What are you reading - Page 6

MrB (Simon) · #**101** 29-06-2009, 09:15 PM

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, 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 · #**102** 30-06-2009, 01:58 PM

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 (Geoff) · #**103** 30-06-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

Hi,

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

Cheers

lacad01 (Adam) · #**104** 01-07-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffW1

Hi,

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

Cheers

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 (Geoff) · #**105** 01-07-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lacad01

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.

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 (Jeanette) · #**106** 02-07-2009, 09:44 PM

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

cahullian · #**107** 03-07-2009, 01:33 PM

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

You know I would never lie to you all

gazz

stephenb (Stephen) · #**108** 07-08-2009, 02:33 PM

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 (Peter) · #**109** 07-08-2009, 07:02 PM

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 (Molly) · #**110** 07-08-2009, 08:05 PM

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

And as I never finished high school

(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!

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #**111** 07-08-2009, 08:15 PM

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

dumdidum (Darren) · #**112** 09-08-2009, 02:27 AM

House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds

Good to delve into sci-fi once more

Jone5y (Steve) · #**113** 09-08-2009, 08:36 PM

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 (Jeanette) · #**114** 25-10-2009, 10:17 PM

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.

85% of the text is from the original novel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_a...ce_and_Zombies
I even saw a bloke wearing the t-shirt today.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #**115** 25-10-2009, 10:20 PM

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

supernova1965 (Warren) · #**116** 26-10-2009, 06:36 AM

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 (Stephen) · #**117** 26-10-2009, 06:58 AM

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 (Frank) · #**118** 26-10-2009, 07:07 AM

JJJ,

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

Frank

Esseth (Alan) · #**119** 26-10-2009, 07:20 AM

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 (Jeanette) · #**120** 26-10-2009, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.