Recommend to me your books!

[Narz]

No, not Pity yet. The Burke one looks really interesting, I might just have to get it.
Interesting idea, but I'd rather not get into a deep psychological analysis of the author, which I would be doing with every sentence.
Ishmael looked good, actually. Semi-non-fiction.

Wow, you caught my ninja edit. And yeah, it's a good book, definitely worthwhile even if you don't agree with all of it.

How much does the Scarcity title have in terms of first person accounts and uses of 80-00s example conflicts?

It doesn't have many (if any) first person accounts IIRC. It does go into some of the major conflicts of recent years (before 1998 when it was published).

Is it just theorizing and analysis? I'm looking for more of a human piece in terms of narrative style.

Yeah, mostly. It's not really "human interest" type stuff.

Thought of another book that I absolutely loved:
Beirut Fragments (Makdisi). Not so much for its exceptional political and historical analysis, but for the first person account of a major conflict, and the way it affects the individual.

Cool. I've marked it, maybe I'll check it out at the 'brary when I need something.

 

[atomicgopher]

If you want more of a fun historical read try "Down the Great Unknown" By Edward Dolnick. It is about John Wesley Powell's trip down the grand canyon. Think of it about a bunch of rednecks climibing into large unwieldly boats, and rafting down a river no one has before, all while being lead by a one armed slighly mad civil war veteran. These people were so woefully unprepared for what lay ahead it is a surprise they made it out alive.

 

[Masquerouge]

Guns, germs and steel, by Jared Diamond. A great book whose goal is to explain why some civilization did better than others.

 

[Godwynn]

Guns, germs and steel, by Jared Diamond. A great book whose goal is to explain why some civilization did better than others.

That's next on mah reading list.

 

[DNK]

Guns, germs and steel, by Jared Diamond. A great book whose goal is to explain why some civilization did better than others.

Yeah, I've heard that one suggested a bit around here.

Also, I'm thinking of "A People's History of the US". Heard that one was a goodie, although I'm not sure it's the type of book I'm looking for right now. Seems too 'academic' in style.

Hell, I might just reread the Fisk book. His politics might be a bit biased, but it's just good enough that I feel it's worth another read through.




Another thought, since I never properly finished it: "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" (Agee/Evans). That's also along the lines of what I'm looking for. In terms of literary depth, it's amazing, and the view into a crucial piece of human history equally so.

A lot of the titles I'm hearing just don't look like they'd stack up against it. What's another "Famous Men" title?

 

[DNK]

Wow, you caught my ninja edit.

Cool. I've marked it, maybe I'll check it out at the 'brary when I need something.

Out ninja'd

Just be aware of the fact that the Makdisi book is going to be heavily skewed, and because she isn't much of an academic, her historical analysis and commentary isn't really reliable. Read some of the reviews out there before getting it so you know what some of the (valid, imo) critiques are.

I like it just because of the first hand account of a major 20th century conflict and an understanding of the psychology of a group in conflict (those that choose to stay).

The Fisk one would probably be better, even though I haven't read it. If it's close to his later work, it's probably a much better read than Makdisi, although hers would be the more moving and his the more analytical and intellectual.

 

[Zenon_pt]

I don't know if this author has been translated or not but it is a good choice for you to read: Jose Rodrigues dos Santos - The Seventh Seal (O Sétimo Selo).

 

[Gooblah]

Yep, I'll throw in my hat behind...

Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond, and

Freakonomics by Stephen J Dubner and some other Stephen.

Both really good.

 

[scy12]

Conquest and Empire: The Reign of Alexander the Great by Bosworth. It is rare that you will find an author that provides so many sources for what he claims. The writer litterally always explains the source (ex Ptolemy on chapter eleven , etc) of everything mentioned. The first part of the book is about the politics , battles (bur not much in the tactics department and actual history of the journey of Alexander.

The second part of the book is about the organisation of the empire. The economy of the empire Now and before. The laws of the empire. How the other Greek cities fared , having chapters on Macedonia (actually analyzing how Macedon fared when philip took power , and the evolution of the macedonian military after the reforms of both Philip and Alexander.)and Athens (It has a chapter that follows the economic adventures of one man and the seize of his assets by the city state of Athens. And it also has a chapter that analyzes the effect of the "exoristoi" law( i am not sure that was the exact name. According to it all who where banished away their city by the city states would return.

You must take note that due to Bosswoth being antiwar she may appear as manipulating in some parts of the book. However it is a book i can't not to recommend.

 

[stormbind]

For a not very academic member of the non-fiction set, I suggest Duchamp: Artist of the Century.

 

[Cutlass]

http://www.amazon.com/Bill-Wrongs-Executive-Americas-Fundamental/dp/1400062861

 

[Ansar]

Interesting idea, but I'd rather not get into a deep psychological analysis of the author, which I would be doing with every sentence.

Why would you be inflicting such self-torture?

 

[DNK]

Why would you be inflicting such self-torture?

I wouldn't be able to help it. Every time Hitler said something of substance, I'd go off on a full analysis of it. It'd be very interesting, but hardly the "easy" sort of read I'm looking for.

 

[Shylock]

Rant by Chuck Palahniuk. Pretty thought provoking, if depressing as hell. And it's not very easy to depress me like that.

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

I'll second or third Guns, Germs and Steel. Its probably the one book out there that everyone who hasn't read it yet, should. I'd argue that its one of the most important laymen orientated non-fiction books of the last few decades.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I too will throw my recommendation of Guns, Germs and Steel into the ring.

I have also been reading a lot of the published collections of essays by Stephen Jay Gould. Interesting stuff that covers the history of science and some really obscure, weird goings-on and the like.

 

[DNK]

Alright, Guns, etc, will be my next impersonal book.

But for now, I'm going with... The Great War for Civilisation again for my 'personal' book. I really think I need a few readings to absorb its contents, and it really was just an excellent read. Then maybe On the Road to Kandahar.

Thanks for the help, and feel free to keep recommending for each other. It's always good to have book threads!

 

[twansalem]

Hunting Trips of a Ranchman - Theodore Roosevelt
The Wilderness Hunter - Theodore Roosevelt

Both of these books were written by Roosevelt before he got into politics, they are often sold together.

 

[Serutan]

If you can find them, any collection of Isaac Asimov essays. Real good stuff on
lots of subjects.

 

[Lillefix]

I fail to see "Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene here.