What are you reading? (The Book Club thread)

Tim Charles · April 16th, 2009, 01:12 AM

What book/s are you reading at the moment?

Feel free to also post your thoughts on the book, recommend it to others... recommend others never ever go near the thing... as you please.

Tim Charles · April 16th, 2009, 01:16 AM

I just finished reading 'Scar Tissue' Anthony Keidis (singer from Red Hot Chili Peppers) autobiography.

Really enjoyed it a lot. Devoured the thing is only a few days. I've been listening to RHCP since about the mid 90's and were one of my fav bands in high school and still really enjoy lots of their stuff so was really fascinating to read all the stories surrounding the band. And so many of these stories are SO outrageous. Like, for one, when Keidis lost his virginity at ELEVEN to his drug dealer fathers girlfriend...

I've now just started reading:

"The Limits of Power (The End of American Exceptionalism)" by Andrew J. Bacevich

which is a political book analysing how America came to be in the fucked up situation it currently is.

mark b · April 16th, 2009, 02:11 AM

At the moment im reading a book on murders in England in the 1800s, A facsinating read!! There was serious evil back then aswell.

Sarindria · April 16th, 2009, 02:12 AM

What's it called? Author?
Not that I'm into such books...

gileslol · April 16th, 2009, 02:23 AM

'Corporate Ethics and Corporate Governance' by Richter, Zimmerli, Holzinger (Ed) as part of my terrible research essay on legal ethics ._.

about the only remarkable thing in this book so far is that one of the articles is written by a guy called Michael Asslander. hrr hrr. i'm so bad at this subject because i don't have the leftist idealism about reforming the legal profession that my lecturers seem to want to impart to me

Casey.32 · April 16th, 2009, 02:33 AM

I tried ta read a book dat was called hellbreaker or summat but it was written all like dis with little grammar ta speak of.

It hurt my brain and I gave up 6 chapters in.

Sarindria · April 16th, 2009, 02:35 AM

Casey, please tell me you set fire to it.

I was reading the most awful fantasy trilogy ever written, but I've decided to boycott that while I wait for the 7 Tolkien books I ordered to arrive.
They can't possibly be any worse. Really. Stay away from Stephen Donaldson's "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever". Maybe it gets better further in, but I can't seem to stay awake long enough while reading it to find out.

gileslol · April 16th, 2009, 02:40 AM

^ oh serious? i seem to remember a friend of mine telling me it was really good...the main character is some sort of grumpy leprous rapist who is a bastard to all he meets or something? o.O

Svartwerk · April 16th, 2009, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarindria

Stay away from Stephen Donaldson's "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever". Maybe it gets better further in, but I can't seem to stay awake long enough while reading it to find out.

There was a small part of me that really enjoys SD... although they're some of the most depressing books... ever.

Sarindria · April 16th, 2009, 02:43 AM

Yeah, the main character is alright. But it just seems dull in general so far. Very... Tedious to read. Though maybe it's more that I've just not been in the mood for it; quite possible.
Chances are equally high that I've just been spoiled by some of Sara Douglass' books.

chrisdoig24k · April 16th, 2009, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Charles

"The Limits of Power (The End of American Exceptionalism)" by Andrew J. Bacevich

which is a political book analysing how America came to be in the fucked up situation it currently is.

I'd like to hear about this one Tim. I hope it's criticizing Bush for his tripling of the size of government!

I'm reading four books at the moment (yes, shame shame, I know!).

Friedrich von Hayek - The Constitution of Liberty
A political book that deals with liberty (in terms of economic freedom and social freedom), the rule of law and the judiciary. Very interesting, and while it's horribly dense and difficult to read, I know I'm learning lots.

Friedrich von Hayek - The Road to Serfdom
A fairly basic but very entertaining look at Socialism and where it has invariably gone wrong. Draws good parallels between Fascism and Socialism, which I think are important to note.

Johan Norberg - In Defense of Global Capitalism
An excellent summary of the benefits of free trade. Now, this is not extremely relevant these days because most people with a couple of brain cells understand the benefits of free trade and welcome them wholeheartedly - in Australia, Liberal and Labor both agree that protectionism is the path of failure. But in any case, the book is a great way of summarising how globalisation has improved standards of living in developed and developing nations - literacy, birth rates, life expectency, treatment of women, corruption, etc.

The Institute of Economic Affairs - Prohibitions
Compiled from a lot of people from the IEA in London. This one talks about the prohibitions of alcohol, pornography, illicit drugs, advertising, boxing, organ trade, etc. While I oppose prohibition ideologically, I'm hoping this book will help solve some of my practical considerations.

I am reading too much right now >.<

Sarindria · April 16th, 2009, 03:02 AM

Your brain hurts and intimidates my brain, Chris.

VredDoesLights · April 16th, 2009, 03:22 AM

Mein Kampf - Adolf Hitler (Translated to English)

Really good read so far.

mark b · April 16th, 2009, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarindria

What's it called? Author?
Not that I'm into such books...

True crime through history by Richard Glyn Jones.

Elliott · April 16th, 2009, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VredDoesLights

Mein Kampf - Adolf Hitler (Translated to English)

Really good read so far.

Smart fella.

Casey.32 · April 16th, 2009, 03:42 AM

Just to correct my self its called Hell Fire by Mia Gallagher, though that's irrelevant because I never intend to touch it again. Not sure what to pick up next. My partner is trying to get me to read the wheel of time series, though I'm not sure I'm capable of it. So huge, and apparently quite slow at times, so that's a maybe.
Does anyone here have any comments on it?

Elliott · April 16th, 2009, 03:48 AM

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey

Good read.

Tim Charles · April 16th, 2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisdoig24k

I'd like to hear about this one Tim. I hope it's criticizing Bush for his tripling of the size of government!

It's more based around general US policy from post WWII up to now which has basically been based around the idea of trying to stay the world's only superpower forever and how some of the actions they have taken to try and make that happen have actually ensured great negatives for the USA's future.

I'll see if I can find a link to a write up of it somewhere online. Is really interesting so far.

Oli-G · April 16th, 2009, 05:16 AM

Back into reading, first time proactively since... primary school!

Started on Magician + the following two... what a great read (barring Silverthorn, which was nothing more than loose context-setting gapfiller). Shifted to Silmarillion next... certainly a change in gears.

I'm on 'Power of One' by Mr Courtney now... then back to the fantasy...

No doubt will destroy LOTR on the plane trip to Wacken in July, looking forward to it.

Otterhead · April 16th, 2009, 05:38 AM

just finished Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje...he's such a fantastic writer.

reading the most baffling philosophy paper for uni atm...metaphysics.. :/

SMiM · April 16th, 2009, 05:41 AM

I just started reading Magician again for the second time. That whole series is amazing!

Elliott · April 16th, 2009, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMiM

I just started reading Magician again for the second time. That whole series is amazing!

My favourite fantasy book along with LOTR and the original Shannara Trilogy, awesome reading!

chrisdoig24k · April 18th, 2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elliott

Smart fella.

Psh, socialist.

mark b · April 19th, 2009, 06:04 AM

Always the Sunday Newspaper.

VredDoesLights · April 19th, 2009, 07:35 AM

Dan Brown - Deception Point

April 16th, 2009, 01:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tim Charles Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 395	What are you reading? (The Book Club thread) What book/s are you reading at the moment? Feel free to also post your thoughts on the book, recommend it to others... recommend others never ever go near the thing... as you please.

April 16th, 2009, 02:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
mark b Prog 4 ever. Australia!!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Australia. Posts: 2,698	At the moment im reading a book on murders in England in the 1800s, A facsinating read!! There was serious evil back then aswell. __________________ MARCEL COENEN

April 16th, 2009, 02:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sarindria Oh, her. ;) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vic, Australia Posts: 514	What's it called? Author? Not that I'm into such books... __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/Sarindria

April 16th, 2009, 02:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
gileslol Scum Of The Law Faculty Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 624	'Corporate Ethics and Corporate Governance' by Richter, Zimmerli, Holzinger (Ed) as part of my terrible research essay on legal ethics ._. about the only remarkable thing in this book so far is that one of the articles is written by a guy called Michael Asslander. hrr hrr. i'm so bad at this subject because i don't have the leftist idealism about reforming the legal profession that my lecturers seem to want to impart to me __________________ lol

April 16th, 2009, 02:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
Casey.32 Escaping the bell jar. Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 92	I tried ta read a book dat was called hellbreaker or summat but it was written all like dis with little grammar ta speak of. It hurt my brain and I gave up 6 chapters in. __________________

April 16th, 2009, 01:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tim Charles Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 395	I just finished reading 'Scar Tissue' Anthony Keidis (singer from Red Hot Chili Peppers) autobiography. Really enjoyed it a lot. Devoured the thing is only a few days. I've been listening to RHCP since about the mid 90's and were one of my fav bands in high school and still really enjoy lots of their stuff so was really fascinating to read all the stories surrounding the band. And so many of these stories are SO outrageous. Like, for one, when Keidis lost his virginity at ELEVEN to his drug dealer fathers girlfriend... I've now just started reading: "The Limits of Power (The End of American Exceptionalism)" by Andrew J. Bacevich which is a political book analysing how America came to be in the fucked up situation it currently is.

April 16th, 2009, 02:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
Sarindria Oh, her. ;) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vic, Australia Posts: 514	Casey, please tell me you set fire to it. I was reading the most awful fantasy trilogy ever written, but I've decided to boycott that while I wait for the 7 Tolkien books I ordered to arrive. They can't possibly be any worse. Really. Stay away from Stephen Donaldson's "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever". Maybe it gets better further in, but I can't seem to stay awake long enough while reading it to find out. __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/Sarindria

April 16th, 2009, 02:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
gileslol Scum Of The Law Faculty Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 624	^ oh serious? i seem to remember a friend of mine telling me it was really good...the main character is some sort of grumpy leprous rapist who is a bastard to all he meets or something? o.O __________________ lol

April 16th, 2009, 02:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
Sarindria Oh, her. ;) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vic, Australia Posts: 514	Yeah, the main character is alright. But it just seems dull in general so far. Very... Tedious to read. Though maybe it's more that I've just not been in the mood for it; quite possible. Chances are equally high that I've just been spoiled by some of Sara Douglass' books. __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/Sarindria Last edited by Sarindria : April 16th, 2009 at 02:46 AM.

April 16th, 2009, 03:02 AM	#12 (permalink)
Sarindria Oh, her. ;) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vic, Australia Posts: 514	Your brain hurts and intimidates my brain, Chris. __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/Sarindria

April 16th, 2009, 03:22 AM	#13 (permalink)
VredDoesLights Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 223	Mein Kampf - Adolf Hitler (Translated to English) Really good read so far. __________________ When did mediocrity and banality become a good image for your children?

April 16th, 2009, 03:42 AM	#16 (permalink)
Casey.32 Escaping the bell jar. Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 92	Just to correct my self its called Hell Fire by Mia Gallagher, though that's irrelevant because I never intend to touch it again. Not sure what to pick up next. My partner is trying to get me to read the wheel of time series, though I'm not sure I'm capable of it. So huge, and apparently quite slow at times, so that's a maybe. Does anyone here have any comments on it? __________________

April 16th, 2009, 03:48 AM	#17 (permalink)
Elliott DEN DEN DEN DEN Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Eastern suburbs. Posts: 899	One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey Good read. __________________ Melodic death / doom metal

April 16th, 2009, 05:16 AM	#19 (permalink)
Oli-G Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 40	Back into reading, first time proactively since... primary school! Started on Magician + the following two... what a great read (barring Silverthorn, which was nothing more than loose context-setting gapfiller). Shifted to Silmarillion next... certainly a change in gears. I'm on 'Power of One' by Mr Courtney now... then back to the fantasy... No doubt will destroy LOTR on the plane trip to Wacken in July, looking forward to it.

April 16th, 2009, 05:38 AM	#20 (permalink)
Otterhead Lurker Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 15	just finished Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje...he's such a fantastic writer. reading the most baffling philosophy paper for uni atm...metaphysics.. :/ __________________ -Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise- -We have art, so that we will not be destroyed by the truth-

April 16th, 2009, 05:41 AM	#21 (permalink)
SMiM www.metalobsession.net Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 304	I just started reading Magician again for the second time. That whole series is amazing! __________________ www.MetalObsession.net - Supporting Australian Metal

April 19th, 2009, 06:04 AM	#24 (permalink)
mark b Prog 4 ever. Australia!!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Australia. Posts: 2,698	Always the Sunday Newspaper. __________________ MARCEL COENEN

April 19th, 2009, 07:35 AM	#25 (permalink)
VredDoesLights Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 223	Dan Brown - Deception Point __________________ When did mediocrity and banality become a good image for your children?