What are you reading?

[Jim Owen]

Originally Posted by jmagill

If you like Hardy, try George Eliot's Middlemarch, in many ways, the quintessential English Romantic novel.

.

It’s one of the greatest novels in English.

[Mr. Paul]

Originally Posted by KenL

I'm reading Herman Wouk's "Inside, Outside." The guy is a master of the English language.

His "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" are masterpieces. I just reread them recently and was blown away once again. Always sad when that last page comes around.

Just finished this pair, and "masterpieces" is exactly right. Thanks again for the pointer. The only book(s) I've ever read where there are multiple story lines and each one was equally captivating. Pug Henry is among my favorite protagonists in American literature.

[p^h]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

I just finished re-reading James Hornfischer's The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors about the WWII Battle off Samar in the Philippines, that pitted America's smallest ships, the destroyers, destroyer escorts, and Jeep carriers against a superior Japanese force of cruisers and battleships, including the largest battleship in the world, the IJN Yamato. This is an excellent narrative of what happened when you pit a vastly inferior American force with a mission against a vastly superior foe. It filled with plenty of detail and is hard to put down once you get into the battle.

Bob

I just picked up a copy of this one, looking forward to diving in!

Paul

[David Eastwood]

I’ve been a big fan of the late David McCullough’s writing since I read his biography of John Adams several years ago. I picked up another of his at a used book sale last year, and have been working my way through it since - it’s called “Brave Companions”, and is a collection of short biographical pieces about various figures in history. Easy to read one or two at a time as a break from other books.

One chapter I read recently was about a day McCullough spent with David Plowden, who (as I learned) is a photographer of some note - a fascinating fellow, who’s published several books of his works over the decades. I dropped a hint to my sons for Father’s Day, and was delighted to be presented with Requiem for Steam - a collection of images documenting the last weeks and days of steam engines on America’s railroads in 1960. Beautiful, evocative black and white photos of a bygone era.

IMG_3061.jpg

[eyesore]

Just started the Pete Townsend autobio.Can't recall the name of the book. I like reading about wild musicians!

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

I just finished re-reading James Hornfischer's The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors about the WWII Battle off Samar in the Philippines, that pitted America's smallest ships, the destroyers, destroyer escorts, and Jeep carriers against a superior Japanese force of cruisers and battleships, including the largest battleship in the world, the IJN Yamato. This is an excellent narrative of what happened when you pit a vastly inferior American force with a mission against a vastly superior foe. It filled with plenty of detail and is hard to put down once you get into the battle.

Bob

Originally Posted by p^h

I just picked up a copy of this one, looking forward to diving in!

Paul

This one looks right up my alley. Adding it to the (very long) list

[Mandobart]

I just started Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-Time and Americana Music by Craig Harris.

Only 371 pages with 27 more pages of footnotes and index. So far it appears to be a wide vs deep treatment of the histories and intersections these musical styles and key players, producers and influencers.

It's definitely worth the time to read, IMO, if you're a fan or just interested in the subject.

[imwjl]

The latest Vaclav Smil book - Size

https://vaclavsmil.com

Don't let Bill Gates always looking forward to his next book or the way pundits have twisted small parts or misappropriated his work influence you. The guy is simply amazing in how he studies, quantifies and explains all sorts of the underpinnings and ways that are how we live and operate.

These books are sort of projects made easier or lighter if you don't spend too much time following the references but following his references is really interesting too.

His research and books are full of great stuff for things often discussed here.

[TBman]

I actually bought a couple of books recently.


1. Brainjo - see if I can learn to memorize better

2. Larry Niven's Three Books of Known Space. I read these back in the 70s. Time to re-read them.

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by imwjl

The latest Vaclav Smil book - Size

https://vaclavsmil.com

Don't let Bill Gates always looking forward to his next book or the way pundits have twisted small parts or misappropriated his work influence you. The guy is simply amazing in how he studies, quantifies and explains all sorts of the underpinnings and ways that are how we live and operate.

These books are sort of projects made easier or lighter if you don't spend too much time following the references but following his references is really interesting too.

His research and books are full of great stuff for things often discussed here.

I have "How The World Really Works" in my on deck circle.

[DoryDavis]

I've mentioned the novel Cincinnati Supernova a couple times on these threads. The author(s) have another book out as well, Executive Breakfast. Very different, a quick read comparatively, this takes place in the '90s, verses Cincinnati Supernova in the '70s. If you ever worked in corporate America (as I have) you may enjoy it.

Here is the blurb on Executive Breakfast:

What do a nervous-stomached corporate video director, a childlike business savant CEO, a brainless ad agency, a lovely video editor given to wanton double entendre, strip poker, Joan of Arc, Stanley Kubrick and Montana Big Sky mysticism all have in common? EXECUTIVE BREAKFAST!

In the pre-Internet ‘90s, corporate bottom feeder Lee Chase is searching for purpose in his job as an on-staff TV director for a huge Fortune 500 consumer products company in the midwest.

His fortunes take a riotous twist when the paternal and well-loved CEO is suddenly replaced by a larger-than-life, idiosyncratic, business-savant Dutchman whose grasp of English is as tenuous as his media savvy.

Lee shepherds the homesick and somewhat childlike Mr. Van der Berg through his first-day-on-the-job TV appearances, successfully navigating minefields of employee hostility and Wall Street resistance; in the process they become unlikely friends.

Under the gun, with his department facing an imminent outsourcing, Lee’s final assignment is to write and direct a test commercial for a new-to-the-market product; ‘Heavenly Hearth’ stick-on wallpaper. His musically driven approach is creative and risky, but it works, and focus group numbers rocket off the charts.

Mr. Van der Berg sees the spot, loves it, and Lee is suddenly vaulted into the executive suites, as head of Marketing.

With a lifetime of wealth, comfort and prestige in his grasp, Lee ultimately trades his skyscraper vocation for a Big Sky avocation – moving to Montana where the love of his life lies waiting.

Comic, absurd, suspenseful, and in the end poignant, EXECUTIVE BREAKFAST is a Spinal Tap meets How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying take on the skullduggery of board room politics and NYC ad agency shenanigans, with an informed look into the often tense, always chaotic behind-the-scenes workings of a corporate television studio.

https://www.amazon.com/EXECUTIVE-BRE...ps%2C88&sr=8-3

[CashontheBarrel]

I'm about 50 or so pages into Lonesome Dove.

[Jeff Scott]

Just picked this up earlier today.

[J Patrick]

I’m reading an older Christopher Moore novel…Lamb…..being raised a Catholic but no longer affiliated makes it extra funny…..

[CASD57]

I've been trying to finish a book for a few years now...That's what I'm reading over and over each time I get a bug to do a chapter... "The Kracken Project"