So I though we would start the new year of with a brand new thread about what everybody is reading this year.

It's fine if you just list the books you have just read / are reading now / that are next on your list to read, but if possible also give a brief explanation on why you have read / are reading / will be reading them.

I personally lately have been into (pseudo)philosophical books and history books related to science.

Just read:
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Although technically being a comic it gives a great insight into the world of logic and mathematics and the people traveling around in that world. It's not always 100% correct in the chronology but it's the perfect introduction into the subject of understanding the baseline of existence imo. If you want to go deeper as the surface this isn't the book for you but it helped me greatly with understanding the premises of the subject.

Currently reading:
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A great book about the history of mathematics in all it's facets. Even if you know absolutely nothing about mathematics (like me) you will still enjoy the path from the ancients to us. It's not written totally chronological but rather chronological per subject. This makes it especially easy to understand as in each chapter the writer explains the why and where (the how is in most cases not explained as it's not really necessary for the story) with a chronological order in each subject.

Will read next:
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I don't really know what to expect from this book but I'm very curious to see how science performed by medieval monks has influenced the modern tabulations etc.

Perhaps somebody can point me towards some more books in this field? Any help is appreciated before picking up an SF / F book again.

So what are you reading on this beautiful day?

Legatus Lanius

2135 Posts

January 01 2012 06:44 GMT

MrBludgeon

United States30 Posts

January 01 2012 07:29 GMT

I've mainly been doing some light reading as of late to let the brain calm down a bit after this nightmare of a semester. However, I've also recently become interested in some of the more wonky bits of mathematics (free non-abelian groups, non-measurable sets, and the Banach-Tarski paradox in particular). So, in order to satisfy my urge for mathematically weird shit and to keep the reading light, I recently read through:

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It gives a fairly easy to read account of the history and sketch of the proofs behind some of these paradoxes. The Banach-Tarski paradox (or theorem) is particularly interesting since it (basically) states you can take a sphere of radius one in three dimensional euclidean space (R^3), split it onto five "pieces", move those pieces around, and end up with two spheres of radius one (no holes or anything). I'll probably be picking up Wagon's far more rigorous book on the subject:

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However, for now, I am reading:

Shiragaku

Hong Kong4308 Posts

January 01 2012 07:32 GMT

and this novel

Atlare

Australia893 Posts

January 01 2012 07:39 GMT

and

Shiragaku

Hong Kong4308 Posts

January 01 2012 07:43 GMT

+ Show Spoiler +

On January 01 2012 16:39 Atlare wrote:
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and

Oh wow...that book is amazing. It is not completely up to date, but it gives plenty of reasons not to be racist.

Also, you should check this out as well.

Pinkie

United States145 Posts

January 01 2012 07:48 GMT

Reading

And

udgnim

United States8024 Posts

January 01 2012 07:51 GMT

will start reading this soon because I need to build up some study lead in order to adequately manage my upcoming semester schedule along with 2 part time jobs

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Kipsate

Netherlands45349 Posts

January 01 2012 08:05 GMT

A song of Ice and Fire series

yes I know stereotypically bandwagoned

but I still like it.

seansye

United States1722 Posts

January 01 2012 08:10 GMT

#10

On January 01 2012 17:05 Kipsate wrote:
A song of Ice and Fire series

yes I know stereotypically bandwagoned

but I still like it.

Same here!! well I read the first 4 last couple of months, but can't wait to start on ADwD

Philymaniz

United States177 Posts

January 01 2012 08:13 GMT

#11

+ Show Spoiler +

frogrubdown

1266 Posts

January 01 2012 08:21 GMT

#12

On January 01 2012 15:42 Golden Ghost wrote:
So I though we would start the new year of with a brand new thread about what everybody is reading this year.

It's fine if you just list the books you have just read / are reading now / that are next on your list to read, but if possible also give a brief explanation on why you have read / are reading / will be reading them.

I personally lately have been into (pseudo)philosophical books and history books related to science.

Just read:
[image loading]

I was actually pretty disappointed with Logicomix. Stylistically, I found the present day sections entirely uncaptivating and detrimental to the flow of the story. It also said a lot of goofy things about the philosophy, and literally not a single thing I didn't already know about the math or the history.

About to start reading:

[image loading]

actionbastrd

Congo598 Posts

January 01 2012 08:40 GMT

#13

Never thought i would be able to contribute to a book thread but it just so happens i am in the middle of Re-reading one of the few books i have actually finished. 1984 by George Orwell. Fantastic ^__^

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NarutO

Germany18839 Posts

January 01 2012 08:49 GMT

#14

(The Patient, thanks captain obvious!)

Horiz0n

Sweden364 Posts

January 01 2012 10:02 GMT

#15

Xeteh

United States589 Posts

January 01 2012 10:07 GMT

#16

I initially picked up the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson when I was in need of something to read. Turned out I loved the world he created in that trilogy (as well as the way-to-short 4th book). So after reading those books I decided I had to read everything he wrote. I've finish Elantris and I'm around 40% of the way through this one. So far it isn't my favorite and I've found it to be a bit slow on the start but it is still very well written. I'm a huge fan of his and look forward to future books.

.Riot

Philippines242 Posts

January 01 2012 10:08 GMT

#17