Posted on 12/31/2010 7:25:35 AM PST by MplsSteve
Hello everyone!
it's time for my quarterly "What Are You reading Now?" survey. As you know, I consider Freepers to be among the more well-read of those of us out in cyberspace. As a result, I like to find out what you're reading.
It can be anything...a technical journal, a NY TImes bestseller, a trashy pulp novel, in short, it can be anything. Please do not defile this thread by posting "I'm reading this thread". It became very unfunny a long long time ago.
I'll start. I went to the library and picked up a copy of "Sam Walton, Made In America: My Story" by Sam Walton. I'm not the entreprenurial type myself and I'm only about 20% of the way thru the book - but I find it interesting how he built Wal-Mart to be such a powerhouse of a corporation. Some of the ideas he talks about can actually be put to use in almost any type of corporate environment.
Well, what are YOU reading now?
Just started another novel Wolves Eat Dogs by Martin Cruz Smith. A Russian crime novel.
I have a new list I gained from Freepers that are all books about Americans who migrated to the USSR back in the day.
I have a weird reading obsession that entails all things Russian.
If you wanna read a Neal Stephenson book that is so incredibly unlike all his others, read “The Big U”. It was his first book and it was written back in ‘84 or ‘85.
I still have my copy.
Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls is only available in Reference at the LA Library. However, they do have Schiffman´s Qumran and Jerusalem : Studies in the Dead Sea scrolls and the History of Judaism (2010) which I put on hold. They also have about ten other works of his.
Thanks again.
Any other readers share Michelle Bachman’s view of Gore Vidal’s “Burr”?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2649837/posts
I just finished “The Apprentice-My life in the Kitchen” by Jacques Pepin. I bought it for my husband since he is the gourmet cook and I just loved it. He tells about growing up and landing an apprenticeship at 14 in France-interspersing between advntures, high successes and a few minor faillures and we get some of his favorite recipes and American dishes and sandwiches he loves. And then I bought for my husband Brad Thor’s “Foreign Influence”. The author was in Homeland Security and knows all the nitty gritty ways that terrorist function and ways to “torture” to get information from them before their plans do any more damage. It’s also a fast read and I’ve never read an OO7 novel or any CIA type novel and I’m “enjoying” the honnesty in it. In the meantime my husband a retired engineer/military man is slogging through “War and Peace” on his Kindle because it was $.99 and is shocked to discover Leo Tolstoy was a real anti-military guy to the point that he doesn’t even understand or try to understand the strategies in war or to understand that military men don’t like war any more than enyone else.
I have a number of irons in the fire:
“Decision Points” by George Bush http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307590615/ref=oss_product
“The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596985054/ref=oss_product
“Warlord” by Ted Bell http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006185929X/ref=oss_product
“Combat Gunfighting” by Michael Rayburn http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0980248809/ref=oss_product
I also have a dozen or so in the wings, going to be a busy year!
What is your area of specialization, from a historian standpoint?
I have long been a student of early 20th century european history, but in recent years, i have branched out to Greek and roman history, and US history, to a much greater level.
military history is also a huge interest of mine..various periods, including both world wars, and American revolution.
Just finished “Schindler’s List.” (Thomas Keneally)
Just finished “The Road to Rescue - the Untold Story of Schindler’s List” (Mietek Pemper, one of Shindler’s Jews)
Just finished “If You Survive - From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of WWII” (George Wilson)
Just started “The Coming of the Third Reich” (Richard J. Evans, first of a three-book series)
Just when I see some daylight, I add to the pile.
That’s a good thing.
Just downloaded:
“Blacklisted by History” by M. Stanton Evans (Joe McCarthy)
“A Patriots History of the United States” by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen
“The Last Lion: William Spencer Churchill” by William Manchester
“Andrew Jackson” by H.W. Brands
“The Identity Man” by Andrew Klaven
I’m a specialist in World War II, in particular, industrial mobilization and logistics. Recently, I’ve been concentrating a lot on treaty law and Lend Lease—I’m trying to drum up funding for a six-month stay in Moscow to check out how Lend Lease aid was utilized by the Soviet Union. I’ll get another book out of it, and I seriously like researching this sort of thing.
Oh, I should mention that formally, my specialization is “modern military history,” though I loooove Roman history, as well. But in the academic world, one must specialize.
One of the best books ever “The Art Of Racing In The Rain”!
GWB’s “Decision Points” and “How the Catholic Church Saved Western Civilization”.
"WARNING: This book contains ideas that will not sit well with what you learned in high school 'social studies' classes. Constitutionolatry and the received wisdom of the nature and purpose of the American State emerge from these pages battered and limping. Reading this book may result in changes in your thinking."
Placed tongue in cheek into one of the reviews.
I'll pick this one up for certain.
I’m reading “Finding God in Physics” by Roy Masters, Vince Flynn “American Assasin”. A daily devotional I like...”God Calling” A.J. Russell
I’d like to hear your thoughts on the Kurtz book.
Obama is likely to become very aggressive and desperate if he feels that he’ll not be re-elected.
FReepers need to know him better to predict his moves.
Russian literature is great but Anna was a dummy.
When you finish can you share the main points?
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