What are you reading - Page 3

MrB (Simon) · #41 22-01-2009, 11:21 PM

'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 · #42 23-01-2009, 08:48 AM

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 (Phil) · #43 23-01-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 (Simon) · #44 23-01-2009, 10:26 PM

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
Worth every cent.

Astrod00d · #45 23-01-2009, 10:58 PM

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

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

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

Cheers,

Rob

Dog Star (Phil) · #46 17-02-2009, 09:17 AM

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 (Jeanette) · #47 17-02-2009, 11:44 AM

"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 (Patrick) · #48 17-02-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroron

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

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 (Eric) · #49 17-02-2009, 02:33 PM

"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!

hector (Andrew) · #50 17-02-2009, 05:06 PM

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 (Jeanette) · #51 17-02-2009, 05:18 PM

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

Glenhuon (Bill) · #52 17-02-2009, 05:40 PM

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

Bill

TrevorW · #53 17-02-2009, 05:51 PM

At the moment "Horus Rising" Dan Abnett

Cheers

jungle11 (Greg) · #54 17-02-2009, 07:34 PM

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 · #55 17-02-2009, 09:30 PM

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

lacad01 (Adam) · #56 18-02-2009, 10:26 AM

Currently technical work based stuff

Just finished "Einstein: His Life and Universe" by Walter Isaacson
Highly recomend:
"The Planets" & "Longitude" by Dava Sobel

"Stargazer: The Life and Times of the Telescope" by Fred Watson

Dog Star (Phil) · #57 18-02-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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 (Trevor) · #58 19-02-2009, 08:36 AM

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 (Doug) · #59 19-02-2009, 11:41 AM

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 · #60 19-02-2009, 08:51 PM

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