Recommend me a good autobiography
Discussion
neilski said:
I've read the book and seen the documentary and to be fair, it's not a choice I'd like to have made.
As I saw it, there is no real choice, only waiting to take the action. Either you both die or one of you survives (well, both in this case, but normally...). The tales of mountaineering are littered with similar situations. Another good one to read is Heinrich Harrer's White Spider (Eiger ascent).ewenm said:
neilski said:
I've read the book and seen the documentary and to be fair, it's not a choice I'd like to have made.
As I saw it, there is no real choice, only waiting to take the action. Either you both die or one of you survives (well, both in this case, but normally...). The tales of mountaineering are littered with similar situations. Another good one to read is Heinrich Harrer's White Spider (Eiger ascent).Asterix said:
For a person - I love John Peel's 'Margrave of the Marshes'. The first half written by JP (he died before completion), when read, it is like having him sit in the room with you chatting away. The 2nd half written by his wife and kids is just as good.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Margrave-Marshes-John-Peel...
I'd forgotten that one ! I too really enjoyed it.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Margrave-Marshes-John-Peel...
Arese said:
I don't really like autobiographies. The last few I've read have all been 'me, me, me'.
Autobiographies are pretty much all I read, the few I've read recently have been pretty light as I don't get much time, so like to pick one up now and again and just read a couple of chapters.
Not sure if it's been suggested, but I'm currently reading Chris Evans's and that's pretty good, I'm only about half way through so far, but he comes across as a really decent guy. I also enjoyed both of Peter Kay's books, I know they're not exactly philosophical, but they're good if you want a laugh!
Another Vote for David Niven.
A cracking read for me was Wonderland Avenue by Daniel Sugerman
http://www.amazon.com/Wonderland-Avenue-Glamour-Ex...
Cheers
TJ
A cracking read for me was Wonderland Avenue by Daniel Sugerman
http://www.amazon.com/Wonderland-Avenue-Glamour-Ex...
Cheers
TJ
autobiography of pre-war german heavyweight champion max schmelling.he was the first man to beat joe louis and the return match the most politically important boxing match of all time.a fascinating insight into a man who in the space of a few years went from a popular champion in america to a hated nazi symbol of "aryan supremacy".louis stopped max in this fight and his victory was a morale booster for the allied troops.hitler famously stopped the live broadcast of the fight on radio in germany when he realized schmelling was losing and on his return to germany was forced into front line operations as punishment.during this period schmelling(who was never a nazi)was hiding jewish families on his farm and aiding their escape across the border knowing he would be killed if found out.after the war his jewish manager(who he had never disowned throughout the war)sorted him a deal out that meant he became the president of the coca cola corporation in germany.only died a few years ago at the age of 99 years and his story is inspirational to say the least.
Chickenhawk is a must-read.
Also on a military theme:-
- Eight Lives Down, by Chris Hunter. British EOD in Iraq - the author must have specially-tailored trousers to fit his very large testicles in!
- Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttrell. Not the best book by any stretch, but very gripping and immensely eye-opening. Also has the most detailed description of SEAL training I've read.
Also on a military theme:-
- Eight Lives Down, by Chris Hunter. British EOD in Iraq - the author must have specially-tailored trousers to fit his very large testicles in!
- Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttrell. Not the best book by any stretch, but very gripping and immensely eye-opening. Also has the most detailed description of SEAL training I've read.
tuscaneer said:
Autobiography of pre-war german heavyweight champion max schmelling. He was the first man to beat Joe Louis and the return match the most politically important boxing match of all time. A fascinating insight into a man who in the space of a few years went from a popular champion in america to a hated Nazi symbol of "Aryan supremacy". Louis stopped Max in this fight and his victory was a morale booster for the allied troops. Hitler famously stopped the live broadcast of the fight on radio in Germany when he realised Schmelling was losing and on his return to Germany was forced into front line operations as punishment.
During this period Schmelling (who was never a Nazi) was hiding Jewish families on his farm and aiding their escape across the border knowing he would be killed if found out. After the war his Jewish manager (who he had never disowned throughout the war) sorted him a deal out that meant he became the president of the Coca Cola corporation in Germany. Only died a few years ago at the age of 99 years and his story is inspirational to say the least.
I fixed it for others. I'm kind like that.During this period Schmelling (who was never a Nazi) was hiding Jewish families on his farm and aiding their escape across the border knowing he would be killed if found out. After the war his Jewish manager (who he had never disowned throughout the war) sorted him a deal out that meant he became the president of the Coca Cola corporation in Germany. Only died a few years ago at the age of 99 years and his story is inspirational to say the least.
Also on a military theme:-
- Eight Lives Down, by Chris Hunter. British EOD in Iraq - the author must have specially-tailored trousers to fit his very large testicles in!
+1 on this - fantastic book. Ed Macys books are also worth a read as is Sniper One if you're into the military biog's
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One for the scientists out there: Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman
Richard Feynman was a Nobel prize-winning Physicist; worked on the atomic bomb in Albuquerque. I guess it helps if you have some interest in science, but this guy led a fascinating life. Well worth the read in my opinion.
A series of anecdotes, shouldn't by rights add up to an autobiography, but that's just one of the many pieces of received wisdom that Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman (1918-88) cheerfully ignores in this engagingly eccentric book. Fiercely independent, intolerant of stupidity even when it comes packaged as high intellectualism, unafraid to offend, Feynman informs by entertaining. It's possible to enjoy this autobiography, simply as a bunch of amusing yarns with the author as know-it-all hero. At some point, however, attentive readers realise that underneath all the merriment simmers a running commentary on what constitutes authentic knowledge: learning by understanding, not by rote; refusal to give up on seemingly insoluble problems, and total disrespect for fancy ideas that have no grounding in the real world. Feynman himself had all these qualities in spades, and they come through with vigour and verve in his no-bull prose.
There's a second autobiographical book of his, "What do you care what other people think?" which is a continuation and includes his role in the Challenger Shuttle disaster enquiry. Not as entertaining but certainly interesting.
Richard Feynman was a Nobel prize-winning Physicist; worked on the atomic bomb in Albuquerque. I guess it helps if you have some interest in science, but this guy led a fascinating life. Well worth the read in my opinion.
A series of anecdotes, shouldn't by rights add up to an autobiography, but that's just one of the many pieces of received wisdom that Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman (1918-88) cheerfully ignores in this engagingly eccentric book. Fiercely independent, intolerant of stupidity even when it comes packaged as high intellectualism, unafraid to offend, Feynman informs by entertaining. It's possible to enjoy this autobiography, simply as a bunch of amusing yarns with the author as know-it-all hero. At some point, however, attentive readers realise that underneath all the merriment simmers a running commentary on what constitutes authentic knowledge: learning by understanding, not by rote; refusal to give up on seemingly insoluble problems, and total disrespect for fancy ideas that have no grounding in the real world. Feynman himself had all these qualities in spades, and they come through with vigour and verve in his no-bull prose.
There's a second autobiographical book of his, "What do you care what other people think?" which is a continuation and includes his role in the Challenger Shuttle disaster enquiry. Not as entertaining but certainly interesting.
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