A few years ago I was taking an honors econ class… one part of the syllabus indicated that we were to read a book from a list provided (or agreed upon with the professor) and write about it. The Prof spoke briefly about some of them, pointing out that Atlas Shrugged, while being hopelessly long (nearly 1,100 pages) left many of the students that read it, to use his words, “dreamy-eyed and sedate.” I ended up withdrawing from the class (though I shouldn’t have in retrospect) but decided that I needed to find out what could do that to someone.
Several years later, I’ve finally finished. I was off and on with the reading, because the book is long, laborious, and slow to start. It also doesn’t help that you KNOW things are going to get worse before they get better and the hope that keeps you reading is eerily distant. There are also those things said by characters in the book that seem ridiculous… and then the next day you’ll hear someone say something essentially identical.
It was interesting and, in many ways, opened my eyes to some of the hypocrisy that many of us don’t realize that we’re living as “capitalists” and the danger of the logical extreme of doing what’s “good for the people.”
The book is long and the first 400+ pages are slow, repetitive, and pedantic… but it sets the stage nicely for what’s to come and answers a lot of questions in advance that would come up later otherwise. That doesn’t excuse the length of the book, however, because I’m quite sure the same thing could’ve been written in half as many pages. Nevertheless, I finished and as opposed to sitting around with some sense of wonder derived from newly acquired knowledge, I’ve, rather, noticed a slight change in personal philosophy. Not necessarily a perceptible one, but present nonetheless. However, it might not actually be a change, per se, but a more complete understanding of what words mean, what certain stances necessarily entail, and a keen awareness of the kind of people who believe that others have a duty to care for them.
At any rate, I really enjoyed the book. No, that’s not really true. The book, I think, was boring. It was what the book SAID, however, that made it fantastic. It really ought to be required reading here in America. If you want to get the gist, you might try reading the Cliff’s Notes version… though I’m not sure how well it’s going to convey the message.
This afternoon I started on Michael Crichton’s Prey, which, 100 pages in, is pretty good. It’s a good change of pace from Rand’s plodding, methodical style.
I anticipate this being a quick read. It’s only 500 pages, paperback, and the print is big. Then… I’m not sure what to read. I know I’ve got a solid list of books that I NEED to read, but I’m not sure where to start. Observe:
- A Short History of Nearly Everything
- LOTR: Return of the King (half done)
- Harry Potter (at least the first one)
- Angels & Demons
- Speaker for the Dead
And there are more that I can’t recall at the moment. So why don’t we play a game?
What books do you think I should read? And/or, of the above, which should I read first?
The Devil Went Down to Georgia
If you think there's good in everybody, you obviously haven't met everybody.
About
SEC Football
- The Case for Tommy Tuberville's Ouster
- Tommy Tuberville Reportedly Leaving Auburn
- Tommy Tuberville Is Still Definitely 'Not Tolerating' Dirty Blocks
- Auburn Fan Outlook Is Bleak for the Iron Bowl
- Auburn RB Brad Lester Predicts Two Wins at Amen Corner by 'A Good Number of Points'
August 29th, 2004 at 6:37 pm
Pete,
Of the books you mentioned, I’ve read the first two Harry Potter books and Angels and Demons. If you liked DaVinci Code, I’d say definitely go for that one. The form is very similar, and the themes of it are very similar. All in all though, I think it’s a better book with a much better ending than D’code. Harry Potter is always a good time though if you’re just looking for some lazy weekend reading.
August 29th, 2004 at 6:54 pm
Pete — are you looking for suggestions for fiction or non-fiction? I don’t read any fiction unless I have to… but I can point out some good non-fiction to read.
August 29th, 2004 at 8:10 pm
I’m inpartial. I’ll read either so long as it sounds interesting.
August 29th, 2004 at 8:23 pm
Some of these are old, some much newer… but all are favs of mine:
1) “Made in America” by Peter Ueberroth, former MLB commissioner, former president of the LA 84 Olympics Committee, current head of the USOC. Talks about his experiences with the Olympics.
2) “Leadership” by Rudy Giuliani. Great, great, great book.
3) “That Boy Ain’t Right” by Hank Hill. This is a short little funny book, aboiut 60 pages long, that if you watch “King of the Hill” you will really enjoy.
4) “Bias” by Bernie Goldberg. I really think you would enjoy this one.
5) “Jack” by Jack Welsh, former CEO of GE.
6) “The Dilbert Principle” by Scott Adams. Not sure if you are a Dilbert fan or not… but unlike most of his books which are just compilations of comic strips, this one mixes in a lot of business stuff with the comics. And surprisingly… a lot of what he says makes sense.
Hope you enjoy!
August 29th, 2004 at 9:32 pm
i’m an avid reader. i go through at least two books a week, reading one and listening to the other. of my recent reads, i’d wholeheartedly recommend “The Five People You Meet In Heaven” by Mitch Albom. the rest of my August reading list is kind of ho hum, but that book was just amazing.
August 29th, 2004 at 9:59 pm
Good call, Hilary… I’m about half-through that one as well and I’m enjoying it. Tuesdays with Morrie was a fantastic book.
August 29th, 2004 at 10:21 pm
Lately I’ve been reading the realist fiction of Grisham but I’ve found his endings completely absurd and annoying. Ender’s Game which you have referred to on a few occasions is an interesting read. I picked that book up on a Geo Cache. If you like realistic fiction I have enjoyed a lot of books by W.E.B. Griffin.
August 29th, 2004 at 10:31 pm
Just randomly I have to suggest the biography of Colin Powell and anything by Robert Fulghum. He is very “light” reading, but makes you think.
August 29th, 2004 at 10:32 pm
Tuesday’s with Morrie was a good read. Although I’ve not read Bias, I’ve heard great things about it.
August 29th, 2004 at 10:52 pm
a must read for you is the marine corps handbook…it’ll give you a better understanding of me, ha,ha!
August 29th, 2004 at 11:13 pm
If we are talking about the USMC might I suggest “Making the Corps”, it’s a day by day of the initial recruit training on Parris Island. I read it when my brother enlisted and it was quite riveting.
August 29th, 2004 at 11:32 pm
It looks you like fantasy… if you want something a little different, but very good IMO, try Michael Moorcok’s “Elric Saga”. It’s kind of long but broken into seperate books.
For some fun non-fiction that gives an interesting view into history try “Memoirs of a Georgian Rake”. It’s exactly what it sounds like, the autobiography of a heavy drinker from a somehwat wealthy family in England during the late 1700’s, who happened to end up becoming a lawyer, whle remaining a heavy drinker and travelling the world.
If you like books you can read in one night the Piers Anthony “Incarnations of Immortailty” are pretty fun reads.
If you want some good philosophy I suggest “What is called Thinking” by Heidegger. Good stuff.
Ah, last but not least… you should read Illuminatus by Robert Anton and Robert Shea… it’s simply great- funny, interesting, witty, exciting, it’s got it all. It’s fiction, something of Ulysses meets Rand meets Conspiracy Theory meets Jules Verne meets Lovecraft. It’s written from the point of view of about 1000 characters and is not stop brilliant confusion.
August 29th, 2004 at 11:51 pm
“The Dilbert Future” by Scott Adams (funny look at the future of work)
“The Art of War” Sun Tzu (philosophy of personal management and critical thinking)
“The Stranger” Albert Camus (Existantial text concerning the absurdity of life)
August 29th, 2004 at 11:54 pm
Quick note- Illuminatus is actually what inspired me to read Atlas Shrugged - the author(s) makes reference to that book as well as several others
August 29th, 2004 at 11:58 pm
I’m glad that you enjoyed Ayn Rand. The remarkable thing of course (or perhaps not to remarkable if you think about it) is that a lot of the things in the books happened later on (40+ years later sometimes) in her lifetime in one way or another.
Read more Ayn Rand!
(yeah yeah… you’ve heard me say it once, you’ve heard me say it a Million times!)
Others you ought to read are: White Light by Rudy Rucker (Science Fiction… has some pretty interesting math stuff and is totally worth reading!) Flash Forward by Robert J. Sawyer (includes CERN where the Internet was created), Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan (Virtual Reality plays a huge role in this one), Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (AN ABSOLUTELY AWESOME book!!), Farenheit 451 (another great book!), and well… I’m going to reccomend Harry Potter again…
My fave books are ones by Mercedes Lackey… but that’s comfort literature… nothing like William Gibson, or Gaiman, or Philip K. Dick, or Robin Cook, the classics or, well or a lot! (wow! I’ve suggested a lot of great Sci Fi this time… interesting!)
August 30th, 2004 at 12:01 am
You’re right! Pete SHOULD read “The Stranger” or “The Outsider” (title translation will depend on the translation of the book… it’s the same book) by Camus. Good stuff!
Sartre also wrote some interesting stuff that you could consider.
August 30th, 2004 at 12:25 am
Wow… good suggestions, all. I finished Prey today — I’ve already read The Stranger, A Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451.
I’ll definitely keep the others in mind.
August 30th, 2004 at 7:02 am
oh, i have three USMC books about bootcamp - Boot (Regan era), Making the Corps (MCRDSD pre-Crucible), Into the Crucible (covers only the 3 days of the Crucible)- if you’re into that kind of thing. i dunno that i’d recommend them to someone not interested in becoming a Marine though.
if the USMC in general interests you, then i’ve also got Battle History of the US Marines by Col. Alexander and The Marines by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
all good books, but definitely specific for special interest.
August 30th, 2004 at 8:06 am
Atlas Shrugged definitely impacted my own life and political philosophy.
I think you might like “In Retrospect: The Tragedies and Lessons of Vietnam” by Robert McNamera. I’m not really into reading about wars or anything, but this book was about the decisions made by several presidential administrations and why things turned out the way they did. It was very interesting.
August 30th, 2004 at 8:54 am
Hey Pete if you want something you can finish in one night I have some golden books in the attic.
August 30th, 2004 at 12:13 pm
I recommend the following:
1) “Bushwhacked” by Molly Ivins
2) “Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them” by Al Franken
3) “Dude, Where’s My Country” by Michael Moore
4) “What Liberal Media?” by Eric Alterman
*ducking and running*
August 30th, 2004 at 4:38 pm
Thanks Bacon, I always have time for more fiction books.
August 30th, 2004 at 6:43 pm
Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood
August 30th, 2004 at 10:38 pm
ohh Handmaid’s Tale is a good one. ^5 to Irene. I am surprised no one mentioned “Memoirs of a Geisha”, perhaps too girlie for Pete’s taste?
August 31st, 2004 at 12:49 am
Memoirs of a Geisha is okay… just not quite my best reccomendation for Pete, nor for anyone with relation to Japanese anything. As for what would be, I don’t know, as I haven’t read most of the good ones yet.
August 31st, 2004 at 8:49 am
No one has commented on “Speaker for the Dead”… so I will.
I’ve read reviews that say it’s better than “Ender’s Game” but I disagree. It was a good book and I enjoyed it, but wouldn’t put it on a must read list. Speaker is the introduction to the rest of the Ender series (3 or 4 more books) and they all get progressively worse. Eventually I just gave up and didn’t care anymore.
August 31st, 2004 at 11:13 pm
“Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal”
by Christopher Moore
absolutely hilarious
September 1st, 2004 at 6:56 am
i just read “The Lovely Bones” in two sittings. not sure if you’d like it, but i sure did.
December 14th, 2004 at 3:22 pm
Okay, so I read “The Fountainhead” when I was in high school and ironically deeply involved in Key Club. Perhaps it is my catholic education and Christian beliefs, or maybe I was far too immature (only 15) when I was reading it, but Rand’s philosophy of objectivism merely translated to selfishness when I read it. Now as I got older I’ve learned to understand it more… and the ideas that society cannot dictate necessarily what is good for a person… but I hated how it wanted you to live only for yourself and to serve no one else. Again, maybe the idea of helping your fellow man is just too much of my being, but I was rather disappointed when I finished the dumb book.
Now that it has been almost 8 years since I last read it, maybe I should pick it up and read it again. But as for a good novel, I had to read The Awakening by Kate Chopin my last semester of undergrad and loved it. Now granted, I mostly picked it out of a list of books to read because it had a supposed “sex scene”, but it ended but being pretty good. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the sex scene is only alluded to and you don’t really get any details.
Hey, don’t think I’m a perv or anything… it was a course on literature of the Transcendentalists. It was either that, or reading Walden AGAIN and listening to Thoreau compare a squirrel gather nuts to our corrupt society. I picked sex. :o)