What are Steelers reading these days

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 17 May 2008 9:30 am

It occurred to me there might be some
interesting cross-pollination of subjects.

So maybe list a current read
and last 2 books
and/ or maybe a memorable favorite too.

I am just starting 'The Life Of Pi'.

and just finished Robin Cook's 'Marker'.

And before that Lex Grossman's 'Codex'

Allison Weir's 'Queen Isabella' (of England)

Plus Harry Potter 1st finally got read.

And can't forget
'Guitar Amp Power Amplifiers' by Richard Kuehnel

One that always interests is
Patrich Suskind's 'Perfume'
Read it in english AND french.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 17 May 2008 10:30 am

I used to be an avid reader. I read huge amounts over a wide variety of subjects. But when I picked up my guitar again a couple of years ago all that ceased. I have a full time day job. I like to stay in shape. And I play my guitar. That's all the time I have. I'm currently working on a CD with a couple of friends. I'm reading, "Gigging," and "How to Manage Your Band." Do those count?

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 17 May 2008 7:17 pm

Yep they count.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 17 May 2008 7:24 pm

Running Linux

Ubuntu Unleashed

The year of Living Biblically

The Year of living Biblicaly is hilarious.A guy tries to live by the Old Testiment literally,

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 17 May 2008 7:56 pm

I'm been stuck reading Roman history and historical fiction, for the past two years. No sign of that letting up, is on the horizon.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 17 May 2008 9:07 pm

By the way, I didn't take the poll because none of those categories is me. I'd say, "I sure wish I could make the time for it. I miss it."

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 18 May 2008 1:20 am

Ed I can't go back and add that category.
In hindsight it is obvious.

I can't NOT read a lot,
with my version of dyslexia it is literally,
and literarily, a 'use it or lose it' thing.
If I don't read for even as little as a month,
I then have big trouble. Same with sheet music.

Tony, Rome wasn't read in a day.

The year of Living Biblically sounds like a good read.
It also sounds like my mother-in-law quite a bit.
Bless her.

For her it's been decades.
She doesn't read, they had no schools at all
when she was young on the border south of Tibet.
But she is quite wise!

Interesting reading so far.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 18 May 2008 4:23 am

I enjoy reading immensely. I used to keep a novel bedside and read every night before going to sleep.

In the last few years however, life has become much more hectic so less time for relaxation before bedtime.

I'll have to admit to spending way too much time reading the forum as well, so that takes away from time that would otherwise be used turning pages.
But hey, that's still reading isn't it? So if you can count reading on the computer, then I'm in the first category

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 18 May 2008 4:34 am

River of No Return Jeffery Buckner Ford

A son's view of the life of Tennessee Ernie Ford and his wife Betty.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 18 May 2008 5:14 am

After getting rid of my TV a while back I have rediscovered the pleasures (and sometimes pure magic) of reading - and silence.

Perhaps not the 'deepest' reading, but I just finished "The Stratocaster Chronicles", a very enjoyable and detailed journey through the Strat's 50-year history.

I'm about to revisit Forrest Carter's "Watch For Me On The Mountain" soon, it must be about 20 years since last time I read it...

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 18 May 2008 9:14 am

I used to read alot more than I do now. I'm currently reading Woody Allen's latest book "Mere Anarchy" which literally has me laughing out loud.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 18 May 2008 1:20 pm

No comic books, Mike?

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 19 May 2008 6:30 am

The Pig Did It by Joseph Caldwell. A very droll, funny novel about an American visiting Ireland after love ended badly. He gets mixed in a mystery with all kinds of humorous complications.

Into The Wild by John Krakuer. The son of a well-to-do family, Chris McAndles gave away his money and walked into the Alaskan wilderness and several months later, he was dead. Intriguing tale of a young man's search for meaning that ended badly.

This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel Levitin. The science behind why music affects us so deeply. A little dry but a good read nonetheless.

Now reading ... How to Fish, by Chris Yates. It's not a manual but more a series of beautiful and poetic observations about nature and reflection about why fishing is so ingrained in our genome.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 19 May 2008 7:21 am

Andy, being a writer I am not surprised at you
having a VERY eclectic list.

Some very interesting books so far.
Looks like my list will get longer shortly.

I have read a couple of Booker porize winners
over the years and they were all good.
Not academic at all, but great original works.

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 19 May 2008 9:58 am

I'm currently reading The World Without US by Alan Weisman, Thomas Dunne Books, 2007. It's an interesting hypothetical essay on the world's "recovery" in the wake of a sudden and complete disappearance of human life.

Prior to this book, I'd been reading books dealing with Native Americans from historical as well as anthropological (physical and cultural) perspectives. Among these were:

Bones: Discovering the First Americans by Elaine Dewar, Basic Books, 2004

One Vast Winter Count: The Native American West before Lewis and Clark by Colin G. Calloway, Univ. of Nebraska Press, 2003

Cahokia, the Great Native American Metropolis by Biloine Whiting Young, and Melvin J. Fowler, Univ. of Illinois Press, 1999

For pure enjoyment, I've read and recommend:

To those not easily offended by cockroaches and sexual content:
The Roaches Have No King by Daniel Evan Weiss, Serpent's Tail, 2001

A science fiction about an Australopithicus living in Georgia:
Ancient of Days by Michael Bishop, Arbor House, 1985

And a 2-book, sweeping tale in the tradition of the Lord of the Rings:
Imajica by Clive Barker, Mass Market Paperback, 1995

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

PS: David, my wife recently read The Life of Pi and raved about it. It's on my short list for near future reading.

Martin Abend · Post by **Martin Abend** » 23 May 2008 1:33 pm

Currently reading / just finished:

Northline by Willy Vlautin
Vlautin is an excellent songwriter and fronts the Band Richmond Fontaine. I read his first book "The Motel Life"and it was just great. I guess I like Northline even better. What a talent. And what a great guy!

A New Kind of Christian by Brian D. McLaren
Since the end of 06 I'm on a spirital journey where I questioned what "to believe in God" actually means for me. McLaren has been an invaluable guide and this book reflects my questions pretty good.

The merciless love by Slavoj Zizek
I don't know if this has been published in the US. In this book he entertains the notion that, in our secular culture, the system of believe still valid. Zizek is a slovenian psychoanalyst and one of the best interpreters of Lacan I know. One of my favourite writers.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 May 2008 2:01 am

Nice to see 4 days of down time,
hasn't lowered the reading standards.
Heck it seems to have RAISED it!

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 24 May 2008 2:20 am

I'm studying the sheet music to some new material I want to perform.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 24 May 2008 10:56 am

Well, you asked for it. Here's my (sligthtly eclectic) latest "Top 10", in no particular order...

1. "Corporate Executions - The Ugly Truth About Layoffs - How Greed Is Shattering Lives, Companies, and Communities" ...by Alan Downs.

2. "Who's Who In Mythology - A Classic Guide To The Ancient World" ...by Alexander S. Murray.

3. "The Theory Of Everything - The Origin And Fate Of The Universe" ...by Stephen W. Hawking.

4. "Independents Day - Awakening The American Spirit" ...by Lou Dobbs.

5. "What Einstein Didn't Know - Scientific Answers To Everyday Questions" ...by Robert L. Wolke

6. "Rules Of Thumb" ...by Thomas Parker.

7. "The Encyclopedia Of Rock Stars" ...by Dafydd Rees and Luke Crampton.

8. "Time Travel - And Other Mathematical Bewilderments" ...by Martin Gardner

9. "Orson Welles - A Biography" ...by Barbara Leaming.

10. "Art Deco Ironwork And Sculpture" ...by S.F. "Jerry" Cook III and Tina Skinner

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 May 2008 9:23 pm

The Theory Of Everything is an excellent read,
if you're up to it. Hawking can be pretty deep.

Donny, quite the collection.

The Roaches Have No King.
Now that sounds interesting.

I had not realized hom many Man Booker prize
short list books I had read.

Salmon Rushdie
'The Moor's Last Sigh'
'Midnights Children'
'The Satanic Verses'

Matthew Kneale
'English Passengers'

Kingsley Amis
'Jake's Thing'

Ian McEwan
'The Comfort Of Strangers'

Margaret Atwood
'The Handmaid's Tale'

JG Ballard
'Empire Of the Sun'

Michael Ondaatje
'The English Patient'

It's curious how many fine films have been made
from Booker prize winners too.

Zadie Smith got nominated for On Beauty.

I read her 'White Teeth' which was excelent also.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 27 May 2008 6:11 am

Do vintage copies of "MAD" magazine count?
Then there's that subscription to that capitalistic tome "The Wall Street Journal"...

recently finished:

Blink,

The Two Income Trap,

The Sociopath Next Door,

Without Conscience.

Currently looking for the title... "Divorce, for Fun and Profit...".

Jody Cameron · Post by **Jody Cameron** » 27 May 2008 7:51 am

Yes, I read a lot. History is my "hobby", so I enjoy non-fiction books about historical things. Right now I'm reading "In Flanders Fields" - an account of a huge WWI battle in Belgium.

jc

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 27 May 2008 7:55 am

I work for the local library system. So just imagine what my answer will be to this kind of poll...

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 27 May 2008 8:35 am

Yes, imagine,
and that makes it more interesting!

You have so much to choose
and sooo much to edit too!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 27 May 2008 9:38 am

the issue for me is that by the time I am done reading specs , bids and clients info for items I sell, I am pretty much toast for the day. I barely want to read the Direct TV Channel Guide !

Then add the three forums I spend way too much time in ..

The Steel Guitar Forum

What are Steelers reading these days

Is reading integral to your life?

What are Steelers reading these days