Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below
napsgear
genezapharmateuticals
domestic-supply
puritysourcelabs
UGL OZ
UGFREAK
napsgeargenezapharmateuticals domestic-supplypuritysourcelabsUGL OZUGFREAK

give me a good book reco.

stilleto

ELITE MENTOR
EF VIP
and none of these psuedo intellectual reccommendations of books that you claim to have read but which you could only get through the first few pages before putting it down on the edge of the bathtub where it's stayed ever since to impress guests.

give me names of novels.

and no, not vc andrews. not stephen king either. no crap where some ditzy broad becomes a private investigator and captures some hardened criminal with her bubble gum and a nail file.

i give up on john irving's "158 pound marriage". the subject, although intriguing, is littered with fluff that i have no interest in.
 
I'm reading "The Unfettered Mind" right now. Made short. It's made up of a few essays written to a samurai swordsmen from a zen monk dude. It's pretty good if you can find the messages.

Also reading "Change or Die". I don't usually do the org behavior books, but this one is pretty different and definitely of high quality.

If you are feeling weird and can handle some super out there shit, read "Hidden Language Codes". There is more wacked out truth in that book than the dictionary.
 
I assume you don't want ones with Fabio on the cover, either, right?
 
KillahBee said:
I'm reading "The Unfettered Mind" right now. Made short. It's made up of a few essays written to a samurai swordsmen from a zen monk dude. It's pretty good if you can find the messages.

Also reading "Change or Die". I don't usually do the org behavior books, but this one is pretty different and definitely of high quality.

If you are feeling weird and can handle some super out there shit, read "Hidden Language Codes". There is more wacked out truth in that book than the dictionary.


what kind of a stupid half-question is that? of course i'm feeling weird.

what's hidden language codes? if its what the title sounds like, i'm into that kind of stuff. even body language intrigues me. a lot.

human behavior books? barf.
 
heatherrae said:
I assume you don't want ones with Fabio on the cover, either, right?

yeah no.

no romance.
there is a GREAT book- i can't remember the author but i think its called "the day before tomorrow". its fantastic, but not a romance. more like an international thriller.
 
stilleto said:
yeah no.

no romance.
there is a GREAT book- i can't remember the author but i think its called "the day before tomorrow". its fantastic, but not a romance. more like an international thriller.
I was only joking. I see those in the grocery sometimes and think "who the hell reads those?"
 
heatherrae said:
I was only joking. I see those in the grocery sometimes and think "who the hell reads those?"


i knew you were joking.
i'd be really insulted if anyone thought i was the kind that read those.


i'm sorry soklu. :heart:
 
seriously, trust me on this one. i can guarantee this will be in your top favorite books list

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

if you are going for more the da vinci code thing...

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
 
p0ink said:
seriously, trust me on this one. i can guarantee this will be in your top favorite books list

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk
if you are going for more the da vinci code thing...

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
I just ordered his new book on pre-order!!!
 
p0ink said:
seriously, trust me on this one. i can guarantee this will be in your top favorite books list

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

if you are going for more the da vinci code thing...

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco

i read survivor. great book.
davinci code was ok- i think that was the book that I found a HUGE technical error in and i'm so anal that it ruined the whole book though. or maybe it was his other one.
 
ok... *looks at his book shelf*

the contortionist's handbook - craig clevenger
the plague - albert camus
the dangerous lives of altar boys - chris fuhrman
thank you for smoking - christopher buckley
and the ass saw an angel - nick cave
the stranger - albert camus
invisible monsters - chuck palahniuk
american psycho - brett easton ellis
less than zero - brett easton elis
crash - jg ballard
atlas shrugged - ayn rand
anthem - ayn rand
as i lay dying - william faulkner
 
p0ink said:
ok... *looks at his book shelf*

the contortionist's handbook - craig clevenger
the plague - albert camus
the dangerous lives of altar boys - chris fuhrman
thank you for smoking - christopher buckley
and the ass saw an angel - nick cave
the stranger - albert camus
invisible monsters - chuck palahniuk
american psycho - brett easton ellis
less than zero - brett easton elis
crash - jg ballard
atlas shrugged - ayn rand
anthem - ayn rand
as i lay dying - william faulkner

I really enjoyed the contortionist's handbook.
 
stilleto said:
tard, i'm an atheist. i might as well read lovecraft. :rolleyes:


The God Delusion would rock then..

I bought it... I am about half way through... awesome book by Richard Dawkins
 
p0ink said:
ok... *looks at his book shelf*

the contortionist's handbook - craig clevenger
the plague - albert camus
the dangerous lives of altar boys - chris fuhrman
thank you for smoking - christopher buckley
and the ass saw an angel - nick cave
the stranger - albert camus
invisible monsters - chuck palahniuk
american psycho - brett easton ellis
less than zero - brett easton elis
crash - jg ballard
atlas shrugged - ayn rand
anthem - ayn rand
as i lay dying - william faulkner


ok. i'll get the contortionist's handbook- i heard it was good. i love ayn rand and haven't read anthem, so that's another one.
i do love palahniuk, and i think there's one of his existing books that I didn't read, but i can't remember which one, so i'll investigate and get that.

thanks poink!
 
Anything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
One Hundred Years of Solitude will change your life - seriously.
I've read that book 5 times - twice in Spanish and 3 times in English.
It is that good.
 
p0ink said:
ok... *looks at his book shelf*

the contortionist's handbook - craig clevenger
the plague - albert camus
the dangerous lives of altar boys - chris fuhrman
thank you for smoking - christopher buckley
and the ass saw an angel - nick cave
the stranger - albert camus
invisible monsters - chuck palahniuk
american psycho - brett easton ellis
less than zero - brett easton elis
crash - jg ballard
atlas shrugged - ayn rand
anthem - ayn rand
as i lay dying - william faulkner


A glimpse into Poink's mind...Now his facination with morbid news articles makes so much more sense.
 
Stefka said:
Anything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
One Hundred Years of Solitude will change your life - seriously.
I've read that book 5 times - twice in Spanish and 3 times in English.
It is that good.

i'll check it out.

but i'm NOT reading it in spanish.

:)
 
stilleto said:
tard, i'm an atheist. i might as well read lovecraft. :rolleyes:

Lovecraft has absolutely nothing to do with religion.

"He is notable for blending elements of science fiction and horror; and for popularizing "cosmic horror:" the notion that some concepts, entities or experiences are barely comprehensible to human minds, and those who delve into such risk their sanity. Lovecraft also created the "Cthulhu Mythos," a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a "pantheon" of nonhuman creatures, and he invented the infamous Necronomicon, a sort of grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works typically had a tone of "cosmic pessimism," regarding mankind as insignificant and powerless in the universe."

HTFH



:cow:
 
I'd recommend the Wheel Of Time fantasy series.

Extremely well written and you really get hooked on the characters.

I know that's not one book, but it's an awesome series.

A song of Fire and Ice is another awesome fantasy series.

Gorky Park is a great read.
 
samoth said:
Lovecraft has absolutely nothing to do with religion.

"He is notable for blending elements of science fiction and horror; and for popularizing "cosmic horror:" the notion that some concepts, entities or experiences are barely comprehensible to human minds, and those who delve into such risk their sanity. Lovecraft also created the "Cthulhu Mythos," a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a "pantheon" of nonhuman creatures, and he invented the infamous Necronomicon, a sort of grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works typically had a tone of "cosmic pessimism," regarding mankind as insignificant and powerless in the universe."

HTFH
:cow:

i know exactly who he is. :)
that's my point... if i'm gonna read sci fi, i'd rather read lovecraft than the bible.
:)
 
GhettoStudMuffin said:
I'd recommend the Wheel Of Time fantasy series.

Extremely well written and you really get hooked on the characters.

I know that's not one book, but it's an awesome series.

A song of Fire and Ice is another awesome fantasy series.

Gorky Park is a great read.

i'm not really into fantasy, but thanks for the recs!
 
Stefka said:
Help me out - tell me what authors you love...I'll try to come up with a few more ideas.
well, i am ordering 100 years of solitude right now... thank you.
and the other ones i mentioned above.

i love ayn rand, chuck palahlnuik or however the hell it's spelled. anything by wally lamb, john irving, and anything by Augusten Burroughs.
now i can'[t even think of who else. i've fallen stupid. :(
 
stilleto said:
no. good?
thanks for your help btw!

Raw, kinda vulgar. Have you ever seen Barfly? He wrote that - but the book is better.
He writes like Tom Waits sounds.

You might like Irvine Welsh

You might like A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Mary Flannery O'Connor - Everything That Rises Must Converge (short stories)
 
Beowulf!

Him Ăľa ellenrof andswarode,
wlanc Wedera leod, word æfter spræc,
heard under helme: "We synt Higelaces
beodgeneatas; Beowulf is min nama.
Wille ic asecgan sunu Healfdenes,
mærum þeodne, min ærende,
aldre Ăľinum, gif he us geunnan wile
þæt we hine swa godne gretan moton."




:cow:
 
samoth said:
Beowulf!

Him Ăľa ellenrof andswarode,
wlanc Wedera leod, word æfter spræc,
heard under helme: "We synt Higelaces
beodgeneatas; Beowulf is min nama.
Wille ic asecgan sunu Healfdenes,
mærum þeodne, min ærende,
aldre Ăľinum, gif he us geunnan wile
þæt we hine swa godne gretan moton."




:cow:


I may be wrong - but I dont think that she's really in the mood for Beowulf. But, if that is her thing, I have a few suggestions.

And Samoth - go read "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" NOW. You might like it,
 
Stefka said:
I may be wrong - but I dont think that she's really in the mood for Beowulf. But, if that is her thing, I have a few suggestions.

And Samoth - go read "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" NOW. You might like it,

Unfortunetly, I left that particular Iron Maiden album at home. :D

What language is the original Rime written in?



Hear the rime of the Ancient Mariner
See his eye as he stops one of three
Mesmerises one of the wedding guests
Stay here and listen to the nightmares
of the Sea

And the music plays on, as the bride passes by
Caught by his spell and
the Mariner tells his tale.

Driven south to the land of the snow and ice
To a place where nobody's been
Through the snow fog flies on the albatross
Hailed in God's name,
hoping good luck it brings.

And the ship sails on, back to the North
Through the fog and ice and
the albatross follows on

The mariner kills the bird of good omen
His shipmates cry against what he's done
But when the fog clears, they justify him
And make themselves a part of the crime.

Sailing on and on and North across the sea
Sailing on and on and North 'till all is calm

The albatross begins with its vengeance
A terrible curse a thirst has begun
His shipmates blame bad luck on the Mariner
About his neck, the dead bird is hung.

And the curse goes on and on at sea
And the curse goes on and on for them and me.

"Day after day, day after day,
we stuck nor breath nor motion
As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean
Water, water everywhere and
all the boards did shrink
Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink."

[SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (1798-1834)]

There, calls the mariner
there comes a ship over the line
But how can she sail with no wind
in her sails and no tide.

See... onward she comes
Onwards she nears, out of the sun
See... she has no crew
She has no life, wait but there's two

Death and she Life in Death,
they throw their dice for the crew
She wins the Mariner and he belongs to her now.
Then ... crew one by one
They drop down dead, two hundred men
She... She, Life in Death.
She lets him live, her chosen one.

[NARRATIVE]
"One after one by the star dogged moon,
too quick for groan or sigh
Each turned his face with a ghastly pang
and cursed me with his eye
Four times fifty living men
(and I heard nor sigh nor groan),
With heavy thump, a lifeless lump,
they dropped down one by one."

[SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (1798-1834)]

The curse it lives on in their eyes
The Mariner he wished he'd die
Along with the sea creatures
But they lived on, so did he.

And by the light of moon
He prays for their beauty not doom
With heart he blesses them
God's creatures all of them too.

Then the spell starts to break
The albatross falls from his neck
Sinks down like lead into the Sea
Then down in falls comes the rain.

Hear the groans od the long dead seamen
See them stir and they start to rise
Bodies lifted by good spirits
None of them speak
and they're lifeless in their eyes

And revenge is still sought, penance starts again
Cast into a trance and the nightmare carries on.

Now the curse is finally lifted
And the Mariner sights his home
Spirits go from the long dead bodies
Form their own light and
the Mariner's left alone

And then a boat came sailing towards him
It was a joy he could not believe
The Pilot's boat, his son and the hermit
Penance of life will fall onto Him.

And the ship it sinks like lead into the sea
And the hermit shrieves the mariner of his sins

The Mariner's bound to tell of his story
To tell his tale wherever he goes
To teach God's word by his own example
That we must love all things that God made.

And the wedding guest's a sad and wiser man
And the tale goes on and on and on.




:cow:
 
Stefka said:
English - written in the late late 1700s. Do you like it?

Beowulf was written in english, too... but middle/old english is rather difficult to read.

What was used in the 1700's? I don't even know, lol.



:cow:
 
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. I haven't read it yet but it's supposed to be really good. You can't go wrong with the classics.

The Kama Sutra is another one you should check out. :p

No Fear Shakespeare is really cool and you can find them at Barnes and Noble. Try collecting them all.

You can try reading some Kurt Vonnegut since he just passed away a few days ago.


How about self improvement books? Can always try to improve on oneself.

Post some pics of your boobies and kitty. That's a great book. :D

It all depends on what floats your boat and what you're in the mood to read.
 
samoth said:
Beowulf was written in english, too... but middle/old english is rather difficult to read.

What was used in the 1700's? I don't even know, lol.



:cow:

Late 1700's - right before the romantic period - pretty much plain English. Shakespere was late 1500s to early 1600s.

I just thought you'd like that poem - epic, supernatural - all the good stuff.

Have you read Homer? I think you might get a kick out of the Iliad and the Odyssey.
 
Real Shakespeare is always a good read, as long as the book has a half-page of translational notes at the bottom of each page.

The edited stuff is crap.




:cow:
 
samoth said:
Real Shakespeare is always a good read, as long as the book has a half-page of translational notes at the bottom of each page.

The edited stuff is crap.




:cow:


The edited stuff is cheating. If you read closely enough you should be able to understand him.
 
Stefka said:
Late 1700's - right before the romantic period - pretty much plain English. Shakespere was late 1500s to early 1600s.

I just thought you'd like that poem - epic, supernatural - all the good stuff.

Have you read Homer? I think you might get a kick out of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

I have both in their new form, but I'd much rather have the time one day to find and go through their originals, or at least portions of their originals.

Shakespeare must've been in the transition period from middle to modern english or something.



:cow:
 
Stefka said:
If you read closely enough you should be able to understand him.

I sure couldn't. Too many allusions and references and little stuff that we wouldn't understand in this day and age with modern english. For me, the magic is lost without a full comprehension.



:cow:
 
I just get a kick out of the sound...the language...gives me chills.
But, I studied literature for so long that I'm not even sure what I would know that others wouldn't. Maybe I've just had more practice.

Now for a sharp right...
Have you read much Philip K. Dick?
 
Stefka said:
Now for a sharp right...
Have you read much Philip K. Dick?

Never heard of him.

My mother was an english major, and my house has always been pro-reading, with other forms of media less emphasized, so I've grown up that way.

My main interests in reading is Lovecraftian fiction, Blake, and old classical literature in languages that I find interesting (Greek, Latin, Middle and Old English). I am by no means fluent in any of these languages, but the challange and esotericness of reading the "real thing' pique my interest moreso than recent stuff. The actual languages interest me as well, so that's probably a large part of it.

Actually, most of my library consists of physics, math, science, and med/biochem, but I wouldn't really consider any of that as actual literature. My mother was into a lot of the romantic-period poetry and stuff, but I found most of it uninteresting save some Blake.



:cow:
 
samoth said:
Real Shakespeare is always a good read, as long as the book has a half-page of translational notes at the bottom of each page.

The edited stuff is crap.




:cow:


no fear shakespeare. the left page is how shakespeare wrote it and the right page is what they said written in modern english. plus they give you little notes too. http://nfs.sparknotes.com/ you get a much better understanding of shakespeare. it's good to read them both. it saves me the trouble of breaking my ass trying to figure out what exactly was said. also the notes gives you alot things you just wouldn't understand unless you were from that time.
 
samoth said:
Never heard of him.

My mother was an english major, and my house has always been pro-reading, with other forms of media less emphasized, so I've grown up that way.

My main interests in reading is Lovecraftian fiction, Blake, and old classical literature in languages that I find interesting (Greek, Latin, Middle and Old English). I am by no means fluent in any of these languages, but the challange and esotericness of reading the "real thing' pique my interest moreso than recent stuff. The actual languages interest me as well, so that's probably a large part of it.

Actually, most of my library consists of physics, math, science, and med/biochem, but I wouldn't really consider any of that as actual literature. My mother was into a lot of the romantic-period poetry and stuff, but I found most of it uninteresting save some Blake.



:cow:

You must read Philip K Dick...
He was a sci-fi writer in the 50's - 60's.
Sadly, most of his books are out of print, but you should be able to find a copy of something of his in a university library.
You know that movie "Total Recall" - one of his stories was the basis for that - but the story and the movie were so different.
Dick's version was set during the Cuban missile crisis.
If you can find something by him, you should definitely read it.
 
Stefka said:
You must read Philip K Dick...
He was a sci-fi writer in the 50's - 60's.
Sadly, most of his books are out of print, but you should be able to find a copy of something of his in a university library.
You know that movie "Total Recall" - one of his stories was the basis for that - but the story and the movie were so different.
Dick's version was set during the Cuban missile crisis.
If you can find something by him, you should definitely read it.

Esoteric and out-of-print? Now that's totally up my alley, lol.

Whether musical, academic or literary interests, mine always seem to be rooted in the obscure.



:cow:
 
Good! He will be a fun read.
If you have any obscure favorites - I'm open to recommendations.
I need something new and exciting too...After I read 100 Yeard of Solitude for the 6th time.
 
Stefka said:
Raw, kinda vulgar. Have you ever seen Barfly? He wrote that - but the book is better.
He writes like Tom Waits sounds.

You might like Irvine Welsh

You might like A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Mary Flannery O'Connor - Everything That Rises Must Converge (short stories)


ah, i loved confederacy of dunces. i passed it on to pintoca (another mod here) too.
yes, i've seen barfly- that was a classic. i'll definately check him out. :)
thank you!
 
fistfullofsteel said:
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. I haven't read it yet but it's supposed to be really good. You can't go wrong with the classics.

The Kama Sutra is another one you should check out. :p

No Fear Shakespeare is really cool and you can find them at Barnes and Noble. Try collecting them all.

You can try reading some Kurt Vonnegut since he just passed away a few days ago.


How about self improvement books? Can always try to improve on oneself.

Post some pics of your boobies and kitty. That's a great book. :D

It all depends on what floats your boat and what you're in the mood to read.


i can't improve on perfect. i generally dislike self improvement books.
and, although shakespeare is classic, its not something i can curl up on the couch with :)
i was going through a period of reading only classics for a while. i'll get back to them later. i sludged through anna karenina and LOVED the good earth by pearl buck. omg that book is GREAT.
stefka, if you haven't read it- try that one.
 
stilleto said:
i can't improve on perfect. i generally dislike self improvement books.


try some philosophy books or some other sort of enlightment books then, or maybe some history books. alot people love to read about the civil war.

read the biography of somebody and try to suck some knowledge from it. speaking of which, alot good stuff about ben franklin. there has to be somebody that fascinates you that you want to learn more about.

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/books/bestseller/0422bestpaperfiction.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/books/bestseller/0422besthardfiction.html
 
Hey Stilllettto,

If you're into travel books I read a great one called "American Nomads" by Richard Grant. It's the story of the author traveling around for 15 years with various ''nomadic'' people primarily across the southern part of the US and the desert Southwest.

Cheers
 
Smurfy said:
You're a bookworm and an artist. I wish I was even just one of those things. Instead I'm nothing.

well thank you.
but, you're plenty of other things i know i'm not. organized, for one.

i think everyone is one good book away from being a book worm. find something that has totally grabbed your interest and you won't put it down.
 
BEST book I finished reading and told others to read who really loved it. It's called "Journey Into Darkness," by John Douglas (former FBI agent)- not sure what your taste in books are but here's the description:

A former FBI investigator and the author of Mindhunter offers a glimpse of some of his most complex cases and demonstrates the way in which criminal profiling works, covering such crimes as John Lennon's assassination, the Waco tragedy, and New York's preppie murder. 150,000 first printing. Tour.

Everyone that I've suggested this book to has loved it. But it is a bit detailed and dark. The way this former FBI agent goes about with his stories and how he came to his conclusions was amazing to me. Absolutely terrific. Won't be able to put it down.. You can check it out at this link :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0434004464/ref=sib_dp_pt/104-6562490-8394311#reader-link
 
InquisitivePsyche said:
BEST book I finished reading and told others to read who really loved it. It's called "Journey Into Darkness," by John Douglas (former FBI agent)- not sure what your taste in books are but here's the description:

A former FBI investigator and the author of Mindhunter offers a glimpse of some of his most complex cases and demonstrates the way in which criminal profiling works, covering such crimes as John Lennon's assassination, the Waco tragedy, and New York's preppie murder. 150,000 first printing. Tour.

Everyone that I've suggested this book to has loved it. But it is a bit detailed and dark. The way this former FBI agent goes about with his stories and how he came to his conclusions was amazing to me. Absolutely terrific. Won't be able to put it down.. You can check it out at this link :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0434004464/ref=sib_dp_pt/104-6562490-8394311#reader-link


i read it.
i think he's an FBI profile if i remember correctly. it was good, but i'm into that stuff.

I forgot about this book that i've been wanting to read:
http://www.amazon.com/Road-Coorain-...7263055?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176648762&sr=1-2
it's supposed to be great.
 
stilleto said:
i read it.
i think he's an FBI profile if i remember correctly. it was good, but i'm into that stuff.

I forgot about this book that i've been wanting to read:
http://www.amazon.com/Road-Coorain-...7263055?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176648762&sr=1-2
it's supposed to be great.

Ahh - cool! Oh here's another one. It's called "The Sociopath Nextdoor." And I thought this was great, too.

Who is the devil you know?

Is it your lying, cheating ex-husband?
Your sadistic high school gym teacher?
Your boss who loves to humiliate people in meetings?
The colleague who stole your idea and passed it off as her own?

In the pages of The Sociopath Next Door, you will realize that your ex was not just misunderstood. He's a sociopath. And your boss, teacher, and colleague? They may be sociopaths too.

We are accustomed to think of sociopaths as violent criminals, but in The Sociopath Next Door, Harvard psychologist Martha Stout reveals that a shocking 4 percent of ordinary people—one in twenty-five—has an often undetected mental disorder, the chief symptom of which is that that person possesses no conscience. He or she has no ability whatsoever to feel shame, guilt, or remorse. One in twenty-five everyday Americans, therefore, is secretly a sociopath. They could be your colleague, your neighbor, even family. And they can do literally anything at all and feel absolutely no guilt.

How do we recognize the remorseless? One of their chief characteristics is a kind of glow or charisma that makes sociopaths more charming or interesting than the other people around them. They're more spontaneous, more intense, more complex, or even sexier than everyone else, making them tricky to identify and leaving us easily seduced. Fundamentally, sociopaths are different because they cannot love. Sociopaths learn early on to show sham emotion, but underneath they are indifferent to others' suffering. They live to dominate and thrill to win.

The fact is, we all almost certainly know at least one or more sociopaths already. Part of the urgency in reading The Sociopath Next Door is the moment when we suddenly recognize that someone we know—someone we worked for, or were involved with, or voted for—is a sociopath. But what do we do with that knowledge? To arm us against the sociopath, Dr. Stout teaches us to question authority, suspect flattery, and beware the pity play. Above all, she writes, when a sociopath is beckoning, do not join the game.

It is the ruthless versus the rest of us, and The Sociopath Next Door will show you how to recognize and defeat the devil you know.
 
InquisitivePsyche said:
Ahh - cool! Oh here's another one. It's called "The Sociopath Nextdoor." And I thought this was great, too.

Who is the devil you know?

Is it your lying, cheating ex-husband?
Your sadistic high school gym teacher?
Your boss who loves to humiliate people in meetings?
The colleague who stole your idea and passed it off as her own?

In the pages of The Sociopath Next Door, you will realize that your ex was not just misunderstood. He's a sociopath. And your boss, teacher, and colleague? They may be sociopaths too.

We are accustomed to think of sociopaths as violent criminals, but in The Sociopath Next Door, Harvard psychologist Martha Stout reveals that a shocking 4 percent of ordinary people—one in twenty-five—has an often undetected mental disorder, the chief symptom of which is that that person possesses no conscience. He or she has no ability whatsoever to feel shame, guilt, or remorse. One in twenty-five everyday Americans, therefore, is secretly a sociopath. They could be your colleague, your neighbor, even family. And they can do literally anything at all and feel absolutely no guilt.

How do we recognize the remorseless? One of their chief characteristics is a kind of glow or charisma that makes sociopaths more charming or interesting than the other people around them. They're more spontaneous, more intense, more complex, or even sexier than everyone else, making them tricky to identify and leaving us easily seduced. Fundamentally, sociopaths are different because they cannot love. Sociopaths learn early on to show sham emotion, but underneath they are indifferent to others' suffering. They live to dominate and thrill to win.

The fact is, we all almost certainly know at least one or more sociopaths already. Part of the urgency in reading The Sociopath Next Door is the moment when we suddenly recognize that someone we know—someone we worked for, or were involved with, or voted for—is a sociopath. But what do we do with that knowledge? To arm us against the sociopath, Dr. Stout teaches us to question authority, suspect flattery, and beware the pity play. Above all, she writes, when a sociopath is beckoning, do not join the game.

It is the ruthless versus the rest of us, and The Sociopath Next Door will show you how to recognize and defeat the devil you know.


i haven't read that one, but i do own another book about sociopaths, and a few on various psychiatric disorders (no, i don't have any- i just find it interesting).
thanks!
 
Smurfy said:
You're a bookworm and an artist. I wish I was even just one of those things. Instead I'm nothing.

btw, smurf, if you can think of any other totally anti-social interests for me to be into, let me know.
:)
 
samoth said:
Pick up some Lovecraft.



:cow:

or Poe, Poe is always good to wash down the aftertaste of those Lovecraftian stories.

I'n naming my second kid simply HP

Now, I recently read a series of novels (the Emperor Series) about the life of Julius Caesar. It made reading history VERY interesting. Although some facts were changed to match the history, the core remains the same. It describes the raising of Caesar, from a kid, through battles through Consulship and finally Emperor (though he was not really the first Emperor, his sucessor Octavius was).
 
I am really not an avid reader, though I am intelligent.

I wish I read more, but I just have a hard time finding time to do it or often end up putting a book down.

the only book I could recommend was recommended to me by my crazy ex druggy girlfriend.

I read about 80% of it and lost the book, was probably the best book I've ever read. I really have to get it again to read it again.

Ishmael By Daniel Quinn, it's a totally unique story like nothing I've ever read before, since I'm not an avid reader I found a few comments on it that might inspire you to pick it up, it's also relatively cheap like 10$ on amazon. =)

Comments and Reviews of Ishmael

"From now on I will divide the books I have read into two categories -- the ones I read before Ishmael and those read after."
-- Jim Britell, Whole Earth Review

"A thoughtful, fearlessly low-key novel about the role of our species in the planet... laid out for us with an originality and a clarity that few would deny."
-- The New York Times Book Review

"Wonderfully engaging... Think of Robert Pirsig in Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, or B.F. Skinner in Walden Two..."
-- Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Quinn entraps us in the dialogue itself, in the sweet and terrible lucidity of Ishmael's analysis of the human condition... It was surely for this deep, clear persuasiveness of argument that Ishmael was awarded its prize."
-- The Washington Post

"... unusual, even eccentric enough to place Quinn on the cult literal map... both Socrates and King Kong might be pleased."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"...Suspenseful, inventive and socially urgent as any fiction or nonfiction book you are likely to read this or any other year."
-- The Austin Chronicle

"... fascinating... Quinn's smooth style and his intriguing proposals should hold the attention of readers interested in daunting dilemmas that beset our planet."
-- Publishers Weekly


It also won a prize in something.. not sure what.. but yey for prizes right. =)
 
FriendlyCanadian said:
I am really not an avid reader, though I am intelligent.

I wish I read more, but I just have a hard time finding time to do it or often end up putting a book down.

the only book I could recommend was recommended to me by my crazy ex druggy girlfriend.

I read about 80% of it and lost the book, was probably the best book I've ever read. I really have to get it again to read it again.

Ishmael By Daniel Quinn, it's a totally unique story like nothing I've ever read before, since I'm not an avid reader I found a few comments on it that might inspire you to pick it up, it's also relatively cheap like 10$ on amazon. =)

Comments and Reviews of Ishmael

"From now on I will divide the books I have read into two categories -- the ones I read before Ishmael and those read after."
-- Jim Britell, Whole Earth Review

"A thoughtful, fearlessly low-key novel about the role of our species in the planet... laid out for us with an originality and a clarity that few would deny."
-- The New York Times Book Review

"Wonderfully engaging... Think of Robert Pirsig in Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, or B.F. Skinner in Walden Two..."
-- Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Quinn entraps us in the dialogue itself, in the sweet and terrible lucidity of Ishmael's analysis of the human condition... It was surely for this deep, clear persuasiveness of argument that Ishmael was awarded its prize."
-- The Washington Post

"... unusual, even eccentric enough to place Quinn on the cult literal map... both Socrates and King Kong might be pleased."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"...Suspenseful, inventive and socially urgent as any fiction or nonfiction book you are likely to read this or any other year."
-- The Austin Chronicle

"... fascinating... Quinn's smooth style and his intriguing proposals should hold the attention of readers interested in daunting dilemmas that beset our planet."
-- Publishers Weekly


It also won a prize in something.. not sure what.. but yey for prizes right. =)

is it the sequal to moby dick?
lol
(that character was named ishmael too).

i'll check it out.
 
Serious Creativity: Using the Power of Lateral Thinking to Create New Ideas by Edward De Bono. Help get your creative juices going. :p
 
we were one
 
Haven't read the whole thread, but if you like humor, anything by Christopher Moore. "Lamb the story of Christ as told by his buddy Biff" totally broke me up, he doesn't write really long books, though.
 
fistfullofsteel said:
Serious Creativity: Using the Power of Lateral Thinking to Create New Ideas by Edward De Bono. Help get your creative juices going. :p

i read it. my father gave seminars on creativity.
 
Beaumont said:
One Hundred Years of Solitude


ya, i ordered it.
i'm reading the contortionist's handbook, which reads very much like CHuck Palwhatevernuk.
after that I have the kite runner. and by then 100 years of solitude should arrive and i'll read that.
 
fistfullofsteel said:
Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust :D No, I didn't read it, but you should. All of it!!!


yeah, that's what i need to start doing, studying up on my philosophers...


not.
 
stilleto said:
is it the sequal to moby dick?
lol
(that character was named ishmael too).

i'll check it out.


no it's about a big Gorilla.. (I know I know, sounds retarded)

lol, it's pretty good though =)
 
Stilleto - I don't have much time for books, I usually just read short stories people point out to me... Last good book I read was called Biohazard about the Soviet biowarfare program back before their fall... Good read if you like that stuff...

Two best short stories I ever read were "harrison bergeron" and "the one's that walk away from omelas" - they both contain only truth about the world.

You could find them both with google for free on the net in 1.5 seconds I bet.
 
fistfullofsteel said:
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. I haven't read it yet but it's supposed to be really good. You can't go wrong with the classics.

The Kama Sutra is another one you should check out. :p

No Fear Shakespeare is really cool and you can find them at Barnes and Noble. Try collecting them all.

You can try reading some Kurt Vonnegut since he just passed away a few days ago.


How about self improvement books? Can always try to improve on oneself.

Post some pics of your boobies and kitty. That's a great book. :D

It all depends on what floats your boat and what you're in the mood to read.

Yuck, The brothers Karamazov was a must for an exam at my college. A little heavy read.

I would recommend The Five People You meet in Heaven. Easy and fun read
 
foreigngirl said:
Yuck, The brothers Karamazov was a must for an exam at my college. A little heavy read.

I would recommend The Five People You meet in Heaven. Easy and fun read

i didn't like it.
i found it trite and contrived, i'm sorry. i'm one of the few people that didn't care for it.
 
foreigngirl said:
what is trite and contrived?

Have you ever read Paulo Coelho?

i mean, albom's books are too perfect. they have to have a meaning and everything fits into place. it reminds me of those chicken soup for the soul's books.

i haven't read coelho... good?
 
stilleto said:
i mean, albom's books are too perfect. they have to have a meaning and everything fits into place. it reminds me of those chicken soup for the soul's books.

i haven't read coelho... good?
well, thats why I read that book of his, just let my mind rest while reading. After having read few heavy reads, I needed a break.

Paulo, wow, he is wonderfull. I have read "By the river Piedra I sat down and wept" and "The Alchemist". My sister was recomending "Veronica" too. He has many more now, have to get some of the new ones. Search them up on amazon or wherever to see if you would like his writing style. I loved it.
 
foreigngirl said:
well, thats why I read that book of his, just let my mind rest while reading. After having read few heavy reads, I needed a break.

Paulo, wow, he is wonderfull. I have read "By the river Piedra I sat down and wept" and "The Alchemist". My sister was recomending "Veronica" too. He has many more now, have to get some of the new ones. Search them up on amazon or wherever to see if you would like his writing style. I loved it.

ohhhhhhhhhhhh. wait. i read veronica years ago. i'll read that again though. i forgot all of it.
 
the Alchemist is a nice quick read. i liked it. Albom is one of those guys who assumes when a commoner is walking towards him, you want his autograph.
 
i'll check out the alchemist. i'm only on page 30 of contortionist's handbook, and I'm about to take take a tylenol pm or 5 so i doubt i'll read much tonight.
 
Top Bottom