2011 - What are you Reading? - Page 18

Shew

United States460 Posts

April 09 2011 17:21 GMT

#341

What were a few books day9 has recommended? I know he has recommended the art of war, dresden files, and i think something along the lines of "the art of learning"? I'm trying to find that one

Manit0u

Poland17831 Posts

April 11 2011 16:18 GMT

#342

On April 07 2011 05:10 unkkz wrote:

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Yeah, had to read them after playing the game since i thought the story was really good, and the only elements of the story i didnt like weren't from the books so absolutely had to read them. Too bad the translation is taking forever though, does he write "difficult" polish or something since its taking so long?

Can't really say if it's difficult. I haven't had trouble understanding it when I was 15-16 (and there are Polish books that I have trouble understanding even now, like Dukaj's Perfect Imperfection where he introduces a completely new Polish grammar...) but Sapkowski likes to use some words/sentences stylised for old Polish language that isn't in use any more which might cause some trouble.

I've seen this new edition being also re-printed in Polish (with the same cover arts etc.) and was thinking about buying it to re-read the series. It seems that they're releasing it at the same rate as English version (right now advertising book 2).

On April 10 2011 02:21 Shew wrote:
What were a few books day9 has recommended? I know he has recommended the art of war, dresden files, and i think something along the lines of "the art of learning"? I'm trying to find that one

If he recommended The Art of War by Sun Tzu I'd also go with The Art of War by Niccolo Machiavelli and On War by Carl von Clausewitz. Each is better than the previous one and it gives you a nice overview of military thinking/strategy throughout the ages.
While Sun Tzu shows some basic principles, Machiavelli goes deeper into the subject and expands on the justification of war. Von Clausewitz's text on the other hand is a prime textbook in all the military academies, it's the most up to date and with a lot of reasoning behind war (like the purpose of war, what is war in general etc.). The latest edition by Oxford University Press with commentary is outstanding.

On April 09 2011 15:15 Dude. wrote:
Reading:
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I've heard it's the absolute guide to morality and ethics. Should be awesome. =D

Actually, it's more of an introduction to ethics (morality =/= ethics). The first text where the term is used and first in history to elaborate on this topic (some point to Socrates and his virtues when it comes to the beginning of ethics, but it was Aristotele who made a real impact).
The subject was then undertaken by others, who added a lot of interesting thoughts. Some of them would include:
Hume
Schiller
Kant
Thomas Acquinus
MacIntyre
Marks
Luhmann
Nietzsche
Freud
Habermas
Apel
Adorno
Rawls
Jonas
Singer
Moore
Wittgenstein
Ayer
Stevenson
Austin
Searle
Hare

And still some more...

Ethics is a VERY deep list of topics throughout the ages and Aristotele just made the first step on this road so this book can be considered an introductory course but not an ultimate source of truth.

Back on general topic, now reading:

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Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky

Starts very interesting.

P. S.

Beckett's Genesis (which I posted earlier in this thread) is an awesome book which I would recommend to everyone, not just S-F junkies like myself.
It should be added to the must-read modern philosophy literature list if there's such a thing.

Ikonn

Netherlands1958 Posts

April 11 2011 16:34 GMT

#343

Just finished:
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Now reading:
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eatmyshorts5

United States1530 Posts

April 11 2011 16:46 GMT

#344

Just Finished:
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Incredible book I must add. Shows how when science is approached without a conscience, science punishes. Very interesting dynamic between the different institutions of society.

Now Reading:
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and sadly...

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Dude.

United States94 Posts

April 13 2011 19:38 GMT

#345

Check my post on page 17 for a picture of it. He recommended "The Art of Learning" by Josh Waitzkin. After he said it was his favorite book ever, I googled it and got super intrigued.

On April 12 2011 01:18 Manit0u wrote:

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Sweet, I really appreciate the knowledge man. I'm slowly venturing into philosophy books to get a clearer understanding of how I want define my "right" and "wrong". Would you possibly have any recommendations based on my goal?

And I'll post a book I read when I cook, so this isn't too off topic. =D
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Raagruk

Canada66 Posts

April 13 2011 22:31 GMT

#346

1. just finished reading Horus Heresy: Fallen Angels
2. currently reading Horus Heresy: A Thousand Sons
3. plan to read the next book after thousand sons and the name eludes me atm

HeavenS

Colombia2259 Posts

April 14 2011 23:57 GMT

#347

A Fire Upon the Deep - Vernor Vinge

So far this book is pretty great. The ideas it contains are pretty amazing. It divides our known universe into zones, it explains why lower beings (like us) don't come in contact with higher ones. It really requires that you open your mind to understand the ideas it postulates.
There are some really great analogies in the book where it describes what a higher being or a "power" thinks of us or how it regards us and how we might perceive it. Imagine trying to explain to an ant or to a fish the amazingness beyond their understanding, or the motives behind our actions. Anyways thats just a small example, definitely pick it up if you like thought provoking scifi.

Ilikestarcraft

Korea (South)17743 Posts

April 15 2011 00:17 GMT

#348

On April 14 2011 04:38 Dude. wrote:

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Check my post on page 17 for a picture of it. He recommended "The Art of Learning" by Josh Waitzkin. After he said it was his favorite book ever, I googled it and got super intrigued.

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Well I'm taking an intro to ethics class and first started off with Plato's Apology and Crito. Then we moved on into Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. Which moves into Kant's Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals which leads to Mill's Utilitarianism. What I learned from the class is how each major theory developed as a reaction to the other. Kant's theory was a reaction against Aristotle's virtue ethics, well not it specifically but the approach of ethics at the time which it belonged too and Mill's theory was a reaction against Kant's deontological ethics. I think if you're interested in moral philosophy those 3 texts should be where you start. Currently in ethics right now those 3 are the major theories.

I think the Apology and Crito are good to start with first just because they give a good introduction to it all and they're both short to read if you haven't yet. http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/crito.html I personally liked Crito because it was my first introduction to philosophy in general and its what got me interested in it. Also just a heads up Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals can be quite difficult to read at times.

slyboogie

United States3423 Posts

April 15 2011 00:19 GMT

#349

Everyone should be reading:

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Hardister

United States12 Posts

April 15 2011 00:23 GMT

#350

Just finished : Dune Messiah
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Working on: Children of Dune
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Next: God Emperor of Dune
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Then I plan on finishing the series from there. I really love these books.

Dude.

United States94 Posts

April 15 2011 04:17 GMT

#351

On April 15 2011 09:17 Ilikestarcraft wrote:
Well I'm taking an intro to ethics class and first started off with Plato's Apology and Crito. Then we moved on into Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. Which moves into Kant's Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals which leads to Mill's Utilitarianism. What I learned from the class is how each major theory developed as a reaction to the other. Kant's theory was a reaction against Aristotle's virtue ethics, well not it specifically but the approach of ethics at the time which it belonged too and Mill's theory was a reaction against Kant's deontological ethics. I think if you're interested in moral philosophy those 3 texts should be where you start. Currently in ethics right now those 3 are the major theories.

I think the Apology and Crito are good to start with first just because they give a good introduction to it all and they're both short to read if you haven't yet. http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/crito.html I personally liked Crito because it was my first introduction to philosophy in general and its what got me interested in it. Also just a heads up Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals can be quite difficult to read at times.

Awesome man, thank you. I really appreciate the overview and map you've laid out for me. I'm going to start reading Apology and Crito tonight. =D Thanks again! =D

mmp

United States2130 Posts

April 15 2011 04:42 GMT

#352

My recent reads...

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
A Canticle For Leibowitz
Blackwater
Lanark

Manit0u

Poland17831 Posts

April 24 2011 18:36 GMT

#353

On April 15 2011 13:17 Dude. wrote:

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Awesome man, thank you. I really appreciate the overview and map you've laid out for me. I'm going to start reading Apology and Crito tonight. =D Thanks again! =D

On top of that, you could also take a look at axiology. What's particularly interesting there, is the ever-lasting dilemma: Are values (like "right", "wrong" or "beauty" since axiology deals primarily with ethics and aesthetics) objective or subjective? Do we create them or do they already exist and we just discover them?
It's especially interesting in some modern concepts like cloning, abortion, in-vitro, euthanasia etc.

For some study in modern philosophy, including ethics and general thoughts about what does it mean to be human, I'd like to refer to you the book I posted earlier in this thread: Genesis by Bernard Beckett. It's easy to read and delivers some of the very interesting questions within modern philosophy in the form of a Sci-Fi novel. Highly recommended.

Back on topic:

Just finished:

Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky - absolutely amazing. 600 pages of Fallout atmosphere.

Now reading:

Metro 2034 by the same author - after the first 100 pages it seems even better than the previous one, which is quite an accomplishment in itself.

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Also:

I'm through 2/3rds of the series right now. One of the best comic book series ever. Highly recommended for all comic book/Star Wars/KotOR fans.

Edit:

On April 15 2011 09:23 Hardister wrote:
Just finished : Dune Messiah
[image loading]

Working on: Children of Dune
[image loading]

Next: God Emperor of Dune
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Then I plan on finishing the series from there. I really love these books.

I suggest you finish it there. The rest of the books aren't this good (I didn't even enjoy GEoD as much as the first three). No need to get frustrated.

ZessiM

United Kingdom232 Posts

April 24 2011 18:57 GMT

#354

Time to find out what the fuss is about...

Apolo

Portugal1259 Posts

April 24 2011 19:01 GMT

#355

1) A book you have recently finished (for the 3rd time)
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2) A book you are currently reading
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3) The next book you plan on reading

Open for suggestions

anatem

Romania1369 Posts

April 24 2011 19:05 GMT

#356

On April 25 2011 03:36 Manit0u wrote:

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+ Show Spoiler +

Also:

I'm through 2/3rds of the series right now. One of the best comic book series ever. Highly recommended for all comic book/Star Wars/KotOR fans.

Edit:

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I suggest you finish it there. The rest of the books aren't this good (I didn't even enjoy GEoD as much as the first three). No need to get frustrated.

i strongly disagree.

God Emperor is actually the best book in the series.

after years of convoluted argumentations, the argument i've come to when there's people who think it's quite bad is that they don't get the fucking point.

the next two books are basically one book in two volumes, anf they're both amazing, though they're not so stand-alone as the others of the series, they're pretty difficult, and they end in a cliffhanger. still, without them, Dune would be just some random incredibly entertaining and well written scifi series, instead of the cult literature it has become.

the final chapter to end the series written by Frank's son and that other guy requires a read of their Butlerian Jihad series, which is pretty weak. the dune chapter 7 thing to end Frank's series though is pretty good, and acceptable as an ending, aka it makes sense and i fits with the original series, which it should since they wrote it based on unfinished manuscripts left by Frank. (also, their eprequel series are a decent read, and a must for a Herbert fan)

if you read so far, finish the whole series