What are you reading right now?

[GrandmasterP]

Pratchett's Long War first book was, to me; just Moby Dick: re- hashed.

Very disappointing.

Edited May 23, 2014 by GrandmasterP

[GreytoWhite]

Never read Moby Dick but I agree that the books have been disappointing. I think Baxter did the majority of the writing in these and he is not that good when he tries to keep it light. Baxter's best writing was always the dark and gritty stuff. I hope the progressing Alzheimer's hasn't damaged Pratchett too much.

[GrandmasterP]

Just been re-reading Peter Mattiessen's ' Nine headed dragon river." It's his 'zen' travel writing.

There's a chunk of his Snow Leopard in there that I skipped having read that again last month.

The Japanese sections are very good indeed.

Matthiesen died recently and his last book has just been published to very mixed reviews.

It was slated in today's Sunday Times books section.

It's a novel about a mixed group of contemporary meditators from various faith paths on a 'retreat' at Auschwitz.

Can't say I fancy it at the moment but may give it a go once the price drops.

Edited May 25, 2014 by GrandmasterP

[GreytoWhite]

http://www.amazon.com/Freakonomics-Economist-Explores-Hidden-Everything/dp/0060731338/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401120180&sr=8-1&keywords=freakonomics

[beyonder]

Maurice Merleau-Ponty - "Éloge de la philosophie" (Dutch translation)

[GreytoWhite]

http://www.amazon.com/SuperFreakonomics-Cooling-Patriotic-Prostitutes-Insurance/dp/0060889586/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401552385&sr=1-1&keywords=superfreakonomics

[idiot_stimpy]

[doc benway]

 

Let us know what you think, I have mixed feelings about Dowman's translations.

Not that I know anything about translating Tibetan but some of his choices seem ... ??

On a related note, I just finished:

 

Edited May 31, 2014 by steve

[GreytoWhite]

http://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Freak-Authors-Freakonomics/dp/0062218336/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401586971&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+think+like+a+freak

[RiverSnake]

Currently reading "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" by Baltasar Gracian. It's a bit like the Tao Te Ching but a European version. Giving simple pointers and advice....but more focused on ones social life, politics and power. Really enjoying it so far, learning quite a bit. Only 2 bucks on kindle.

 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Worldly-Wisdom-Baltasar-Gracian/dp/0385421311/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1402542846&sr=8-3&keywords=Book+of+worldly+wisdom

 

My 2 cents, Peace

Edited June 12, 2014 by OldChi

[GrandmasterP]

Living with a Wild God.

By

Barbara Ehrenreich.

Utter tosh.

Avoid.

Edited June 15, 2014 by GrandmasterP

[RiverSnake]

Currently reading "In Search of the Ninja" by Anthony Cummins. Although an academic work, it is still very interesting. His goal is to give an accurate historical perspective of the character we call the Ninja and too cut through the dross of urban myth surrounding this renown warrior and scout. As a fan of Path Notes I am enjoying it so far.

 

http://www.amazon.com/In-Search-Ninja-Historical-Ninjutsu/dp/0752492101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403531382&sr=8-1&keywords=In+search+of+the+ninja

 

My 2 cents, Peace

Edited June 23, 2014 by OldChi

[GrandmasterP]

The Magus of Strovolos

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Magus-Strovolos-Extraordinary-Spiritual/dp/0140190341/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405285216&sr=8-1&keywords=the+magus+of+strovolos

 

Got it 'used' for one penny plus postage from Amazon partners as it was mentioned by a poster here on TTB and sounded interesting.

The overall style is very similar to The Magus of Java but it's better written.

The author is ( or was) a sociology don on sabbatical from a US University researching the subject who was a Greek Cypriot healer and mystic with quite a following on Cyprus.

Events reported seem mainly to have happened in the late seventies or early eighties of the last century.

Worth a penny plus postage for sure and passed a pleasant sunny afternoon in the reading of it.

Edited July 13, 2014 by GrandmasterP

[ralis]

Anyone read the 'Glass Bead Game' by Hesse? Just starting it tonight.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Glass-Bead-Game-Magister-Novel-ebook/dp/B00ANI9G0O/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408767344&sr=1-3&keywords=hermann+hesse

[Mark Foote]

I think I've stumbled into the adult literature class, whilst I myself am reading:

 

Merle's Door, by Ted Kerasote (it's down at the bottom of this page)

 

(a follow up to Rin Tin Tin, by Susan Orlean)

Edited August 23, 2014 by Mark Foote

[silent thunder]

Beyond Fear: The Teachings of Don Miguel Ruiz

 

same guy who wrote The Four Agreements

 

Toltec lineage, some seriously powerful discussion about the Judge and Victim we all carry around inside us as we dream the fear of our culture. Powerful and concise.

[Spotless]

At : The Project Gutenberg

http://www.gutenberg.org

 

You can download around 400000 books for free.

 

A great deal of the Theosophical Society is free. Many very good books from them.

Among them: An Introduction to Yoga by Annie Wood Besant - I like all of her books.

Many by Charles Webster Leadbeater (CW Leadbeater)

 

 

 

[Mark Foote]

True Tales of the Weird, on the Project Gutenberg site linked by Spotless above.

 

Accounts from the late 1800's, very well written, not fiction.

Edited August 24, 2014 by Mark Foote

[GreytoWhite]

I am currently reading Tom Lloyd's Moon's Artifice which is a rather interesting fantasy novel so far. I liked his earlier work but haven't read further than the first book in his last series.

[gentlewind]

Reading my through the Joseph Communication books! Thoroughly enjoyable thus far.

 

Book 1. Revelation

Book 2. Illumination

Book 3. Your Life After Death

 

next will be book 4 - The Fall.

 

and then Trance Mission.

 

http://www.josephspeaks.com/English/welcome.php

 

Also reading The Journey by Brandon Bays. Early days yet, so no comment!

[GrandmasterP]

Birders: Tales of a Tribe

By

Mark Cocker

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Birders-Mark-Cocker/dp/0099289547/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1408984018&sr=8-3&keywords=birders+tales+of+a+tribe

 

Zen and the art of birdwatching.

Super book

Edited August 25, 2014 by GrandmasterP

[GreytoWhite]

I recently finished The Long Mars by Stephen Baxter and Terry Pratchett. Seems they've taken a cue from Kim Stanley Robinson in describing Mars and Greg Bear's Darwin's Radio in talking about an emergent hominid species from within humanity. It's as if the two fellows got together and just went pure fanboy to write their collaborative books. The books aren't at all funny without the trolls and overall I'd say this is a highly disappointing science fiction series from two very talented authors.

[GrandmasterP]

I recently finished The Long Mars by Stephen Baxter and Terry Pratchett. Seems they've taken a cue from Kim Stanley Robinson in describing Mars and Greg Bear's Darwin's Radio in talking about an emergent hominid species from within humanity. It's as if the two fellows got together and just went pure fanboy to write their collaborative books. The books aren't at all funny without the trolls and overall I'd say this is a highly disappointing science fiction series from two very talented authors.

 

Totally agree.

I was very disappointed with the first one The Long Earth ( it was Moby Dick re imagined basically).

Hence haven't bothered with the other two.

One wonders to what extent, of necessity; Terry Pratchett has now become a marketing brand name to shift product rather than any indication that the once great writer has had much if any input into these recent books bearing his name.

 

[GreytoWhite]

I think it's probably to help counter his medical costs or something. Pratchett's struggle with Alzheimer's probably has a bit to do with it.

[GrandmasterP]

Sure t'be.

He can't be getting any better poor chap.

I loved the Discworld series especially the earlier ones with the Witches in.

Edited August 27, 2014 by GrandmasterP