Finished : The Athenian Democracy in the Age of Demosthenes.
Simply excellent book. Clear and thoughtful, Hansen knows on what to focus, even the chapter on the sources is a pleasure to read. As for the use of such a work, there are here a ton of lessons to learn about political organisation. Leftists, read this book

Nyxisto

Germany6287 Posts

January 30 2014 23:30 GMT

#202

Finished:

I have to say I really liked the writing style and the dry humour, but man that book lacks some likeable characters. Also the main storyline picked up really slowly. All in All I'm a little disappointed.(Although I kind of got what I expected after reading a few reviews).

Thalandros

Netherlands1151 Posts

January 30 2014 23:32 GMT

#203

Currently reading
The Art of Learning from Josh Waitzkin
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and really liking it. I feel this could actually be very helpful at any point in life. He describes things exactly the way I expect him to. Currently only early on in the book but so far so good.
Thanks Day[9] and others who have recommended it to me!

Enki

United States2548 Posts

January 31 2014 00:02 GMT

#204

Yeah, I ended up reading The Art of Learning as well after hearing Day9 talk about it. Definitely recommend it to anyone looking to improve at something.

Last Read:
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Undisputed Truth - Well the 2nd half of this wasn't as interesting at the first. Got bored reading about how high he was or how he talked about how out of shape when he went to fight later in his career. Was still worth it though to read about his upbringing, especially with Cus D'Amato.

Reading Now:
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A Feast For Crows - Started this up in preparation for the next season. Was kinda dreading it honestly after hearing people say how slow it is. I am only a 1/3 on the way in but I am finding it pretty interesting so far.

Reading Next:
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Batman: Noel - Batman comic I got for Christmas. Heard lots of good things about this so looking forward to reading it.

lungic

Sweden123 Posts

January 31 2014 08:47 GMT

#205

On January 31 2014 08:30 Nyxisto wrote:
Finished:
...

I have to say I really liked the writing style and the dry humour, but man that book lacks some likeable characters. Also the main storyline picked up really slowly. All in All I'm a little disappointed.(Although I kind of got what I expected after reading a few reviews).

About the characters, well yes, and it does not get better as the series continues. Though in my opinion this is part of why the series is great. I doubt I would like Glokta the slightest if I met him in person, but he's interesting, in his own twisted way.

I would give it a rest and come back to it in a few years perhaps. Try "Best Served Cold" then, it's stand alone and a bit better written. Also, I would recommend for now that you stay away from Scott Bakker's "The Prince Of Nothing" series as well, as they are in my opinion similar in the respect of characters. Abercrombies characters are more on the eccentric scale and Bakkers on the cynical and torn.

corumjhaelen

France6884 Posts

January 31 2014 12:40 GMT

#206

Starting :
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The Art of Worldly Wisdom, Baltasar Gracian

Shiragaku

Hong Kong4308 Posts

February 02 2014 03:08 GMT

#207

Do you guys have any good recommendations by Kenzaburō Ōe?

Carnivorous Sheep

Baa?21242 Posts

February 02 2014 03:16 GMT

#208

On February 02 2014 12:08 Shiragaku wrote:
Do you guys have any good recommendations by Kenzaburō Ōe?

I liked The Changeling, though it is the only thing I've read by him.

I think parts of it dragged but the overall effect was good.

I have The beautiful Annabel Lee was chilled and killed on my to-read list, though admittedly pretty far down. The Silent Cry is his most famous work I believe, and his original claim to fame.

dmnum

Brazil6910 Posts

February 04 2014 02:52 GMT

#209

reading the odyssey along with the book of sand

Paljas

Germany6926 Posts

February 04 2014 22:29 GMT

#210

Jin Shengtan's list of 33 happy moments.

Reading a good book.
Ah, is this not happiness?

Teker

United States15 Posts

February 06 2014 15:53 GMT

#211

I forgot the name to this really good book, it was about a kid in a community that was made up of only blind people. They had like badges or something they would wear so that when they would get close it would make a sound.+ Show Spoiler +

But one day the kid wakes up and is able to see, and he sees how people deceive each other and how the leader can also see and is taking advantage of people. so he runs away i think.

Has anyone else read the book / know what it is called? I know I gave kind of a shitty description, but i have a bad memory.

dmnum

Brazil6910 Posts

February 06 2014 19:29 GMT

#212

I also have a question: Which book should I get on Pre Socratic Philosophers and the Sophists? I'm looking for something thorough, but not too expensive(Guthrie's editions are one example of such).

zulu_nation8

China26351 Posts

February 06 2014 19:38 GMT

#213

http://www.amazon.com/First-Philosophers-Presocratics-Sophists-Classics-ebook/dp/B0064A4VUA/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391715340&sr=1-3&keywords=Presocratic Philosophers

These usually have good translations. DON'T read secondary works, at least until you've read the original texts. I also recommend Havelock's Preface to Plato for an interesting critique on orality and literacy in Ancient Greece.

dmnum

Brazil6910 Posts

February 06 2014 20:18 GMT

#214

Thanks, I think I'll end up getting that one. I wasn't sure about it but I guess I can always get a complete version later.

MtlGuitarist97

United States1539 Posts

February 07 2014 00:35 GMT

#215

Do any of you guys own a Kindle/Nook? I love mine so much and I didn't realize how awesome it was until I got it.

Merfyn

United Kingdom945 Posts

February 07 2014 12:47 GMT

#216

On January 31 2014 08:30 Nyxisto wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +

Finished:

About the characters, just going to say, that if you're looking for likeable characters then 'The first law' trilogy is like one of the worst series ever to read (prob behind the thorns trilogy), simply because the (sort of) point of the books is that it is a normal story, just written with every character as an anti-hero, instead of having a mix of hero's and anti-hero's like other books. And honestly, if you read the books with that in mind then they are all really fucking good, because (and this is just my opinion) by the end of it, you're reading to find out how it all ends, and how each characters story arch is resolved, as the story itself is brilliantly plotted

Feel free to ignore this though, I might by the tiniest bit biased since i fucking love anti-hero's :D

corumjhaelen

France6884 Posts

February 07 2014 13:08 GMT

#217

Plutarch's Parallel Lives. Well, as it is HUGE, I'll take it slowly, Theseus-Romulus for now.
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The Book of the It, Georg Groddeck

Surth

Germany456 Posts

February 10 2014 23:54 GMT

#218

slightly offtopic (last read was milan kundera's the unbearable lightness of being - nice style of writing, but some of the tropes have become too entrenched in cutesy annoying girls i have been dating and it is weird reading about them, like cardboard cutouts), but can we get an irc going or something to include samizdat again? I miss him :3