Marjackson82 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 (edited) Any suggestions? Edit: Wrong part of the forum. Edited May 30, 2009 by positiveg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dupe Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Any suggestions? Edit: Wrong part of the forum. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. I'm convinced it should be required reading for all college graduates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOLAflyer Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Any suggestions? Edit: Wrong part of the forum. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson Awesome book about the Chicago's Fair and what it took it make it come to fruition, which is paralleled with the story of the man who was responsible for the serial killings at the same time. It was a #1 bestseller, and I really couldn't put it down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brickhistory Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 "The Path Between the Seas" and "The Great Bridge," both by David McCullough. The first one is about the building of the Panama Canal. Very interesting, very inspiring that man, and the US especially, could 'git r done.' The second is about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Also very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IncompletePete Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Hardly a high brow read, but Yes Man by Danny Wallace is a good laugh - a true story about a guy decides to say 'yes' to everything and anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
war007afa Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" by Tucker Max. Probably about 95% bullshit, but still a fun read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnriquePallazo Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" by Tucker Max. Probably about 95% bullshit, but still a fun read. 2 I like anything by Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men and All the Pretty Horses), but his last book The Road was amazing. Scary post apocalyptic story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Any suggestions? Edit: Wrong part of the forum. Wow. In looking at my bookshelf, I realized that three-fourths of my books are military/aviation books. I guess I need to get out more and read some of those fake, I mean fiction, books that my liberal cousin always gives me. Anyway, I would suggest Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell for a readable, enjoyable look at how the economy and the world work. The book explains with real world examples and facts why things like rent control causes housing shortages and why if the government interferes during a corn shortage, for example, and demands farmers charge a "fair price," why there will be a shortage of corn as well. He pretty much backs all of his arguments with facts, but I would say he is right-leaning and heavily in favor of capitalist markets. The only things that can really be questioned in the book are some of his economic assumptions (like everyone having perfect information, for example). Other than that, it is a fantastic read that I think everyone should take a look at. If you are into science, I would recommend Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman. Very readable book about by a crazy physicist who worked on the bomb. How to Win Friends is always a classic if you want to improve your social skills. I re-read it periodically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nsplayr Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 The Pentagon's New Map - Thomas Barnett Read it probably 4 years back now but it still sticks out as a great vision of how globalization impacts our foreign policy. Also agreed with JS...I had to think kinda hard to come up with the last non-military or foreign policy book I read. It was Born on a Blue Day about a guy who is a savant and could remember a ridiculous amount of numbers by picturing them as colors...pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marjackson82 Posted May 31, 2009 Author Share Posted May 31, 2009 Good suggestions. One of my professors suggested we read " Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" by Jimmy Carter. Is it worth it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingpin Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 I just read "Kitchen Confidential", by Anthony Bourdain on audiobook--great, quick read. Anyone else hooked on the audiobooks? It turns my commute from a waste of time to an enjoyable waste of time. -KP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tenguFlyer Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 (edited) "Starship Troopers" and "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert Heinlein. The former is on the CSAF's reading list and is really a good read. Kind of military but I suggest it because of the science fiction focus. "Sword Of Atilla" by Michael Curtis Ford. Great historical fiction novel on the Roman fight against the Huns. Dont quit before Chapter 5 though. The first several chapters are lame.' "World War Z" by Max Brooks. Great Zombie read. A little too new to be a classic but on its way. Again, kind of military but huge science fiction focus. "The 47 Ronin" by John Allyn. Adapted from the true story/play from Japanese legend. Phenomenal story. “The Great Gatsby” by Kathleen Parkinson. I had to read this in HS. When I first read it I hated it. I went back and read it in college and loved it. Its every mans secret desire to win back the one that got away by reappearing in her life ridiculously wealthy and awesome. “Mythology” by Edith Hamilton. I love to go back and read Greek/Roman/Norse myths. There are a lot of good lessons in the stories. As well as bad assery which no one can hate on. Edited May 31, 2009 by tenguFlyer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nsplayr Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Anyone else hooked on the audiobooks? It turns my commute from a waste of time to an enjoyable waste of time. Absolutely...got a monthly subscription to audible.com so I can get my audiobook fix for a little less coin. I actually just started carpooling with 2 other buddies that live down the street and although I love saving Mother Earth and all, I miss my "reading" time. Good distraction when walking the dog too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Simone'sDaddy Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marjackson82 Posted May 31, 2009 Author Share Posted May 31, 2009 Absolutely...got a monthly subscription to audible.com so I can get my audiobook fix for a little less coin. I actually just started carpooling with 2 other buddies that live down the street and although I love saving Mother Earth and all, I miss my "reading" time. Good distraction when walking the dog too... Check your local library. Ours has multiple rows of audiobooks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 (edited) "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt. Outstanding book. Very short and readable. Required reading for anyone who makes any type of economic transactions in their life. For a good business book, I liked Made in America by Sam Walton. It is dated, but I found it interesting to trace the origins of Walmart and how Sam Walton founded the company on his basic values of thrift, honesty, and hard work. It has lots of good stories about him getting great deals on surplus pallets of junk, etc. It was also funny to read about how proud Mr. Sam was that Walmart had grown from a $20B company to a $30B company (by 1991). If only he could see his $375B company today. A good self-help book I read a while back is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. He basically says that you have to find out what it is in life you want - not necessarily money - be it love, a house in the mountains, that job, etc. From there, you have to passionately and with all of your energy relentlessly pursue that goal. It was another quick read, but worth taking a look at if you into those kinds of books. Edited May 31, 2009 by JS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brickhistory Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Any of James Clavell's books: King Rat - ok, it is military as the setting is a WWII Japanese prison camp, but the story is much deeper than WWII Shogun - 17th century Japan Tai-Pan - 19th century Hong Kong Noble House - 1960s Hong Kong ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colleen McCullough's "Rome" series The Grass Crown Fortune's Favorites Ceasar some others I forget the titles. None of either of these two authors' books are thin. I found them to be good TDY books - other than the weight of toting them factor - as they were substantial works that took more than an evening to read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpharatz Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Islands in The Stream........ Hemingway (does reference a Spitfire; booze; mentionable style love) Shadow Divers........... Kurson (sort of peripherally military, nothing G.I. though) ................."This is a very bad moment for both of us"...................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf424 Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 (edited) "An Inconvenient Book", by Glenn Beck Edited May 31, 2009 by TheWolf424 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddy Spike Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 The Mitch Rapp series of books by Vince Flynn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hootie Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - also has a "sequel" called World Without End Anything by Bernard Cornwell - he does a great historical fiction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ill Destructor Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 (edited) "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" by Tucker Max. Probably about 95% bullshit, but still a fun read. I read about 20 minutes worth of this book and put it down never to crack it open again. Complete and utter garbage. "Look at me... a complete asshole and idiot... all praise me in my awesomeness." Ack. My personal recommendations: The Persian Puzzle - Kenneth Pollack The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin - H. W. Brands The Physics of Star Trek - Lawrence Krauss The Omnivore's Dilemma - Michael Pollan The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins The World is Flat - Thomas Friedman (previously mentioned) How to Rule the World: A Handbook for the Aspiring Dictator - Andre de Guillaume FairTax: The Truth - Neal Boortz A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking Skunk Works - Ben Rich (military, I guess, but spectacular) Edited May 31, 2009 by Ill Destructor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlphaSigOU Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 You can never go wrong with reading the James Bond books by Ian Fleming. Fleming's original books are a bit dated to today's standards but good reads, though you might scratch your head at the Britishisms at times. The post-Fleming Bond books by Robert Markham (Kingsley Amis), John Gardner and Raymond Benson vary in quality, but come nowhere near the original Fleming style. THE FLEMING ORIGINALS Casino Royale Live and Let Die Moonraker Diamonds Are Forever From Russia With Love Doctor No Goldfinger For Your Eyes Only The Spy Who Loved Me Thunderball On Her Majesty's Secret Service You Only Live Twice The Man With The Golden Gun Octopussy and the Living Daylights There is also a compilation titled Quantum of Solace, but all that is is a combination of all nine Ian Fleming short stories contained in For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy and the Living Daylights. I'll let you decide if the post-Fleming Bonds are suitable reading. Now it's time for a true 'Vesper' martini as described in Casino Royale: • 3 oz. gin (Gordon’s Gin preferred) • 1 oz. vodka (Smirnoff Vodka preferred) • 1/2 oz. Lillet (white) (Lillet is a light, medium dry French aperitif (red or white) made with herbs, spices and fruits fortified with French brandy, and a Bordeaux wine base.) Shake with cracked ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass (the original was served in a deep champagne goblet). Garnish with a lemon twist. (No martini icon?!? Guess this'll hafta do... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger41 Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Anything by George Orwell is good. I especially remember Animal Farm and 1984. Also, Catcher in the Rye was very good. I'll admit I read it because I was really curious about all those assassins being found with copies of it but the book turned out to be excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snafu Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Finally a subject I can talk about. I am too new in the Force to give any advice but I do login about thirty times a day since this is my homepage. Thanks to everyone that passes their knowledge down. Now here is what my recommendations are: 1. Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill 2. Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand 3. Rich Dad Poor Dad (You young lewdtenants should read this.) 4. 33 Strategies of War - Robert Greene 5. 48 Laws of Power - Robert Greene *6. Common Sense - Thomas Payne *Not really a book but whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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