Oh man, that's too bad I hadn't heard that. One Hundred Years of Solitude I had to read in college in the early 80s and never forgot it. He was a lefto tho a buddy of Castro. I got an A in there!

I also read his book of stories Leafstorm.

Finished Cutter and Bone by Newton Thornburg. I don't know if the characters would be believable to other generations but ,if you're a Vietnam era vet, the two main characters will be people you knew.

Cutter and Bone was a great 70s movie, Jeff Bridges and John Heard.

Running My Life by Seb Coe - just an ok insight into Coe's achievements. I feel his career in politics has probably made him look at things rather to objectively and dispassionately, and as a result i didn't really feel i knew Coe any better by the end of the book than at the start, something you can't say about the best autobiographies. That said, there were some humorous anecdotes about his time in politics, the London 2012 bid and failed 2018 World Cup bid.

Have some academic reading to plough through, so not sure what i'll read next....

In the middle of The Quiet American by Graham Greene.

I'm 50% through 3 books at the same time and have 2 on deck that I will definitely read next.

And I feel like those 5 are going to basically be what I do through summer 2014

I started reading Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason this morning, after having read nothing for the last month (grinding poker in NJ religiously) I felt mentally exhausted after about ten pages. Didn't get much sleep, but still, humbling.

I feel more stupid than I usually do when I read philosophy

Started Dangling in the Tournefortia by Bukowski; still working on Death on the Installment Plan by Celine.

Also, re-reading Writing in General and the Short Story in Particular by Rust Hills.

The Metamorphosis a novella by Franz Kafka

An odd little fable, where a man wakes up one morning to find he is a giant, revolting bug who feels more comfortable running around on the ceiling. He can no longer support his parents and sister, as his new frame doesn't suit being a travelling salesman.

I enjoyed this book, but I suspect it loses some of its flavour in translation, but I like how unconventional the 'hero' Gregor acts and thinks. At no point does he question his change or feel bad for himself - he seems quite at home, even happy, being a giant bug - it's more about how the other people react to him and his new shape and disposition. He even gives up when he realises his family is better without him, and lets them have their wishes, dark and guilt-ridden though they are.

I guess it's a parable about unbidden change and accepting it, and realising that sometimes when you change, other people oftentimes will not and cannot accept such changes, and accepting that too.

Or maybe it's just a story about a man turning into a giant bug.

9/10

Shudder....Memories of 2nd year philosophy start flooding back to me. Good Luck!

Finished the Broken Empire Trilogy a few nights ago. It wasn't bad but not sure I'd recommend it to someone unless they've already read most/all of the other book series that are better. Jorg is 1 cold hearted mofo.

I read the 1st Reacher book(Killing Floor) over the past 2 nights. It had some laughable unrealistic coincidences/moments that would never happen in real life but other than that it wasn't bad. I'll start the 2nd book tonight.

IDK if i see the point of trying to wade through philosophical literature if it's not part of structured learning where you will have an objective to critically assess the work.

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder is a much better lay persons guide to philosophy.

lol

I got this cool book about Kierkegaard a few years ago, it's like a comic book pretty much. Kierkegaard for Beginners by Donald D. Palmer, 10 kinds of awesome.

soren k is about the only philosopher I can read without getting a headache

Camus.

There often is alot of assumed knowledge for the intended reader that can make it difficult to read alot of philosophy.

Classical philosophy is usually easier to read than 20th century philosophy.

lol you tell em Digger.

Stick with the comic books is my humble opinion.

I recently read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - that is a good read for readers who want to dip their toe into reading philosophy.
Nausea By Sartre is a fictional text which can be a good starting point to 20th century existentialism, it certainly is not hard to read - it might take some effort to understand the philosophical debate he is engaged with..but nonetheless it is accessible.

What did I say?

Marcus Aurelius said something I think is an excellent life rule.

If it's not right, don't do it.
If it's not true, don't say it.

I was just joking around a little, Digger. I could never read real philosophy myself and kinda envy the people who can.

K: Well I think I agree with Elrazor, to the extent that, having a guide for philosophical work helps greatly. It may not be necessary but structures for learning in philosophy helped me alot.

There often is alot of assumed knowledge for the intended reader that can make it difficult to read alot of philosophy.

The point I was making is that, more often than not, philosophers are writing toward an audience of other philosophers so technical terminology can proliferate and even some technical terminology can change depending upon where in the philosophical debate you enter. All of that, create barriers to entry for new readers.
But I made some suggestions of books which are good reads as well as being serious works of philosophy.

GOAT 1- A Supposedly Fun Thing
GOAT 2 - Ticket to the Fair
GOAT 3 - Federer Essay
4 - Consider the Lobster

Fiction GOAT - Girl with Curious Hair