What Are You Reading Right Now 2.0

[Terralthra]

Just finished off the Black Company series by Glen Cook. Had some up books and down books, but I really enjoyed the series as a whole.

[Zixinus]

Recently finished Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs, and Steel". I found it a very good read, as it offers us a surprisingly simple yet compelling alternative alternative to cultural or racist arguments found in history. I'm sure that the theory will need revising and some altering before it becomes more accepted among academics (particularly how myth-biased history tends to be, at least as far as I can tell).

EDIT: Oh, and I must put out that both the book and Diamond's theory has limitations. The biggest one, and I don't think the author realizes this, is that his theory works most straight-forwardly with pre-industrial civilizations. It is not quite applicable on histories that involve industrialized states or nation-states and the book does not involve itself to that point.


One of the criticism's was that Diamond ignores cultural influences entirely and that the title should be "Guns, Germs, Steel and Coca-Cola". The critism's argument as I present it (because this is as much as I can recall) is false because Diamond never says why the United States is the world's dominant superpower (that the author overvalues capitalism is another matter). In fact, Diamond's theory of environmental-limitations greatly influences human history only on a large-scale. It concludes why European countries became the wealthiest, but does not tell which[/] ones do. Those would require a more in-dept and traditional approach, one where cultural influences are much more dominant.

Also, another criticism I can find is that Diamond entirely ignores cultural influences. Diamond doesn't ignore it, in fact, IIRC he explains that this is why the Zulus became so dominant. Diamond doesn't entirely ignore cultural influences, he merely limits its influence to a level that isn't the focus of his theory.

[Scrib]

After finishing Gore Vidal's Julian I'm now on his Creation. In broad strokes it's similar: from the perspective of the losers (this time the Persians),,court intrigues and the protagonist being pushed towards the priesthood, narration with frequent breaks and seeming non-sequiturs in the story and a healthy dose of discussion of religious issues.

It's pretty good as it stands, it has all these little details about various civilizations that just gives it an extra bit of flavor, the fact that these are not divorced from the opinion of the narrator makes them funnier.

I do have the same problem I had with Julian though, it's depressing. Reading a foregone conclusion can be fun at times, but there's a sense of tragedy around the whole thing simply because it's not in the moment, it's the narrator working backwards and he can't help but ruminate on opportunities lost and chances missed

It's a great work, but when he mentions the Greek Wars or flaws in Xerxes' character a certain malaise falls over me and I find it difficult to read on.

[weemadando]

I'm in the middle of Arthur Swinson's "The Great Air Race" about the 1934 MacPherson Robertson London to Melbourne race. An at times lacking and at times very detailed book about a topic that seems both archaic and fantastic from our modern viewpoint.

I remember watching a tv miniseries about the race as a kid and was recently at the Melbourne Museum and saw a little display about it. This was THE ONLY book on the topic I could find while googling, there's a few more, but they're more general looks at air racing. And it turns out that my local library had it. I really love my local library.

[nocte lupus]

Right now I'm getting to read chicken soup for the autism parents soul

[nocte lupus]

I really want to read Carly's voice too! I think the last fantasy book I read was the hobbit and The Lord of the rings.

[Bernkastel]

I am currently reading "The Good Soldier Švejk" by Jaroslav Hašek and enjoying it.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Just finished "Silentium" by Greg Bear (3d book in the Forerunner trilogy).
Man, I dislike that man's writing. How he got so popular I have no fucking clue. (I've tried some of his other/Xeelee, etc' books. Even worse). Lame series, which is a shame, since I Love the "mythology of ancient alien races thing. Crappy

"Naked Statistics" by Charles Wheelan is awesome at least . (I read his "Naked Economics" years back. It was the one of the first Popular economics book I remember reading after Milton Friedman andsome publications by Penguin and The Economist )

[Crazedwraith]

just finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman and boy was that a bizarre book.

[Guardsman Bass]

I'm finally finishing up Nate Silver's The Signal in the Noise. It's really good, although occasionally a bit dry (the guy loves his baseball and poker statistics).

I've got Ghost Map (about a disease outbreak in London in the 19th century), Free to Choose by Milton Friedman for a class, and the unabridged audiobook of World War Z next (which is awesome).

[JME2]

just finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman and boy was that a bizarre book.

I liked the idea of old mythology vs. new mythology and the twist that Gaiman seeds early on.

Favorite part remains this exchange:

Shadow: Hey, Huginn or Muninn, or whoever you are. Say 'Nevermore'.

Raven: Fuck you.

[Argosh]

I am currently reading "The Good Soldier Švejk" by Jaroslav Hašek and enjoying it.

You can't go wrong with a classic like that one
Currently reading Roger Zelazny's "Prince of Chaos".

[The Grim Squeaker]

"Naked Statistics" by Charles Wheelan - Really good book (though waaay to simple for me after 2+ years of statistics courses). His "Naked Economics"book is one of my favourite "popular economics" books (one of the first I read actually).

"Ünnatural creatures anthology" (Edited by Neil Gaiman) - cute, but i've already read the good stories ages ago .

"The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?" Jared Diamond . Interesting (going over it slowly as an audiobook), but it's definetly a "popular" book, it's not like his other writings. Some nice vignets, though mostly about as scientifically valid as a wet paper bag.
("Hey, all through the entire book lets ignore another difference between small scale societies and cities of millions - namely the difference between the fucking size of the group! " ).
Definitely worth reading, the bits about treatment of the elderly and child rearing are nice to think about for a bit. Popcorn like.

Recently finished "Johannes Cabal the Necromancer: The Fear Institute".
HIGHLY Recommended - funny as hell, and better than the first 2 books. (Each of which were also good, with the second also improving over the first. All can be read as pure standalones).
(I have all the "The young person's guide to Cthulhu and his friends" entries marked on my Kindle )

I want to start "Throne of the Crescent Moon" after I finish all the prior to their ends. 2 Chapters in, and it seems potentially fun.

[fgalkin]

"The Enchantress of Florence," by Salman Rushdie. It's pretty rad.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Hilan]

I am reading a unique love story series of Vampires, i hope the book lovers recognize the book quickly. If you guys not know than i tell you that i am reading famous Hollywood movie series book "Twilight" . It is just an amazing love story book.

[Raesene]

'Quiet: The power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking' by Susan Cain.
I'm about at the 50% mark, and so far i was fun to read. I could recognise myself in a few of the described situations and may be able to use some of her tips and tricks.

Next books on the reading list are 'Battle Castles" by Dan Snow and 'The Medieval Warrior: Weapons, Technology, and Fighting Techniques, AD 1000-1500' by Martin Dougherty as soon as the female warrior delivers them.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Wired For War by P.W. Singer, about the advent of drone warfare and military robotics replacing humans in battles of the future. A rather fascinating, and at times disturbing, read.

[Ahriman238]

I am reading a unique love story series of Vampires, i hope the book lovers recognize the book quickly. If you guys not know than i tell you that i am reading famous Hollywood movie series book "Twilight" . It is just an amazing love story book.

I could say a lot about the poor quality of the writing, the flat and lifeless characters and blatant wish-fulfillment of the author, but what would be the point? Others have ripped apart the book better than I could and, to be honest, my main complaint about Twilight is it was a better book when it was called Tuck Everlasting.

If you're enjoying yourself, good for you.

[Twoyboy]

The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde. It's the latest in the Thursday Next series which everyone should read dammit. Genius level stuff.

[Surlethe]

Kleinian Groups and Hyperbolic 3-Manifolds

[Dalton]

They had a sale on Star Wars books on May 4th so I picked up HTTE for $2.

[Lord Pounder]

Started reading the Necroscope Series by Brian Lumley. Interesting twist on the traditional Vampire mythology. The main protagonist is a tad over powered though.

Edit*None of the Vampires sparkle, I like this especially. Vampires are supposed to be blood sucking killing machines who revel in slaughter. Not vegetarian nice people who play baseball with the family. They are killers awesome neigh unstoppable killers. I blame Anne Rice for de-balling Vampire.

[Dalton]

Hey, an old ASVSer got published. Allen W. McDonnell sold his Lost Submariner's Log.

[Eleas]

Hey, an old ASVSer got published. Allen W. McDonnell sold his Lost Submariner's Log.

I want to like it, but this blurb may be the worst I've seen in quite some time.

As for me, right now I'm reading Hacker's Delight, a somewhat mathematechnical but occasionally witty book on the clever stuff you can do with low-level coding.

[Argosh]

Started reading "The Long Earth", a cooperation by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter.