Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Levin said:
As I suspect you've read more exploring the psychological aspect of man-made hell, are there any books you'd recommend apart from those mentioned? To a degree one of the last books I read, 'If This is a Woman' by Sarah Helm, touched upon the mental aspect of life in a concentration camp. At least one SS guard fainted with fear before her execution: what mental gymnastics would you have to perform to be able to visit absolute misery and death upon others, all the while scared of a similar fate?
I have read not read so many, but Ordinary Men (sorry, yes I have mentioned it) is, I understand a very sobering factual investigation into how a 'normal' German civilian police unit became violent terrorists and butchers in Poland during the war.Professor Browning is considered one of the foremost analytical historians of the Holocaust.
One psychology professor uses this book in particular to prove to students that had they lived in Germany at that time, it is more likely than not, that they would have been Nazi supporters, even with full knowledge of what was happening.
I have tended to focus on history and classics (and quite a lot of science fiction in my younger days).
If anything else that I have read comes to mind, I will add it.
Goaty Bill 2 said:
One psychology professor uses this book in particular to prove to students that had they lived in Germany at that time, it is more likely than not, that they would have been Nazi supporters, even with full knowledge of what was happening.
No proof, just theory. Obedience doesn't adequately explain the Nazi phenomenon IMO... bear in mind Nazism took a number of years to become a national movement, and the same again before overt militarism. Theories of gradual commitment suit quite well.Goaty Bill 2 said:
I have read not read so many, but Ordinary Men (sorry, yes I have mentioned it) is, I understand a very sobering factual investigation into how a 'normal' German civilian police unit became violent terrorists and butchers in Poland during the war.
Professor Browning is considered one of the foremost analytical historians of the Holocaust.
One psychology professor uses this book in particular to prove to students that had they lived in Germany at that time, it is more likely than not, that they would have been Nazi supporters, even with full knowledge of what was happening.
I have tended to focus on history and classics (and quite a lot of science fiction in my younger days).
If anything else that I have read comes to mind, I will add it.
Lovely, thanks for the recommendation! Sounds like it could tie in well with 'Ostfront' by David Thomas, which chronicles the descent of SS-Obersturmführer and Sicherheitspolizei officer Georg Heuser into an executioner on the Eastern Front. Remarkably he survived the war and subsequent trials, dying in 1989.Professor Browning is considered one of the foremost analytical historians of the Holocaust.
One psychology professor uses this book in particular to prove to students that had they lived in Germany at that time, it is more likely than not, that they would have been Nazi supporters, even with full knowledge of what was happening.
I have tended to focus on history and classics (and quite a lot of science fiction in my younger days).
If anything else that I have read comes to mind, I will add it.
Based on the psychology professor's use of Browning's work, my curiosity has been well and truly piqued. My kneejerk reaction is that it couldn't be totally right, but I am far from an expert. Given that I'd like to know more about every facet of Germany, any and all recommendations are going to be looked at quite seriously.
I enjoyed Clark's work on the rise of Prussia, Iron Kingdom, so thought this would be worth a go as well. There's an enormous amount to digest here; 30 pages in and Clark is setting the scene for the rise of Serbian nationalism. While I studied history for my A-Levels and WWI was a part of it, the extent to which Serbia was glossed over is now revealing itself to me. As is the fact I'd quite like to know more about the Balkans in general.
I've just finished the first two in the Century trilogy by Ken Follet. Nice and short at 7-800 pages each but I couldn't put them down. The trilogy spans a time period from just before WW1 to the end of the Cold War in 1989.
Don't have the third book just yet but am currently reading a book by the same author set in mediaeval England and Wales. Again can't put it down.
Don't have the third book just yet but am currently reading a book by the same author set in mediaeval England and Wales. Again can't put it down.
Super Slo Mo said:
I've just finished the first two in the Century trilogy by Ken Follet. Nice and short at 7-800 pages each but I couldn't put them down. The trilogy spans a time period from just before WW1 to the end of the Cold War in 1989.
Don't have the third book just yet but am currently reading a book by the same author set in mediaeval England and Wales. Again can't put it down.
The Century trilogy really is a superb bit of writing, but I'd say the third book is the weakest of the trilogy. It's not bad by any stretch, but I didn't think it was as good. Is the book you're reading at the moment The Pillars of the Earth? I've heard it's meant to be the best thing Follett ever wrote but it slipped off my radar for whatever reason.Don't have the third book just yet but am currently reading a book by the same author set in mediaeval England and Wales. Again can't put it down.
Levin said:
The Century trilogy really is a superb bit of writing, but I'd say the third book is the weakest of the trilogy. It's not bad by any stretch, but I didn't think it was as good. Is the book you're reading at the moment The Pillars of the Earth? I've heard it's meant to be the best thing Follett ever wrote but it slipped off my radar for whatever reason.
Could be 
. It's on my kobo which is in the car (I'm at work), and I'm pretty bad at remembering book titles. I've only just started reading Follet's books, this is despite having a few in my collection. Don't know how I've managed to miss them to be honest, I'm really enjoying them.
Pillars of the Earth is a glorious read.
Bought it on holiday to a Greek Island over 10 years ago, was with a new girlfriend at the time and still managed to read it completely in 3 days. Whilst still enjoying the attractions, of which there were many, of both the new girlfriend and the Greek island.
Bought it on holiday to a Greek Island over 10 years ago, was with a new girlfriend at the time and still managed to read it completely in 3 days. Whilst still enjoying the attractions, of which there were many, of both the new girlfriend and the Greek island.
Super Slo Mo said:
I've just finished the first two in the Century trilogy by Ken Follet. Nice and short at 7-800 pages each but I couldn't put them down. The trilogy spans a time period from just before WW1 to the end of the Cold War in 1989.
Don't have the third book just yet but am currently reading a book by the same author set in mediaeval England and Wales. Again can't put it down.
\Don't have the third book just yet but am currently reading a book by the same author set in mediaeval England and Wales. Again can't put it down.
I'm half way through Part One of his The Pillars of The Earth. Cracking saga....
havoc said:
Just started this behemoth at the weekend. So far it's engaging and well-written, but takes time to read. Have high hopes though, given how much I liked Cryptonomicon...
Good lord...took me almost 5 weeks to finish it...longest any book's taken for a long time. More a judgement on how busy I've been rather than the book, to be fair...Very engaging, very detailed (as he always is), and a rather cool story with an interesting end-game.
Levin said:
Super Slo Mo said:
I've just finished the first two in the Century trilogy by Ken Follet. Nice and short at 7-800 pages each but I couldn't put them down. The trilogy spans a time period from just before WW1 to the end of the Cold War in 1989.
Don't have the third book just yet but am currently reading a book by the same author set in mediaeval England and Wales. Again can't put it down.
The Century trilogy really is a superb bit of writing, but I'd say the third book is the weakest of the trilogy. It's not bad by any stretch, but I didn't think it was as good. Is the book you're reading at the moment The Pillars of the Earth? I've heard it's meant to be the best thing Follett ever wrote but it slipped off my radar for whatever reason.Don't have the third book just yet but am currently reading a book by the same author set in mediaeval England and Wales. Again can't put it down.
Trilogy is very good too, a history lesson made very interesting. I would encourage my 15 year old,daughter to read it, but there are some somewhat risqué parts I'd rather she didn't get to read in a book I'd pressed on her.....
King Herald said:
I've read all the above, and Pillars is still probably my all time favorite book.
Trilogy is very good too, a history lesson made very interesting. I would encourage my 15 year old,daughter to read it, but there are some somewhat risqué parts I'd rather she didn't get to read in a book I'd pressed on her.....
I'm sure it's nothing she doesn't already know about Trilogy is very good too, a history lesson made very interesting. I would encourage my 15 year old,daughter to read it, but there are some somewhat risqué parts I'd rather she didn't get to read in a book I'd pressed on her.....
! That said, it's probably best appreciated when the reader is a little older.
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