new book to read, suggestions?

[Phemomena]

i'm trying to decide on a new book to read... anyone recommend something... just to let you know the direction i'm thinking, i was debating re-reading atlas shrugged, but i'm not too sure if i can put up with Ann Rand's abuse of the english language... i guess she did a good job considering it is a second language to her, but still...

 

[HappyScrappy]

I wish every person on this board were given a copy to read of the following two books (well, more, but esp these two):
The Demon-Haunted World : Science As a Candle in the Dark -- by Carl Sagan

and

How We Know What Isn't So : The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life
by Thomas Gilovich

Both are very good.
Neither are Fiction if that is what you are looking for

 

[havoc]

Celestine Prophecy

 

[BackDoc]

Any one of these are philosophically based and fun to read:
Way of the Peaceful Warrior--zen philosophy.
The Screwtape letters--two demons writing letters back and forth to each other. Kind of short book.
The Art of War, by Sun Tzu.

Don't know if that's what you had in mind, though.

 

[HappyScrappy]

Celestine Prophecy

the only books off the bestseller list I've really enjoyed were comedy books (David Sedaris) - generally speaking though, if the masses love it, it is too full of shit for my tatste.

my step mother, well, ex step mother is all out, officially nutso fucking insane.
she thought she was psychic, could teleport, and could turn any object into another.
she recommended I read this book to open my eyes.
I tried several times to get through it, but it was far too much of a peice of shit for my taste.

assuming you were sincere Havoc, I'm suprised, but obviously to each their own.

 

[Phemomena]

the only books off the bestseller list I've really enjoyed were comedy books (David Sedaris) - generally speaking though, if the masses love it, it is too full of shit for my tatste.

my step mother, well, ex step mother is all out, officially nutso fucking insane.
she thought she was psychic, could teleport, and could turn any object into another.
she recommended I read this book to open my eyes.
I tried several times to get through it, but it was far too much of a peice of shit for my taste.

assuming you were sincere Havoc, I'm suprised, but obviously to each their own.

i am looking for something a little less mainstream, when in the mood, i can enjoy bestsellers, but i generally get through them in less than a day, and it becomes a waste of money... i'm looking for a book with re-read value... i mostly buy bestsellers in airports, something to pass the time on the flight and waiting...

happy... you seem a little less than that today... no ice cream this weekend?

keep up the suggestions guys, i'm planning on making a trip to the bookstore right after i leave the gym...

 

[havoc]

To be honest I have met the same type of people you were describing Happy, however, I liked the book because I already knew everything it was talking about, simply let me know that someone else has some positive thoughts, its fiction anyway.

 

[RyanH]

The Poisonwood Bible

David Sedaris is also very funny...I've read most of his books...

 

[May1010]

David Sedaris' "Naked" = the most hilarious book I've ever read!

 

[HappyScrappy]

positive thoughts, its fiction anyway.

ahh - see, this is the difference - you are smart enough to know better.
now I get it.
she didn't get the whole "just b/c it is in a book doesn't mean it might just be fiction or poorly researched, etc"

 

[HappyScrappy]

happy... you seem a little less than that today... no ice cream this weekend?

heee hee.
I've had to deal with far too many idiots lately and I hate having to deal with idiots. esp when they aren't aware they are idiots and are blissfully going through life when then should be addressing their problem.

that and I'm kind of dieting and haven't slept well in over two weeks.

and I had a shitload of ice cream this weekend... mmmmm

 

[May1010]

... i read all the Clive Cussler books featuring Dirk Pitt

I remember reading "Raise the Titanic" when I was a teenager. Even then, the name "Dirk Pitt" reminded me of a porn star.

 

[Ferrus]

humor - A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy O'Toole

creepy/funny - Roald Dahl - any collection of short stories

non-fiction humor/commentary - Eat the Rich, P.J. O'Rourke (all of Pj's stuff is funny)

if you've got time on your hands - The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings

beach reading - The Alienist (author?)

war humor - MASH - great book/movie; or, even better, Catch22

 

[HappyScrappy]

I agree totally with ferrus. I was going to recommend the lord of the rings tril - but I wasn't sure she'd be interested in that. it seems to usually be reserved for geeks like me.

confederacy of dunces very good.
if you want humor, I still maintain that david sedaris made me laugh harder than anything I've ever read - "me talk pretty" is pretty damn funny, as is naked.
all good.

 

[Hannibal]

The Fountainhead
by Ayn Rand

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
by Shunryu Suzuki

A Prayer for Owen Meany
by John Irving (fictional tale of a misshapen little kid who's destiny it is to become a hero)

Siddhartha
by Herman Hesse (a fictionalized account of the life of the Buddha)

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Repair
by Robert Pirsig

The Power of One
by Bryce Courtenay

365 TAO Daily Meditations
by Deng Ming-Dao

 

[Phemomena]

I agree totally with ferrus. I was going to recommend the lord of the rings tril - but I wasn't sure she'd be interested in that. it seems to usually be reserved for geeks like me.

haven't read 'em in years... may be an option....

breakfast of champions... is one of my fav books if i'm looking for humor... that's a great book bizarre sense of humor that vonengaut has... guess that says something about me...

 

[Ferrus]

Happy

with that recommendation, I think I'll get Naked!

I'll let you know what i think of it when I'm finished

welcome to the Elite Literature Discussion Board!

 

[HappyScrappy]

haven't read 'em in years... may be an option....

breakfast of champions... is one of my fav books if i'm looking for humor... that's a great book bizarre sense of humor that vonengaut has... guess that says something about me...

I've read almost all of his main books - dead eye dick was the one I really enjoyed as a kid. slaughterhouse five I enjoyed the first time, then when I had to analyze it in school I enjoyed it a lot less so.
similar with orwell's animal farm.

if you like sci fi - then I would recommend Neuromancer - or really anything at all by William Gibson - they guy is a god. Hard to get used to his writing style at first, but then you just get into his world. very cool.
also Neal Stephenson is good, sort of a Gibson-esque mindset, but much easier to read.

 

[manny78]

Anal Sex: The Complete Guide by a Dr. i just cant remember his name

 

[rudedawg]

"The O'Reilly Factor" by Bill O'Reilly

 

[Phemomena]

Anal Sex: The Complete Guide by a Dr. i just cant remember his name

read that one already... twice... may let me borrow his copy living colour voice "hated it"