<p>Now that I have some time for fun reads, I'm already half through On the Origin of the Species. </p>
<p>What are you reading?</p>
<p>I’m reading The Theory of the Leisure Class by Thornstein Veblen. The intro says that he infuses quite a bit of Darwin in his book. I should read On the Origin of the Species next.</p>
<p>I’ll be picking up A Short History of Nearly Everything by Billy Bryson soon…</p>
<p>On The Origin Of Species + Pleasure Reading = Does Not Compute</p>
<p>I’ll take my Nicholas Sparks, please… smart by day, ditzy by night.</p>
<p>Me? I’m starting with Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh because I think it will be interesting. I’ve been alternating interesting books I find interesting reviews for in sci-fi/fantasy reviews (my favorite genre) with rereads of fluffy, mindless Mercedes Lackey books. Since I haven’t read much “classic” sci-fi, I’m also planning on trying books by Asimov and Clarke, if only to help myself understand the genre as a whole a little better. (I’d appreciate suggestions on this front, by the way.) </p>
<p>I’m also requesting a few books on psychological profiling from my library because I think the subject is interesting.</p>
<p>Complete Essays of Michel de Montaigne</p>
<p>In Cold Blood by Truman Capote</p>
<p>Dostoevsky = WIN</p>
<p>Otherwise, I like Catch-22 (best book ever), Lies My Teacher Told Me (good history facts), The Lord of the Rings (a classic), Jurassic Park (good action, some interesting philosophy), Kurt Eichenwald’s works (non-fiction corporate expos</p>
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<p>The Foundation Trillogy is a great set of books by Asimov, though the following prequels and sequels he wrote get progressively worse. If you’re more into detective-y sci-fi there’s the Robot series which are pretty decent. Asimov also wrote fantastic short stories, so if you want a book perfect for 15-30 minute sessions pick up a compilation or two of them.</p>
<p>Clarke does fairly “hard” sci-fi, meaning it’s very firmly rooted in explaining every technological detail. This can be fun to some and extremely grating to others. However, Contact is a fantastic novel (and deviates enough from the movie it’s still a great read if you’ve already seen it). 2001 is, of course, a classic. I felt his novel was a lot more enjoyable than the movie, but that’s mostly because I thought Kubrick made it a snoozefest. Childhood’s End is also one of the best sci-fi books out there; I’ve been meaning to reread it for ages now.</p>
<p>mm there’s nothing i love more than reading at my leisure :)</p>
<p>the most recent books i’ve read have been the reader by bernhard schlink (it was pretty good; i kind of want to see the movie now) and angela’s ashes by frank mccourt.</p>
<p>i usually read contemporary or historical fiction, but sometimes i go through non-fiction or classic literature phases. i always recommend tom robbins to everyone i know :)</p>
<p>The Outliers by Malcom Gladwell. I don’t believe everything he says, but I buy the general gist of his arguments.</p>
<p>Making Money by Terry Prachett.</p>
<p>^<3 t. pratchett</p>
<p>I’m hoping to reread the Dune series soon.</p>
<p>recently, I have read…</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Lone Survivor: Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heros of Seal Team 10, Marcus Luttrell
… first half about SEAL training, 2nd half about the four man team that was dropped into the mountains in Afghanistan, stumbled upon by goat herders, and all hell breaks loose
Danny Dietz, KIA, Navy Cross
Matthew Axelson, KIA, Navy Cross
Michael Murphy, KIA, Medal of Honor
Marcus Luttrell, Navy Cross, only survivor
… all 16 members of the rescue mission were also killed. Largest loss of Special Forces life in US History</p></li>
<li><p>One Bullet Away: the Making of a Marine Officer, Nathaniel Fick
… Dartmouth (I think) grad goes to OCS, Infantry, in the Pacific for 9/11. Goes to Afghanistan and then Iraq. Now in graduate school.</p></li>
<li><p>Inside the Postal Bus: My Ride with Lance Armstrong, Michael Barry
… about life with a top level cycling team</p></li>
<li><p>Final Salute: A story of unfinished lives, Jim Sheeler
… tells the story of 3 or 4 different families from notification of death to funeral</p></li>
<li><p>Gang Leader for a Day, Sudhir Venkatesh
… PhD student hangs around with a gang leader (for… many years) in Chicago for his dissertation research</p></li>
<li><p>Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army, Jeremy Scahill
… solid facts, but author also has a political agenda</p></li>
</ul>
<p>on the future list is…
- Rescue of Streetcar 304: A Navy Pilot’s Forty Hours on the Run in Laos, Kenny Fields
- Escape from the Deep: A Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew, Alex Kershaw
- Out of Captivity: Surviving 1967 days in the Colombian jungle, Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell, and Tom Howes
- The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier’s Education, Craig Mullaney (West Point, Rhodes Scholar, US Army)</p>
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<p>I LOVE Capote.</p>
<p>I’ve finished all the novels and short story collections he wrote. All that I have left is his letters and essays. I’ve started reading Gore Vidal to fill my Capote void and it’s not really working. Although I loved The City and The Pillar. Hollywood was also very good.</p>
<p>Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand.</p>
<p>Sperm Wars, Happy Hour is for Amateurs, and Meditations - that is, if I can afford it when summer break arrives.</p>
<p>I am always trying to read one nonfiction book and one fiction book at a time, even though my progress throughout the school year is ridiculously slow. Right now I’m reading:</p>
<p>Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (fiction)
The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Religious Traditions by Karen Armstrong (nonfiction)</p>
<p>However, my waiting for work/read on break/read during down times books right now are:</p>
<p>Lost Histories by someone (nonfiction, not going to look up the author)
What You Should Know about Politics But Don’t: A Nonpartisan Guide to the Issues by Jessamyn Conrad (nonfiction)</p>
<p>The Ancestor’s Tale by Richard Dawkins. It’s pretty good.</p>
<p>Also, The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert Heinlein</p>
<p>Thus Spake Zathurasta by Nichetze</p>
<p>I never read only one book at a time</p>
<p>I like The Boxcar Children.</p>