What swanky things are you reading? - Page 17

The Shadoe · 02-16-2006, 10:09 PM

I'm reading a few books simultaneously:

Ethan Frome - A classic. I don't think anything has to be said.

The Prince - The end justifies the means. What Macchiavelli meant by this is that it is a "Prince's" (or ruler's) job to keep a nation together, no matter what.

Hand in hand with the Prince, I am reading The Compleated Autobiography by Bengamin Franklin. I really like reading books about American history, especially ones like this which are his own words and provide lots of insight into why things are the way they are, yet be able to see that our country was set up by regular people. It goes hand-in-hand with The Prince because I am writing a paper and delivering a speech for extra credit about the level of Machiavellian politics/attitudes thatBenjamin Franklin has.

Norton Anthology of African-American Literature - A huge book full of short stories that gives you a completely different perspective on what living in the United States as an African-American is like.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 02-16-2006, 10:29 PM

Wodehouse's Life With Jeeves.

Impossible to feel sad when you read his stories. Impossible.

wendybeth · 02-16-2006, 11:57 PM

Reader's Digest.

No! Just kidding- really! I'm reading the collected letters of Gustave Flaubert, which I've read many times before but felt like reading again.

lindyhop · 02-18-2006, 01:52 PM

After I saw the 4th Harry Potter movie last Thanksgiving I decided to re-read all the books before finally reading the 6th for the first time. I'm really enjoying reading one book after another but there have been so many distractions in my life that I just finished book 5 this past week. Half Blood Prince, here I come!

Someday I'll complete this project and get to read a non-HP book again. On Beauty by Zadie Smith has been tempting me since I received it at Christmas.

Ghoulish Delight · 03-09-2006, 04:37 PM

I'm back to Hofstadter. I'm about a third of the way through Metamagical Themas: Questioning for the Essence of Mind and Pattern.

It's a compendium of columns he wrote for Scientific American over the span of a couple of years plus some commentary he added when he compiled them. While each column stands more or loss on its own, he's reordered them into several conceptual groups, all of which work to build on an overall discussion on the structure of human thought and the nature of creativity (which is Hofstadter's constant obsession, and what he feels is the key concept to pin down if we're ever to create true human-like artificial intelligence). Being a collection of columns, it's far less penetrating than Goedel, Escher, Bach (dispite the comparable lenght), which is both good and bad. And he gets a tad preachy at points.

But what I'm really loving about this book so far is that it's a total product of its time. The columns were written between '81 and '82. he compiled them and wrote his post-scripta in '85. Here are a few of the more amusing things that have popped up:

* "Did you know that in some city centers, a single family home can sell for as much as a quarter of a million dollars?!"

* "A really fancy single-user computer costs approximately $75,000"

* A column devoted to the inequity of sexist language. Including his pleasure that the term "flight attendant" is beginning to be used, and the resistance to the use of "Ms." as opposed to "Miss" or "Mrs."

* Mention of computers that can do an astounding 1 Million operations per second!

* A wholly unnatural obsession with Rubik's Cube, or "the Cube" as he often refers to it.

Capt Jack · 03-09-2006, 04:51 PM

re reading
SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR
Translated from the Chinese
By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910)

not sure how it ranks on the swankage scale, but its great stuff.

BarTopDancer · 03-09-2006, 05:46 PM

Java script and sql queries.

Prudence · 03-09-2006, 06:52 PM

I'm finally reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, or whatever it's called. I'm about halfway through at this point. Also halfway through Eats, Shoots, and Leaves and Talk to the Hand. Maybe I should actually finish something...

orbitalpunk · 03-09-2006, 08:54 PM

I just recieved "The Complete Letters of Vincent Van Gogh". Its been absolutely amazing so far.

wendybeth · 03-09-2006, 11:56 PM

Okay, that's cool, OP.

I don't know why, but I get off on reading stuff like that, particularily when it's from an artist or author whose work I like. I love the commentaries they give on comtemporary culture and politics, and the reading about how they agonised for weeks over a single line of prose or got beat up by their jealous spouses when busted for infidelities.

Am re-reading 'The Hot Zone'. Just getting ready for when the avian flu hits.

02-16-2006, 10:09 PM	#1
The Shadoe Save Marshall Field's! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 72	I'm reading a few books simultaneously: *Ethan Frome* - A classic. I don't think anything has to be said. *The Prince -* The end justifies the means. What Macchiavelli meant by this is that it is a "Prince's" (or ruler's) job to keep a nation together, no matter what. Hand in hand with the Prince, I am reading *The Compleated Autobiography by Bengamin Franklin. I really like reading books about American history, especially ones like this which are his own words and provide lots of insight into why things are the way they are, yet be able to see that our country was set up by regular people. It goes hand-in-hand with The Prince because I am writing a paper and delivering a speech for extra credit about the level of Machiavellian politics/attitudes thatBenjamin Franklin has. Norton Anthology of African-American Literature* - A huge book full of short stories that gives you a completely different perspective on what living in the United States as an African-American is like. __________________ I am The Shadoe.
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02-16-2006, 10:29 PM	#2
Eliza Hodgkins 1812 Sputnik Sweetheart Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,685	Wodehouse's Life With Jeeves. Impossible to feel sad when you read his stories. Impossible.
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02-16-2006, 11:57 PM	#3
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	Reader's Digest. No! Just kidding- really! I'm reading the collected letters of Gustave Flaubert, which I've read many times before but felt like reading again. __________________
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02-18-2006, 01:52 PM	#4
lindyhop Swing Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 997	After I saw the 4th Harry Potter movie last Thanksgiving I decided to re-read all the books before finally reading the 6th for the first time. I'm really enjoying reading one book after another but there have been so many distractions in my life that I just finished book 5 this past week. Half Blood Prince, here I come! Someday I'll complete this project and get to read a non-HP book again. On Beauty by Zadie Smith has been tempting me since I received it at Christmas.
	Submit to Quotes

03-09-2006, 04:37 PM	#5
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	I'm back to Hofstadter. I'm about a third of the way through Metamagical Themas: Questioning for the Essence of Mind and Pattern. It's a compendium of columns he wrote for Scientific American over the span of a couple of years plus some commentary he added when he compiled them. While each column stands more or loss on its own, he's reordered them into several conceptual groups, all of which work to build on an overall discussion on the structure of human thought and the nature of creativity (which is Hofstadter's constant obsession, and what he feels is the key concept to pin down if we're ever to create true human-like artificial intelligence). Being a collection of columns, it's far less penetrating than Goedel, Escher, Bach (dispite the comparable lenght), which is both good and bad. And he gets a tad preachy at points. But what I'm really loving about this book so far is that it's a total product of its time. The columns were written between '81 and '82. he compiled them and wrote his post-scripta in '85. Here are a few of the more amusing things that have popped up: * "Did you know that in some city centers, a single family home can sell for as much as a quarter of a million dollars?!" * "A really fancy single-user computer costs approximately $75,000" * A column devoted to the inequity of sexist language. Including his pleasure that the term "flight attendant" is beginning to be used, and the resistance to the use of "Ms." as opposed to "Miss" or "Mrs." * Mention of computers that can do an astounding 1 Million operations per second! * A wholly unnatural obsession with Rubik's Cube, or "the Cube" as he often refers to it. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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03-09-2006, 04:51 PM	#6
Capt Jack check your head Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,174	re reading SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR Translated from the Chinese By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910) not sure how it ranks on the swankage scale, but its great stuff. __________________ a clear conscience is a sure sign of a fuzzy memory
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03-09-2006, 05:46 PM	#7
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	Java script and sql queries. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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03-09-2006, 06:52 PM	#8
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	I'm finally reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, or whatever it's called. I'm about halfway through at this point. Also halfway through Eats, Shoots, and Leaves and Talk to the Hand. Maybe I should actually finish something... __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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03-09-2006, 08:54 PM	#9
orbitalpunk &lt;&gt;\|&lt;&gt;\|&lt;&gt;\|&lt;&gt;\|&lt;&gt; Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 35 minutes too far from Disneyland Posts: 76	I just recieved "The Complete Letters of Vincent Van Gogh". Its been absolutely amazing so far. __________________
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03-09-2006, 11:56 PM	#10
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	Okay, that's cool, OP. I don't know why, but I get off on reading stuff like that, particularily when it's from an artist or author whose work I like. I love the commentaries they give on comtemporary culture and politics, and the reading about how they agonised for weeks over a single line of prose or got beat up by their jealous spouses when busted for infidelities. Am re-reading 'The Hot Zone'. Just getting ready for when the avian flu hits. __________________
	Submit to Quotes