| Author | Message | ||
     Sifo |
Saved by Her Enemy - By Don Teague and Rafraf Barrak It's written by a journalist that was covering the Iraq war and an Iraqi student that lived in Baghdad. It's pretty amazing reading Rafraf's thoughts before and during the war. I'm just at the point where the journalist Rafraf cross paths with both of their lives in chaos. No it's not a romance novel, it's a true story with some terrific insights into how Iraqi's think. Honestly to this point it's been one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. It even tops most fiction that's out there. Just though I would share for those that like to read and learn. | ||
| Swampy |
I am also "How To Sue Your Lawyer" | ||
| Slaughter |
Sifo - good recommendation - always looking for worthwhile reading and ESPECIALLY tied to current issues. IF you're interested in a historical look at warfare in that region and how sometimes, things NEVER CHANGE - read T. E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom | ||
| M2statz |
+1 on Seven Pillars of Wisdom | ||
| Sifo |
T.E. Lawrence of Arabia. I will have to check that one out. I just saw the movie for the first time this summer. Long movie, but interesting history. Books usually are closer to reality, so I will have to pick that one up. Thanks. | ||
| S1wmike |
Peter Wright's Spy Catcher It's a long technical read, but worth it | ||
| Davegess |
Lawernce's book is a good read should not be taken as entirely factual. Old T.E. was know to not let facts get in the way of making himself look good  | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I'm currently reading 3, yes I know that sounds very show off but it depends on my mood & location. "The D.A. Draws a Circle" by Earle Stanley Gardner. (Toilet) An old mystery/crime/thriller novel. "Footfall" by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle. (Bedside) Superb classic SF. "Unseen Academicals" by Terry Pratchett. (Anywhere & everywhere) The best of Fantasy, a Discworld book by the undisputed master. | ||
| Slaughter |
Lawrence's observations on tribalism, regional/tribal conflicts, the logistics in supporting a desert campaign all still hold true - his OWN "experiences" are well-known to have been embellished. | ||
| Hughlysses |
"Footfall" by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle. (Bedside) Superb classic SF. +1. One of my favorites. I just finished "Anathem" by Neal Stephenson. Pretty unconventional SF- about an Earth-like planet where all the scientists, mathematicians, physicists and philosophers live in monasteries away from the rest of society. It's also a "first contact" story. I greatly enjoyed it. | ||
| Moxnix |
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, by John Perkins, how the global economy system really works. A mea culpa by a former participant. | ||
| Swordsman |
Hugh, read Anathem also. Good book, but took me forever, which is highly unusual for me (most ~600 page books last me about 3 or 4 days). Between the made up language and the technical stuff, it really slowed me down! Did you know that that ship design was actually in the works once upon a time? Found a bunch of info on Wikipedia about it, just can't remember the name of the project. Last really enjoyable book I read was "The Cartamandua Legacy". Pretty cool fantasy stuff, but for ONCE it'd be nice to read something from a female author that didn't have to include male homosexuality. I swear, all female fantasy writers all obsessed with that... every one of 'em! ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on August 26, 2010) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Did you know that that ship design was actually in the works once upon a time? Found a bunch of info on Wikipedia about it, just can't remember the name of the project. Project Orion!  Which, is by the way, another awesome book I read a few years back. We had some of our top engineers and scientists working on the project in the 1950's, and they were confident it was 100% possible to build nuclear pulse space ships with then-available technology. For those of you who don't know, nuclear pulse powered space ships would work by tossing small nuclear bombs out the back. The explosion pushes against a huge steel "pusher plate" on the back of the ship. The pusher plate is connected to the main ship by massive shock absorber assemblies so that the crew only feels a gentle constant acceleration. This wasn't some fly-by-night scheme, these were guys that new their stuff and some of the stuff they developed (like VERY small nuclear bombs) is still highly classified. If you search youtube you can even find a video of a conventionally-powered model Orion doing a test flight. I think they were probably right not to launch these things from Earth, but it's a damned shame we didn't build a few in orbit. The performance figures for these ships put everything else that's ever built or realistically conceived to shame. With nuclear pulse ships, you don't even have to worry about light weight construction. You can build a space ship that's built like a battleship and it can still achieve amazing acceleration. BTW- Orion ships are also a critical part of the earlier-mentioned novel "Footfall". | ||
| Moxnix |
George Dyson, and his father Freeman, were the subject of a book titled The Starship and the Canoe, circa the early 80s. Quite a pair. | ||
| Gregtonn |
Greg's rule #1: Never go anywhere without a good book. Period. G | ||
| 86129squids |
+1, Neal Stephenson- one of my favorite SF books evaar is his novel "Snow Crash", a hella fun read! +1, female SF writers- Sheri Tepper has done several good novels. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
re reading The FountainHead actively searching for a russian version | ||
| Faseljd |
War by Sebastion Junger ,about a journalist who followed a platoon in eastern Afghanistan over 15 months.These guys were in some of the hottest action over there.Really great insights.Will be followed by a documentary coming out later this year called "Restrepo", I think on the Discovery Channel. | ||
| Jstfrfun |
I'm halfway through Daniel Silva's Rembrant Affair...can't put it down. |
