OT: What book are you currently reading?

NYKAL · Post #41 » by **NYKAL** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 9:08 pm

moocow007 wrote:Also like the Illiad a whole lot as well as Beowulf. Not the easiest things to read but something about it just makes it really more interesting to me.

Isn't Beowulf a Poem? Good luck with that

JohnStarksTheDunk · Post #42 » by **JohnStarksTheDunk** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 12:42 am

Mecca wrote:
JayKnicKz11 wrote:I like motivational books. Any suggestions? to empower you as a person? Besides the 50 laws of power.

read my post.. the alchemist ftw

Seconded. Great book and a pretty easy/quick read.

NoLayupRule wrote:I highly recommend these books from my recent reading

The Martian has been on my list for several months. Thanks for the recommendation.

Post #43 » by **j4remi** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 12:25 pm

NoLayupRule wrote:
moocow007 wrote:I'm go to start to re-read the Divine Comedy. My absolute most favorite work of literature of all time.

sadly it gets less interesting as it goes

peaks in hell

but truly a seminal and brilliant work that, more than anything, changed the modern western idea of the afterlife

Paradise Lost and Dante's Inferno (dead on about it peaking there) are two of my favorite works in writing. I think both have the similar strength of creating incredibly powerful visuals of the afterlife/divine worlds.

moocow007 · Post #44 » by **moocow007** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 1:08 pm

NYKAL wrote:
moocow007 wrote:Also like the Illiad a whole lot as well as Beowulf. Not the easiest things to read but something about it just makes it really more interesting to me.

Isn't Beowulf a Poem? Good luck with that

Yep. It's one of the oldest poems (and longest) in Old English history. The use of alliterative verse definitely not for the weak of heart.

The start...

Lo! the Spear-Danes’ glory through splendid achievements
The folk-kings’ former fame we have heard of,
How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle.
Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers
From many a people their mead-benches tore.
Since first he found him friendless and wretched,
The earl had had terror: comfort he got for it,
Waxed ’neath the welkin, world-honor gained,
Till all his neighbors o’er sea were compelled to
Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute:
An excellent atheling! After was borne him
A son and heir, young in his dwelling,
Whom God-Father sent to solace the people.

Grover · Post #45 » by **Grover** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 2:27 pm

"Being and Nothingness" or the story of the 20145/2015 New York Knicks

BKlutch · Post #46 » by **BKlutch** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 2:44 pm

Grover wrote:"Being and Nothingness" or the story of the 20145/2015 New York Knicks

Sartre was prescient. :lol:

Vincent_Askew · Post #47 » by **Vincent_Askew** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 3:47 pm

Thorn · Post #48 » by **Thorn** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 6:37 pm

Nostrand Ave wrote:Also, I'm looking for a non-fiction book relating to science, any recommendations? It could be about the cosmos, life, animals, anything science, etc. Preferably something exciting and thought-provoking. Has anyone read Neil deGrasse Tyson's books like "Death By Black Hole"?

The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett

It is so far a brilliant read.

Riot Randolph · Post #49 » by **Riot Randolph** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 6:49 pm

If you have patience for an incredible story read Shantaram....one of my fave books of all time...

br7knicks · Post #50 » by **br7knicks** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 7:32 pm

moocow007 wrote:I'm go to start to re-read the Divine Comedy. My absolute most favorite work of literature of all time.

My favorite movie, Seven, got me to read that and Paradise Lost. Very difficult the first time around, easier when I Re read them. I'm not very religious, but I've always been interested in religious history and how it's shaped the cultures of this earth the last few millenia. I also watched the dante's inferno movie. Not a big Japanese cartoon or gore fan (love horror, but psychological horror, not slasher movies), but it was definitely worth watching.

I also love those old poetic epics. I never read in middle or high school (I was always a math guy), except for beowulf, the illiad, and the odyssey. Also love Greek mythology.

NBA Fan 1234 · Post #51 » by **NBA Fan 1234** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 10:25 pm

@Moo - loved the Divine Comedy. @NLR, finished up The Martian two weeks ago and also loved that (but thought it got off to a slow start). @Mecca, read The Alchemist two months ago and loved it too - actually recommended it to a friend and he is reading it for the second time in a month.

Excluding stuff I need to read for school, I'm currently reading The Legacy of the Force books (Star Wars) but will switch to the new stuff that the movies relate to once they get released.

On top of that, I'm reading Marcus Aurelius Meditations little by little, Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion, and Nitzsche's Beyond Good and Evil - the first and third are because I got into a philosophy mood and heard good things (can be hard to understand, at times of course).

Read The Killing Floor (Jack Reacher book 1) because my dad told me to read it and I enjoyed it - might end up continuing the series...undecided on that, though.

Couple other books I've read this past year that I've enjoyed - AG Riddle's books (Departure or his Atlantis Plague ones), Gone Girl, and Divergent trilogy. I try to read 2ish books a month for fun - always looking for suggestions and this thread has potential. Hope we can keep it alive.

Mecca · Post #52 » by **Mecca** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 11:08 pm

JayKnicKz11 wrote:
Mecca wrote:
JayKnicKz11 wrote:I like motivational books. Any suggestions? to empower you as a person? Besides the 50 laws of power.

read my post.. the alchemist ftw

Thanks, has this helped you in life at all?

Yea a lot. How everything in life is written by the same hand. Follow omens. Believe in your dreams

Mecca · Post #53 » by **Mecca** » Tue Sep 1, 2015 11:08 pm

Can anyone throw a book my way to inspire me? Really have my ambition on 100?

mrpoetryNmotion · Post #54 » by **mrpoetryNmotion** » Wed Sep 2, 2015 2:00 am

Currently reading Slaughterhouse 5.

Just got done reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Great read and a bit different structurally and POV-wise for a novel. Also features perhaps the best narrator I've ever read in a book.

MaseInYourFace · Post #55 » by **MaseInYourFace** » Wed Sep 2, 2015 2:05 am

I'm currently finishing "The Contender:Andrew Cuomo, a Biography." Good read if you are into politics. It's not a puff piece and really goes in on Cuomo. You'll have a much fuller idea of who he really is after reading this. He's very guarded and most people don't really know much about him. Anyway it's long but again if your into politics it's worth checking out.

Before that I had finished "Ask the Dust" by John Fante which is a must read if your into Bukowski or modern fiction in general. I found the book very sad but it's beautifully written.

StarksChoked · Post #56 » by **StarksChoked** » Wed Sep 2, 2015 10:38 pm

Im reading the Bible. Im almost done with the New testament and i still have a long way with the Old testament.

stayme7o · Post #57 » by **stayme7o** » Wed Sep 2, 2015 10:42 pm

NBA Fan 1234 · Post #58 » by **NBA Fan 1234** » Wed Sep 2, 2015 10:55 pm

StarksChoked wrote:Im reading the Bible. Im almost done with the New testament and i still have a long way with the Old testament.

Read The God Delusion - you would enjoy it

StarksChoked · Post #59 » by **StarksChoked** » Thu Sep 3, 2015 4:47 am

Knickstape1214 wrote:
StarksChoked wrote:Im reading the Bible. Im almost done with the New testament and i still have a long way with the Old testament.

Read The God Delusion - you would enjoy it

I dont really like reading in itself. Reading the Bible is hard enough for me its hard for me to keep interested but I like it. I would like to read that book you request and understand the Atheist mind.I like The Bible, teaches in hope and that your life matters and there is a reason for everything. Atheist teach that there is no hope and that your life means nothing. IF there is no God and there is no heaven what are you "Atheist " living for? What is the point? sorry for going off but i will just leave at that. I dont wanna start a big debate.

Rasho Brezec · Post #60 » by **Rasho Brezec** » Thu Sep 3, 2015 11:18 am

StarksChoked wrote:Atheist teach that there is no hope and that your life means nothing. IF there is no God and there is no heaven what are you "Atheist " living for? What is the point?