General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCan someone suggest a good book to read?
I just finished Wrapped in a Flag. Hate when I don't have something to read before bedtime!
PasadenaTrudy
(3,998 posts)Fiction or non?
samplegirl
(11,502 posts)I usually end up with something good by suggestion.
pscot
(21,024 posts)got a nice review in the NYT. It sounds kind of interesting.
A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True, 1907-1940 is not about the actress alone. Its bigger and splashier. Stanwyck knew the most notable directors, writers, actors, studio chiefs and Broadway impresarios of her day, and Ms. Wilson is interested in all of them. A remarkable array of still photographs present supporting characters like Florenz Ziegfeld, Annie Oakley, Clark Gable and Zeppo Marx, all of whom have their places in this account. An even more startling collection of movie ads and posters tells a riveting tale of sexism (about Baby Face: Youve never seen anything like this frank, man-to-man story of a man-to-man girl!), even as they chronicle Stanwycks career. And each of her two marriages, to the vaudeville maestro Frank Fay and the pretty-boy heartthrob Robert Taylor, could fill a book alone.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/books/a-life-of-barbara-stanwyck-by-victoria-wilson.html?hpw&rref=books
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)played. Ball of Fire is probably my favorite. Thanks for the rec, I will look out for it.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)There are several sub-groups where people discuss various genres - fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, and fantasy reads.
I can't bear to be without a book to read at the end of every day.
Butch McQueen
(43 posts)Who Stole The American Dream, Hedrick Smith. I have to read it in pretty small doses though - every page gives me a new thing to be furious about!
Butch
trishtrash
(74 posts)A page-turner, moving and funny, with serious environmental issues.
ancianita
(36,133 posts)I'm more a fan of non-fiction myself.
roody
(10,849 posts)northoftheborder
(7,574 posts)Although fiction, it's main storyline has to do with Global Warming and it's effects......
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)"the lost continent" is really funny and sometimes harsh short stories of his travelogue across parts of America as he reminisces on childhood travel with his family. Great for the bed stand.
Ron Obvious
(6,261 posts)I'm currently reading his latest: 1927, about all the events that happened in that year and their significance. Lindbergh, Al Capone, the trail of Sacco & Vanzetti, the emergence of the movie industry. Bill writes so well he even makes the baseball stuff (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig) interesting to a non-baseball fan like me.
Highly recommended.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)samplegirl
(11,502 posts)Reading allows me to turn off my day.
Thanks D.U. friends!!!!
UTUSN
(70,740 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)Historic NY
(37,453 posts)it should provide a good nights sleep...
ballabosh
(330 posts)But I am re-reading Touching History at the moment. Such a compelling, terrifying and sad account of the ATF and military response on 9/11.
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Kablooie
(18,641 posts)It's a well researched historical novel about Madame Tussaud who started the wax museums.
Because she modeled royalty as well as revolutionaries and the infamous, mostly in person, she had an opportunity to meet many of the key players in the French revolution and became friends with people on both sides of the conflict.
She was also required to make models of the severed heads of key guillotine victims to support the revolutionaries so she possibly had more first hand contact with more historical events than nearly anyone else.
The book does a good job of letting you experience the horrifying French revolution as if you were living in Paris at the time.
At times the insanity reminded me of the teabagger extremism today.
At the end of the book the author explains what liberties she took with the historical record in order to make a more coherent story.
Most are very minor.
Logical
(22,457 posts)B Calm
(28,762 posts)CBHagman
(16,987 posts)It's a very readable account of the personalities and the policies in the House of Representatives following the 2010 midterm elections, and Draper doesn't just focus on Republicans. It's useful for getting an understanding of what we've just been through.
The original title was Do Not Ask What Good We Do.
RagAss
(13,832 posts)It did that to me...
http://www.weiwuwei.8k.com/books.html
samplegirl
(11,502 posts)but thankful of all the suggestions!!!!
Paulie
(8,462 posts)arely staircase
(12,482 posts)haven't read salt
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Her book was very interesting and insightful.
alittlelark
(18,890 posts)Taitertots
(7,745 posts)Predictably Irrational
Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)mythology
(9,527 posts)I Wear the Black Hat by Chuck Klosterman
Her by Christa Parravani (warning, this book is really really heart wrenching, but I think it's an amazing book)
Quiet by Susan Cain
The Honest Truth About Dishonesty by Dan Ariely
Sadly I haven't had as much time for reading as I used to. It's an awful catch-22. When I was unemployed I had lots of time to read, but no money for books. Now that I have a job, I have no time to read the books that I can now afford. Although to be fair, I have no place to put any more books anyway.
fayhunter
(221 posts)I'm reading it this week for the third time.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)Some years back when I was contemplating home-schooling my kids, I knew I'd use that book as the basis for a 7th grade curriculum. And I don't mean that it's a dumbed down book. It's not, but the ideas and information contained in it are incredible.
oregonjen
(3,339 posts)TlalocW
(15,391 posts)Wicked (the LIfe and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West), Son of a Witch, a Lion Among Men, and Out of Oz.
Very political and very amusing. They're what the Wicked musical is "based" on. Extremely loosely I might add.
TlalocW
Bennyboy
(10,440 posts)From the Cotton club to Kurt Cobain, this book take you inside the music and drug scene. It is very very interesting to see how the genius of the country was on dope.
My favorite book ever.
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)Lord D'Arcy Investigates - Randall Garrett (Fantasy/Sci-Fi)
Myth Adventures - Robert Asprin (Fantasy/Comedy)
The Dresden Files - Jim Butcher (Series/Horror)
Accidental Empires: How the Boys of Silicon Valley Make Their Millions, Battle Foreign Competition, and Still Can't Get a Date - Robert X. Cringely (Non-Fiction)
Maus: A Survivors Tale - Art Spiegleman (Graphic Novel)
Travis McGee series - John D. McDonald (Detective fiction, with a dash of liberal politics and environmentalism)
Anything by David Sedaris (Social satire)
The Guns of August - Barbara W. Tuchman (History)
The Big Short - Michael Lewis (Current events, economics)
Packing for Mars - Mary Roach (Science)
Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain (Non-Fiction)
All on Fire: William Lloyd Garrison and the Abolition of Slavery - Henry Mayer (Biography)
Bring on the Empty Horses - David Niven (Biography)
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)Strauss and Howe.
I've been plugging in on DU for years, and I don't think anyone else here has ever read it. Amazing book. It explains it's four-stroke generational cycle in some detail, then shows how the history of this country has been shaped by those cycles. As a consequence, I tend to look at much of what happens through a generational lens, which does a good job of explaining what's happening and pretty much why.
Savannahmann
(3,891 posts)But since you've limited it to Non Fiction, I'll stick to that.
A man on the moon by Andrew Chaikin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Man_on_the_Moon
A brilliant if long look at the space program and the challenges that were met by the astronauts and engineers who put us on the moon. One of the most complete single books on this subject that I have ever read.
For a good, if brief overview of submarine espionage a good place to start to give you an idea of what we're up to with many other technologies go with Blind Mans Bluff. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Man%27s_Bluff:_The_Untold_Story_of_American_Submarine_Espionage
Many of our current geopolitical problems actually go back to the end of the First World War, as hard as that is to believe. But for that you need to read. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacemakers:_The_Paris_Peace_Conference_of_1919_and_Its_Attempt_to_End_War
It gives you a good history of how we got started on the path to here.
If you've ever wondered how that war got started, then there is one exceptional book that was according to legend actually read and recommended by JFK. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns_of_august
There are so many excellent books, both fiction and non fiction. I've always been partial to the Nero Wolfe series of mysteries in the fictional mystery genre.
I tend to read books from many different subjects. Science, war, political theory, history, and social issues. It would be hard to recommend a book if your interests don't run similar to my own.
I read one book called Brilliant Blunders, five brilliant people and the mistakes they made. It was tough to read at times, the author was a little too long winded, but it was generally speaking, interesting. The point was obvious. No matter how smart you are, you can and will make a mistake eventually.
PeteSelman
(1,508 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,420 posts)Thanks for the thread, samplegirl.
cynannmarie
(113 posts)I've read many of his books but I think I enjoyed this one the most.
Ron Obvious
(6,261 posts)If you like At Home, you'll enjoy 1927 just as much. As well as Brief History of Nearly Everything. Highly readable, and what's more, highly RE-readable.
jmowreader
(50,562 posts)try The Untouchables by Eliot Ness.
Among other things, it dispels the common myth that Ness went after Al Capone on tax evasion charges because he couldn't build a case on the rest of the shit Capone was into; rather, the Untouchables had several very good Volstead Act cases built against him, but knew they were going to try him in Chicago so they covered their bases by building several good cases against Capone. The jury saw through Ness's cheap tricks and convicted Capone the first chance they got.
samplegirl
(11,502 posts)for all the time to reply to this thread. I am not very good at picking out books I must admit.
If I had more time to read then it might be easier to pick.
This has helped me so much and I will bookmark this and save and hopefully get to read some what you have picked.
I am working again and it sure takes a huge chunk of my life up....not to mention trying to keep on top of things.
Anymore reading seems to be my selfish pleasure and you have all made it easier for me to just get something and get reading again.
Many thanks,
Betts
demwing
(16,916 posts)For fiction I just read Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman: <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/anansi-boys-neil-gaiman/1100551311?ean=9780060515188> which is a modern retelling of the myth of Anansi, the African trickster god. It's a playfully dark story of two brothers who are separated in youth and reunited as adults, and discover that their recently deceased father was the god Anansi, and may not actually be dead. Trickster behavior ensues...
For non-fiction try The Wild Trees by Richard Preston: <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-trees-richard-preston/1100623496> which is about a small group of researchers who hike the forests of the pacific North West in search of previously undiscovered giant redwoods. In the process they learn that the redwood canopy supports an isolated eco-system complete with:
ballabosh
(330 posts)Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Kind of a modern day Walden. Won the Pulitzer. Fascinating book.
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)It is mentioned by Triana in this OP:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024042133
The only difference is your calling it "a" Flag, and Triana calls it "the" Flag...
What did you think of it?
samplegirl
(11,502 posts)Cannikin
(8,359 posts)A little neuroscience written for the layperson. I found it fascinating.
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)Nobel laureates include
Gabriel Garcia Marquez - One Hundred Years of Solitude
ctaylors6
(693 posts)Monuments Men - hunt by allies for art seized by Nazis during WW2. Found out after read it that going to be a movie.
Shadow Divers
Destiny of the Republic
and a historical fiction one: Code Named Verity
Love this thread!! getting some good recs for myself
Laffy Kat
(16,386 posts)And I don't even SCUBA.
diabeticman
(3,121 posts)Gravitycollapse
(8,155 posts)They Thought They Were Free
http://www.amazon.com/They-Thought-Were-Free-Germans/dp/0226511928/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384653759&sr=1-1&keywords=they+thought+they+were+free
King Leopold's Ghost
http://www.amazon.com/King-Leopolds-Ghost-Heroism-Colonial/dp/0618001905
grasswire
(50,130 posts)And in a similar vein,
"In Miserable Slavery" by Thomas Thistlewood
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)samplegirl
(11,502 posts)I might have to pick out of a hat!!!
samplegirl
(11,502 posts)Links that were inserted. I knew I would get some great suggestions!
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)I downloaded it after watching "Blackfish," and I couldn't put it down.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)To name a few...
applegrove
(118,778 posts)truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)Took a while to get here but I just had to read it after his epic Fox Snewz interview.
And I'm glad I did because it finally provided me with actual historical background for the historical Jesus. Fascinating...a whole bunch of stuff that always seemed so metaphysical and out there suddenly made perfect sense in a very concrete way.
I should in fairness add that I have always thought Jesus was a very good man and an extraordinary social reformer, but the book made me rethink that....
RosettaStoned77
(53 posts)The life and times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan.
As a life-long atheist I find this very interesting. The story of Jesus the man, not the christ.
Also the works of sci-fi writer Paolo Bacigalupi. All taking place in a not so distant future that is as plausible as it is disturbing.