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I'm looking for an interesting read that analyzes modern American youth/college social culture as it relates to such topics as the rise of reality TV, the "gangsta" mindset, and PUA practices. It doesn't have to cover those specific topics, but that's the ballpark of what I'm looking for. Mid-range to upper reading level would be preferred, and while I'd rather read nonfiction, I can be convinced to read a really good work of fiction that gives an equivalent level of insight.
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Dec 6, 2010 17:50
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Zerstorung posted:I'm looking for an interesting read that analyzes modern American youth/college social culture as it relates to such topics as the rise of reality TV, the "gangsta" mindset, and PUA practices. It doesn't have to cover those specific topics, but that's the ballpark of what I'm looking for. Mid-range to upper reading level would be preferred, and while I'd rather read nonfiction, I can be convinced to read a really good work of fiction that gives an equivalent level of insight. You probably don't need to read a book on this (I doubt it even exists?). Instead, just watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4OatIhPg9Y
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Dec 6, 2010 18:46
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ONE TWO THREE TIMES TWO TO THE SIX/JONESING FOR YOUR FIX OF THAT LIMP BIZKIT MIX
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7 y.o. bitch posted:You probably don't need to read a book on this (I doubt it even exists?). Instead, just watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4OatIhPg9Y  So I really enjoyed the books lord of light and Siddhartha, are there any books you guys can recommend that explore similar themes and ideas?
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Dec 7, 2010 15:33
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I have just finished reading a collection of Isaac Asimov's short stories and am looking for something in the same category. I cannot stomach too much sci fi in long form but I love it when I can pick up a book and read 4 or 5 cool short stories per night. And I'm not looking for stories that are all robots and pew pew and evil lord and all, I happen to like Asimov's approach which is more philosophical.
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Dec 7, 2010 16:30
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Mahoning posted:I have just finished reading a collection of Isaac Asimov's short stories and am looking for something in the same category. I cannot stomach too much sci fi in long form but I love it when I can pick up a book and read 4 or 5 cool short stories per night. Larry Niven's shorts might be a good place to go next. But if you really like Asimove there are something like 400 anthologies of Asimov stories out there, so you've got plenty of reading still do do with him. More generally, if you want a broader sci-fi recommendation, get The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume 1.
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Dec 7, 2010 16:43
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ChirpChirpCheep posted:I'm looking for a nonfiction book that is lighthearted and full of facts, but geared towards college age males- kind of like if Bill Bryson was part of a fraternity. I'd like to avoid anything too ponderous and to keep it on the "pop" side of things- Mental Floss is a perfect example of what I'm looking for in terms of tone, but I don't know if it is quite "guyish" enough. If they had a history of MMA I'd be set, but as is I'm asking you guys for help in choosing a book for my impossible to shop for brother. Be Ready When the poo poo Goes Down by Forrest Griffin, UFC champion. it's a little bit Jackass, a little bit Bear Grylls, and will most likely be very appealing for a bro-type who isn't a big reader. it's much more humorous than practical and can be read in fits and starts.
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Dec 8, 2010 03:46
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Anyone know any good book on dreams? Like the science of dreaming and such?
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Dec 8, 2010 04:11
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Based on some recommendations I got a while back from here I just read "The Mote in God's Eye" and really enjoyed it. I really liked the sense of discovery around an alien culture, not to mention the excellent job they did in creating a believable future using "hard" science facts. Any recommendations for something along those lines? Special emphasis on exploring something alien or something that takes time to get ones mind around.
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Dec 9, 2010 04:56
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Lockback posted:Based on some recommendations I got a while back from here I just read "The Mote in God's Eye" and really enjoyed it. I really liked the sense of discovery around an alien culture, not to mention the excellent job they did in creating a believable future using "hard" science facts. Blindsight by Peter Watts is a recent horror/HARD-sci-fi combo (seriously, the science aspects are very heavy and it helps if you know a lot of biology!) which is incredibly good. It's about the discovery of a weird object just outside our solar system, and a small 5-man crew who go to investigate. It also has (and I'm quite serious about this) vampires. You may be a little  at that part but trust me, it's very well done and makes scientific sense in the context of the book. It's one of the most terrifying books I've read in ages. And the big reveal, about what exactly it is they find, is quite a mindblowing scientific idea that does indeed take some serious thinking to get your mind around.Basically I can't recommend it enough. You can get it for free at his website as an ebook: http://www.rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm but I read it in physical form, which i think was better edited for textual errors. edit: also you just reminded me i got The Mote In God's Eye second hand a while back but haven't read it yet. I should get on that!
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Dec 9, 2010 12:09
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There's been one thing in common and not much else in the books that I've been reading lately: They all explore, with varying degrees of seriousness, a weird subculture in some manner. I've read Hackers by Steven Levy, The Game and Emergency by Neil Strauss, Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander, Your Next-Door Neighbor is a Dragon by this site's own Zack Parsons, and am just starting Otaku: Japan's Database Animals by Hiroki Azuma and Junky by William S. Burroughs. I'm looking to continue this trend, but I'd especially like good relatively serious non-fiction that deals not only with a subculture as it existed/currently exists but with the context in which it first arose. Bonus points for books on music-related subcultures.
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Dec 9, 2010 12:25
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Falls Down Stairs posted:There's been one thing in common and not much else in the books that I've been reading lately: They all explore, with varying degrees of seriousness, a weird subculture in some manner. I've read Hackers by Steven Levy, The Game and Emergency by Neil Strauss, Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander, Your Next-Door Neighbor is a Dragon by this site's own Zack Parsons, and am just starting Otaku: Japan's Database Animals by Hiroki Azuma and Junky by William S. Burroughs. I'm looking to continue this trend, but I'd especially like good relatively serious non-fiction that deals not only with a subculture as it existed/currently exists but with the context in which it first arose. Bonus points for books on music-related subcultures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Band_Could_Be_Your_Life This was a great read that explores some of the best bands from 81-91 that had relatively little mainstream success but were crucial in establishing today's alternative and indie bands. Especially bands like Nirvana back in the 90's when everyone was saying that Nirvana was creating a new sound in music, it shows that it was actually used years earlier. I hope this is what you meant. There are other great music books out there and I am trying to remember them for you. Also if you like punk like I do I also read this and found it entertaining. Please Kill Me http://www.amazon.com/Please-Kill-Me-Uncensored-Evergreen/dp/0802142648/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b Some gaming ones I have read that are also excellent. I have never played pen and papers RPG's but these deal with the rise of the gaming industry with a personal twist. Both great reads. I think they really hit on the subculture of what you were looking for. The Elfish Gene http://www.amazon.com/Elfish-Gene-Dungeons-Dragons-Growing/dp/1569475229 Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Freaks-Gaming-Geeks-Imaginary/dp/1599219948/ref=pd_sim_b_1 Flaggy fucked around with this message at 16:13 on Dec 9, 2010 |
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Dec 9, 2010 16:08
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Hedrigall posted:Blindsight by Peter Watts is a recent horror/HARD-sci-fi combo (seriously, the science aspects are very heavy and it helps if you know a lot of biology!) which is incredibly good. It's about the discovery of a weird object just outside our solar system, and a small 5-man crew who go to investigate. It also has (and I'm quite serious about this) vampires. You may be a little Ok you convinced me. And you are totally right, I did download the ebook but have been putting off reading it literally because of the vampire thing. Its nice to hear there's a strong biology component to it. I'll start it tonight. And yes, read The Mote in God's Eye. In some respects, it might be the best sci-fi book I ever read.
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Dec 9, 2010 16:12
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Can anybody recommend a translation of de Tocqueville's Democracy In America? I'm leaning towards Penguin's, but I've heard there's better options.
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Dec 9, 2010 22:45
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Falls Down Stairs posted:There's been one thing in common and not much else in the books that I've been reading lately: They all explore, with varying degrees of seriousness, a weird subculture in some manner. I've read Hackers by Steven Levy, The Game and Emergency by Neil Strauss, Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander, Your Next-Door Neighbor is a Dragon by this site's own Zack Parsons, and am just starting Otaku: Japan's Database Animals by Hiroki Azuma and Junky by William S. Burroughs. I'm looking to continue this trend, but I'd especially like good relatively serious non-fiction that deals not only with a subculture as it existed/currently exists but with the context in which it first arose. Bonus points for books on music-related subcultures. don't have any musical recommendations, but i will second The Elfish Gene and add (teach me how to)Dougie Brimson's March of the Hooligans: Soccer's Bloody Fraternity
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Dec 10, 2010 01:50
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Falls Down Stairs posted:I'm looking to continue this trend, but I'd especially like good relatively serious non-fiction that deals not only with a subculture as it existed/currently exists but with the context in which it first arose. Bonus points for books on music-related subcultures. Have you read Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets? http://www.amazon.com/Homicide-Killing-Streets-David-Simon/dp/0805080759 The subculture is homicide investigation in one of the deadliest cities in the US. Its extremely well written, and you really put the book down feeling like you went through what David Simon did. It doesn't really explore the rise and fall, more like the cycle everything follows...
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Dec 10, 2010 02:32
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Falls Down Stairs posted:There's been one thing in common and not much else in the books that I've been reading lately: They all explore, with varying degrees of seriousness, a weird subculture in some manner. I've read Hackers by Steven Levy, The Game and Emergency by Neil Strauss, Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander, Your Next-Door Neighbor is a Dragon by this site's own Zack Parsons, and am just starting Otaku: Japan's Database Animals by Hiroki Azuma and Junky by William S. Burroughs. I'm looking to continue this trend, but I'd especially like good relatively serious non-fiction that deals not only with a subculture as it existed/currently exists but with the context in which it first arose. Bonus points for books on music-related subcultures. American Hardcore by Stephen Blush maybe? It's an oral history of what became the alternative scene (although I don't think anybody called it that at the time). I thought it was a nice complement to Azerrad's book, which charts the entire scene over a little more then a decade.
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Dec 10, 2010 02:50
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yarrmatey posted:A History of the World In 6 Glasses is pretty entertaining. It reads a bit like Salt: A World History, but for drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Thanks a lot, man. That looks like exactly the book I was hoping for.
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Dec 10, 2010 04:47
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I'm after some new noir type stories along the lines of Dennis Lehane and the TV show Terriers. Stories about modern days private investigators. I love/have read most stories by James Ellroy, Lehane, Hammet, Chandler, Charlie Huston, Andrew Vachss, Ross MacDonald, Jim Thompson etc.. Give me something new TBB!
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Dec 10, 2010 05:13
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Grawl posted:I'm looking for books about people who are/were addicted to hard drugs, like heroin, LSD etc. I'm really interested in what they have to say about it. Quoting myself, hoping for an answer.
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Dec 10, 2010 05:45
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Flaggy posted:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Band_Could_Be_Your_Life funkybottoms posted:don't have any musical recommendations, but i will second The Elfish Gene and add (teach me how to)Dougie Brimson's March of the Hooligans: Soccer's Bloody Fraternity Lockback posted:Have you read Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets? barkingclam posted:American Hardcore by Stephen Blush maybe? It's an oral history of what became the alternative scene (although I don't think anybody called it that at the time). I thought it was a nice complement to Azerrad's book, which charts the entire scene over a little more then a decade. Wow, thanks guys. All these look great; that should keep me busy during the Winter break.
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Dec 10, 2010 07:35
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Izzy Mandelbaum posted:I'm after some new noir type stories along the lines of Dennis Lehane and the TV show Terriers. Stories about modern days private investigators. I love/have read most stories by James Ellroy, Lehane, Hammet, Chandler, Charlie Huston, Andrew Vachss, Ross MacDonald, Jim Thompson etc.. James Crumley - Same way with words that Chandler has, but with a certain countrified style. The Last Good Kiss is definitely one of his best, but anything by him I've read is generally a good read. Burning through one of the only books by him that I haven't read yet (Bordersnakes) right now. Ken Bruen - Love this guy ever since I checked him out a couple years ago. Irish crime writer who's written a shitload of stuff, most of which is excellent. I'd definitely recommend the Jack Taylor series - it's about an Irish ex-cop turned private detective in Galway, Ireland. Start with The Guards, then there's about 5-6 more books in the series to date.
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Dec 11, 2010 03:07
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Izzy Mandelbaum posted:I'm after some new noir type stories along the lines of Dennis Lehane and the TV show Terriers. Stories about modern days private investigators. I love/have read most stories by James Ellroy, Lehane, Hammet, Chandler, Charlie Huston, Andrew Vachss, Ross MacDonald, Jim Thompson etc.. not the kind of stuff i usually get into, but i've really enjoyed what i've read of Don Winslow, who was actually a PI before he started writing. his Neal Carey series fits the modern PI requirement nicely. this year's Savages is also fantastic and made it on my (and Stephen King's) best-of list.
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Dec 11, 2010 14:12
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Izzy Mandelbaum posted:I'm after some new noir type stories along the lines of Dennis Lehane and the TV show Terriers. Stories about modern days private investigators. I love/have read most stories by James Ellroy, Lehane, Hammet, Chandler, Charlie Huston, Andrew Vachss, Ross MacDonald, Jim Thompson etc.. I'll assume you've read the big names of second-wave hardboiled (Richard Stark, Lawrence Block's Scudder series, Max Allan Collins, etc). Maybe you've never read Patricia Highsmith -- you'd like her Ripley series. Among newer writers, everything Michael Connelly has written is good, the Harry Bosch series especially; Adrian McKinty is probably someone you've never heard of -- his Michael Forsythe series is excellent, as is his standalone "Fifty Grand"; Michael Van Rooy's Montgomery Haaviko mixes hardboiled elements with humour, done right. David Levien's Frank Behr books. Christopher G. Moore's and John Burdett's detective novels set in Thailand (Vincent Calvino and Sonchai Jitpleecheep series, respectively) are both good. Switch by Grant McKenzie. Jan Van De Wetering's Amsterdam cops series. Tom Rob Smith's detective novels set it Soviet Russia. That's enough for now.
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Dec 11, 2010 14:35
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I'm looking for some really well written but unbiased biographies on presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Reagan. I'm trying to stitch together some kind of coherent picture for modern society, and I figure that will help. Any suggestions?
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Dec 12, 2010 18:20
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Grawl posted:Quoting myself, hoping for an answer. Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh, it is pretty good read although you have to get past the fact that large portions of it are written phonetically to portray their thick Scottish accents.
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Dec 12, 2010 21:03
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Rommel1896 posted:I'm looking for some really well written but unbiased biographies on presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Reagan. I'm trying to stitch together some kind of coherent picture for modern society, and I figure that will help. Rick Perlstein's Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America is not really a biography (although it covers most of his life in some detail) so much as an attempt to show how his style of politics came to characterize the way all politics functions since the 60s. It doesn't focus on Nixon -- there is a lot of cultural background and analysis -- and may be a good way to start to get a comprehensive picture of the USA in the late twentieth century.
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Dec 12, 2010 21:35
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dokmo posted:Rick Perlstein's Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America is not really a biography (although it covers most of his life in some detail) so much as an attempt to show how his style of politics came to characterize the way all politics functions since the 60s. It doesn't focus on Nixon -- there is a lot of cultural background and analysis -- and may be a good way to start to get a comprehensive picture of the USA in the late twentieth century. Thank you, but I already have this book. I don't really like it, as Perlstein seems to get lost in the chaos of the 60's. He just began listing one random event after another, without really tying them together to form a clear picture. I guess I'm looking for something with a little more structure. Alternatively, I suppose it could be the case that there IS no larger structure, and American history since the 60's is just a bunch of stuff that happened. That would be ... unsatisfying.
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Dec 12, 2010 22:39
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I'm just about done with The Decline and Fall of the British Empire and it's really gotten me interested in the whole 'age of imperialism' type of thing. Can anybody recommend any books--not just history, but I'm also interested in fiction, biographies or really anything. I'm mostly interested in the British Empire, but if anyone knows any good books on other colonies I would be curious to get suggestions on those as well. I've already read Diamonds, Gold, and War King Leopold's Ghost and probably others, but those are the most recent. I've heard "Burmese Days" is really good on the fiction front, and "The Great Game" for non-fiction. I'm also planning to grab a copy of "The Lost City of Z". I would also be interested to read authors who are more pro-imperialist (maybe Kipling?), as well. Any other recommendations?
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Dec 13, 2010 01:02
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For Kipling on british imperialism, grab his short story collection "Plain Tales from the Hills," and for a kid's book on the Great Game, grab Kipling's Kim. I'd also recommend Orwell's On Shooting an Elephant.
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Dec 13, 2010 03:04
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Rommel1896 posted:Thank you, but I already have this book. I don't really like it, as Perlstein seems to get lost in the chaos of the 60's. He just began listing one random event after another, without really tying them together to form a clear picture. I guess I'm looking for something with a little more structure. Ah, okay. I don't really have a lot of late twentieth century stuff, and pretty much stay away from attempts systematizing history (nothing against it, just not my thing).
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Dec 13, 2010 03:16
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:For Kipling on british imperialism, grab his short story collection "Plain Tales from the Hills," and for a kid's book on the Great Game, grab Kipling's Kim. I'd also recommend Orwell's On Shooting an Elephant. Thanks for the recommendations, I've actually never read anything by Kipling, so I'll definitely be sure to check that out. I realise I was fairly vague, so to be a little more specific--in terms of history I'm looking for good, accessible histories of the various colonies (not so much England herself) and important events. Biographies I'm kind of looking for ones of the larger than life type of characters; Lawrence of Arabia, Sir Richard Burton, those kinds of guys. In terms of fiction, I'm looking for ones that have the sort of zeitgeist and romanticism of the golden age of empire, if that makes sense. I can go with the sort of ponderous political tomes if I have to, but, in everything, I'm especially interested in stories of all the crazy escapades and hijinks that people got up to when they were out on the fringes of the Empire.
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Dec 13, 2010 10:46
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Does anyone know of any good, neutral fictional accounts of world war 2 from "enemies"? Example, the war from a Nazi soldiers point of view or a Japanese soldiers point of view but with the authorial intent being historical and not biased. I'll also accept any history account having to do with Nanking. Please, historically sound accounts only. Other than that, uh, any good new fantasy writers I should know about?
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Dec 13, 2010 10:57
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Sniffits posted:Does anyone know of any good, neutral fictional accounts of world war 2 from "enemies"? Example, the war from a Nazi soldiers point of view or a Japanese soldiers point of view but with the authorial intent being historical and not biased. I'll also accept any history account having to do with Nanking. Please, historically sound accounts only. Das Boot from the top of my head for the German POV. Also The Forgotten Soldier. I found it a well written account of a soldier on the Eastern Front, it's basically an autobiography of a French boy conscripted into the German army. It has been accused of inaccuracies* and being fictional hence why I've included it here. The author stated he was trying to convey the experience of his war rather than the total accuracy of it. *Badges on the wrong arm level of inaccuracy as opposed to "Germans win Kursk" level of inaccuracy.
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Dec 13, 2010 17:08
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Mr Darcy posted:Also The Forgotten Soldier. I found it a well written account of a soldier on the Eastern Front, it's basically an autobiography of a French boy conscripted into the German army. It has been accused of inaccuracies* and being fictional hence why I've included it here. The author stated he was trying to convey the experience of his war rather than the total accuracy of it. I think it was later established that some or all of the small descriptive details that seemed off could well have been accurate under the circumstances, and that a few - again, minor - interpretations were almost certainly due to the author's very poor command of German. The most vocal critics were former armed forces bigwigs who didn't like to see their old outfits described in a less than heroic way. Author's name is Guy Sajer, btw. And iirc: he volunteered, german mother and alsatian father or something like that.
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Dec 13, 2010 19:56
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I'm looking to get a copy of Lolita for my Kindle, but the annotated edition isn't available in eBook form. Do the annotations really make that much of a difference, or can I go with the vanilla version?
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Dec 13, 2010 20:24
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bobservo posted:I'm looking to get a copy of Lolita for my Kindle, but the annotated edition isn't available in eBook form. Do the annotations really make that much of a difference, or can I go with the vanilla version? The standard line is to read the normal version first, otherwise you'll have the entire book spoiled for you in the second annotation, as well as most of Nabokov's other books. You'll be fine.
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Dec 13, 2010 20:35
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Dopilsya posted:.....I'm especially interested in stories of all the crazy escapades and hijinks that people got up to when they were out on the fringes of the Empire. David Mitchell's The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is the best thing i've read this year.
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Dec 14, 2010 02:05
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Seconding Mitchell's Thousand Autumns - it's a good novel set in the fading days of the Dutch empire. You might also want to check out Multatuli's Max Havelaar. It's a novel about one man fighting a corrupt government in Java, then a Dutch colony. I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I've heard good things.
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Dec 14, 2010 02:20
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Encryptic posted:James Crumley - Same way with words that Chandler has, but with a certain countrified style. The Last Good Kiss is definitely one of his best, but anything by him I've read is generally a good read. Burning through one of the only books by him that I haven't read yet (Bordersnakes) right now. dokmo posted:I'll assume you've read the big names of second-wave hardboiled (Richard Stark, Lawrence Block's Scudder series, Max Allan Collins, etc). Maybe you've never read Patricia Highsmith -- you'd like her Ripley series. Among newer writers, everything Michael Connelly has written is good, the Harry Bosch series especially; Adrian McKinty is probably someone you've never heard of -- his Michael Forsythe series is excellent, as is his standalone "Fifty Grand"; Michael Van Rooy's Montgomery Haaviko mixes hardboiled elements with humour, done right. David Levien's Frank Behr books. Christopher G. Moore's and John Burdett's detective novels set in Thailand (Vincent Calvino and Sonchai Jitpleecheep series, respectively) are both good. Switch by Grant McKenzie. Jan Van De Wetering's Amsterdam cops series. Tom Rob Smith's detective novels set it Soviet Russia. That's enough for now. funkybottoms posted:not the kind of stuff i usually get into, but i've really enjoyed what i've read of Don Winslow, who was actually a PI before he started writing. his Neal Carey series fits the modern PI requirement nicely. this year's Savages is also fantastic and made it on my (and Stephen King's) best-of list. This is exactly what I wanted. My Amazon shopping list just got significantly larger. Thanks.
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Dec 14, 2010 03:25
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barkingclam posted:You might also want to check out Multatuli's Max Havelaar. It's a novel about one man fighting a corrupt government in Java, then a Dutch colony. I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I've heard good things. Max Havelaar is so much better than it sounds on the face of it. Even the framing story, before he gets around to Java, has one of the great characters in Dutch literature.
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Dec 14, 2010 07:50
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