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Good Books You've Read Recently

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Dave Marshall

Sat Jun 12 2010, 01:56AM

Registered Member #16 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 02:22PM
Location: New Wilmington, PA
Posts: 554

Lay 'em out. What are some great books you've read recently? Lets say, last 18 months.

I've got two:

The Demon Haunted World: Science As A Candle In The Dark by Carl Sagan

Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather by Mike Smith

Both fantastic books. The first should be a must-read for anyone on this forum. It's typical Sagan, to the point, no punches. If you hold a particular affinity for religion, or UFOs, or in fact, most conspiracy theories, it will probably just enrage you. If you like laughing at folks who are particularly adamant about such ideas, it's a great read.

The second is a great book for fellow weather weenies. Well written and with some great research. I've been a storm chaser for 15 years, and have read a great deal about the evolution of modern weather forecasting and warnings, and he found a bunch of stuff I hadn't heard about.

-Dave

quicksilver

Sat Jun 12 2010, 04:14PM

Registered Member #1408 Joined: Fri Mar 21 2008, 03:49PM
Location: Oracle, AZ
Posts: 679

Fiction:

"The Lone Ranger & Tonto Fistfight in Heaven"
Sherman Alexie, (ISBN 13978-0-8021-4167-5)

For those who either lived on a Reservation in their youth or had a tough time filled with "Indian" issues, this is possibly one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. - Fast read; dry humor.
Alexie is so cutting at times in makes me wince but he's right on target. It really helps if you don't take yourself so damn seriously as well.

Non-Fiction:
"Never In Anger" Jean L Briggs. Sociology of Inuit (Eskimo) society. Examination of social mores, customs, & family dynamics in perhaps one of the world's gentlest people. If more people raised their kids like this we may have a kinder world. However, the adaptation of some agenda to many of the children in the US would be pretty damn difficult if not hysterically inappropriate.

Dr. Drone

Sat Jun 12 2010, 06:17PM

Registered Member #290 Joined: Mon Mar 06 2006, 08:24PM
Location:
Posts: 1673

Sulaiman

Sat Jun 12 2010, 07:04PM

Registered Member #162 Joined: Mon Feb 13 2006, 10:25AM
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3140

I'm currently part way through "The art and science of analog design"
... a very good book/read.

EDIT, 13Jun10 - Just finished the book and I think that if you are just starting a career in electronics it's a MUST READ.

MinorityCarrier

Sat Jun 12 2010, 07:14PM

Registered Member #2123 Joined: Sat May 16 2009, 03:10AM
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 312

"Godless" by Dan Barker.

Former Evangelist Barker slowly comes to realize the Chritian God as described in the Bible is actually a genocidal monster. Barker makes a decision to reject this religion as false and goes about (somewhat tediously in some chapters) laying out a cogent composition for his view there is no god of the Bible, and by extension all the other deities. Barker appears well researched on theologic history.

Also recently read Jon Krakauer's "Where men win glory" about Pat Tillman's friendly-fire death in Afganistan and the Bush Administration's attempt to cover it up. It's a good read, already view Bush as a disgusting war criminal, so this book had no effect on my opinion of that piece of dung.

I must say that Sagan's "Demon Haunted World" is one of my all-time favorites.

IntraWinding

Sat Jun 12 2010, 09:05PM

Registered Member #2261 Joined: Mon Aug 03 2009, 01:19AM
Location: London, UK
Posts: 581

On the theme of nuclear cock ups, this is incredible, and free.

A 'Criticality Accident' is where you accidentally create a critical mass.
You'd imagine this was such an obviously bad idea that no one would ever actually let it happen!
Think again!

A Review of Criticality Accidents

Tickling the Dragons Tail

Steve Conner

Sat Jun 12 2010, 10:14PM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

I always thought that was pretty crazy, too. "Hey, I've got two half spheres of plutonium here that add up to more than a critical mass. I wonder what happens if I smack them together real hard?"

The IAEA distribute free reports on radiological accidents that they investigate, and they make scary reading.

I also vote for "The Art and Science of Analog Design". Tom Hornak's article on visualizing circuit operation pretty much sums up the way I visualize them, too.

The next book I'm going to read is Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash".

IntraWinding

Sat Jun 12 2010, 10:48PM

Registered Member #2261 Joined: Mon Aug 03 2009, 01:19AM
Location: London, UK
Posts: 581

Steve McConner wrote ...

I always thought that was pretty crazy, too. "Hey, I've got two half spheres of plutonium here that add up to more than a critical mass. I wonder what happens if I smack them together real hard?"

That's one I don't remember

, but the range of foolishness is truly staggering. It's an edge of the seat read - I think it would make a gripping film except that when there are casualties it's very real and tragic.

There are also similar reports out there on 'Orphan Sources' and other misplaced hot material. Another riveting free read!

Hon1nbo

Sun Jun 13 2010, 04:46AM

Registered Member #902 Joined: Sun Jul 15 2007, 08:17PM
Location: North Texas
Posts: 1040

The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote de La Mancha, I wrote a research paper on it after having read, and re-read the first part over the years - I love it, great social commentary still applicable today and a very humorous and entertaining tale!

-Jimmy

Dalus

Sun Jun 13 2010, 12:53PM

Registered Member #639 Joined: Wed Apr 11 2007, 09:09PM
Location: The Netherlands, Herkenbosch
Posts: 512

I've recently read two books by Daniel Suarez. Daemon and Freedom. These are techno thrillers very interesting to read when you wonder how sosciety could change and if your interested in what the digital era might end up doing.

Hope someone else reads them too, everyone I know off ended up enjoying reading them. I finished both books in under 2 days

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