What are you reading

[Dog Star]

Another forum that I belong to (Hawkwind Forum - for fans of the space rock band, Hawkwind) has a thread of this title running that has now reached 15 pages.
Members post as often as they finish a book (fact or fiction) and start a new one and the posts are banal, surprisingly literate, and straight out bizzare.
Many download an image of the cover.
It's not a thread about your favorite book, nor about a book that you read 6 months ago. It's about the book, or books that you are currently reading.
Reviews or critical evaluations are kept to a potted minimum, and no one criticises another members literary tastes. It's not a discussion of books per se, although a little of that goes on, eg. "wow, man! I've read The Old Man and the Sea and thought it was awesome!"
The result is a refreshing and surprising peek into the various fields that members stray into.
Anyone care to join in?
I'll start the ball rolling by saying that I'm usually reading at least 2 books at once.
Currently - The Backyard Astronomers Guide by Dickinson and Davey
and Enochian Vision Magick by Lon Milo Du Quette.
Would be most interested to read other members responses.

[Clarry]

Like you Phill, I always have several going at the one time. Beside my bed is "The rise & rise of Kerry Packer - Uncut" by Paul Barry, at work is "Darkness before Dawn" forget the author and in my bike top box is "Letters from a Big Country" by Bill Bryson.

[iceman]

Great thread!

Currently reading:

- "Absolute War" about the "Great Patriotic War" between Russia and Germany
- "Digital Photography Masterclass"

[DJDD]

Two:

- "The Dispossessed" by Ursula le Guin, which I read years ago but takes on new meaning during the current 'global financial crisis'

- "My Name is Red" by Orhan Pamuk, a "murder mystery" set in the 1590's. Just started that on recommendation from my wife, who is more "Cultured" and well read than me; whereas I am "Kultured". :lol:

[Kevnool]

I am reading this thread :lol: Sorry i could,nt help myself.

Cheers Kev.

[TrevorW]

"Temporal Dream" 1st in trilogy by Peter Hamilton

[taminga16]

I have been on my back for a few weeks, hence the list.

The Dig Tree. Sara Murgatroyd. A great read.

Oxford Australian Theatre. Backstage with Graeme Blundell.

In Search Of Frank Hurley. Leonard Bickel.

The Almost Complete Gough. Barry Cohen.

The Australian Miracle. An innovative nation revisited. Thomas Barlow.

And the list goes on and will for about another six to eight weeks so all suggestions will be taken on board.

Greg.

[spacezebra]

Hi all

Currently reading "The Elegant Universe" Brian Greene. "The Dobsonian Telescope" Kriege/Berry. "Digital Macro Photography" Ross Hoddinott (Crissy Prezzie).

Cheers Petra d.

[taminga16]

I forgot ,

Fred Hoyle. A Life Of Science. Simon Mitton. Another great read.

Greg.

[erick]

Just finished - "Leo 'Rumpole' McKern" by George Whaley and have started on "Bad Astronomy" by Philip Plait. The first has made me go out on ebay and buy the MEGA DVD set of Rumpole. Now to find out which of my DVD players will play Region 1?

[rogerg]

It is very rare that I read a book, so while I am I had better reply to this thread!

I am currently reading "The sky is your laboratory - Advanced Astronomy Projects for Amateurs" by Robert K Buchheim.

I am using it to broaden my knowledge of opportunities, and learn more detail about what I do now and I already know. It's great. It's helping me choose my next project after photographing all the NGC object. :)

It's the only book of its kind I know, I don't know of any others that focus on amateur research projects.
:thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

Sorry, nothing deep and interesting here.
I'm on the last pages of Jane Austens "Mansfield Park".

[MrB]

I'm reading "Last Chance to See" for the umteenth time.
By Douglas Adams, of Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy fame... this one though is non-fiction, about travelling the world and seeing endangered species before they disappear forever. Typical Douglas Adams humour throughout.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Chance_to_See

[jjjnettie]

Try "Real Astronomy with Small Telescopes. Step by step activities for discovery" by Michael K Gainer.:thumbsup:

[jungle11]

Hey guys

Im reading 'The Neutronium Alchemist' by Peter F Hamilton

It's the second in the Night's Dawn trilogy.

Good mix of sci-fi and fantasy.

cheers

[PCH]

Great thread, and interesting to see what interests other people have.

I'm currently reading "Why the Jews" which tries to explain why these people have 'copped it' over the centuries.

Also reading 'Agincourt' which is an in-depth and right in the nitty gritty account of this great Anglo-French battle.

Hey JJJ, there's nothing wrong with reading a classic. Those books will be around long after most modern books have bitten the dust. I try to include classics in my routine, - just not at this precise moment.

Cheers,

[AlexN]

Im reading 2 books at the moment...

Quantum - By Majin Kumor (spelling on that may be wrong)
Gravity from The Ground Up

Both are very very educational on the topics of quantum mechanics / ideas of a quantum theory of gravity and a bit of info on astrophysics.. Very very entertaining to me. :)

[gman]

I have started reading "Gallipoli - Untold stories from war correspondent Charles Bean and the front line Anzacs"

The book tells the real stories through the private diaries and news reports of Charles Bean, war correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald. It includes rarely seen photographs from the Age photographer Phillip Schuler.

Put together by Jonathon King & Michael Bowers

[leinad]

The Brain that Changes Itself - by Norman Doidge, M.D
Cosmos - by Carl Sagan

[snowyskiesau]

Anything with words on it!
I got my first pair of reading glasses yesterday and the novelty of clear print has not yet worn off :)

Solidworks for Dummies is open as I type. (Trying to learn CAD for other hobbies)

[OneOfOne]

Just finished "God is not Great"
Reading "Field guide to meteors and meteorites"
Next is "The brain that changes itself"
Followed by "Of Pandas and People"

[Dog Star]

Loving ALL the replies!:)
A good way to get some great reading advice and as I suspected, the reading range of members is fascinating, broad and informative.
Many thanks to all those who have responded so positively.:thumbsup:
Keep 'em coming!
Cheers, Phil.

[JimmyH155]

I have 4 on the go. This horrible hot weather encourages reading doesn't it?
The International Book of trees, by Hugh Johnston
The Fellowship of the Ring, by guess who. fourth time reading
Blue Mars, by Kim Stanley Robinson (when I am on the train)
Where to retire in Australia, by Jill and Owen Weeks:D

[taminga16]

Reading back over some of the earlier threads and seeing Clayton's has. reminded me that there is an unfinished copy of The Shipping News by E.Annie Proulx on my wrecked motorcycle, I must retrieve it before the it is lost.

Greg.

[rogerg]

Thank you :thumbsup:

[Ric]

That Hawkwind forum sounds interesting, I must check it out.

In the reading department I have 2 on the go as well.

"Galaxies and How to Observe Them" by Wolfgang Steinicke & Richard Jakiel.

"Setting up a Small Observatory" by David Arditti.

Both are very interesting reads.

[Dog Star]

G'day Ric.
Forgot you are an old (relatively speaking) Hawker.:thumbsup:
Link here
http://hawkwindforum.freeforums.org/index.php

[Ric]

Ta Phil, just had a quick look around and it looks great.

Cheers

[Clarry]

Looking over the responses so far, I realize that I've read a fair few of the current books.
Mansfield Park, Hitchhikers, Knights Dawn Trilogy, LoTR (7 times). God is not Great, yep that too. OneofOne, can I suggest you try The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. And yes Kevnool, I've read thread too.
Now I need to concentrate on the mentioned books that I haven't read. Always good to get suggestions for future reading.:thumbsup:

[OneOfOne]

I read the God Delusion a year or so ago and have "The Dawkins Delusion" in an order from Amazon on its way now, I try to get a view from both sides of the fence.

[astroron]

THE ARP ATLAS OF PECULIAR GALAXIES( A Chronicle and Observers Guide)
The story and info in this book is brilliant.:thumbsup:

[Liz]

Have about 10 books on bedside table :rolleyes:
Presently reading-
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Memory Cathedral by Jack Dann
Paul of Dune by Herbert/Anderson
ah .... and Lonely Planet Italy :whistle:

[sheeny]

I am currently reading "the Last Continent" by Terry Pratchett. One of the few Discworld books I didn't have (but Lyn did her homework and made a list to get the missing ones for Xmas!;):)

I thoroughly enjoy Pratchett's books. Not as painfully funny as Douglas Adams, but he uses the Discworld to poke fun at ours!

Al.

[okiscopey]

Current book (among others) is:

The Brain That Changes Itself
stories of personal triumph from the frontiers of brain science
Norman Doidge, M.D.
ISBN 9781921215827

A New York Times bestseller [etc.]

'Only a few decades ago, scientists considered the brain to be fixed or ‘hardwired’ and considered most forms of brain damage, therefore, to be incurable. Dr. Doidge, an eminent psychiatrist and researcher, was struck by how his patients’ own transformations belied this and set out to explore the new science of neuroplasticity by interviewing both scientific pioneers in neuroscience, and patients who have benefited from neuro-rehabilitation. Here he describes in fascinating personal narratives how the brain, far from being fixed, has remarkable powers of changing its own structure and compensating for even the most challenging neurological conditions. Doidge’s book is a remarkable and hopeful portrait of the endless adaptability of the human brain.' (Oliver Sacks)


'A woman who perpetually feels like she’s falling, a man addicted to hard-core astrophotography [oops, sorry, changed the original word], an amputee with excruciating pain in his phantom elbow; all cured thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself. Doidge provides a history of the research in this growing field, highlighting scientists at the edge of groundbreaking discoveries and telling fascinating stories of people who have benefited. One researcher restores a woman’s sense of balance by placing electrodes on her tongue to create a novel neural pathway; a man undergoes physical therapy that reorganizes his brain and allows him to return to work after suffering an incapacitating stroke. Doidge even calls psychoanalysis ‘neuroplastic therapy — understanding a painful memory, for example, involves disconnecting and reconnecting neuronal groups.' (Psychology Today)

[leinad]

In cased you missed it okiscopey, heres the ABC radiocast where I first found out about the book..
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/stories/2008/2359328.htm

[theodog]

Plenty of observation opportunities there.:thumbsup:

I am currently working through, WALES Epic Views of a Small Country, Jan Morris. While listening to Celtic Woman.
:D

[Buddman]

Just fininshed re-reading Dune by Frank Herbert. Read it so long ago that I had forgotten what it was all about.

Now reading Einstein's Heroes by Robyn Arianhod, mainly about Isaac Newton Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell and the role of Maths in science.

[okiscopey]

Thanks Leinad, listened to the podcast this morning ... fascinating stuff!

[Dog Star]

Saw a copy of "The Elegant Universe" in a 2nd hand book store today, so I swooped on it.:thumbsup:
Have a copy of the tv series on dvd but it's pretty dumbed-down compared to the book so far.
Also found a copy of "Man and His Symbols" by C.G. Jung in the same store. Haven't read it since I was in my 20's, when it had a profound effect on me. Expecting nothing less now that I'm in my 50's.
Am also keeping my eye out for "The Brain That Changes Itself."
Seems that an awful lot of people are reading this.

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

Saga of Seven Suns, Kevin J Anderson, a space opera which posits beings living in the lower layers of gas giants, others inhabiting the interior of suns, telepathic trees, and intelligent water.

Cheers

[MrB]

'Light Years - An exploration of mankind's enduring fascination with light' by Brian Glegg
Bargain, on sale for $8.95... very interesting read thus far.
All about light and Einstein, Galileo, Edison, Faraday, Maxwell, Huygens, Michelson, Herschel, Hawking, Newton.... could list more but you get the idea.

[andrew2008]

About to start "The Sacred Balance" by David Suzuki.

This is the first book of his I've bought so really looking forward to it.

[Dog Star]

Would very much like to get a hold of that one. Is it generally available?
Where in particular did you pick up your copy?

[MrB]

Sorry Phil, it was on one of those bargain bins that bookstores put out the front, was the only one I saw. I think it was Dymocks, may have been Angus and Robertson.....
'Tis a Hardcover + dust jacket, published in 2001 and was originally priced at $35.
Looks like theres a few online (Amazon etc)... or http://www.brianclegg.net/lightyears.html#Reviews (http://www.brianclegg.net/lightyears.html)
Worth every cent.

[Astrod00d]

Currently Reading:

'Without Warning' by John Birmingham - a 'what-if' alternative future kinda thing...

'The Wheel of Time' series by Robert Jordan - Man, it just goes on and on!

'Blue Mars' by Kim Stanley Robinson - about Mars being terraformed by squabbling humans :lol:

'Nation' by Terry Pratchett is waiting in the wings.


Yup, it would seem I'm into sci-fi and fantasy.

Cheers,

Rob

[Dog Star]

Shipwrecks - Australia's Greatest Maritime Disasters by Evan Mc Hugh.
From the first recorded wreck in Australian waters of the Trial in 1622 to the infamous Sydney to Hobart yacht race in 1998, the author provides a detailed and page turning account of the disaster and terror that has confronted so many ships at sea.
Also covered are the wrecks of Batavia, Sydney Cove, Dunbar, HMAS Sydney and many others.
A compulsive read and highly recommended to all with an interest in Australian history, the Sea and the human condition.

[jjjnettie]

"The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul" and "Life, the Universe, and Everything"
By Douglas Adams.
I'm working my way through the HitchHikers series, and dug up LDTTS while looking for the next volume. So two books on the go at the moment.
I felt I needed something light and fluffy as a pick me up.

[Paddy]

This is also my current reading. The story of Arp and his fellow outsiders is a fascinating poser on how/whether to fund science that differs from the mainstream consensus and is approached very well by the authors. I just wish that Arp had done more observing of southern hemisphere galaxies when he did the atlas - there a quite a few to look at, but I'd like more! I reckon that this would probably provide even more grist to the mills of imagers than to a strictly visual observer like myself, as so many of the galaxies are fairly faint. Still, it will give me some targets for quite a while!

[erick]

"The Coroner - Investigating Sudden Death"
Derick Hand (with Janet Fife-Yeomans)

"Derrick Hand has worked for 47 years in the court system. the last five as NSW State Coroner. He retired in 2000. The Coroner is his story."

Dead bodies everywhere in NSW! :scared:

[hector]

I read several books at a time usually.
Work..... Introduction to Neuro Linguistic Programing or NLP
Non Fict..... The Chilling Stars. A real view on Global Warming.
Fiction....War of the Worlds for the nth time (once a year) sad I know
History.... the Civil War Vol 2 (verrrrrry dry and slowwwwwww)
Audio..... Catch 22 (It's Yassarians name sir)
If any of you drive more than 30 minutes to work I can recommend getting Audio Books. Best way to drive.
Andrew

[jjjnettie]

Audio books are good value.
I managed to purchase "Last Chance To See" on cassette, read by none other than Douglas Adams himself.

[Glenhuon]

At the moment "The Australian Road Guide". Figuring out the quickest way to the next place with the least fuel :). Record price so far is Madura, $1.70/ltr :eyepop:

Bill

[TrevorW]

At the moment "Horus Rising" Dan Abnett

Cheers

[jungle11]

Just finished 'The Temporal Void' by Peter F Hamilton.

Finally reading the finale of TND trillogy by the same author

But...for variety (sort of) will next be reading either
Red Mars (Kim Stanley Robinson) or
Evolution (Steven Baxter)

[Neil]

Currently reading John Lennon by ray coleman , an 1984 edition, as well as sky & telescope,Australian Geograthic and a growing addiction to IceInSpace forums:P:rofl:

[lacad01]

Currently technical work based stuff :sadeyes:
Just finished "Einstein: His Life and Universe" by Walter Isaacson
Highly recomend:
"The Planets" & "Longitude" by Dava Sobel :thumbsup:
"Stargazer: The Life and Times of the Telescope" by Fred Watson :thumbsup:

[Dog Star]

G'day Andrew,
Interesting to note that someone else has an interest in NLP. Have read a couple of books on this fascinating subject (Advanced Language Pattern by Larry Mc Lauchlin, Using Your Brain For a Change by Richard Bandler and NLP - Structure of Magic by John Grinder and Richard Bandler.)
Just curious... are you reading this at work or because of your work?:)

[OneOfOne]

Just finished "The brain that changes itself", highly recommended, it goes to show that even people with half a brain can lead fruitful lives.

Also "The Dawkins Delusion", interesting. Some of the arguments presented are interesting but don't hold a lot of water. Very simplist in his criticisms of Dawkins.

Also "Of Pandas and People", the book at the centre of the whole ID debate in the US recently. Has some interesting ideas and raises a number of valid questions...but contains very little true scientific theory.

Now reading "Evolution, what the fossils really say and why it matters". Going to be a hard slog of 400 laarge pages of small text. Only up to page 20 but so far I really like the guy and his style.

As you can probably gather, I am reading a number of evolution books lately...

[goober]

Commute reading: Beyond Band of Brothers - Memoirs of Major Dick Winters.
Bedside reading: Biggles And The Gunrunners

I've got a mate who plays in a Hawkwind tribute band here in Melbourne....

[norm]

First Man - The Life of Neil Armstrong by James R Hansen:P

[Jen]

How Did It Begin?
by DR R & L Brasch
:D
Its an entertaining look at why we do and say the things we do
like......

Why do we say that cranky people must have got out the wrong side of the bed? :zzz2::poke:
Why is it bad luck to whistle at sea?:whistle:
What are crocodile tears? :(
Where did the expression to eat ones hat come from?:gday:
Why do men and women button their clothes on different sides?:screwy:
Why are horseshoes lucky?:confuse3:
WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY ??????:jump::jump:
:rofl::rofl:

[barx1963]

Hmmm... lets see

Vol 3 of Churchills History of WWII. Very interesting to see hings from the viewpoint of one of histories main players. Also a pleasure to read Englist as it should be written.
Also plouging my way throght O'Mearas "Messier Objects" as I try to find more of 'em.
Have about 10 history books on WWI, WWII, ancient Rome, Middle east History etc that I am trying to get to.

[barx1963]

Is that Shelby Footes Civil War history. I still have two vols to go, must get back to it one day. Surprising it is so fry as he is really passionate about the subject>

[Ric]

I just started reading the NASA press release for the Apollo 15 mission.

It has all the details about the mission and the science that was conducted. If your into Apollo missions it's a great read.

Cheers

[Terry B]

Last book I read was called "A Fraction of the Whole" by Steve Toltz
A great first book with a little bit of an astronomy side tale in it.

[Dog Star]

G'day Doug,
Only just noticed your last line there.:doh:
Just as a matter of interest; What's the name of the band?

[goober]

Sonic Attack - www.sonicattackband.com (http://www.sonicattackband.com)

I've never seem them play... :)

[matt]

Breath....by Tim Winton.

A great Aussie writer and an interesting fella.:thumbsup:

[Marko of Oz]

2nd book of The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind.

Waiting for the final book of Robert Jordans Wheel of Time series . (to be written and published posthumously)

[MrB]

Back issues #13 thru to #24 of StrictlyIC (www.strictlyic.com) magazine.

[Kevnool]

Still going through Astronomy 2009 at the moment and will do so for many months yet
To all the begginers go get a copy ...cheers Kev.

[Dog Star]

Just finished God and the New Physics by Paul Davies.
Probably many people on this forum have read this book and digested it easily. For me, it was a case of mental callisthenics! I now understand how infinity can be found in the area of any given circle!
Have now just started on The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene.
Having previously read his 48 Principles of Power, and The Art of Seduction (not a book about scoring with the opposite sex:() ,I'm looking forward to a good read with this.
In the first 50 pages he quotes from Shakespere, Napoleon Bonaparte, Friedrich Nietzsche, Aesop, Abraham Lincoln, Miyamoto Mushashi, and the I Ching, amongst others.
A random quote - More life may trickle out of men through thought than through a gaping wound - Thomas Hardy.
A different sort of callisthenics!:)

[OneOfOne]

Just finished "Making of the Fittest" which is a DNA oriented examination of evolution. If you don't know much about how DNA works, you will when you have finished. Has some interesting stuff on control mechanisms that determine how many legs things have, eye structure and the effects if some genes are altered, some can be altered and have no effect while others cease to work. Fossil and junk DNA are also interesting. A great book on the subject.

[jjjnettie]

Dead Famous - Ben Elton

[Baddad]

Hey Kev.:) :hi:
I'm also reading Astronomy 2009. In association with that I'm studying "The Night Sky".
Authored by Steve Massey. I have a lot to catch up on I've finished, "Discovering The Night Sky".
That was part of a package with my first telescope purchase.

Cheers Marty :thumbsup:

[Enchilada]

"The Northerm Lights" by Lucy Jago. It is about the Norwegian Kristian Birkeland, who discovered much about the true nature of the aurorae and the relationship between the Sun and auroral activity. He was brilliant a bit of a nutter, whose story is more about tragedy of his life. So far it is a really enthralling read and about 280 pages.

[BerrieK]

Just finished 'The Nest' by Paul Jennings. The dark story of a teenage boys journey into his past. Enjoyed it very much.

Just started "The Messenger' by Markus Zusak. Have read another book written by this author called 'The Book Thief" - a fantastic read about a German girl fostered to a German family in the late 1930's. She steals books from Nazi burnings and from the library of the mayors wife and is taught to read by her foster father. Concurrently the family hides a Jewish man (son of an old army friend of the father) in the basement. I highly recommend this book, it is beautifully written and very moving.

Kerrie

[lacad01]

Just finished "The Georgian Star", by Michael Lemonick, a biography of the 18th C. brother & sister astronomers William and Caroline Herschel.
Found this to be a great read not only on the astronomical and scientific side of things but also to get a glimpse of everyday life in that period of history. The title itself alludes to the pre current naming of the planet Uranus - Herschel hoped to receive some favour from the monarch George III by naming the new discovery in his honour ;)

[yinyang23]

Three of the best books I've ever read are those in the Conqueror series: wolf of the planes, lords of the bow and bones of the hill by Conn Iggulden. They narrate the "epic story of the great conqueror" - Genghis Khan. I am also a fan of Ender's Game and its sequels.:)

[Jen]

Im still reading the same book as the last time I replied :lol::lol:
Havnt even got to the second chapter yet :doh:

[BerrieK]

Have just started David Malouf's latest book 'Ransom'.

Looking foreward to it, his other work is amazing.

Kerrie

[Inmykombi]

I am reading the only thing I usually get to read....
Sky and Telescope magazine.:P

I dont seem to get time to read much else.

The Sunday paper usually ends up in the Recycle bin after my wife has reead it, before I even open it.

Geoffro

[gman]

Just started Angels & Demons by Dan Brown.
Thought I had better read it before seeing the movie

[Rokketboy]

Still churning through "The Sword of Truth" series by Terry Goodkind. 11 books in the series at about 700 pages a pop. I'm up to book 7. There is a TV series based on it "Legend of the Seeker" - coming to Oz late this year.
Just starting "World War Z" - covers a current day earth where a zombie outbreak has occurred. Written in a war correspondent style. Great if you are into all things zombie - like me :)

[OneOfOne]

Been a while since my last update but have read:

"Your inner Fish" which has some very interesting insight into evolution from fish to modern animals

"Only a Theory" gives an insight to the battle between Science and Intelligent Design.

"Creationism's Trojan Horse"...whoa...talk about hard going. This book contains so much information about ID, court cases etc in the US. My head is still spinning.

Currently almost finished "The Great Dinosaur Mystery Solved!" which is a young Earth view of evolution and extinction.

[jjjnettie]

I finished "Tramp Royale" yesterday and started "To Sail Beyond the Sunset" today.
Both by Robert A Heinlein.

[dpastern]

David Eddings - Seeress of Kell, Book V of the Mallorean.

Dave

[stephenb]

Last Man on the Moon - Gene Cernan, Apollo 17 Astronaut
Failure is Not an Option - Gene Krantz, Apollo Flight Director
Carrying the Fire - Michael Collins, Apollo 11 Command Pilot
Lift Off - Michael Collins, Apollo 11 Command Pilot

Four of the most fascinating and entertaining books I have read in my life. I've had them in my personal library for years and I always pull the out from time to time to read in a marathon of a few weeks. I plead with anyone who has an interest in space exploration or astronomy to locate these books and read them. There are no egos, just plain facts, honest stories. Real edge-of-your-seat reading about the history of NASA.

About to start reading....

Moonwalker - Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 LM Pilot

Waiting now for Buzz Aldrin's to autobiography to be released in June :thumbsup:

p.s. I have a copy of Failure is Not an Option - Gene Krantz, I'll post for sale in the IIS Trade section today.

[Omaroo]

I'm reading Cadbury's "Space Race" - again, and then I'm moving on to one of my favourite books of all time, "Dragons Egg" by Robert L. Forward - about the evolution of life on a neutron star. Brilliant physics that made Asimov's and Clarke's heads spin.

[Ozi_oldbag]

Just finished Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. Excellent book. Will have to see the movie when it comes out.
Marg

[PCH]

Movie's out now - it's really good :thumbsup:

[Liz]

:welcome: marg .... number 6000!!
Yes, read that book when it first came out years ago, and enjoyed it, looking forward to the movie, especially as heading to Roma in October.
Just finished a great book called 'Henrys Daughter', before that was 'The Reader' - good, but movie was fabulous, now started 'We Need to talk about Kevin'.

[lacad01]

Just finished "The Transit of Venus: The Brief, Brilliant Life of Jeremiah Horrocks" by Peter Aughton and about to embark on "The Goldilocks Enigma" by Paul Davies

[Darth Wader]

Currently reading "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins.

[erick]

Finally got down to my local library.

Just finished "Space Shuttle: The First 20 Years -- The Astronauts' Experiences in Their Own Words". A great read. Lots of behind the scene events. Some funny - the Astronaut of Chinese background who threatened controllers that he wouldn't come back if he wasn't allowed the time to fix his faulty experiment. He mused - what was I going to do - hang myself in microgravity! He got it working and it was a success and he came back.

Returned that and borrowed "Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd" by Nick Mason. About 30 pages in - wished I had time to read it in one sitting!

Catching up on all the reading I missed out on while raising children! :thumbsup:

[lacad01]

That's such a great read, I couldn't put it down when I first read it :)

[M54]

Just finished Paul Davies 'The Mind of God'.

Now reading:
'Astronomy for dummies.' (that's me:P) Stephen P. Maran, PhD.
'Astronomy 2009'
'The Southern Sky Guide'. David Ellyard and Wil Tirion.
And pouring over 'Hartung's Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes: A Handbook for Amateur Observers.' Revised and illustrated by David Malin and David J. Frew.

[OneOfOne]

Catastrophes and lesser calamities - discusses the "big five" extinctions, and some of the lesser ones. Very interesting book, most people may think that meteorites are a major cause, but other than the one well known example (which many believe was just an early nail in a coffin that was already closing), most others are put down to a number of factors - global climate change, dramatic sea level changes.

Confessions of an Alien Hunter- anyone that has heard of SETI will have also heard of Seth Shostak. His book covers the history of ET from the canals of Mars to the movie "Contact". He talks about the methods used in their search for ET, his opinions about alien visitation, worm holes and just about anything you can think of related to the subject. It is a fascinating book filled with his dry sense of humour (I used his little quip "as cold as a dead penguin" just the other day!) and little anecdotes.

Presentation Zen - it may rate highly on Amazon (which is why I bought it), but I am afraid it switches between "interesting" and "this guy is a wanker"....overall I think it tends to the latter. The author is an American who has lived in Japan for a number of years and is another case of someone who has discovered the wheel and has written a book about his new discovery. If you do some public speaking and would like to find out something about the topic, buy something else.

Currently working my way through an illustrated reprint of the first edition of "Charles Darwin on the Origin of Species". At 500+ pages this is a monumental undertaking (I am reading other books while tackling this one). It is interesting to read such a key text with the knowledge of today, his arguments are still quite compelling even today. However, "verbose" is the first thing that comes to mind.

[TrevorW]

'Temporal Void"- Peter Hamilton

very impressed by his writing

[stephenb]

Just finished it myself Norm, and also the Audio Book version. Bloody amazing read isn't it?

Half way through reading Deke!: Deke Slayton's Autobiography (Mercury Astronaut and Head of the NASA Astronaut Office. Again, another brilliant book!

[MrB]

An Island To Oneself - Tom Neale
'The story of six years on a desert island'
First Published 1966

"This endlessly fascinating book is Tom Neale's story of his life alone on Surarov (http://www.janeresture.com/suvarov/index.htm), a dream-life which he made come true. Apart from the sheer joy and drive of the narrative, it is absolutely required reading for the thousands who fancy doing the same. It is one of those books which is quite capable of leaving a mark on you for life."

[NeilW]

Just finished "Atheism Explained:From Folly to Philosophy" by David Steele. It's perhaps a more balanced and less polemical approach than the Dawkins/Hitchens onslaughts.

Just started "Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You - A Guide to the Universe" by Marcus Chown, a science writer and cosmology consultant for New Scientist magazine. So far well written and not "dumbed down".

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

Tell us what you think of Davies' book, especially the last half, when done.

Cheers

[lacad01]

Ummm, well - I struggled with it and will have to read it again in a couple of months after my brain has recovered :)
Some of the theories he puts out there are pretty mind numbing such as a self-perpetuating or self-realizing universe. The whole concept of multiverses, string theory, etc. He even tackles theories concerning simulated universes i.e. Matrix-style where what we see around us is not real (hmm, I should have taken the blue pill before reading, or is that the red pill :))
Left me asking more questions...which is another reason I need to read it again as I don't think I digested everything on the first pass.

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

The same for me. The main thing this book did for me was that I now understand the Standard Model more, and why they had to spend $10b on the CERN LHC, and another $20m now to repair it when it crashed on takeoff. These are vital investments.

Cheers

[jjjnettie]

I am reading....
"The Little Book of Scientific Principles, Theories and Things." by Surendra Verma.
:)

[cahullian]

Vanishing point by Alan Moore great Australian work of fiction you all should rush out and buy it.:thumbsup:

You know I would never lie to you all :P

gazz

[stephenb]

Currently reading MoonWalker by Apollo 16 LM Pilot Charlie Duke, co-written with his wife, Dotty Duke. Personally signed by them both!

Another well written autobiography including Dotty perspective of being an Astronaut's wife, especially after the Apollo program was over. A very strong woman who went to the brink and returned.

Highly recommended.

[Waxing_Gibbous]

With cloud, cloud and more cloud, I've been packing them in.
Four at the minute:
"The Gone-Away World" by Nick Harkaway - Dark & Funny post apocolypse thingy
"Tulip" by Anna Palova - the history of the Tulip. Seriously gripping. They were incredibly valuable. People killed for them!
"Medieval Book Production" - Sort of an aquired taste. A bit fusty.
and just to add that soupcon of pretensiousness
"Franz Kafka; Stories 1904-1924"- I really like 'Metamorphosis'.
I just finished "Not Even Wrong" by Woit. Could someone explain it to me. I agree with him but don't know why!

[M54]

I've moved on to:
"Death by Black Hole", by Neil De Grasse Tyson.

And as I never finished high school:P (eons ago) and I've always wanted to know more about sums, I'm tackling "The complete idiots guide to algebra". I'm finding it challenging but having great fun too!:D

[jjjnettie]

I'm reading
"Einstein, His Life and Universe."
By Walter Isaacson.

[dumdidum]

House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds

Good to delve into sci-fi once more :D

[Jone5y]

A good nose and great legs - the art of wine, from the vine to the table.

Nowhere near as heavy as most of the stuff here but educational nonetheless.

[jjjnettie]

I've just started reading "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith.
OMG it's hilarious.
I'm a huge Austen fan and this twist to the original story is totally outrageous.:eyepop::lol::rofl:
85% of the text is from the original novel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice_and_Zombies
I even saw a bloke wearing the t-shirt today.:P:lol:

[jjjnettie]

I've just read that they're going to turn it into a movie!!! Yay!
The next reworking will be Pride and Predator.

[supernova1965]

I am rereading Robots and Empire and the Foundation series by Issac Azimov and then I think I will reread the Mars trilogy Red Mars,Blue Mars,Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robertson.

I love all the older SF books haven't found any recent books that seem to compare with these any one with info on recent writings that are in the same caliber as these classics it would be greatly appreciated.

[stephenb]

Any model rail enthusiasts here on IIS?

Currently reading: 101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders and 48 Top-notch Track Plans. I hope to get the N-scale layout up and running by Xmas, and the HO by June next year.

[telecasterguru]

JJJ,

Finished reading "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" a couple of weeks ago and yes it is very funny.

Frank

[Esseth]

Just finished reading "Physics of the Impossible" by theoretical physicist Michio Kaku.

Aweseome read for any sci-fi nerds out there, is all about what is really possible and hows its possible that you have seen in the movies and tv show.

[jjjnettie]

Another fan of the "Golden Age" of science fiction!!:)
Robert A Heinlein, Poul Anderson, Robert Silverberg etc etc
They were writing a future history for us to enjoy.
I've yet to find another author who can write well enough to make me turn to this new stuff that's been written.:(

[mithrandir]

Almost finished Richard Dawkins "The Greatest Show on Earth".
Part way through Steven Donaldson "The Runes of Earth", but can't get enthused by it. Rather like the first time I read The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.

[jjjnettie]

Good to hear Frank.
I wish I didn't have to work today so I could keep on reading it.:D

Dear Lizzie Bennett. 6 days standing on her hands under the hot Beijing sun. That's discipline for you. :thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

I truly put the good effort into The Chronicles, but it dragged on and on. I couldn't get passed the 2nd book. :(
I prefer space opera.

[telecasterguru]

JJJ,
I read the chronicles of Thomas Covenant years ago and LOVED IT.

Have a copy of "The Greatest Show on Earth" and that is next.

Frank

[dpastern]

The chronicles of Thomas Covenant are one of my favourite book series. It is a long read, and a bit drawn out, but it's a wonderful story.

Dave

[mithrandir]

I persevered with both the 1st and 2nd. Put them in the bookcase (with the thousand or so other books) for a couple of years and read them again. Much better the second time.

A few samples. I have a fairly complete set of Heinlein, every Julian May except "Dune Roller", most Anne McCaffery (including a signed, boxed, anniversary edition of "Dragonflight"), Frank Herbert, David Eddings. A few Australians including Ian Irvine, Sara Douglass, Jennifer Fallon, Celia Dart-Thornton (most signed), Kathryn Fox (all signed).

[taxman]

Prador Moon by Neal Asher.

Giant space crabs attack humanity.

Seriously...

[jjjnettie]

:lol: I have just about every word that Heinlein published. Right down to an article in Popular Mechanics written in the '60s about his home.
I enjoyed "Grumbles from the Grave" and "Tramp Royale", which Virginia published post hum. The former is correspondence between Heinlein and his publishers and friends, the latter is a travel diary of his world tour.(which included Australia).

[FredSnerd]

The Trial of Socrates by Izzie Stone. Great book and quite an eye opener

[FredSnerd]

Oh and BTW Jeanette, its just not allowed to mix Jane Austen with Zombies. Cant be done

[mac]

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck.

[jjjnettie]

Can be done.:P :lol:

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Re-reading: "Emma" - No Zombies that I recall, but I could have missed the first time around.

Just started: "Cataclysmic Cosmic Events" - Self explanatory really.

Still Going: Windows Vista Tips and Tricks. More of a magazine really but taking me as long to get through as W & P.

Just Finished: "Alvin Journeyman" - Just discovered this series of 'alternate earth' SF. Rather good .

[kustard]

Almost finished book number 2 of the "Deathstalker" series by Simon R. Green.

Really loved the first book but the second one is kinda dragging.

[dpastern]

I've got most of Julian May's work (haven't read it all yet), and most of David Edding's works (big fan). A few other authors of note that I like:

A E Van Vogt
H.P Lovecraft (really HUGE fan)
Clive Barker (books of blood are awesome)

Dave

[jjjnettie]

Poul Anderson is very special to me.
I was privileged to be in correspondence with him during his last days. As quite a few fans were (his publisher organised this) Glad to have a chance to tell him how much I loved the characters he had created, how much joy his stories had given me.:)

[Waxing_Gibbous]

All top-notch writers.
David: If you love Lovecraft- have you tried Charles Stross? Particularly his novella "A Colder War". Easily my favorite short SF.
Share JJJ's Love of Poul Anderson
Recently got hooked on Robin Hobb & Jim Butcher
Has anyone read Sean McMullen: Eyes of the Calculor, Souls in the Great Machine & The Miocene Arrow?
Australian author, much overlooked.
Perhaps we should start a book club.
Pete

[kustard]

Robin Hobb is a great writer and I have a personally signed copy of Shaman's Crossing when I met her when she came out to Australia a few years back.

David Eddings I read when I was in High School and have fond memories of Belgarath and Polgara.

I've recently been reading Jennifer Fallon, a great Aussie writer and Kevin J. Anderson's Seven Suns series and all the Dune novels he's co-written with Brian Herbert.

[mithrandir]

OK, who should I be adding to this list:

Adams, Douglas
Aldis, Brian
Allen, Roger MacBride
Anderson, Kevin J.
Anderson, Poul
Anthony, Piers
Asimov, Isaac
Banks, Iain M.
Barnes, Steven
Bloch, Robert
Boyd, John
Bradbury, Ray
Bradley, Marion Zimmer
Brin, David
Brown, Dan
Brown, Jerry Earl
Brunner, John
Burroughs, Edgar Rice
Carmody, Isabel
Cherryh, C. J.
Clarke, Arthur C.
Cook, Paul
Crichton, Michael
Dart-Thornton, Cecilia
Derleth, August
Dick, Philip K.
Donaldson, Stephen
Douglass, Sara
Eddings, David
Ellison, Harlan
Fallon, Jennifer
Farmer, Philip Jose
Feist, Raymond E.
Flewelling, Lyn
Fox, Kathryn
Gibson, William
Goodkind, Terry
Hambly, Barbara
Hamilton, Peter E.
Harrison, Harry
Heinlein, Robert
Herbert, Brian
Herbert, Frank
Hobb, Robyn
Hubbard, L. Ron
Irvine, Ian
Jones, J. V.
Jordan, Robert
Kerr, Katharine
Knight, Damon
Koontz, Dean R.
Lawhead, Stephen
Le Guin, Ursula
Leinster, Murray
Lupoff, Richard A.
Martin, George R. R.
May, Julian
McCaffery, Anne
Miller, Walter M.
Modesitt, L. E.
Moorcock, Michael
Niven, Larry
Pohl, Fredrik
Pournelle, Jerry
Pratchett, Terry
Robinson, Kim Stanley
Sagan, Carl
Sanderson, Brandon
Shelley, Mary
Silverberg, Robert
Smith, E. E. 'Doc'
Sterling, Bruce
Thomas, Craig
Tilley, Patrick
Tolkien, J. R. R.
Tyers, Kathy
Van Lustbader, Eric
Van Vogt, A. E.
Wells, H. G.
Williams, Tad
Wolfe, Gene
Wolverton, Dave
Wurtz, Janny
Wyndham, John
Zahn, Timothy
Zelazny, Roger

[dpastern]

I haven't heard of Charles Stross, no. Must look it up :) Thanks for the tip!

Dave

[Craig.a.c]

I just finished reading "The Five Greatest Warriors" by Matthew Reilly. Good book. Come to think of it all of his books have been good reads.
Contest
Ice Station
Temple
Area 7
Scarecrow
Hell Island
Seven Ancient Wonders
The Six Sacred Stones

[circumpolar]

Last book was Richard Dawkins "River out of Eden". Quite a short book by his standards but excellent as usual. Might wait a while before reading his current "The Greatest Show on Earth" as it looks much the same as most of his others.

[troypiggo]

"So you're going to be a Dad" by Peter Downey !!!!!

Our first. My emotional journey so far roughly in order:

:eyepop::scared::help::D:cool:

And the future:

:family2: :family:

[jjjnettie]

You're going to love it Troy.:D
This is the meaning of life. :lol:

[dpastern]

Congrats Troy!!! So happy for you!

Dave

[troypiggo]

Thanks guys, just made the announcement in separate post. JJJ - check out the story behind it. :)

[Jabba]

I am currently reading, The Southern Sky Guide by David Ellyard and Wil Tirion.

[lacad01]

I find that a really helpful reference. Would be good if it was spiral bound to use in the field.

[BerrieK]

A bit of light humour; I just started reading Terry Pratchett's new Book 'Unseen Academicals'.

Kerrie

[lacad01]

Almost finished "1421: The Year China Discovered the World" by Gavin Menzies. Hard to sift fact from fancy with this one but why let the truth get in the way of a good story :)

[goober]

Going through a WWII phase - just finished Beevor's D-Day - quite good. Now reading Balkoski's UTAH BEACH - excellent.

[acropolite]

I'm almost finished "The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow" by Australian author A.J Mackinnon. It's a fascinating true story of the Authors journey down through English waterways, across the english channel and through Europe's waterways to the the Black sea in a humble Mirror dinghy.

[dpastern]

Oh and I forgot Ursula Le Guin's wonderful Earthsea trilogy.

Dave

[Ric]

Just finished the latest issue of AS&T, a wonderful read.

Now I have to wait until December for the next issue.

Cheers

[Benno85]

The Mysterious Universe by Nigel Henbest. Yes it's an oldie, but when it's only $2 from the Lifeline bookshop it's a goodie!!

Another Lifeline goodie was Roger Moore's Travellers in Space and Time, the way it's written is amazing, he takes you on journey from the Sun through the Solar System and out into the depths. Such a great read that gets the imagination working, I highly recommend it :thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

Peter Hamilton "Mindstar Rising" - one of his earlier works

[taminga16]

Captain Cook by Vanessa Collingridge in conjunction with The First Discovery of Australia and New Guinea by George Collingridge and for something lighter before bed, Fat, Forty and Fired by Nigel Marsh.

Greg.

[Darth Wader]

Giving the old grey matter a rest from Richard Dawkins and am now reading "Eclipse" book 3 of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. I love the vampire/werewolf mythology and it's a new take on it (for me at least).

[jjjnettie]

"The World According to Garp" by John Irving
It's about the 5th or 6th time I've read it.

The movie is nearly as good as the book. It was Robin Williams' first time on the big sceen and I think it was Glenn Close' first as well.

[taminga16]

Hi Jeanette,

Have you read "Cider House Rules" another of Irving's works.

Greg.

[jjjnettie]

No I haven't, not yet.
I have read "Hotel New Hampshire" though. It was pretty good.
Another favourite author is Joseph Heller.
"Catch 22" is on my reread list.

[FredSnerd]

Ohh look, if you re read Catch 22 tell me if its dated. That book made such an impact on me. I wonder if anythings changed? Or is it me thats changed.

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Sorry for barging in here, but I don't think Catch-22 has dated at all.
Its just as relevant now. Given the situations of soldiers in Iraq & Afghanistan, the meltdown of corporate america combined with the-must-have consumerism of the last 10 years. Toss in the arrogance and dissociation of the decision makers from those who empower them
Add to this the forced or voluntary alienation of the individual from the instruments of governance and supply ... Its schockingly up-to-date.
Just my $2.87
($.02 adjusted for inflation since it was written)
PJH

[FredSnerd]

Hey Peter, you're no barging in. Loved what you said. Reminded me of all the things I loved about that book. I might have to pick it up again. A few years ago I read some others he wrote but none ever really got close to the brilliance of Catch 22. He's dead now. That's sad.

[stephenb]

Now reading The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson.

[FredSnerd]

My favorite character in Catch 22 was Dunbar. He believed that you could extend life by cultivating boredom

[jjjnettie]

:rofl: it's so true!!
My son Jack is going to grow up to be Milo Minderbinder. When he was in grade one, he used to take the lollies I bought him and resell them at school for good profit.:lol:

[FredSnerd]

I think the give away sign that Jack is really turning into a Milo Minderbinder is if he's buying the lollies at the local store for 50c, reselling them at school for 40c and some how still making a profit. Now thats when you know you got a Milo Minderbinder on your hands.

[jjjnettie]

Oh that's easy, he'd take a $1 bag of lollies to school and sell them individually for 20c each. 20 lollies per bag.

[FredSnerd]

Ahhh your right!!! I wouldnt have thought of that. Smart!!!

[hector]

I have just finished reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. A FANTASTIC read and I love the Ninja attacks.
I am currently reading Alice in Quantumland which while interesting is a little hard going, I dont think the author has succeded in bringing Quantum Mechanics to the masses with this one.
I noticed a bit of talk regarding Catch 22 and I dont think it has dated as badly as other books of the period. I have an audio reading of the book and I must admit the court scene in chapter 7 is one of the funniest things I have heard. Utter lunacy but fantastic lunacy.
Andrew

[jjjnettie]

:lol: And what about Wickham and Lydia's cumuppance in the end. Mr. Bennet likes him best of all his son in laws because he doesn't fidget.
Could have been more Zombies though.

Are they really writing Pride and Predator?

[hector]

I belive the next book is Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters.
Dunno how that is going to work but then I didnt know how Zombies could be added to Pride.

[jjjnettie]

OMG, it's Pride and Predator, the movie.
It's in production now, due for release next year. I've got to see this.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/arts/18arts-AUSTENMEETSA_BRF.html

[jjjnettie]

Not forgetting the Ninjas.:rofl:

[lacad01]

Time to revive this great thread ;)
Just finished reading "Band of Brothers", by Stephen E. Ambrose and started reading "The Fabric of the Cosmos", by Brian Greene

[Liz]

Just finished 'The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo' and now reading 'The Girl who played with Fire' - a bit dark but enjoyable ;)

[jjjnettie]

I've just started rereading Clive James' "Falling Towards England".
It's the second of the "Unreliable Memoirs" autobiographical trilogy.

[Esseth]

Re-reading the Wheel of Time series so i am all fresh to buy the new one, i should have started the re-read BEFORE the latest one came out what can ya do.

Currently on number 5.

[Liz]

Loved the first ... 8 or 9, but don think I have read any since.
Fantastic series of books at the start, but over it now ... I think ;)

[supernova1965]

Harry Potter the order of the Pheonix

[mithrandir]

You need to get "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest" before you finish Fire. :D

I'm reading "E=mc2"

[Liz]

Yes Andrew .. reading and waiting ... mister 'E = mc2' ;)

[lacad01]

That's a great book :)

[Jeffkop]

Just finished "Goulds Book of Fish" Richard Flanigan... hard going at the start getting around some of the old type words and their spellink ... but a great story and style ... next up "Infiltration" by Colin Mcrae ... almost thru last years books from the Bryon writers festival.

[Bassnut]

Half way through "If we are anything" by Mark Nesti (our very own IIS "Nesti").

Quantum mechanics for dummys (NO MATH, bonus, :D), with a nifty twist on a "universal consciousness" theory. But not the vauge link to new age gear you might expect :P.

A well ordered, very original explanation of quantum physics (particularly string theory) for the non-expert, leading to a suprising explanation of aspects of new age thinking I have tended to avoid.

Just the tutorial on physics makes this a worthy read, compulsive page turning stuff indeed, and required for what comes next, quite a mind twist. Im not done with it yet, but its well worth the effort so far :thumbsup:.

[barx1963]

Currently reading "Stalin - The Court of the Red Tsar" by Simon Sebag Montefiore. Really fascinating, uses a lot of archival material to explore Stalins personality. Funny to think of someone usually characterised as a monster having wife and kids etc, not to say he wasn't a monster, just not a one dimensional one.
Just getting to the part where the Terror and purges of '37 and '38 get going. Hundreds of thousands are being shot, millions in prison camps. The executioners happily despatching thousands of innocent people with not even the flimsy evidence used in show trials, just shooting to meet a quota. And then justifying on the basis that they were ensuring future happiness for the people.
Amazing what we humans are capable of.

[telecasterguru]

I am not currently reading anything so am glad for all the book reviews.

Frank

[gman]

I am reading, "The Ballad of Les Darcy" by Peter Fitzsimons.
Pretty good read so far.:thumbsup:

[mithrandir]

Last week was "Fermat's Last Theorem" (Simon Singh), "Longitude" (Dava Sobel), and "The Calendar" (D.E. Duncan). Earlier this week it was "A Brief History of Time" (Stephen Hawking).

There are several hundred books on my bookshelf.

[taminga16]

I am currently re-reading 'Oxford Australian Theatre'.. Backstage with Graeme Blundell and 'The (almost) Complete Gough' by Barry Cohen.

Greg.

[PCH]

I recently finished reading "Gesta Francorum et aliorum Hierosalimitanorum".
Or, in English, - "The Deeds of the Franks and the other Pilgrims to Jerusalem".

This was a terrific read and was written in 1095 by just an anonymous regular guy who 'took the cross' and walked from France to Jerusalem on the first Crusade. It tells of all the hardships and encounters along the way. It's just awesome in it's content. The book is in the original Latin format, with each facing page showing the story in English.

I have loved Crusade history for yonks, - along with Templar history.

Currently reading "Stalingrad" by Anthony Beaver. But I'm still at the start - haven't reached the nitty gritty yet. :thumbsup:

[barx1963]

'Stalingrad' is a great read, one of the best books written about WWII ever.

[picklesrules]

Just finished Seven Ancient Wonders and bought to start Six sacred Stones by matt reilly great books

[unnamed soldier]

i'm reading 'Australian Snakes: A natural history' by rick shine..

i intend to read the matt reily series soon too!!

[lacad01]

I'll have to get my hands on that given my late Dad was in the Red Army during that period. He had some pretty horrible stories of the campaigns in the Caucasus and Crimea.

[M54]

I'm reading 'Miss Leavitt's Stars', by George Johnson.
The untold story of the woman who discovered how to measure the universe.
My Hubby bought it for me for our anniversary.:D

[Waxing_Gibbous]

"Prentice Alvin" by Orson Scott Card
Alternate history of America meets Harry Potter. Really very good.
and
"Fly" by Michael Veitch. Stories of WWII RAF pilots in their own words.
and
The "Times Comprehensive World Atlas". I love maps!.

[Clarry]

I read Infiltration a month ago. What a page turner. You will enjoy it.
Currently reading:
Voyager by Stephan Baxter. An alternative history of the NASA's quest for Mars after the successful Apollo missions. (Kept at work)
A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking & Leonard Mlodinow. Great reading in the beginning but starting to bog me down as I get further into the technical stuff. I will persevere. (Bed side table)
The second Space Ranger novel by Asimov. The title escapes me and I'm too damn lazy to walk to my bedroom and read the cover. It was aimed at the younger reader, but it is Asimov so it has to be read before I die. (Bed side table)
Notes from a Big Country by Bill Bryson. I've had this in my bikes top box for well over a year now. Rarely get a chance to read it, only when I'm out for a ride & I stop at Maca's or the like for lunch does it come out. The good thing about this book is each chapter is a separate newspaper article so it's just the right size to read while guiltily consuming a tasteless lard meal washed down with battery acid.

[wavelandscott]

I also enjoy Orson Scott Card and his many stories...the Alvin Maker stories are pretty good.

I just read the latest "Ender" book and also a short offshoot from Battle School "Gift of War"...

[wavelandscott]

I am reading "Atlas Shrugged"...with the way the economy is in the USA it somehow seemed liked the right thing to read...

[barx1963]

Read that coupla months ago. Really interesting.

[barx1963]

Well it's fairly heavy going, but well worth it. When I was a kid we had a neighbour across the street was Hungarian but had flown with the Luftwaffe on the Eastern front. We kids all thought he was a bit 'weird'. Having read this book and others about the Eastern front, I can understand it a bit better.

[pmrid]

"The Road" by Cormak McCarthy. I have yet to see the movie but I hear good things. The book was gripping - a one-sitting book that was unlike any I had read before.
Peter

[mac]

"The Grand Hotel Babylon", by Arnold Bennett, 1902. Very entertaining and fast moving so far.

[Nesti]

Geez Fred, I'm rapped you like it!

By now you should have progressed much further, if not finished it altogether. :thumbsup:

Gotta love the clean (no math) experience. LOL ...until the 'Notes' section at least.

Sorry for a tardy post here, but I've been really busy of late and have only just been able to check-out IIS forum again.

Interestingly, while traveling around promoting the book I sat on a plane next to a gentleman who's a Physicist and works with String Theorists (Mathematicians). What are the odds of that??? We talked for 3hrs non-stop about the concepts, but in a more technically accurate sense, not how I've written it for simplicity. He asked for a copy and I sent him one. Turns out, the idea about there being only one Calabi-Yau facilitating both local and non-local events - which you should have read about by now - took him back...so he called to ask if he could send it off to the Mathematicians he knows for them to read. Scary stuff.

Anyway, happy reading and thanks for your opinion.
(kick-back's in the mail ;) LOL).

Mark

[sebastien]

currently reading the elegant universe by brian greene, on my shelf are some more to be read:-
-the fabric of the cosmos by brian greene
-hyperspace by michio kaku
-parrallel worlds by michio kaku
and -physics of the impossible
:D

[goober]

The Illustrated Genesis by Crumb.... amusing.

[hector]

I am reading Dexterb at the moment. The first book follows the TV series quite well but after that.... No for TV thats for sure.

[Nesti]

The Speed of Light; Constancy + Cosmos

By David A. Grandy

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Speed-of-Light/David-A-Grandy/e/9780253220868

[stephenb]

Just finished reading Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner. http://freakonomicsbook.com/

[barx1963]

Just started reading Gettysburg by Stephen Sears. Excellent analysis of the battle as well as the lead up and consequences. Its interesting to speculate about the many twists and turns of the 3 days that made up the battle, if things had gone a little differently, the world would be avery different place today. The Confederacy may have survived, very likely the North would have been taken over by the military, possibly even a dictatorship. In all possibility, the US influence on the world aould have been very different.
BTW a very well written history.

[alan meehan]

Iam mid way through reading "The Orgin of Life by Paul Davies ,accliaimed physicist,astrobiologist and writer Paul Davies presents evidence that life began billions of years ago klms underground,arguing that it may well have started on mars and spread to earth in rocks blasted off the red planet by asteroid impacts.This solution to the riddle of lifes origin has sweeping implications for the nature of the universe and our place within it, and opens the way to a radicial rethinking of where we came from.this is a brilliant book by an australian author.

[Ric]

That looks like an interesting read Alan, I'll keep an eye out for that book.

Cheers

[OneOfOne]

Just finished "Why we make mistakes"

This is a very interesting read with snippits of various studies in human behaviour:

Example of a pilot noticing that a light wasn't working, other flight crew try to work out why...meanwhile the plane crashes into the ground.

A person asks for directions and part way through a couple of guys walk past with a door, blocking their view as the other person is swapped over. The one answering does not realise it is a different person.

Why we forget passwords, why we think we are above average....

Easy read, only ~200 pages.

[lacad01]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread given the amount of holiday reading I've been doing lately :)
After seeing the series "The Pacific" wanted to find out more about the principle characters Robert Leckie and Eugene Sledge so finished reading their accounts:
"With the Old Breed", Eugene Sledge
"Helmet For My Pillow", Robert Leckie
"Strong Men Armed", Robert Leckie
Thoroughly recommend these if you enjoyed the series The Pacific and/or are interested in the USMC Pacific campaigns.
Currently reading "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" by John le Carré
BTW, all these I've read on my Kindle - love it :)

[Mariposa]

I wish I had the time to read something for the pure sake of entertainment, but it's not possible at the moment.
The only books I'm reading at the moment are the ones related to baby development and graphic design, including several software applications,not very entertaining....but must recognise, I've learned a lot from them!

[Stardrifter_WA]

At the moment I am reading Stephen King's latest called 11:22:63 which is about a time traveller that goes back to 1958. It is different and not too bad, but, not as gripping as his previous novel.

Also finished reading Tom Clancy's "Locked On". Although written in collaboration with another author it is still typical Clancy, at his best. It was a fantastic read and I couldn't, quite literally, put it down and read it in just two days. Well, it was too hot outside to do anything anyway.

Previous to that I read:

Angels of Vengeance by John Birmingham.
Zero Day by David Baldacci.
Against All Enemies by Tom Clancy.
The Bourne Dominion by Eric Van Lustbader
The Ares Decision by Robert Luldlum and Kyle Mills

All great reads and all read in the last four weeks, as I am on holidays until February.

OK, so I don't have a life! :D

[Octane]

Picked up the set of 3 Ansel Adams' classics and am half-way through The Camera.

I was given The Book Thief by Markus Zusak as a gift, after having been shown and subsequently falling in love with the prologue. Can't wait to read that.

H

[mishku]

I'm reading "a briefer history of time" by one Mr S Hawking, and a nifty little number called "Astronomy Hacks"

[Ausrock]

Two books on the go at the moment........."Shop Class As Soulcraft-an inquiry into the value of work" by Matthew Crawford and "Tunesmith" by Jimmy Webb in an attempt to refine my meagre songwriting skills.

[adman]

The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins

Ok - aimed at an audience that has had limited exposure to science / scientific methods.

[toc]

Currently reading 'You'll be sorry when I'm dead' by Marieke Hardy...

[Jen]

The Sookie Stackhouse Companion :D
One of the series from the True Blood collection :D
Im so hooked on this show ;)

[Trixie]

I was hooked on the books, now I am starting to watch the show. It took a bit to get over the big changes but now I am really enjoying it.

I am reading the assassins apprentice series at the moment. It was in the childrens section of our library but it has had me hooked. It has been a while since I have been so hooked on a series so it is a little surprising that they are kids books!
Previous to that I was on an Ursula Le Guin kick, and still slowly plugging my way through Samuel Pepys diary.

[deejayvee]

Currently, I am reading a novelisation of a board game - Settlers of Catan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settlers_of_Catan). The novel is by by Rebecca Gablé - I think she wrote it in German and it was translated into English.

Not the greatest read I've ever had, but fun if you're a fan of the game.

[Shark Bait]

Just finished Why is Uranus Upside Down? by Astronomer Fred Watson. Lots of good information presented in easily digested packets of information.

Time to revisit The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy before moving onto part six of three, And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer.

Without giving too much away, has anyone read And Another Thing and does it do justice to the brilliance of Douglas Adams?

Regards,
Stu.

[GrahamL]

I just started Stieg Larssons third and last novel .. I fInd probably through the translation its easy to lose my way a little with these great stories so I'll bunk down with a couple of Clive Cusslers for a couple of days and try again .

[Liz]

Am reading Bill Brysons .. Down Under .... .quite enjoyable with many laughs.:lol:

Before that I read his ... Neither here Nor there .... his account of travels in europe - some parts downright hilarous, and many I could relate to. :thumbsup:

[Stardrifter_WA]

Stephen King, 11:22:63. It his first foray into time travel and it is about trying to prevent the assassination of President Kennedy. It isn't as good as his last book, but it isn't bad either.

[Finite]

"More Telescope Power, all new activities & projects for young astronomers". Which is a book for kids, and I picked it up from the local library for a dollar. But because we don't all grow up I'm enjoying flicking through it myself, and my youngest daughter, at 12, is taking an interest. Bargain!

[seanliddelow]

Currently i'm reading 'Game of Thrones' by George RR Martin. I Just finished reading over the last month 3 books by Stephen King- 'It', '11/22/63' and 'Full Dark, No Stars'. All are great reads.

Sean

[ballaratdragons]

Apollo 13 . . . again :thumbsup:

Written by Jim Lovell, Commander on Apollo 13.

My 3rd time reading it :)

[OneOfOne]

Just finished reading the Steve Jobs book, I have seen a couple of other people reading it on the train too.

If you have any interest at all in the history of the PC (Apple or Windows etc) you should read this book. I found it fascinating, the writer has done a lot of research into the subject matter and reveals a "dark side" to Steve, and Apple for that matter. Unfortunately, by the end of the book, I feel he also fell under the influence of the "reality distortion field", but you will only understand that if you read the book! Now I am looking for a good book on Gates.

[GraemeT]

Rereading The Andromeda Strain after 40 years. (As an eBook) I'm quite surprised that I can't remember what comes next. A 'report' of an alien infection collected by an orbiting spacecraft in the 1960s and its investigation. Can't remember the crunch!

[kustard]

I've just started reading some books by "Randolph Lalonde" called "Spinward Fringe Broadcast" and the first two "Broadcasts 1 & 2: Resurrection and Awakening" are very good old school styled Sci-Fi. Very space opera-ish but very modern.