do you like "Power, Faith, and Fantasy" so far?

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=onlydarksets;449897]He vetoed them because the bills pushed through by the Republicans didn't include exceptions for the health and life of the mother. So, while I'm not sure I'd use The Goat's phrasing of Clinton "proposing" the Arkansas law, he (I assume The Goat is a dude?) was correct about Clinton's position.

Regarding books, [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_and_Margarita"]The Master and Margarita[/URL] is a great read.[/quote]

The "health" exception is a loophole one could drive a zamboni through. The Supreme Court had always interpreted it to include "mental health" and "mental health" was interpeted to mean basically "If I have this baby, I'm really going to be bummed!" So, any so called ban that included these outs represented no change in the law at all. Clinton wanted to be seen as a moderate on abortion, but he never really tried to change the status quo. That'why he vetoed the common sense partial birth abortion ban twice. To suggest otherwise is to turn history on its head.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=RMSkins;449848]Right now im reading "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA" by Tim Weiner. It's a great book if your interested in reading about the complete history of the CIA, their missions, and their utter incompetence.

Also recommended:
"Parallel Worlds" by Michio Kaku, "1984" by George Orwell, "The Age of Reason" by Thomas Paine, "Fingerprints of the Gods" by Graham Hancock, "The Cosmic Trigger" by Robert Anton Wilson, "Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life" by John Lee Anderson, "I am a Strange Loop" by Douglas Hofstadter, "Undiscovered Self" by Carl Jung, "Sirius Mystery" by Robert Temple, "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx, "The Second World" by Parag Khanna, "Supernatural" by Graham Hancock, "Dinner with a Cannibal" by Carole Travis-Henikoff.[/quote]

Excellent list. I just bought a "Legacy of Ashes," but haven't delved yet. Judging by your list you may like "A Man in Full," by Tom Wolfe. About 800 pages, but well worth it.

Beemnseven: Can't wait to read John Adams.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=RMSkins;449866]Yeah I know exactly what you're talking about with the Socialist Movement being extermely prevalent in the college scene. I am not a Socialist, but I am a history major and while Karl Marx and Che Guevara may be outdated I still find them to be two of the most interesting people in recent histroy.[/quote]

I was History major at one time. Please read Witness. Whittaker Chambers is at least as intersting as Che, and probably a better Communist, for a while.

[url=http://www.booknotes.org/Program/?ProgramID=1350]Booknotes[/url]

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=GMScud;449982]Excellent list. I just bought a "Legacy of Ashes," but haven't delved yet. Judging by your list you may like "A Man in Full," by Tom Wolfe. About 800 pages, but well worth it.

Beemnseven: Can't wait to read John Adams.[/quote]


Tom Wolfe is a singular talent. Everyone should read Everything he's ever wtitten:

Tom Wolfe Top Ten:

10. Bonfire of the Vanities
9. Mauve Gloves MadMen Clutter & Vine
8. The Pumphouse Gang
7. A Man in Full
6. Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers
5. From Bauhaus to Our House
4. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
3. The Tangerine Flake Streamlined Baby
2. The Painted Word
1. The Right Stuff

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

gate of fire
killing rommel
some xenophon translations

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=SmootSmack;449723]I've been toying with the idea of getting one of these. But I don't travel as much as I used to so it may not be as practical

[URL="http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/amazon_kindle"]The Gadgeteer - Amazon Kindle[/URL][/quote]

Amazon just dropped the price by $40:
[url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/]Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store[/url]

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

Right now I am reading "What Are You Reading?" authored by Smootsmack.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=Buster;450477]Right now I am reading "What Are You Reading?" authored by Smootsmack.[/quote]

I read that - the ending was kind of predictable.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

I'm in the middle of "Fever Pitch" by Nick Hornby. It's decent, but kinda long winded.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[QUOTE=Beemnseven;449915]Wow. I've almost bought this book about 4 times. I keep putting it down in the bookstore though. Looks very interesting.

As soon as I'm finished with David McCollough's "John Adams", I'm going to delve into the World War I era. I bought "Churchill's Folly", about the creation of Iraq, and "The Rise of the Third Reich" by Richard Evans. It's amazing how almost all of our current troubles in the middle east today were born with just two bullets fired at the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife. Then again, trouble was brewing there since about the beginning of time.

How do you like "Power, Faith, and Fantasy" so far?[/QUOTE]

How are you liking "John Adams"? I just downloaded the abridged version from iTunes to listen to during my 2.5 hour daily roundtrip commutes. I'm only an hour into it so far, but it's pretty good.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=artmonkfanatic;452381]I started it while waiting in line for the Wii Fit. I got about 1/2 way through the chapter, then they started selling the Fit, so I stopped reading.
I'll probably get it on audio book (skaudiobooks.com) and listen to it while I drive. That's where I seem to have more time.

Have you read his new short story "The Gingerbread Girl" yet?
I LOVE his Dark Tower series. I hear that JJ Abrams (LOST creator) bought the rights to make it into a movie!!![/quote]


Have you read the entire Dark Tower series??? If so I am impressed, it is a goal of mine.

how do you read the GB Girl? Where is it?

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[QUOTE=SmootSmack;452273]How are you liking "John Adams"? I just downloaded the abridged version from iTunes to listen to during my 2.5 hour daily roundtrip commutes. I'm only an hour into it so far, but it's pretty good.[/QUOTE]

I'm just about done. Only 30 pages left. I actually bought the book 3 or so years ago, long before I knew anything about HBO's miniseries. I lost interest in it, but seeing it played out on HBO really left me thirsting for more details. So I picked it back up -- it's actually a tedious read in parts. The way John and Abigail wrote to each other, the way those people talked back then, you just really have to be on your toes. Not exactly the type of book you want to read in bed when you're tired. For me, it required a sharp mental state.

Overall, a great story. And one that makes you appreciate the contributions of what many consider to be an overlooked founding father.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=Beemnseven;452425]I'm just about done. Only 30 pages left. I actually bought the book 3 or so years ago, long before I knew anything about HBO's miniseries. I lost interest in it, but seeing it played out on HBO really left me thirsting for more details. So I picked it back up -- it's actually a tedious read in parts. The way John and Abigail wrote to each other, the way those people talked back then, you just really have to be on your toes. Not exactly the type of book you want to read in bed when you're tired. For me, it required a sharp mental state.

Overall, a great story. And one that makes you appreciate the contributions of what many consider to be an overlooked founding father.[/quote]

Speaking of overlooked founders, I would continue to urge everyone to read "Burr" by Gore Vidal. Burr and Hamilton didn't end up in that New Jersey field shooting at each other for no reason. It's great story. And Burr lived on for like 30 years. This would be a great mini-series.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

Finished "John Adams" Great book, I have a new found respect and appreciation for him and his fellow statesmen, not to mention Abigail Adams.

Now I've moved onto [url=http://www.amazon.com/Union-1812-Americans-Fought-Independence/dp/1416532781/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213932711&sr=8-1]Union 1812[/url]

I was planning on reading about Andrew Jackson next, but I may jump back and read this Burr book 70Chip is recommending. I'm basically trying to read history books in chronological order, starting with the revolutionary war era

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

[quote=SmootSmack;453582]Finished "John Adams" Great book, I have a new found respect and appreciation for him and his fellow statesmen, not to mention Abigail Adams.

Now I've moved onto [URL="http://www.amazon.com/Union-1812-Americans-Fought-Independence/dp/1416532781/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213932711&sr=8-1"]Union 1812[/URL]

I was planning on reading about Andrew Jackson next, but I may jump back and read this Burr book 70Chip is recommending. I'm basically trying to read history books in chronological order, starting with the revolutionary war era[/quote]


You shant regret it. After you finish Burr, you will want to read, in order

Lincoln
1876
Empire
Hollywood
Washington D.C.

Re: What Are You Reading?
 

I just bought [U]Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets[/U] by David Simon (creator of Homicide and The Wire)