Books

[Happy Hippo]

What are the best books you have read this year? Always looking for good books to add to my reading list. I am closing in on my goal of 60 books this year. The best ones I have read so far:


The Art of Racing in the Rain (a MUST read for any animal/dog lovers, and just a great book about life as well - also involves racing cars)

I read all the Khaled Hosseini books and loved all three

Cutting for Stone (reminiscent of John Irving's books)

The Shadow of the Wind (set in Barcelona, a bit dark but extremely well-woven tale)

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (about comic book creators, really not much happens plot wise, but Chabon may be one of the best modern writers - couldn't put it down - if you like(d) comic books, a must read)

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (weaves together contemporary American life with the Dominican culture, unique writing style and a wonderful touching book about generations - reminded me a bit of 100 years of solitude)



Trying to get through all the recent Pulitzer prize winners now, but if anyone has any recommendations, add them here! I will certainly add them to my list.

 

[no pepper]

I re-read Barry Hannah's Airships. It's a short story collection first published in 1978 about war psyche and atrocity. War with a southern twang. If you aren't familiar with Hannah, he directed the MFA program at U of Mississippi and he taught at the famous Iowa Writers Workshop program. He died of a heart attack in 2010 and it's sad to think there will be no more new pearls from this writer who some call the modern day Faulkner. Jess, I know you like Bukowski and these stories have similar errr, flavor. Excerpt from Long, Last, Happy:

Last year I turned thirty-three years old and, raised a Baptist, I had a sense of being Jesus and coming to something decided in my life ? because we all know Jesus was crucified at thirty-three. It had all seemed especially important, what you do in this year, and holy with meaning.

On the morning after my birthday party, during which I and my wife almost drowned in vodka cocktails, we both woke up to the making of a truth session about the lovers we?d had before we met each other. I had a mildly exciting and usual history, and she had about the same, which surprised me. For ten years she?d sworn I was the first. I could not believe her history was exactly equal with mine. It hurt me to think that in the era when there were supposed to be virgins she had allowed anyone but me, and so on.

I was dazed and exhilarated by this information for several weeks. Finally, it drove me crazy, and I came out to Farte Cove to rest, under the pretense of a fishing week with my chum Wyatt.

 

[Happy Hippo]

no pepper - that sounds right up my alley! That book got a really good rating on goodreads - thanks.

 

[kneifl]

Here are a few of mine:

I will give them a 1 to 5 rating, 5 being the best

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell (5)
Likeable Business by Dave Kerpen (3)
Likeable Social Media by Dave Kerpen (4)
The Pumpkin Plan by Michael Michalowicz (5)
Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer (5)
Rain by Jeff Fox (3.5)
The End of Big: How the Internet Makes David the New Goliath by Nikko Mele (2)
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy (3)
Contagious: Why things Catch On Jonah Berger (4.5)
Venture Deals by Brad Feld (4)
Abuse of Power by Michael Savage (4)
Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust by Chris Brogan (3.5)
The Power Formula for Linkedin Success: Kick-start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search by
Wayne Breitbarth (4.5)
iOptions: The Secret Life of Steve Jobs by Daniel Lyons (4.5)

More to add, busy right now so I'll come back and edit the post. If anyone has any questions about the books or has planned on reading one I would be happy to share my thoughts.

kneifl

 

[Happy Hippo]

kneifl -

I've read a few of Gladwell's books, and by the third one, I kind of felt like I was reading the same stuff over and over. Is this one any different?

I'm not too inclined to read any business books. I did read Steve Jobs biography last year - that was a great book (I saw you have another one about him on your list). I may check out a few others that are on your list.

 

[kneifl]

kneifl -

I've read a few of Gladwell's books, and by the third one, I kind of felt like I was reading the same stuff over and over. Is this one any different?

I'm not too inclined to read any business books. I did read Steve Jobs biography last year - that was a great book (I saw you have another one about him on your list). I may check out a few others that are on your list.

HH-

To be honest, I love Gladwell and think he makes a lot of sense, I really like the way he looks at things from a different perspective. Having said that, this one is not as good as his others but I still really enjoyed it.

I read the Art of Racing in the Rain and I absolutely loved it, it was a fantastic book. If you're looking for a fascinating book that isn't really business I would recommend Moonwalking with Einstein, it really shocked me that there are a lot of "Rain Men" out there and goes into detail on it. I agree the Steve Jobs book was excellent (the biography), I've read a lot of others about him and they haven't been quite as good. However, Jay Elliott has written a few books about him (and he use to work closely with him) and I found those to be very good as well. Happy reading

kneifl

 

[gwrinos213]

My niece is a young author she has a few books out. Her name is K.A. Linde I haven't read any of them think there more for woman but her 1st book is Avoiding Responsibility

 

[kneifl]

Here are a few more I have read this year:

Do More Faster by Brad Feld (4.5)
The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver (5)
Breakout Nations by Ruchir Sharma (3.5)
High Trust Selling by Todd Duncan (4)
Leading Apple with Steve Jobs by Jay Elliott (4.5)
Start up Nation by Dan Senor and Saul Singer (4)
QBQ by John Miller (4)
Outstanding by John Miller (4)
The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo (4)
Trading Bases by Joe Peta (3.5)
Screwed!! by Dick Morris (3.5)
Sway by Ori Brafman (3)
The Power of Quiet by Susan Cain (4)
Mindset by Carol Dweck (1 - So awful, I hated it, bet reviews are fake)
Greedy Bastards by Dylan Ratigan (5 - I read this last year and it was phenomenal, had to read it again and it was great the second time around as well)
Wheat Belly by William Davis (3.5)

kneifl

 

[gardenweasel]

i just started cormac mccarthy`s "blood meridian" tonight.....all i can say is it`s stunning......it`s 1:34 on the east coast and i`m not sure that i`ll sleep tonight at all.....these characters are....???(not sure there are words to describe them)....

how`d i miss this all these years?...

 

[hedgehog]

I like autobiographies
I read Phil Robertson happy, happy, happy about the patriarch of Duck Dynasty, really good book 8 out of 10
I am reading si cology about his brother Silas Robertson, 8 out of 10 so far
Plan to read a few more this year, I read no fiction

Thanks for posting HH

 

[hedgehog]

Here are a few of mine:

I will give them a 1 to 5 rating, 5 being the best

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell (5)
Likeable Business by Dave Kerpen (3)
Likeable Social Media by Dave Kerpen (4)
The Pumpkin Plan by Michael Michalowicz (5)
Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer (5)
Rain by Jeff Fox (3.5)
The End of Big: How the Internet Makes David the New Goliath by Nikko Mele (2)
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy (3)
Contagious: Why things Catch On Jonah Berger (4.5)
Venture Deals by Brad Feld (4)
Abuse of Power by Michael Savage (4)
Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust by Chris Brogan (3.5)
The Power Formula for Linkedin Success: Kick-start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search by
Wayne Breitbarth (4.5)
iOptions: The Secret Life of Steve Jobs by Daniel Lyons (4.5)

More to add, busy right now so I'll come back and edit the post. If anyone has any questions about the books or has planned on reading one I would be happy to share my thoughts.

kneifl

Abuse of power sounds like one I would like enjoy listening to savage on the radio

 

[Happy Hippo]

i just started cormac mccarthy`s "blood meridian" tonight.....all i can say is it`s stunning......it`s 1:34 on the east coast and i`m not sure that i`ll sleep tonight at all.....these characters are....???(not sure there are words to describe them)....

how`d i miss this all these years?...

I went on a short Cormac McCarthy binge a couple years ago - I read "The Road" and LOVED it. So I kept going... read Outer Dark and then All the Pretty Horses.... didn't like either of those nearly as much. I still have Blood Meridian downloaded though, will go back to it.

 

[gardenweasel]

I went on a short Cormac McCarthy binge a couple years ago - I read "The Road" and LOVED it. So I kept going... read Outer Dark and then All the Pretty Horses.... didn't like either of those nearly as much. I still have Blood Meridian downloaded though, will go back to it.

not sure what your druthers are h.h...but this book is uber-violent,graphic and devoid of any sentimentality....it`s not for everyone....

if you decide to give it a go,keep a dictionary handy(the guy`s vocabulary is off the hook)....

 

[Happy Hippo]

not sure what your druthers are h.h...but this book is uber-violent,graphic and devoid of any sentimentality....it`s not for everyone....

if you decide to give it a go,keep a dictionary handy(the guy`s vocabulary is off the hook)....

Sounds like just my thing. I have an ultra dark side - keeps life in perspective.

 

[Statman02]

Sounds like just my thing. I have an ultra dark side - keeps life in perspective.

Tales From The Crypt comics

 

[comfortable1]

I really enjoyed 'The Sisters Brothers' by Patrick DeWitt

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9850443-the-sisters-brothers

 

[kneifl]

I just bought the new updated version of George Orwell's 1984 last night. Got it for $4 because I had an audible credit, I hear in the reviews the narrator is fantastic. Anybody like this book? I have heard from a number of people it's good but never read it.

kneifl

 

[buddy]

I just bought the new updated version of George Orwell's 1984 last night. Got it for $4 because I had an audible credit, I hear in the reviews the narrator is fantastic. Anybody like this book? I have heard from a number of people it's good but never read it.

kneifl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8PLsHxJm9Y



Cultural impact ~


The effect of Nineteen Eighty-Four on the English language is extensive; the concepts of Big Brother, Room 101, the Thought Police, thoughtcrime, unperson, memory hole (oblivion), doublethink (simultaneously holding and believing contradictory beliefs) and Newspeak (ideological language) have become common phrases for denoting totalitarian authority.

Doublespeak and groupthink are both deliberate elaborations of doublethink, while the adjective "Orwellian" denotes "characteristic and reminiscent of George Orwell's writings" especially Nineteen Eighty-Four.

The practice of ending words with "-speak" (e.g. mediaspeak) is drawn from the novel.[58] Orwell is perpetually associated with the year 1984; in July 1984 an asteroid discovered by Anton?n Mrkos was named after Orwell.

In September 2009, the English alternative rock band Muse released The Resistance, which included songs influenced by 1984.

References to the themes, concepts and plot of Nineteen Eighty-Four have appeared frequently in other works, especially in popular music and video entertainment.

An example is the worldwide hit reality television show Big Brother, in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras.

In November 2011, the United States government argued before the US Supreme Court that it wants to continue utilizing GPS tracking of individuals without first seeking a warrant.

In response, Justice Stephen Breyer questioned what this means for a democratic society by referencing Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Justice Breyer asked, "If you win this case, then there is nothing to prevent the police or the government from monitoring 24 hours a day the public movement of every citizen of the United States.

So if you win, you suddenly produce what sounds like 1984...."

In 1984, the book was made into a movie which starred John Hurt as the central character of Winston Smith.

In 2006, the movie version of V for Vendetta was released, which has many of the same running themes and principles as 1984 and, coincidentally, also stars John Hurt taking on the role of "Big Brother".

An episode of Doctor Who called "The God Complex" depicts an alien ship disguised as a hotel containing Room 101-like spaces, and quotes the nursery rhyme as well.

Sales of Nineteen Eighty-Four increased by up to 7,000% (seven thousand percent) within the first week of the 2013 mass surveillance leaks.

 

[redsfann]

I re-read Barry Hannah's Airships. It's a short story collection first published in 1978 about war psyche and atrocity. War with a southern twang. If you aren't familiar with Hannah, he directed the MFA program at U of Mississippi and he taught at the famous Iowa Writers Workshop program. He died of a heart attack in 2010 and it's sad to think there will be no more new pearls from this writer who some call the modern day Faulkner. Jess, I know you like Bukowski and these stories have similar errr, flavor. Excerpt from Long, Last, Happy:

Last year I turned thirty-three years old and, raised a Baptist, I had a sense of being Jesus and coming to something decided in my life ? because we all know Jesus was crucified at thirty-three. It had all seemed especially important, what you do in this year, and holy with meaning.

On the morning after my birthday party, during which I and my wife almost drowned in vodka cocktails, we both woke up to the making of a truth session about the lovers we?d had before we met each other. I had a mildly exciting and usual history, and she had about the same, which surprised me. For ten years she?d sworn I was the first. I could not believe her history was exactly equal with mine. It hurt me to think that in the era when there were supposed to be virgins she had allowed anyone but me, and so on.

I was dazed and exhilarated by this information for several weeks. Finally, it drove me crazy, and I came out to Farte Cove to rest, under the pretense of a fishing week with my chum Wyatt.

A U of Iowa writer's workshop reference at Madjack's....:toast:

Many, many fine authors have passed through, or still reside in, Iowa City. Vonnegut taught there and was living in town when Cat's Cradle was published. One of the people he studied with while in town was John Irving.
Philip Roth taught at the Workshop as did T.C. Boyle and Frank Conroy, with Conroy serving as the director of the program from 1987 until 2005.

 

[Happy Hippo]

A U of Iowa writer's workshop reference at Madjack's....:toast:

Many, many fine authors have passed through, or still reside in, Iowa City. Vonnegut taught there and was living in town when Cat's Cradle was published. One of the people he studied with while in town was John Irving.
Philip Roth taught at the Workshop as did T.C. Boyle and Frank Conroy, with Conroy serving as the director of the program from 1987 until 2005.

Wow, that is quite a list of authors! I have read all Vonnegut's and Irving's books, most of Philip Roth's, and a few from the last two. Irving and Roth are in the top tier of my favorite authors. Never knew Iowa City was such a literary town!



comfortable1 - that book looks interesting, I will check it out, thanks.

statman - I'm not a comic book person...


I realize I'm about ten years behind the times, but almost finished with "The Odds", by Chad Millman. While it is outdated a bit by now, still really interesting on some of the development and history of sports betting. Gives me some flashbacks to selling bets on WSEX and other now antiquated means of betting online (neteller, etc). A quick, easy read, but I have learned some good info from it.