There are no children here- I think this book is a must read for those who are interested in sociology.
Go ask Alice- Sad, trippy tale of a random girls descent into the 60’s counter culture.
Mein Kampf- I must admit that I haven’t finished this because it is a HEAVY read, but it is really interesting and in a completely warped way you can see the “charm” [for lack of a better term] Hitler had that made him so captivating to an entire nation.
Fall River Dreams- apparently the basketball version of Friday Night Lights. 'tis awesome.
Hammer of the Gods- Zeppelins debouchery witnessed and chronicled. Pretty crazy in spots.
Those are the books I’ve read [or attempted to read] most recently. I also read a dossier on several serial killers, but don’t remember the title.
Recently read and on my night stand:
Pandora in the Congo - Can’t remember the author, but it was awesome
The Enchantress of Florence - Salman Rushdie, everything by rushdie is awesome
Bunch of old short stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - also Memories of My Melancholy Whores
McCarthy’s Bar - Peter McCarthy (Irish travelogue, kinda makes you want to go to Ireland and also makes you want to never go to Ireland)
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - Great comic book
The James boys : a novel account of four desperate brothers - Richard Liebmann Smith
Bunch of Cooks Illustrated magazines
I’ve been thumbing through Letters from a Stoic by Seneca and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
They are honestly kind of boring but I told myself I would read them.
Meditations starts out good and Aurelius lists his role models and the character traits they taught him. Its impressive stuff and if we had more leaders like that, the world wouldn’t be such a messed up place. The Letters have been disappointing.
[quote]Alpha wrote:
So I’m looking for some new books to buy…
I know this has been done to death, but what books have you read RECENTLY that you think no one should go their lives without reading?
Thanks[/quote]
We Were Soldiers Once; And Young by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.) and war journalist Joseph L. Galloway. It focuses on the role of the First and Second Battalions of the 7th Cavalry Regiment in the Battle of Ia Drang, the United States’ first large-unit battle of the Vietnam War.
This was the book that the movie We Were Soldiers Once is based on. The book the real life account of the battle by the commanding officer; Maj. Hal Moore.
Also; Underboss by Sammy "The Bull Gravano. This is the real life story of Sammy Gravano, who grew up in the Mob and became a mob boss under John Gotti.
If you like fantasy I have a couple suggestion in that direction as well:
The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan,
The Wizards First Rule Series by Terry Goodkind
The Sword of Shannara Series by Terry Brooks
The Legend of Drizzt by R.A. Salvatore
If you are into aviation, I just finished “Skunk Works”. It was first person narrative by Ben Rich, former head of Lockheed Martin’s top secret Skunk Works facility. Awesome book, explains in great detail the needs of planes such as U-2, SR-71, and F-117 and the development of stealth technology. The stories this guy tells about all the used to be classified info is just exciting.
Chosen Soldier by Dick Couch (all about special forces selection)
The Mission, The Men, and Me: Lessons From a Former Delta Force Commander by Pete Blaber
Almost done with Atlas Shrugged, and it’s a damn good book, but you sound like a smart mother fucker so you’ve probably read it already.
I almost forgot the "The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 facts about the worlds greates human.
Can. Not. Live. Without.
[quote]WolBarret wrote:
If it isn’t an instruction manual or has tits in it, I won’t check it out. So my selection is small:
The Coveted Black And Gold: A Daily Journey Through the U.S. Army Ranger School Experience
[/quote]
Lol, your reading preferences remind me of my own. It’s always practical books that teach me how to do shit/get better at shit…like books on training, textbooks, ect. And of course, pornos. I’ve only recently started forcing myself to read a greater variety of things.
“Awaken the Giant Within”; ~ Tony Robbins
Let me add one thing I forgot:
Blind Man’s Bluff: It’s the true story of American submarine operations during the Cold War. The stories are told to the author by the men who manned the subs during the operations.
According to the wrriter, some of the stories are supposed to be classified. It’s a very good read and to me it’s fascinating to read some of the things the military was doing that the public (and the enemy) had no idea was going on.
Trigger Men: Shadow Team, Spider-Man, the Magnificent Bastards, and the American Combat Sniper by Hans Halberstadt
Masters Of Chaos - Linda Robinson
Leadership and Training for the fight - MSG(ret) Paul Howe
Leadership the Warrior’s Art - Christopher D. Kolenda
A Book of Five Rings - Miyamoto Musashi
The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228 - Dick Couch
Man’s Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
The Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield.I laughed, I almost cried and I will never be ashamed! Its about Thermopylae through the eyes of a slave/squire dictating the story to king Xerxes. Its a fuckin awesome book that is required reading for Marines, I would recommend it to anyone. Its a very powerful book that doesn’t even give the slightest hint of “300” nonsense but still kicks ass.
[quote]Petermus wrote:
The Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield.I laughed, I almost cried and I will never be ashamed! Its about Thermopylae through the eyes of a slave/squire dictating the story to king Xerxes. Its a fuckin awesome book that is required reading for Marines, I would recommend it to anyone. Its a very powerful book that doesn’t even give the slightest hint of “300” nonsense but still kicks ass.[/quote]
Good choice; after serving 5 years active duty in the navy, and 3 of those in a shore duty command, I’ll say this book should be required reading not only for the Marines, but for the entire Department of the Navy.
Fairly recently read “The Operators” by James Rennie
Currently reading “The Definitive Book of Body Language” by Allen and Barbera Pease
I recommend both
I’m curious as to what you’re into OP. I tend to gravitate towards fiction, unless I’m looking to learn something in particular. So, here is my list.
Man’s Search For Meaning (already on the list) by Viktor Frankl
From The Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz
Critical Space by Greg Rucka
Art of War by Sun Tzu
Books written by Douglass Preston & Lincoln Child (Agent Pendergast series)
The Hannibal Lecter series by Robert Harris
The Maintenance Man by Michael Baisden
Magic Street by Orson Scott Card
That’s all I’ll list for now. Let me know what types of books you’re into, OP.
Most recent nontechnical book has been Guests of the Ayatollah, Mark Bowden.
Prior to that, Diplomacy, Henry Kissinger, and Misquoting Jesus, Bart Ehrman. All good.
It’s always fun rereading Richard Feynman, too. The Meaning of it All and Surely your’re joking, Mr. Feynman especially.
War and Peace-Tolstoy
I know that might sound a little cliche, but seriously, it’s the one book that has had the most impact on my thinking and general worldview. I recommend it to anyone who asks about books. Find a good translation, read the second epilogue first, then go back to the beginning and read the main story, the first epilogue, and then the second epilogue again. Also get the Cliff’s Notes, it’ll help you keep track of everything.
Others:
The Brothers Karamazov-Dostoevsky
The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus-Camus
Illuminatus! (and anything else) by Robert Anton Wilson. It’s new-age science fiction, but it’s fun, and his books always make me think in a new direction.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy-Douglas Adams. Because they rock.
Slaughterhouse 5
Kurt Vonnegut
Probably one of the best written books of all time. I’ve loaned this out to a plethora of people and they all love it. Do yourself a favor and buy it.
Penthouse Black, Apr 2010