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Author Topic: To Be Well Read  (Read 1718 times)

Offline jhookt

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To Be Well Read
« on: May 30, 2007, 02:40:56 PM »
6 months into this year of our lord 2007 i have accomplished my New Year's resolution to quit smoking. I figure since i am on a roll as far as setting and meeting ultimatums i should keep going.

I want to be well read. The problem i have is where do i start? The classics? The best sellers' list? I was hoping that the gracious members of this forum could throw out a title or 2 to begin the path of general enlightment. Just a book that you feel is noteworthy, any and all genres. i figured should go first with the list so here goes:

Atlas Shrugged-  Ayn Rand
House of Leaves- Mark Danielewski
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Offline 2bighorn

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Re: To Be Well Read
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2007, 02:52:51 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by jhookt
I want to be well read. The problem i have is where do i start?
You start with saying "buh bye" to O'Club...
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Offline Dux

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To Be Well Read
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2007, 02:57:49 PM »
Read because you like to... not because you think it'll make you into something different.

What interests you? That's where you should start.

Don't start with Ayn Rand... she's infamous for killing the joy of reading for many, many people.

There is a series of volumes "the Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces" that contain hundreds of various classics in one book; you can use them to skim through and see which authors' styles you like, or not, and go from there. Link to Amazon
« Last Edit: May 30, 2007, 03:07:33 PM by Dux »
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Offline DYNAMITE

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To Be Well Read
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2007, 03:04:32 PM »
Tell us something that you've already read that you really liked... I'd hate to recommend something that's gonna bore you to tears...

But to be honest... The only thing you really NEED to read is :




:noid
« Last Edit: May 30, 2007, 03:49:51 PM by DYNAMITE »
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Offline tedrbr

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To Be Well Read
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2007, 03:08:44 PM »
Read what you enjoy reading.  If unsure, I suggest starting with one of the books often used by college level Literature classes that touches on many areas of fiction, poetry, and drama.  

Considering the forum you are posting this in, my suggestions:

Il Principe (The Prince) by Niccolò Machiavelli.
On War and possibly Principles of War by Carl von Clausewitz
The Art of War Sun Tzu (aka Chang Qing, aka Sun Wu)
The various writings of Ernesto Guevara de la Serna
The Histories by Herodotus
History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides
Anabasis Alexandri by Flavius Arrianus Xenophon, known as Arrian
The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan
Achtung Panzer! by Heinz Guderian


Me, I tend to go for Hard Science Fiction and Military Science Fiction more than any others:  David Weber, David Drake, Jerry Pournelle, Joe Haldeman, Keith Laumer, Ben Bova, David Brin, Larry Niven, Kim Stanley Robinson, Charles Sheffield, and the like.
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Offline LTARokit

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To Be Well Read
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2007, 03:16:01 PM »
WTG Jhook, on the smoking.  I'm at day 47 no smoking :)

As for the reading, the world of infomation is out there for ya.  Start with what intrests you.  A simple informative article can turn into a dozen books.


Rokit
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Offline Maverick

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To Be Well Read
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2007, 03:34:03 PM »
Dayumn Ted, we share a lot of favorite authors!

I concur with Clausewitz and Sun Tzu. I'd also look at reading other things besides old military classics.

Spread your reading around to include more modern works.






Quote
Originally posted by tedrbr
Read what you enjoy reading.  If unsure, I suggest starting with one of the books often used by college level Literature classes that touches on many areas of fiction, poetry, and drama.  

Considering the forum you are posting this in, my suggestions:

Il Principe (The Prince) by Niccolò Machiavelli.
On War and possibly Principles of War by Carl von Clausewitz
The Art of War Sun Tzu (aka Chang Qing, aka Sun Wu)
The various writings of Ernesto Guevara de la Serna
The Histories by Herodotus
History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides
Anabasis Alexandri by Flavius Arrianus Xenophon, known as Arrian
The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan
Achtung Panzer! by Heinz Guderian


Me, I tend to go for Hard Science Fiction and Military Science Fiction more than any others:  David Weber, David Drake, Jerry Pournelle, Joe Haldeman, Keith Laumer, Ben Bova, David Brin, Larry Niven, Kim Stanley Robinson, Charles Sheffield, and the like.
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Offline Yeager

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« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2007, 03:36:28 PM »
Green Eggs and Ham would be a great start.
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Offline Maverick

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« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2007, 03:40:41 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Yeager
Green Eggs and Ham would be a great start.


You only think that because you like the pictures and it has few words.
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Offline lasersailor184

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To Be Well Read
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2007, 03:59:13 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Dux
Read because you like to... not because you think it'll make you into something different.

What interests you? That's where you should start.

Don't start with Ayn Rand... she's infamous for killing the joy of reading for many, many people.

There is a series of volumes "the Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces" that contain hundreds of various classics in one book; you can use them to skim through and see which authors' styles you like, or not, and go from there. Link to Amazon


Yes, don't read Ayn Rand.  She'll make you realize how ****ed the world is (and start to want to set the match to get it burning).


The Fountainhead is an easier read for Ayn Rand.  Atlas Shrugged is a great book, however the first 100 pages or so are near painful to read to get into her style of writing.  If you can broach that first 100 pages, you'll have trouble putting it down.  Most people get lost in those first pages, and refuse to ever try again.  But you can say that about any author.


The classics idea is pretty good, Barnes and Noble should have a few stands of cheap paper backs.  I read The Count of Monte Cristo, and loved it.  I went on  to Dumas's other book, The Three Musketeers, and am having trouble finishing it due to a simple style but a rather circular plot line.

And no matter what you choose to read, don't ever think of yourself as an intellectual, and don't do it to be "well read."  The people who think like that are some of the biggest sweetheart bags in this world.
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Offline JB88

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Re: To Be Well Read
« Reply #10 on: May 30, 2007, 04:28:31 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by jhookt

Atlas Shrugged-  Ayn Rand
House of Leaves- Mark Danielewski


i prefered the fountainhead, but both are good reads.
house of leaves is a great book.

hope you enjoy them.  : )
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Offline Shifty

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To Be Well Read
« Reply #11 on: May 30, 2007, 04:31:45 PM »
WTG on putting the cigarettes down!:aok
I don't suggest Atlas Shrugged. My ex wife kept pestering me to read and.... well, she's my ex wife.;)
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Offline Charon

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« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2007, 04:46:43 PM »
I finally got around to reading "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Worth adding to the list.

Charon
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Offline Jackal1

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« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2007, 04:52:03 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Shifty
My ex wife kept pestering me to read and.... well, she's my ex wife.;)


See there. Nearly every book has something good about it. :)
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Offline folkwufe

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To Be Well Read
« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2007, 05:14:56 PM »
if you like world war 2, some really good books are night, and the hiding place. both about the holocaust. night is a quick read and very sad. and the hiding place is a bit longer. but also a good book. also torpedo junction, its a book on u-boats and the atlantic coast, personally i didnt like it, but you may.

night - elie wiesel
the hiding place - ?
torpedo junction - homer hickam jr.

night is heavily reccomended, and torpedo junction isnt homer hickams best book, but his others are very good.
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