What are you reading?

[magma]

I swear this thread is like philosophy and psych reading mainly. Do you guys not read fiction as well? Even I need a break from stuff like Robert Anton Wilson or Sagan.
Also I'm taking it the non Frank Herbert Dune books are garbage since no one answered my question about the series.

I normally enjoy fiction when I read it, but I generally never think of picking up a novel. Not entirely sure why... the real world has such great stories, though. I think I feel like I need to read all of them before I start on the made up ones*.


*not that there's not a ridiculous amount to learn about the real world from fiction. My brain's a bit of a dick sometimes.

[ultraspatial]

rarely ever read fiction and even more rarely finish it tbh. usually end up reading the same parts of the book like 3 times then giving up or forgetting about it entirely

[Riddles]

I swear this thread is like philosophy and psych reading mainly. Do you guys not read fiction as well? Even I need a break from stuff like Robert Anton Wilson or Sagan.
Also I'm taking it the non Frank Herbert Dune books are garbage since no one answered my question about the series.

I missed your Dune question, what was it? The series, especially the first 2 books are my favourite science fiction books.

On a side note, i have also commented on the heavy philosophical nature of the ninja's reading.

[magma]

rarely ever read fiction and even more rarely finish it tbh. usually end up reading the same parts of the book like 3 times then giving up or forgetting about it entirely

Tbh, almost every fiction book I've ever read I've enjoyed and my all-time favourite books are a fictional series (Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy)... but right up until I read the first sentence of a novel, my brain assumes it's going to be a waste of time. So I often only do it if I'm away on holiday or something where I feel like I can make the time back later by reading something "worthwhile".

It's total bullshit, but I can't seem to re-program myself.

[hubb]

Ian Banks has as many amazing concepts and ideas as terry pratchett tbh, it's all just bionic and grown up.

Hitchikers guide is one of the best works of humans imo


Iain Banks' the wasp factory is incredible

edit ¨

I meant Douglas Adams ofcourse lol

[Muncey]

Austrian Perspective on the History of Economic Thought (Vol.1 Economic Thought Before Adam Smith & Vol.2 Classical Economics) by Murray Rothbard

Appealed to me not only because I want a better understand of Austrian perspective but this is one of the few books on the history of economic thought that goes back further than Adam Smith/Marx ect.

rothbard's on my list. only read some hayek and von mises so far

It seems decent from the introduction, explained why most history of science is really one dimensional and seen as fact and for some reason in science the newest stuff is seen as the most important. Went fully on the Adam Smith attack from the get-go lol. Over 1000 pages I think, long ting.


In response to the heavy non-fiction books listed in here I guess it is a bit to do with people not wanting to say they're reading Harry Potter but sometimes I find it hard to motivate myself to read fiction.. hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy I wanna read but theres quite a few, game of thrones is even longer.. the guy who done Lincoln Lawyer has written loaaaaaaaads. I feel like once I start something I won't wanna stop til its all done, a lot of fiction I wanna read either has loads of follow ons or the books are massive. Sometimes its just easier to pick up a 200 page book on philosophy/science/economics lol.

I'm going on holiday tomorrow so might take Solid Foundation - An Oral History of Reggae, its hardback so I'll be able to read it in the sun.. kindles are useless in the sun.

[deadly_habit]

I swear this thread is like philosophy and psych reading mainly. Do you guys not read fiction as well? Even I need a break from stuff like Robert Anton Wilson or Sagan.
Also I'm taking it the non Frank Herbert Dune books are garbage since no one answered my question about the series.

I missed your Dune question, what was it? The series, especially the first 2 books are my favourite science fiction books.

On a side note, i have also commented on the heavy philosophical nature of the ninja's reading.

I was curious if any of his son's stuff or the extended Dune universe is worth reading.

[Muncey]

Solid foundation is decent so far, no wifi is frustrating cause I just wanna YouTube all the people mentioned lol.

About half way through Bringing down the Krays as well. Really good, they were proper fruit cakes.

[DiegoSapiens]

Im reading Faust. Deep fiction bro

[magma]

Been reading this off and on for fucking months, but finally put all my other reading list down this weekend and finished it off in the sunshine on my balcony. Not the most engagingly written history ever, but utterly fascinating, especially if you can watch boats puttering up and down the Thames whilst you read about Henry VIII's mock sea battles and the scourge of river pirates.



Three chapters in and I'm both awed and depressed. Highly recommended.

[hubb]

Am I the only one who finds description of sex in fictional litterature akward?

I would always prefer if it's just like: and then... he put it in her.punctuation. over. Story continues..

Instead of having to relate to an old fart or a young fartette or whoever, sitting there in the middle of dealing with complex structured story archs and what not, trying to wank me off with their little words. I think it might be possible to do in like a poetic, erotic or whatever way- I just haven't come across it yet.

[+] Spoiler

I'm sorry if that put you all on swoll

[magma]

Am I the only one who finds description of sex in fictional litterature akward?

I would always prefer if it's just like: and then... he put it in her.punctuation. over. Story continues..

Instead of having to relate to an old fart or a young fartette or whoever, sitting there in the middle of dealing with complex structured story archs and what not, trying to wank me off with their little words. I think it might be possible to do in like a poetic, erotic or whatever way- I just haven't come across it yet.

[+] Spoiler

I'm sorry if that put you all on swoll

http://www.theguardian.com/books/badsexaward

[hubb]

im not alone

[magma]

The winner from 2012 is fucking amazing.

No sooner have we settled onto the bed and begun to remove each other's clothes with the clumsy gestures of impatience than I realise Kamal also knows about passivity — yes, he also knows how to remain still, fully awake and attentive, and give himself up to me as a cello gives itself up to a bow. Arching his back, he surrenders his face, shoulders, back and buttocks, waiting for me to play them, and I do — I play them, play with them. Most men are afraid to let go like this — whereas with a little finesse the wonders of passivity can be tasted in even the most violent throes of love-making.

In a delirium of restrained desire, I weigh, stroke and lick Kamal's balls, then take his penis in my hands, between my breasts, into my mouth. He sits up, reaches for me and I allow him to explore me in turn. He runs his tongue and lips over my breasts, the back of my neck, my toes, my stomach, the countless treasures between my legs, oh the sheer ecstasy of lips and tongues on genitals, either simultaneously or in alternation, never will I tire of that silvery fluidity, my sex swimming in joy like a fish in water, my self freed of both self and other, the quivering sensation, the carnal pink palpitation that detaches you from all colour and all flesh, making you see only stars, constellations, milky ways, propelling you bodiless and soulless into undulating space where the undulating skies make your non-body undulate ...

[hubb]

had to google because undulat means parakeet in danish

lol at everything

[kay]

Just read Arthur C Clarke's "The City and The Stars". It's really good! It reads far better than the later books that he's most famous for, is pretty prescient (as you'd expect from him) for something published in 1956, and is inventive with its ideas of far future societies and aliens.

[flood]

just recently read metamorphosis

[soronery]

carl sagan - cosmos

[kay]

Reading Cory Doctorow's Makers. This one's about how the maker movement changes the world, goes through a dot.com-style bust within the first third of the book, has the protagonists starting up a maker-style amusement park in the next third (which I'm in now). Read the blurb and download the book here: http://craphound.com/makers/about/



Really good author who writes sci-fi with slightly zany over-the-top yet totally believable near future extrapolations of today's developments. His style's a mix between Charles Stross and Joe Haldeman, so his books are filled with awesome concepts yet are very readable.

Also, I believe he makes all his books downloadable for free.

[Muncey]