Author Topic: December 'Whatcha reading' post (Read 766 times)

LePaul · « **on:** December 07, 2007, 12:47:47 AM »

So, what's everyone reading this month?

I just finished two health books, one by Dr Fuhrman and "What you dont know could be killing you" by Dr Colbert. Interesting reads if you are into lowering cholesterol and overall health.

This month I went with an impulse buy. "Surrender is not an Option" by John Bolton (former US Ambassador to the United Nations). Saw it at Borders when I was trying to find the Glenn Beck book which isnt available yet.

I've been looking for an aviation book I saw a few months ago but haven't been about to find. I thought it was called 'A Private Pilot Refresher' or something similar. It was essentially a good review book for those of us who have been out of the cockpit a few years. A good re-hash of the basics and brings you up to speed with current regs and such.

What are you guys and gals reading?

MoeRon · « **Reply #1 on:** December 07, 2007, 12:49:57 AM »

Artifact
by Gregory Benford

Halo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 07, 2007, 01:03:03 AM »

Flipping Confidential, The Secrets of Renovating Property for Profit in Any Market, by Kirsten Kemp (John Wiley & Sons, 2007).

Halfway through this, I'm finding it's good insight into cost-effective things to do to your own house whether or not you ever decide to try to make money by buying houses cheap, fixing them up, selling them quickly and making a fast profit.

Our house is more than 30 years old so it is a prime example of a house that needs a certain amount of maintenance and renovation, just like an auto, without messing up its original design and concept.

I have been negatively inclined toward such investors in our neighborhood, but I'm beginning to realize some flips can be improvements and enhance neighborhoods. Of course others could be cheap bandaid fixes not good.

However, with all the zoning and permits and inspection controls, it seems flips generally might be more positive than negative for all concerned. Either way, I'm getting some good ideas about what improvements to consider for our house.

LePaul · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2007, 01:05:46 AM »

Halo, that's an interesting book. I'd be curious what you think when you complete it. I've got a 3 bedroom ranch home, built in 1963 and have been wondering what I want to do to it. Expand, renovate...or sell and get sometihng bigger.

Halo · « **Reply #4 on:** December 07, 2007, 01:18:12 AM »

I'll report after I finish it. Meanwhile, I already can tell I'm defensive against the latest bandwagon.

For example, a friend had a nice cozy dark paneled lower level like ours. After his daughter found a mold problem, they had to rip out the entire lower level. Must have cost at least $40,000.

Now they're proud of their bland neutral colors everywhere. Ugh. To me, it ruined the entire character of their house, just as replacement windows with different designs often do.

A more prevalent example is replacing bathroom cabinets and fixtures with designs obviously out of sync with the rest of the house.

Always a debate between preservation and innovation, huh? I prefer moderately eclectic, comfortable with some serendipity. More to come after I finish the book.

texasmom · « **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2007, 08:19:44 AM »

I'm not reading anything at all lately.
I need a new glasses prescription. Once I get those fixed I'll read again ~ I don't like being uncomfortable when I read... so I'm not reading. Awful, eh?

bsdaddict · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2007, 08:20:07 AM »

Tempus Fugit - by Lawrence Lee Rowe

interesting book, historical fiction with a twist. Washington, Jefferson and Franklin suddenly find themselves in present day America. I'm re-reading this as the sequel is coming out soon...

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2007, 10:30:56 AM »

Rereading Atlas Shrugged.

Going to try to get my hands on the last (real) Dune book soon.

Bodhi · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2007, 10:48:31 AM »

The Michael Wittman Story.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2007, 11:29:35 AM »

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry...for the third time.

FiLtH · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2007, 11:40:14 AM »

MIDWAY: The Battle that Doomed Japan,the Japanese Navy's Story
Mitsuo Fuchida and Masatake Okumiya

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2007, 11:45:46 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by FiLtH
MIDWAY: The Battle that Doomed Japan,the Japanese Navy's Story
Mitsuo Fuchida and Masatake Okumiya

If you get a chance, read "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors..." I'm usually not one for a historical book that can be slow at times, however this book was really well written.

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Stand-Tin-Sailors-Extraordinary/dp/0553381482/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197049361&sr=8-1

It's about the smallest of the American ships, the Destroyer Escorts and the Destroyers going toe to toe with the biggest ships of the Japanese armada, and just barely coming out on top.

midnight Target · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2007, 11:49:21 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lasersailor184
Rereading Atlas Shrugged.

Going to try to get my hands on the last (real) Dune book soon.

It's been a while. The last one I know about is "God Emperor". Am I missing something?

Ripsnort · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2007, 11:55:04 AM »

Strength Finder 2.0. Very good motivational book that finds your strengths, and you work your career from that aspect.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2007, 11:55:47 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by midnight Target
It's been a while. The last one I know about is "God Emperor". Am I missing something?

Off the top of my head, it goes Dune - Dune Messiah - Children of Dune - God Emperor of Dune - Heretics of Dune - Dune: Chapterhouse.

I really enjoyed all of them except for God Emperor of Dune. It's was designed this way, but it was written like a history book. Very difficult to finish. Heretics of Dune started slow, but finished amazingly. Now I'm excited to get my hands on the last book.

Also, besides all the extra "Dune Universe" books that his son wrote, he recently compiled from Herbert's notes the 7th book in the series, which just came out. This is called Sandworms of Dune, I think. But past the original 6, I get confused as to which books are what and when.