If you're looking for something more funny I recommend Lucky Jim by his father Kingsley.
The 50 Book Challenge 2010
1. Lao She - Beneath the Red Banner 187p.
2. Martin Amis - The Second Plane 206p.
3. Kingsley Amis - The Alteration 208p.
4. Robert van Gulik - Richter Di bei der Arbeit (Judge Dee at work) 221p.
Judge Dee was a Chinese state official in China who lived between 630 and 700. The Chinese remember him for his solving of crimes, while he worked as judge in different districts. Until today he is as popular as Sherlock Holmes in Western literature and Robert van Gulik wrote some books about him.
Judge Dee at work is a collection of eight cases, which are altogether fictional, but some details of the stories are based on true happenings in China in the time of the Tang dynasty. Easy read - I've read it because my Chinese lector recommened it.
2. Martin Amis - The Second Plane 206p.
3. Kingsley Amis - The Alteration 208p.
4. Robert van Gulik - Richter Di bei der Arbeit (Judge Dee at work) 221p.
Judge Dee was a Chinese state official in China who lived between 630 and 700. The Chinese remember him for his solving of crimes, while he worked as judge in different districts. Until today he is as popular as Sherlock Holmes in Western literature and Robert van Gulik wrote some books about him.
Judge Dee at work is a collection of eight cases, which are altogether fictional, but some details of the stories are based on true happenings in China in the time of the Tang dynasty. Easy read - I've read it because my Chinese lector recommened it.
Simon Kittlaus aka å£å£«è
1. Jørgen Leth & Morten Sabroe - "That's why they fuck so much in this country" (333 pages)
2. Malcolm Jacobson - "Writers United: The WUFC Story. A Swedish Graffiti Crew" (160 pages)
Great book about one of the most active graffiti crews in the world. You really get to know how a writer thinks and lives. Recommended for anyone remotely interested in graffiti.
2. Malcolm Jacobson - "Writers United: The WUFC Story. A Swedish Graffiti Crew" (160 pages)
Great book about one of the most active graffiti crews in the world. You really get to know how a writer thinks and lives. Recommended for anyone remotely interested in graffiti.
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bigdirtyfoot
- Sloppy
- Posts: 3142
- Joined: 22 Apr 2002 12:30
- Location: NC
1. The Great Shark Hunt: Gonzo Papers, Volume 1, Hunter S. Thompson, 602 pg.
2. The Ballad of the Flim-Flam Man, Guy Owen, 277 pg.
3. Dancing Wu Li Masters, Gary Zukav, 376 pg.
4. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 268 pg.
This was my second attempt at reading some Huxley. I thought it was pretty good - I'm gonna have to read it again sometime soon. You can check out my review here.
2. The Ballad of the Flim-Flam Man, Guy Owen, 277 pg.
3. Dancing Wu Li Masters, Gary Zukav, 376 pg.
4. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 268 pg.
This was my second attempt at reading some Huxley. I thought it was pretty good - I'm gonna have to read it again sometime soon. You can check out my review here.
1. Sophie's World (Sofies verden) by Jostein Gaarder, 437 pages
2. The Republic by Plato (Platon, Valtio), 428 pages
This book really helped me understand why the current political system in western world is what it is and why it is the best of the systems. It also made me realise a lot things I wont go into right now. Definitely a good read, best philosophy I've read this far.
2. The Republic by Plato (Platon, Valtio), 428 pages
This book really helped me understand why the current political system in western world is what it is and why it is the best of the systems. It also made me realise a lot things I wont go into right now. Definitely a good read, best philosophy I've read this far.
Lauri Airinen
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Iron Clad Ben
- Superior Precision Bionics
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 08 Jan 2006 19:11
- Location: La Habra, CA
- Contact:
1) Killer Poker Online: Crushing the Internet Game by John Vorhaus 278pp
2) The 5 Love Languages by John Chapman 204pp
3) Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 272pp
4) Mirrorshades / Short Stories Collection / Various Authors 214pp
This is a collection of "Cyberpunk" short stories written in the mid-to-early 80s. It's eerie how close some of them get to guessing the future. I thought I would be laughing at a lot of bad guesses, but everything from "emo" (though it's called something else) to Arab terrorism and the collapse of the American economy is forecasted in these stories. I had to take breaks after reading some of the stories because they were just such a mindf**k. Plenty of gritty "High Tech Low Life" stories.
2) The 5 Love Languages by John Chapman 204pp
3) Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 272pp
4) Mirrorshades / Short Stories Collection / Various Authors 214pp
This is a collection of "Cyberpunk" short stories written in the mid-to-early 80s. It's eerie how close some of them get to guessing the future. I thought I would be laughing at a lot of bad guesses, but everything from "emo" (though it's called something else) to Arab terrorism and the collapse of the American economy is forecasted in these stories. I had to take breaks after reading some of the stories because they were just such a mindf**k. Plenty of gritty "High Tech Low Life" stories.
Yeah I was inspired by seeing you reading some Amis and wanted something short and light to read between serious books. Not that it was light, but it was short. Will have a look out for Lucky Jim.daLai wrote:Good to see more people reading Amis' books
If you're looking for something more funny I recommend Lucky Jim by his father Kingsley.
@Dave; Good review. It's years since I've read Brace New World but as I recall I found it fairly unconvincing as some kind of prediction of the future. Same with 1984, which it's often linked with.
1. Jørgen Leth & Morten Sabroe - "That's why they fuck so much in this country" (333 pages)
2. Malcolm Jacobson - "Writers United: The WUFC Story. A Swedish Graffiti Crew" (160 pages)
3. Lars Movin - "Torben Ulrich: Jazz, ball and buddhism" (491 pages)
Torben Ulrich is one of the greatest danish tennisplayers ever. Having played the wimbledon numerous times in the 50s.
He was notorious for believing more in a beautiful play than winning the game.
And he once left a match because he wanted to see the final in the world football champs.
He is also one of the most interesting and skilled jazzwriters in Denmark.
He is also a buddhist, painter and poet.
He is the father of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.
This book is a collection of articles, essays, peoples opinions, interviews and such from the 50s till today. Really inspireing read.
Here is his website: http://www.torbenulrich.com/index.htm
2. Malcolm Jacobson - "Writers United: The WUFC Story. A Swedish Graffiti Crew" (160 pages)
3. Lars Movin - "Torben Ulrich: Jazz, ball and buddhism" (491 pages)
Torben Ulrich is one of the greatest danish tennisplayers ever. Having played the wimbledon numerous times in the 50s.
He was notorious for believing more in a beautiful play than winning the game.
And he once left a match because he wanted to see the final in the world football champs.
He is also one of the most interesting and skilled jazzwriters in Denmark.
He is also a buddhist, painter and poet.
He is the father of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.
This book is a collection of articles, essays, peoples opinions, interviews and such from the 50s till today. Really inspireing read.
Here is his website: http://www.torbenulrich.com/index.htm
1. Lao She - Beneath the Red Banner 187p.
2. Martin Amis - The Second Plane 206p.
3. Kingsley Amis - The Alteration 208p.
4. Robert van Gulik - Richter Di bei der Arbeit (Judge Dee at work) 221p.
5. Miriam Colleé - In China essen sie den Mond 266p.
A book my parents gave me for my birthday. The author gives up her job in Hamburg, because her husband gets an attractive job offer from his firm to work in Shanghai. The book is an account of the first 1 1/2 years the family lives in Shanghai filled with their experiences what living in Shanghai looks like. Partly funny book, I don't think there will be an English translation for this one.
2. Martin Amis - The Second Plane 206p.
3. Kingsley Amis - The Alteration 208p.
4. Robert van Gulik - Richter Di bei der Arbeit (Judge Dee at work) 221p.
5. Miriam Colleé - In China essen sie den Mond 266p.
A book my parents gave me for my birthday. The author gives up her job in Hamburg, because her husband gets an attractive job offer from his firm to work in Shanghai. The book is an account of the first 1 1/2 years the family lives in Shanghai filled with their experiences what living in Shanghai looks like. Partly funny book, I don't think there will be an English translation for this one.
Simon Kittlaus aka å£å£«è
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Zac Miley
- Post Master General
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- Joined: 04 Jun 2006 12:11
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Contact:
1. Civilwarland in Bad Decline by George Saunders.
2. Anthem by Ayn Rand
3. You Are Just A Little Bit Happier Than I Am by Tao Lin
4. Night by Elie Wiesel
5. Defense of Socrates, Euthyphro, Crito by Plato (translated by David G).
Required reading for a class, but it was obviously thought-provoking and interesting.
2. Anthem by Ayn Rand
3. You Are Just A Little Bit Happier Than I Am by Tao Lin
4. Night by Elie Wiesel
5. Defense of Socrates, Euthyphro, Crito by Plato (translated by David G).
Required reading for a class, but it was obviously thought-provoking and interesting.
Jay (8:06:01 PM): Bu-bu-buu-buug--Looks up, and the feeling goes away like a sneeze-bu-buuuh-BULLLSHITTT
Jay (8:06:14 PM): *wipes bellybutton*
Jay (8:06:14 PM): *wipes bellybutton*
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bigdirtyfoot
- Sloppy
- Posts: 3142
- Joined: 22 Apr 2002 12:30
- Location: NC
1. The Great Shark Hunt: Gonzo Papers, Volume 1, Hunter S. Thompson, 602 pg.
2. The Ballad of the Flim-Flam Man, Guy Owen, 277 pg.
3. Dancing Wu Li Masters, Gary Zukav, 376 pg.
4. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 268 pg.
5. Cities of the Plain, Cormac McCarthy, 304 pg.
Amazing. I'm glad I finally finished McCarthy's Border Trilogy. It was so good! Everything was written the way it was supposed to have been. Or at least that's the feeling you get while you're reading it. Cities of the Plain takes the main characters of each of the first two books and throws them into a situation together. As per usual, the end of the book is fairly bleak, but the writing is extremely well done and I always walk away from McCarthy's books feeling like I've learned a life lesson. Highly recommended. Check out my book review here.
2. The Ballad of the Flim-Flam Man, Guy Owen, 277 pg.
3. Dancing Wu Li Masters, Gary Zukav, 376 pg.
4. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 268 pg.
5. Cities of the Plain, Cormac McCarthy, 304 pg.
Amazing. I'm glad I finally finished McCarthy's Border Trilogy. It was so good! Everything was written the way it was supposed to have been. Or at least that's the feeling you get while you're reading it. Cities of the Plain takes the main characters of each of the first two books and throws them into a situation together. As per usual, the end of the book is fairly bleak, but the writing is extremely well done and I always walk away from McCarthy's books feeling like I've learned a life lesson. Highly recommended. Check out my book review here.
1. Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn 263 pages
2. A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 131 pages
3. The Stranger by Albert Camus 154
Kind of fell off the horse for a bit. I started reading crime and punishment two weeks ago but it was so involved I had trouble finding enough time to dedicate to it, I'll give it another shot in a few weeks.
The Stranger was pretty entertaining. It's about a frenchman who goes about his daily life and the first half of the book mostly introduces you to other characters and setting up for the rest of the book, which is his time in jail for murder and his thoughts on being sentenced to death by public decapitation. Easy read, pretty good story.
2. A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 131 pages
3. The Stranger by Albert Camus 154
Kind of fell off the horse for a bit. I started reading crime and punishment two weeks ago but it was so involved I had trouble finding enough time to dedicate to it, I'll give it another shot in a few weeks.
The Stranger was pretty entertaining. It's about a frenchman who goes about his daily life and the first half of the book mostly introduces you to other characters and setting up for the rest of the book, which is his time in jail for murder and his thoughts on being sentenced to death by public decapitation. Easy read, pretty good story.
Mike Toolan
Penn State Footbag Club
Penn State Footbag Club
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Iron Clad Ben
- Superior Precision Bionics
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 08 Jan 2006 19:11
- Location: La Habra, CA
- Contact:
I'm finding that having one fiction book and one non-fiction book that I'm reading at any given time helps a lot. If you stagnate on one book you can read the other. February has been super productive for me I've read 3 books and I'm halfway through 2 others.
1) Killer Poker Online: Crushing the Internet Game by John Vorhaus 278pp
2) The 5 Love Languages by John Chapman 204pp
3) Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 272pp
4) Mirrorshades / Short Stories Collection / Various Authors 214pp
5) Food For Fitness: Eat Right to Train Right by Chris Carmichael 414pp
This guy has been Lance Armstrong's personal coach for a long time. For the most part this book reinforced a lot of what I already know. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, vary them, drink plenty of water, etc. What I think I learned the most of from is what and how much to drink before, during and after workouts. It also debunks a lot of myths about low-fat, high-protein and low-carb diets. Especially about how they're for the most part not applicable to athletes.
6) Neuromancer by William Gibson 279pp
Probably the 5th time I've read this book since I first read it in 1997. It gets better every time. It's easily one of my favorite books ever. This book was the first Sci-Fi book to win the Hugo, Nebula and Philip K. Dick award when it was published in 1984. Neuromancer tells the story of a not-too distant future.
Case was one of the best computer hackers in the world until he stole from the wrong people. They poisoned his nervous system with a toxin that prevented him from jacking into the matrix ever again. He spends his days hustling drugs and stolen hardware in the slums of Japan, trying to eek out a living. On the verge of being chewed up by the streets, luck smiles on him and he gets hired by an employer who is willing to fix his condition in return for one last hacking job... and the adventure begins...
Absolutely incredible. If you read 1 sci-fi book on your 50 book challenge this year, make it this one.
1) Killer Poker Online: Crushing the Internet Game by John Vorhaus 278pp
2) The 5 Love Languages by John Chapman 204pp
3) Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 272pp
4) Mirrorshades / Short Stories Collection / Various Authors 214pp
5) Food For Fitness: Eat Right to Train Right by Chris Carmichael 414pp
This guy has been Lance Armstrong's personal coach for a long time. For the most part this book reinforced a lot of what I already know. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, vary them, drink plenty of water, etc. What I think I learned the most of from is what and how much to drink before, during and after workouts. It also debunks a lot of myths about low-fat, high-protein and low-carb diets. Especially about how they're for the most part not applicable to athletes.
6) Neuromancer by William Gibson 279pp
Probably the 5th time I've read this book since I first read it in 1997. It gets better every time. It's easily one of my favorite books ever. This book was the first Sci-Fi book to win the Hugo, Nebula and Philip K. Dick award when it was published in 1984. Neuromancer tells the story of a not-too distant future.
Case was one of the best computer hackers in the world until he stole from the wrong people. They poisoned his nervous system with a toxin that prevented him from jacking into the matrix ever again. He spends his days hustling drugs and stolen hardware in the slums of Japan, trying to eek out a living. On the verge of being chewed up by the streets, luck smiles on him and he gets hired by an employer who is willing to fix his condition in return for one last hacking job... and the adventure begins...
Absolutely incredible. If you read 1 sci-fi book on your 50 book challenge this year, make it this one.
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bigdirtyfoot
- Sloppy
- Posts: 3142
- Joined: 22 Apr 2002 12:30
- Location: NC
1. The Great Shark Hunt: Gonzo Papers, Volume 1, Hunter S. Thompson, 602 pg.
2. The Ballad of the Flim-Flam Man, Guy Owen, 277 pg.
3. Dancing Wu Li Masters, Gary Zukav, 376 pg.
4. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 268 pg.
5. Cities of the Plain, Cormac McCarthy, 304 pg.
6. Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse, 152 pg.
This is the second time reading this for me - last time I read it was in high school eight years ago. I really enjoyed it this time. It's a personal book - everyone could get something different from it. You can read my review here.
2. The Ballad of the Flim-Flam Man, Guy Owen, 277 pg.
3. Dancing Wu Li Masters, Gary Zukav, 376 pg.
4. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 268 pg.
5. Cities of the Plain, Cormac McCarthy, 304 pg.
6. Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse, 152 pg.
This is the second time reading this for me - last time I read it was in high school eight years ago. I really enjoyed it this time. It's a personal book - everyone could get something different from it. You can read my review here.
I'll get in on this since I've started reading more lately. Let's see what I have so far
1) Whiteout by Ted Conover
2) House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski
3) Diary by Chuck Palahniuk
4) The New New Journalism by Robert S Boynton
Can't remember if that is all so far or not. House of Leaves has been my favorite so far--really complex, kinda scary, and he experiments with footnotes and weird layout a lot.
1) Whiteout by Ted Conover
2) House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski
3) Diary by Chuck Palahniuk
4) The New New Journalism by Robert S Boynton
Can't remember if that is all so far or not. House of Leaves has been my favorite so far--really complex, kinda scary, and he experiments with footnotes and weird layout a lot.
1. Lao She - Beneath the Red Banner 187p.
2. Martin Amis - The Second Plane 206p.
3. Kingsley Amis - The Alteration 208p.
4. Robert van Gulik - Richter Di bei der Arbeit (Judge Dee at work) 221p.
5. Miriam Colleé - In China essen sie den Mond 266p.
6. Philip Roth - Portnoy's Complaint 274p.
Ehh, crazy book. A Jew who is very very obsessed with sex.
2. Martin Amis - The Second Plane 206p.
3. Kingsley Amis - The Alteration 208p.
4. Robert van Gulik - Richter Di bei der Arbeit (Judge Dee at work) 221p.
5. Miriam Colleé - In China essen sie den Mond 266p.
6. Philip Roth - Portnoy's Complaint 274p.
Ehh, crazy book. A Jew who is very very obsessed with sex.
Simon Kittlaus aka å£å£«è
-
Iron Clad Ben
- Superior Precision Bionics
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 08 Jan 2006 19:11
- Location: La Habra, CA
- Contact:
1) Killer Poker Online: Crushing the Internet Game by John Vorhaus 278pp
2) The 5 Love Languages by John Chapman 204pp
3) Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 272pp
4) Mirrorshades / Short Stories Collection / Various Authors 214pp
5) Food For Fitness: Eat Right to Train Right by Chris Carmichael 414pp
6) Neuromancer by William Gibson 279pp
7) Work To Live by Joe Robinson 304pp
Great book on work-life balance. It talks about how Americans in particular are overworked to the point where it's bad for our health and happiness. In fact, Americans work so many hours and weeks out of the year our productivity/year is actually worse than Europeans who get usually 4-6 weeks vacation/year! Some great tips on how to avoid the guilt traps and self defeating behavior that cause people to overwork themselves. If you feel you are overworked, read this book!
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking 256pp
A physics book. Explains cosmology, big bang theory, quantum physics, black holes and event horizons without any equations. It's actually still fairly terse despite lack of equations. In fact I think it would actually be easier for the layman if it did have a few equations. I don't know how someone with no physics background could digest all of it. Still, great read! I learned a lot about relativity, the big bang theory and black holes. Very cool book!
9) Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom 192pp
Disclaimer: I saw the movie a while back before reading this one. Basic idea: an overworked newspaper columnist finds out his favorite professor from college who he hasn't talked to in 14 years is dying. Around the same time there is a writer's strike so he has nothing better to do than visit him each Tuesday. They talk about life, love, family, happiness, a bunch of touchy feely stuff before he eventually dies. The story really makes you step back and take time re-evaluate your life. A+++
2) The 5 Love Languages by John Chapman 204pp
3) Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 272pp
4) Mirrorshades / Short Stories Collection / Various Authors 214pp
5) Food For Fitness: Eat Right to Train Right by Chris Carmichael 414pp
6) Neuromancer by William Gibson 279pp
7) Work To Live by Joe Robinson 304pp
Great book on work-life balance. It talks about how Americans in particular are overworked to the point where it's bad for our health and happiness. In fact, Americans work so many hours and weeks out of the year our productivity/year is actually worse than Europeans who get usually 4-6 weeks vacation/year! Some great tips on how to avoid the guilt traps and self defeating behavior that cause people to overwork themselves. If you feel you are overworked, read this book!
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking 256ppA physics book. Explains cosmology, big bang theory, quantum physics, black holes and event horizons without any equations. It's actually still fairly terse despite lack of equations. In fact I think it would actually be easier for the layman if it did have a few equations. I don't know how someone with no physics background could digest all of it. Still, great read! I learned a lot about relativity, the big bang theory and black holes. Very cool book!
9) Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom 192pp
Disclaimer: I saw the movie a while back before reading this one. Basic idea: an overworked newspaper columnist finds out his favorite professor from college who he hasn't talked to in 14 years is dying. Around the same time there is a writer's strike so he has nothing better to do than visit him each Tuesday. They talk about life, love, family, happiness, a bunch of touchy feely stuff before he eventually dies. The story really makes you step back and take time re-evaluate your life. A+++
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Zac Miley
- Post Master General
- Posts: 5953
- Joined: 04 Jun 2006 12:11
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Contact:
1. Civilwarland in Bad Decline by George Saunders.
2. Anthem by Ayn Rand
3. You Are Just A Little Bit Happier Than I Am by Tao Lin
4. Night by Elie Wiesel
5. Defense of Socrates, Euthyphro, Crito by Plato (translated by David G).
6. Art on the Edge and Over by Linda Weintraub.
Currently reading Oedipus the King.
2. Anthem by Ayn Rand
3. You Are Just A Little Bit Happier Than I Am by Tao Lin
4. Night by Elie Wiesel
5. Defense of Socrates, Euthyphro, Crito by Plato (translated by David G).
6. Art on the Edge and Over by Linda Weintraub.
Currently reading Oedipus the King.
Jay (8:06:01 PM): Bu-bu-buu-buug--Looks up, and the feeling goes away like a sneeze-bu-buuuh-BULLLSHITTT
Jay (8:06:14 PM): *wipes bellybutton*
Jay (8:06:14 PM): *wipes bellybutton*