Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
jbudgie said:
Blown2CV said:
jbudgie said:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Internet-Changing-Way-You-...
Reading this at the moment, interesting stuff.
Some of the comments in the Amazon review aren't great but I am enjoying it.
I heard a talk given by baroness /prof susan greenfield last week about this exact topic. There is a huge stack of evidence that yes, it is. Very interesting as despite the talk being in an IT context, I have a degree in psychology so it's really interesting to me. Reading this at the moment, interesting stuff.
Some of the comments in the Amazon review aren't great but I am enjoying it.
what did you think?
I guess we all have an inkling that we behave differently now we have the internet, but some of the research has found evidence for some quite disturbing changes. You might equally say well, didn't we say all this stuff with video games (particularly, violent games) in the 80s, rap music in the 90s but they weren't everywhere, with everyone participating. Probably the most obvious thing is the lack of ability to attend to things for anything but short periods of time. Other things are the increased feelings of self-importance and selfishness. The fact that heavy users are more commonly now starting to show traits associated with emotional disorders, autism spectrum and so on. All very worrying, and yet everything you read, see in the world seems to point to the enforced belief that the internet is purely a good thing. Very small body of research investigating the contrary so far, hopefully that will change.
Blatter said:
Into the Lion's Mouth
Very interesting book about a diving accident in the '70's. Some good research has gone into this book and it's criminal how the management got away with allowing these two guys to die.
This looks interesting, but I just saw a hard copy on Amazon, selling for £65...... :OVery interesting book about a diving accident in the '70's. Some good research has gone into this book and it's criminal how the management got away with allowing these two guys to die.
I've worked offshore for 20+ years and heard some horrendous accident stories like this from various safety instructors.
Just read "Dear Lupin" (currently cheap on Kindle) which was quite enjoyable (a series of letters from a real father to his wayward son)and The Book Thief (interesting, written from the point of view of Death). Now stuck into the last Flashman book, "Flashman on The March" which is bittersweet as there will obviously not be any more (by GMF anyway). Can anyone recommend anything similar?
gregd said:
d The Book Thief (interesting, written from the point of view of Death). Now stuck into the last Flashman book, ?
Interested to know your thoughts on that.On one hand I really enjoyed that book and it was an excellent story.
On the other hand the fact that it was narrated by Death annoyed me intensely. It added absolutely nothing to the story and even spoiled it by him telling you at the beginning of a chapter what would happen in a few chapter's time.
eg: "THey didn't know that x would soon die in a gas chamber but today they we playing football in the road".
Got right on my tits.
I found it easy-ish to push the narrator to one side as the tale wore on. However, as novels on the horrors of war go, it's far from the best imo & struck me as one of those flavour of the month novels. Good enough read, but a year on from finishing, it isn't really sticking in the mind much. I expect the forthcoming film will be dreadful. They usually cock these things up in Hollywood.
Just finished God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Wasn't at all impressed, made some good points but found it very hard to get into. Richard Dawkins 'The God Delusion' is still the finest book that tackles religion in my view. Can anyone recommend any books along the same lines?
I've also finished 'The Grand design' by Stephen Hawking and found it fascinating. Most of the technical points went way over my head but the little I could understand really gripped me. Ive just picked up 'Something from noting' by Lawrence Krauss which I'm looking forward too, but i feel i could do with learning some of the basics about the cosmos and physics. Anyone have any recommendations?
I've also finished 'The Grand design' by Stephen Hawking and found it fascinating. Most of the technical points went way over my head but the little I could understand really gripped me. Ive just picked up 'Something from noting' by Lawrence Krauss which I'm looking forward too, but i feel i could do with learning some of the basics about the cosmos and physics. Anyone have any recommendations?
Justin Cyder said:
I found it easy-ish to push the narrator to one side as the tale wore on. However, as novels on the horrors of war go, it's far from the best imo & struck me as one of those flavour of the month novels. Good enough read, but a year on from finishing, it isn't really sticking in the mind much. I expect the forthcoming film will be dreadful. They usually cock these things up in Hollywood.
I'd largely agree with that.. It was an interesting narrative device but the constant spoilering (way to go Mr Death!) was irritating. It made me want to dig out The Silver Sword, another kids in WW2 story, which I've not read since I was a nipper but I recall as being better. Got this for the kindle after some glowing reviews in the press a few weeks back. Beautifully written and very informative, highly recommended.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cold-Blood-Adventures-Rept...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cold-Blood-Adventures-Rept...
Slyjoe said:
Dan browns inferno is a good page turner.
I did his most famous book and really it wasn't that great What about MO Hayden's latest book the summary reads even darker and more deprived than any of her previous works. She somehow can make those vile thoughts turn into genuine characters which certainly could exist.
Plus how on earth does she know so much about xxx snuff movies torture etc hooked on her works for sure. They feel really real stories
Slyjoe said:
Dan browns inferno is a good page turner.
I have just finished that - exactly as you say, a good page turner, and fairly easy going. In the second half of the book I did find he let just a little too much of the cat out of the bag, so I ended up working out what was going to happen beforehand. Not sure if that was intentional or not, but the end result was merely a lack of surprise at following events rather than making me feel like I've bested the 'puzzle'. Before that I finished 'Wings on my Sleeve' by Eric Brown. Sometimes I wish there was more detail but it would end up being an almighty tome. Some very amusing anecdotes, some just stagger you at what he did. A great autobiography.
No idea what to read next
I'm on the 2nd page of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - anybody read it? It came highly recommended.
Just finished A Life Inside - by Erwin James - a collection of short pieces which were written as a column for the guardian for a few years - by a lifer who was locked up at the time - quite interesting and a good page turner.
Just finished A Life Inside - by Erwin James - a collection of short pieces which were written as a column for the guardian for a few years - by a lifer who was locked up at the time - quite interesting and a good page turner.
RenesisEvo said:
Slyjoe said:
Dan browns inferno is a good page turner.
I have just finished that - exactly as you say, a good page turner, and fairly easy going. In the second half of the book I did find he let just a little too much of the cat out of the bag, so I ended up working out what was going to happen beforehand. Not sure if that was intentional or not, but the end result was merely a lack of surprise at following events rather than making me feel like I've bested the 'puzzle'. Before that I finished 'Wings on my Sleeve' by Eric Brown. Sometimes I wish there was more detail but it would end up being an almighty tome. Some very amusing anecdotes, some just stagger you at what he did. A great autobiography.
No idea what to read next
Now if you want something a bit gritty, try Charles Cumming. I'm 4 chapters into his latest novel "A Colder War"- the timing is ironically perfect. His previous efforts are terrific, very much in the style of Le Carre but unlike many others he carries it off with aplomb.
truck71 said:
Just finished Inferno, a good page turner but I can't help feeling Mr Brown was trying too hard to impress us with how clever he was. In the end it rather falls apart with a slushy all go home happy ending.
Now if you want something a bit gritty, try Charles Cumming. I'm 4 chapters into his latest novel "A Colder War"- the timing is ironically perfect. His previous efforts are terrific, very much in the style of Le Carre but unlike many others he carries it off with aplomb.
Have you read foreign country ?Now if you want something a bit gritty, try Charles Cumming. I'm 4 chapters into his latest novel "A Colder War"- the timing is ironically perfect. His previous efforts are terrific, very much in the style of Le Carre but unlike many others he carries it off with aplomb.
henry porter writes good books too.
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