What are your favorite books you've read? - book discussion thread

[LirvA]

What books that you've read have had the most impact on you? What books have you enjoyed the most? What books have you learned the most from?



One of my absolute favorites that I've read I must say is Liberty Defined by Ron Paul. Such a great book with a great philosophical foundation, very well written, easy to read, and also thought provoking.


On my 'currently reading' list are The road to serfdom by F.A. Hayek and Libertarianism in one lesson by David Bergland. They both seem to be really good and I'm enjoying reading them imo.


Whatchu readin?

[suzzer99]

Disco Bloodbath (about NYC club kids in the 80s - movie Party Monster is from this book). I laughed the entire way through. When I finished the book I was depressed because I wouldn't get to spend time with the characters in it anymore. I wanted to write James St. James a letter to thank him. My friend read it and had the exact same reaction.

[zikzak]

I have an inherent distrust of people who do not read fiction.

Having said that, Disco Bloodbath was indeed quite good, as was Party Monster. Although it was sad to see Macaulay Culkin try to be a serious actor for once and get totally pwned by Seth Green.

[serio562]

I dont read much books but honest answer is The Rise and Fall of Stuey Ungar.

[zikzak]

I'm currently reading The Prague Cemetery. It's got elder Zions in it, and their protocols.

[LirvA]

Sorry, I should have specified political type books. Economics, sociology, philosophy .... definitely don't mean like poker books or a general book discussion ...

[ctyri]

The best insights on what makes or does not make good government come from understanding more about the human condition through history. When you stop reading books written by politicians or dedicated to political themes, you can then start learning more about the complex challenges facing 7 billion people sharing a relatively small planet, interconnected by environment, technology, and economics. Political books offer simple solutions to abstract problems that don't exist in the real world. Hardcore libertarian philosophy, or even philosophy in general, has become mostly bankrupt on ideas for moving forward. And I was as staunch a libertarian as they come. I have no desire to read a "how to make the world better place" book written again. They are for suckers, imo.

You are far better off if you go read a novel or non-fiction history/psych/etc. and see the real world (or fictionalized account of it that illustrates its challenges).

I am finishing Stumbing on Happiness by Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert--fascinating insight on how we remember/forget selectively, and how this affects our judgments. These Malcolm Gladwell-esque type of books are as close as I'll ever get again to political sphere (history not included).

[serio562]

Mod: Delete my post, thanks.

[LirvA]

Originally Posted by ctyri

The best insights on what makes or does not make good government come from understanding more about the human condition through history. When you stop reading books written by politicians or dedicated to political themes, you can then start learning more about the complex challenges facing 7 billion people sharing a relatively small planet, interconnected by environment, technology, and economics. Political books offer simple solutions to abstract problems that don't exist in the real world. Hardcore libertarian philosophy, or even philosophy in general, has become mostly bankrupt on ideas for moving forward. And I was as staunch a libertarian as they come. I have no desire to read a "how to make the world better place" book written again. They are for suckers, imo.

You are far better off if you go read a novel or non-fiction history/psych/etc. and see the real world (or fictionalized account of it that illustrates its challenges).

I am finishing Stumbing on Happiness by Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert--fascinating insight on how we remember/forget selectively, and how this affects our judgments. These Malcolm Gladwell-esque type of books are as close as I'll ever get again to political sphere (history not included).

Generally speaking I disagree, but appreciate your perspective imo.

good post

[Low Key]

Originally Posted by ctyri

The best insights on what makes or does not make good government come from understanding more about the human condition through history. When you stop reading books written by politicians or dedicated to political themes, you can then start learning more about the complex challenges facing 7 billion people sharing a relatively small planet, interconnected by environment, technology, and economics. Political books offer simple solutions to abstract problems that don't exist in the real world. Hardcore libertarian philosophy, or even philosophy in general, has become mostly bankrupt on ideas for moving forward. And I was as staunch a libertarian as they come. I have no desire to read a "how to make the world better place" book written again. They are for suckers, imo.

I think this post pretty much waffle-crushes the entire politics forum

[All-In Flynn]

Recently acquired Vols 2, 3 and 4 of Orwell's collected essays, journalism and letters (I'd finally worn out Vol 1). Obviously quite hit-and-miss in terms of quality (especially the letters) but some of it is absolutely fascinating. Thanks to 1984 (in fact in large part to misconceptions about it) Orwell is hugely overrated as a prophet and a lot of his forecasts in the period ~'38-'45 are pretty laughable to read now. He didn't have a particularly accurate political thermometer, but he did have an amazingly sharp bull**** detector. Not to mention an admirable turn of phrase. Recommend highly.

[tomdemaine]

Favourite book ever is either 1984 (makes my cry every time) or catch 22 (makes me laugh every time) guess I just love number books.

[Money2Burn]

I really enjoyed A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. It's a personal account of the author's time spent as a boy soldier in Sierra Leon.

War by Sebastian Junger was good, too.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by LirvA

Sorry, I should have specified political type books. Economics, sociology, philosophy .... definitely don't mean like poker books or a general book discussion ...

Wtf you stoner. You started a thread about books. Live with it.

[seattlelou]

Yeah Lirva you can start a thread but you can't control it's direction. Read something by John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany or Cider House Rules are both excellent.