Posted on 10/03/2011 7:39:10 AM PDT by MplsSteve
Hi everyone! It's time again for my quarterly "What Are You Reading Now?" survey.
As you know, I consider Freepers to be among the most well-read of those of us on the 'Net. I like to get a feel as to what everyone is reading right now.
It can be anything - a technical journal, a NY Times best seller, a class work of fiction, a trashy pulp novel. In short, it can be anything.
Please do not respond to this thread by posting "I'm reading this thread" - or any variation thereof. It became really unfunny a long time ago.
I'll start. I'm reading "The King of California: J.G. Boswell and the making of a secret American Empire" by Mark Arax and Rick Wartzman. It's part history, part biography and part expose of the Boswell family of Central California, a mega-farming corporation in the Central Valley. It's fascinating reading.
Well, what are YOU reading right now?
I’m reading Travis McGee’s second book of his trilogy.
The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood
by James Gleick
Sort of like going back to see people you haven't seen in a long time.
Dr. Thorne was one of my favorites
The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, & Power
Daniel Yergin
His books are listed in the top 20 as among the best Fantasy novels of all time; I have to agree.
Outwitting the Devil, a newly and posthumously released book by Napoleon Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich. It’s a conversation between Hill and the (secular) Devil, forcing the Devil to reveal how he maintains control of 98% of mankind. Read it and set yourself free.
Just finished: Quitter
Now: Flying High Performance Singles and Twins
Next: Entreleadership, Strong Fathers Strong Daughters, Weather Flying.
I need a break from seriousness now and then.
“The One Year Chronological Bible” (NIV).
It takes the entire Bible, every verse, every word, and puts it in actual chronological order, then divides it into 365 roughly equal-length daily readings. They leave out nothing, and they add nothing (per Rev 22-18:19). Each daily reading takes 10-15 minutes, and in one year, you have read the entire Bible.
Putting the Bible in true chronological order reinforces its historicity. These are actual, historical occurrences, not fables from a fiction book.
It is also interesting to see the different perspectives of the same occurrence as related in different books. The most notable example is in the Gospels. Here, the different perspectives are laid out sequentially. For example, we see the baptism of Jesus by JTB in all four Gospels back-to-back.
I highly recommend this book, and have bought several copies for friends and family.
I finished Charles Mann’s “1493” about month ago. Am now chewing through the first book in the series; “1491.”
Good read...
I just finished After America by Mark Steyn. Great read!
One of the better books that is a comprehensive history of the industry.
He’s just published a new book that’s getting good reviews.
“Nuclear War Survival Skills” by Kearney.
You can download the whole book for free from KI4U.com
I have re-read this book about 5 times over the past 25 years and have given away a number of copies. It covers many skills besides nuke war.
Where else can you learn how to build a radiation meter out of common household products? How to make baby formula in an emergency? How to grind grain using scrap pipe?
Everyone needs this one on their laptop if not a hard copy.
“Boy’s Life”, by Robert McCammon
(For the 4th time!)
A couple of Newt Gingrich’s historical novels:
“To Try Men’s Souls” &
“Valley Forge”
I’m reading Marco Polo with my son. It’s amazing how Muslims have not changed one bit since Polo encountered them 700 years ago.
Just finishing up C.S. Lewis’ _Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold_. It’s already become one of my favorite books.
_Answering Islam: The Crescent in Light of the Cross_ by Abdul Saleeb and Norman L. Geisler (slowly finishing; I’m in the part where I need to compare scripture to the Muslim criticism so it’s harder to read on the fly)
In homeschool, we’re reading _Chariot of the Sun_ by Catherine Ward Allen. The author tells of her experience as a child in the Oklahoma land runs. There’s so much living history contained in the pages; it teaches far better than any text could ever hope to do. I found it at an out of the way museum in No Man’s Land Oklahoma; it was a true find.
The plan is to read “The Quest” next.
Also, Le Carre's The Little Drummer Girl. The recent movie The Debt stole a few items from this one, although the plot is completely different.
Next, something I've been wanting to read for a long time: From Time Immemorial, history of Israel, published a while ago, supposed to be outstanding.
LOL! All good titles, I’m sure.
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