FEOS
Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate
+1,182|6638|'Murka

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51aDRfygLhL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg
Just started it. Glad Card decided to start up the Ender part of the story.

Ran into an amazing quote about 30-odd pages into it. I'll have to post it later (don't have the book handy now).

Actually a couple of quotes:

page 31 wrote:

Ender knew the history of leaders--especially the original Demosthenes. Eloquence didn't imply intelligence or deep analysis.True believers in a cause often behaved in self-defeating ways because they expected other people to see the rightness of their cause if they just stated it clearly enough. As a result, they tipped their hand in every game and couldn't understand why everyone ganged up against them.

page 386 wrote:

The task of a tyrant is not to compel, but to persuade even the unwilling that compliance better serves their interest than resistance.
The first quote especially was interesting in light of the issues going on in Washington today, as the book was written well before the election and published in 2008.

For reference

Last edited by FEOS (2010-03-17 03:18:59)

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein

Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular
CameronPoe
Member
+2,925|6783
Just in the process of re-reading the four gospels. Three down, half way through Luke.

/not joking
cl4u53w1t2
Salon-Bolschewist
+269|6700|Kakanien
thomas mann - buddenbrooks

probably the best family saga ever written. hell, one of the best novels ever written
Marlo Stanfield
online poker tax cheating
+122|5390
Just ordered this book.
https://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/35810000/35811588.JPG
The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand—despite the fact that the fierce alien enemy they would oppose is inscrutable, unconquerable, and very far away. A reluctant conscript drafted into an elite Military unit, Private William Mandella has been propelled through space and time to fight in the distant thousand-year conflict; to perform his duties and do whatever it takes to survive the ordeal and return home. But "home" may be even more terrifying than battle, because, thanks to the time dilation caused by space travel, Mandella is aging months while the Earth he left behind is aging centuries...
Uzique
dasein.
+2,865|6698
sounds utterly rubbish
libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual. http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,814|6333|eXtreme to the maX
Two old men sit on a bench, waiting for someone who never shows up.
How crap is that?

'Literature' is of no interest to me, concepts and their development are.
Intellectual snobs are utter rubbish.

Last edited by Dilbert_X (2010-04-02 06:31:06)

Fuck Israel
Uzique
dasein.
+2,865|6698
all good literature does have concepts, developments and comments on the human condition- that's why it becomes canonized and stays powerful, relevant and influential... come on, dilbert, you cannot be that ignorant. the book macbeth linked is an example of literature-as-commodity; wanky pulp.
libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual. http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,814|6333|eXtreme to the maX

Uzique wrote:

the book macbeth linked is an example of literature-as-commodity; wanky pulp.
According to you, you haven't read it.
Anyway, this is the 'Book Club', not 'Dreary Pretentious Drivel Club'.

Last edited by Dilbert_X (2010-04-02 06:59:28)

Fuck Israel
Trotskygrad
бля
+354|6227|Vortex Ring State

Marlo Stanfield wrote:

Just ordered this book.
http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images … 811588.JPG
The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand—despite the fact that the fierce alien enemy they would oppose is inscrutable, unconquerable, and very far away. A reluctant conscript drafted into an elite Military unit, Private William Mandella has been propelled through space and time to fight in the distant thousand-year conflict; to perform his duties and do whatever it takes to survive the ordeal and return home. But "home" may be even more terrifying than battle, because, thanks to the time dilation caused by space travel, Mandella is aging months while the Earth he left behind is aging centuries...
Love the pun on the name

Mandela >>> Mandella

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Marlo Stanfield
online poker tax cheating
+122|5390
The book was published in 77' and was written by a Vietnam vet so I doubt the name has any connection to Nelson Mandela.
As for Uzi, even though I hate to drop names and mention awards this book has won multiple writing awards and allowed the author to become head of the creative writing department at MIT. It's is also being made into a movie by Ridely Scott.
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,814|6333|eXtreme to the maX
The Forever War (1974) is a science fiction novel by American author Joe Haldeman, telling the contemplative story of soldiers fighting an interstellar war between humanity and the enigmatic Tauran species. The pithy, insightful explorations of the inhumanity of war and of bureaucracy, and of the psychological effects resulting from time dilation space travel (a soldier returns home after centuries away), won it the Nebula Award in 1975, and the Hugo and the Locus awards in 1976.
Clearly rubbish

In 1975, he received a MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. He currently resides in Gainesville, Florida and Cambridge, Massachusetts and teaches writing at MIT.
Obviously a moron.
Fuck Israel
FEOS
Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate
+1,182|6638|'Murka

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wo4G5dDzL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Not the in-your-face evangelical Christian thing I thought it would be. I honestly read it simply to get my sister to stop bugging me to read it. Glad I did. Even those who are atheists will find it intriguing, if they read it with an open mind.

It's not about God. It's about relationships. It uses the relationship between man and God as an example, but that's not really the root of it. It does go into some explanation of the concept of the Trinity (which I still don't fully understand, but it helps explain the relationship bit), and certainly does go into some religious discussions. However, I chose to view those discussions from the relationship development viewpoint rather than the religious dogma viewpoint.

I think many who are underwhelmed with organized religion will get a kick out of God's views on man's take on religion in this book. I'll include a couple of quotes later for illustrative purposes (don't have the book with me right now).

"Marriage is not an institution. It's a relationship." Jesus paused, his voice steady and patient. "Like I said, I don't create institutions; that's an occupation for those who want to play God. So no, I'm not too big on religion, and not too very fond of politics or economics either." Jesus' visage darkened noticeably. "And why should I be? They are the man-created trinity of terrors that ravages the earth and deceives those I care about. What mental turmoil and anxiety does any human face that is not related to one of those three?"
"Religion must use law to empower itself and control the people needed in order to survive..." (Jesus again)
A quick read, and a definite recommend. Actually reminded me in many ways of the book The Years of Rice and Salt...another excellent read.

Last edited by FEOS (2010-04-14 17:02:37)

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein

Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular
Spark
liquid fluoride thorium reactor
+874|6902|Canberra, AUS
trying again a year on.

cold war history - any recommendations, guys?
The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
~ Richard Feynman
mcminty
Moderating your content for the Australian Govt.
+879|6949|Sydney, Australia
I think I shall get that one. Without going back through pages and pages of this thread, know of any more books like it?
Varegg
Support fanatic :-)
+2,206|7038|Nårvei

Latest books I've read ... and a must for all WW2 history junkies ...

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WXB08P7FL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Horror in the east - Laurence Rees: The Japanese War from 1931 - 1945, main issue in the book is how a proud warrior code amongst the Samurais turned into a bestiality that was unmatched even  by the Germans and Russians.

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PCWMkWIsL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Leningrad, State of Siege - Michael Jones: Roughly 1 million people died in Leningrad during the 872 day long siege in WW2, a book about what it took to survive, the many mistakes by the Russian command and Hitlers recentless effort to starve out Leningrads population. Much of the material in the book is from the survivors own mouth and diaries.

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xGqnuFUYL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Panzer Commander the Memoirs of Colonel Hans Von Luck - Hans von Luck: The story about Hans von Luck, one of Rommels most trusted and appriciated commanders, he fought in all theaters of war, one of the first to cross the border to Poland in 1939, invasion of Belgium and France, invasion of Russia (his tanks was 20 miles from Moscow), the campaign in Africa and in the frontlines on D-Day. He was known both by friends and foes as a splendid soldier and gentleman, he treated his prisoners well and got to be friends with many of his former enemies after the war.
Wait behind the line ..............................................................
Marlo Stanfield
online poker tax cheating
+122|5390
A girl I went to highschool with gave me this book as a belated birthday gift.
https://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/24910000/24918783.JPG
Publication of the Marquis de Sade's infamous works were subject to a lengthy court dispute in France, with Olympia losing in the end (Girodias eventually relocated to NY as America and the UK began liberalizing just as legendary Gallic tolerance shifted in another direction). The plot is simple: a group of amoral libertines retire to a sealed chateau with an entourage of innocent victims, all of whom are murdered in ways both sexual and Byzantine. De Sade's taste for death and torture may have exceeded the strength of his hand as after about many pages of exquisitely detailed sexual mayhem, he begins to dispatch the cast in wholesale lots. Still, it can inspire fantasies, if, we hope, not actions.
I don't know whether she ment it as a joke or if it's a serious gift.
Jay
Bork! Bork! Bork!
+2,006|5586|London, England
https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510862PQ16L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Written by Mr. Cruver who was an employee of Enron for the year preceding it's demise. He recounts the culture that first inspired him to take the job there and then which ultimately betrayed him. It was a culture of unmitigated greed in which people were willing to lie, cheat and steal in order to drive up the stock price of the company in which they were all shareholders. Instead of reporting real earnings, they designed a series of off balance sheet companies which would act as a way in which they could add more debt to the company without adding it to their earnings statement and thus driving down their stock price. These acted as a form of Ponzi Scheme which ultimately drove the company into bankruptcy when they were discovered.

What the book did was rattle me and shake my belief in a completely unfettered market regulating itself. Why? Because White Knights are generally silenced or looked upon with derision because people have the misguided belief that they can lie to their customers for long enough to get rich and then cash out and leave someone else holding the bag. These people are crooks and in the day and age where CEOs and other high level staff turn over at such a rapid pace, there's no one who really cares about the long term interest of a company enough to force it's culture to behave in a rational manner.

Enron was a mess and it's culture directly reflected what later happened to Wall Street in 2007. Never trust a person with a get rich quick scheme.
"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat
cl4u53w1t2
Salon-Bolschewist
+269|6700|Kakanien
https://www.fallschirmjager.net/books/Tapping.jpg
https://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0451527747.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Uzique
dasein.
+2,865|6698
hey cl14 i read lewis carroll's classic works in their ORIGINAL LANGUAGE

how you like that, HUH

btw great choice of classic for a 20+ year old to delve into . . .

reminds me of that time you made a thread celebrating your finishing of Joyce's Ulysses.

similar sense of satisfaction, isnt it?
libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual. http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/
cl4u53w1t2
Salon-Bolschewist
+269|6700|Kakanien

Uzique wrote:

hey cl14 i read lewis carroll's classic works in their ORIGINAL LANGUAGE
me too. several times
cl4u53w1t2
Salon-Bolschewist
+269|6700|Kakanien
+

https://www.stadtbibliothek.graz.at/covers/1152300.gif
Harmor
Error_Name_Not_Found
+605|6776|San Diego, CA, USA
Looking to read this sometime this week:

https://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3246/51jihfsvflbo2204203200p.jpg

Source: http://www.amazon.com/Conservative-Vict … 0062003054
13/f/taiwan
Member
+940|5926
....

seriously?
Varegg
Support fanatic :-)
+2,206|7038|Nårvei

Defeating Obamas radical agenda
Wait behind the line ..............................................................
Uzique
dasein.
+2,865|6698
https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fCAbIbA6L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Review
“This book offers an interdisciplinary study of the role of interrogation and its use by the state. Michael Skerker’s approach allows the reader to view the conduct of domestic and foreign affairs through the prism of moral and political philosophy, jurisprudence, and just war theory. The result is an excellent approach to this multifaceted issue that provides insight without polemic.”—Jan Goldman, founding editor, International Journal of Intelligence Ethics
(Jan Goldman )

“No other book can be said to do what this one does, that is, provide a philosophy of interrogation that relies on a right to silence limited by the right to a relatively just legal order. An Ethics of Interrogation is sure to start an interesting discussion among philosophers, lawyers, and scholars of criminal justice.”—Michael Davis, Illinois Institute of Technology (Michael Davis )

Product Description
The act of interrogation, and debate over its use, pervade our culture, whether through fictionalized depictions in movies and television or discussions of real-life interrogations on the news. But despite daily mentions of the practice in the media, there is a lack of informed commentary on its moral implications. Moving beyond the narrow focus on torture that has characterized most work on the subject, An Ethics of Interrogation is the first book to fully address this complex issue.

In doing so Michael Skerker confronts a host of philosophical and legal issues, from the right to privacy and the privilege against compelled self-incrimination to prisoner rights and the legal consequences of different modes of arrest, interrogation, and detention. These topics raise serious questions about the morality of keeping secrets and the differences between state power at home and abroad. Thoughtful consideration of these subjects leads Skerker to specific policy recommendations for law enforcement, military, and intelligence professionals.
really interesting, actually. didn't think i'd like such a contemporary-polemic, but it was recommended to me along with a few other academic books that have just been published by the University of Chicago Press, and so far all of them seem to skip partisan alignment and petty controversialism. the others, if you're also interested, are titled: 'What Is Happening to News: The Information Explosion and the Crisis In Journalism' by Jack Fuller, 'The Atlas of World Hunger' by Thomas J. Bassett and Alex Winter-Nelson, 'Anthropology and Global Counterinsurgency', eds. John D. Kelly, Beatrice Jaurgeui, Sean T. Mitchell, Jeremy Walton and 'Terrorism: The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy' by Joseba Zulaika.

i intend to read them all this summer in between all the fiction, poetry and theory. look pretty intriguing, tbh.

Last edited by Uzique (2010-06-09 08:42:29)

libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual. http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/

Board footer

Privacy Policy - © 2024 Jeff Minard