Didn’t Robert Pirsig, the author of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” go nuts and end up in an insane asylum?
[quote]Nards wrote:
Didn’t Robert Pirsig, the author of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” go nuts and end up in an insane asylum?[/quote]
Even more intriguing.
I just googled and got this:
Due to suffering a nervous breakdown, Pirsig spent time in and out of psychiatric hospitals between 1961 to 1963. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and clinical depression as a result of an evaluation conducted by psychoanalysts, and was treated with shock therapy on numerous occasions.[citation needed]
[quote]Nards wrote:
I just googled and got this:
Due to suffering a nervous breakdown, Pirsig spent time in and out of psychiatric hospitals between 1961 to 1963. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and clinical depression as a result of an evaluation conducted by psychoanalysts, and was treated with shock therapy on numerous occasions.[citation needed]
[/quote]
Thread killer! Jk, who cares. Def. buying. Also mein kampf. Not really. Under and Alone by William Queen was a fun read though.
[quote]Nards wrote:
I just googled and got this:
Due to suffering a nervous breakdown, Pirsig spent time in and out of psychiatric hospitals between 1961 to 1963. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and clinical depression as a result of an evaluation conducted by psychoanalysts, and was treated with shock therapy on numerous occasions.[citation needed]
[/quote]
Yeah, that is the case. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is sort of autobiographical. He tells the story of undergoing the shock treatment.
Just re-read Godel Escher Bach (I hit it about every six months, trying to figure it out), so far all I know is that I’ll probably need to do a tremendous amount of LSD to get it.
Smashing through the Warren Murphy “Destroyer” series. Quick, easy reads. Straight up pulp fiction action with tons of humor and political pokes.
Also have Thib’s “Black Book of Training Secrets” on my reading pile again.
[quote]ChongLordUno wrote:
[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
Just bought Robert Fisk’s “The Great War for Civilisation.”
It is easily the single greatest book I’ve ever read. [/quote]
This interests me hugely
Some of Fisk’s work is tremendous.
[/quote]
It is a remarkable book. It’s about 900 pages, and I’m only about 200 in, but he’s written about his two interview with Osama Bin Laden, traveling through Soviet occupied Afghanistan in the 1980s, the 1979 revolution, and his interview with Khomeni.
For background for those that don’t know - Fisk was the Middle East correspondent for several British newspapers over the years, and he was a first hand witness to all that’s gone on there.
He is fairly liberal, not necessarily pro-American, but not pro-British either - he fully realizes and expounds upon the idea that all the problems suffered by the Middle East are a result of the what went on after World War I, when somewhat arbitrary borders were drawn and countries that should have never existed were created.
On top of all of this, he is a fantastic writer, and this travel log of sorts moves very quickly. However, it is VERY in depth.
It should be read by every single person in the country who ever casts a vote or talks on politics, in my opinion.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.
[quote]pushharder wrote:
What I’m reading now:
In February 1943, German forces surrendered to the Red Army at Stalingrad and the tide of war turned. By May 1945 Soviet soldiers had stormed Berlin and brought down Hitler’s regime.
Total War follows the fortunes of these fighters as they liberated Russia and the Ukraine from the Nazi invader and fought their way into the heart of the Reich. It reveals the horrors they experienced - the Holocaust, genocide and the mass murder of Soviet POWs - and shows the Red Army, brutalized by war, taking its terrible revenge on the German civilian population. For the first time Russian veterans are candid about the terrible atrocities their own army committed. But they also describe their struggle to raise themselves from the abyss of hatred. Their war against the Nazis - which in large part brought the Second World War in Europe to an end - is a tarnished but deeply moving story of sacrifice and redemption.[/quote]
This is being added to my reading list. Thanks
I am reading “John Adams”…I have had it for a while and finally got down to reading it and am enjoying it immensely. Very detailed and well written.
A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links between Leadership and Mental Illness
by Nassir Ghaemi .
Good so far- he uses Lincoln, Sherman, Churchill, JFK and others to prove that mood disorders were actually a benefit in times of crisis for certain leaders, while ‘ordinary’ men like Jimmy Carter proved to be a liability in similar situations.
Kiss or Kill: Confessions of a Serial Climber by Mark Twight. I know next to nothing about Alpine climbing, but still a very good book. Used my highlighter a few times while reading. The dude is intense, driven to the point of being suicidal, and arrogant. But he has a great gift for writing.
Been thrown around here before, but read the essay ‘Twitching with Twight’ to get a feel…worth your 5 minutes.
Anybody who likes George RR Martin should try The Name of the WInd by Patrick Rothfuss as it feels like something he could have written.
Though I’m only on page 66 right now, but it’s good. Every page is enjoyable the way Martin is able to make even one person sitting down and thinking entirely readable for 4 or 5 pages.
The Dark tower 1-5 - some of stepehen kings best books
Survivor- So far my least favorite Palahuniuk book certainly not as good as fightclub or Huanted
Enemies foreign and domestic- Deals with a fictional scenario about gun control in the U.S. good book cheesy at some points though
Game of thrones- Just started but so far, so good.
books i have read lately,
Dark Tower series was, absolutely boring at times but had its moments. Salem’s lot, and The Stand are my favorite King books. Couldn’t get through Under The Dome… Don’t care enough about the characters.
Game of Thrones (ice and fire) , great books.
Some assorted Lovecraft, Call of Cthulhu and other weird tales.
I’m looking for some new books in the horror/dark fantasy genre. I find That I am most inspired in my artwork when I stimulate my imagination with those kinds of books.
The book that pulled me Into the fantasy genre was Chainers Torment by Scott McGough… It was an unreal read.
I recently read Dune and really enjoyed it. Now I have to go watch the movie again that I haven’t seen since I was a kid.
“down and out in paris and london” was pretty interesting, but it gets boring and preachy/political in parts.
Iconoclast by Gregory Berns. It’s basically about how the brain functions for people that are able to create and innovate where others can’t. In other words it’s about the neurology behind thinking differently than most others. It’s really neat actually. A bit technical at times, but very interesting.
A Stolen Life: A Memoir
by Jaycee Dugard
Not ghostwritten. A very disturbing book.
I know its a bump, but deal with it.
Been in the reading mood lately.
Read this trilogy by Brent Weeks over the past couple of weeks and the first book of his new series. Fun reading.
Also reading the Hunger Games trilogy this is not a kids book for sure.
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
I know its a bump, but deal with it.
Been in the reading mood lately.
Read this trilogy by Brent Weeks over the past couple of weeks and the first book of his new series. Fun reading.
Also reading the Hunger Games trilogy this is not a kids book for sure. [/quote]
From what Ive heard about the Hunger Games, it remnds me of those old Battle royale films
[quote]pgtips wrote:
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
I know its a bump, but deal with it.
Been in the reading mood lately.
Read this trilogy by Brent Weeks over the past couple of weeks and the first book of his new series. Fun reading.
Also reading the Hunger Games trilogy this is not a kids book for sure. [/quote]
From what Ive heard about the Hunger Games, it remnds me of those old Battle royale films[/quote]
Actually interesting read, never been a big fan of lead characters being female, however the writing is very good and engaging.