TSF Book Club
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@tim have you checked it out yet? Speaking of other big world building settings, I'm getting into the origin stories from the malazan books of the fallen. Latest one is a cracker.
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@paekakboyz Started it recently, but haven't had time to read more of it.
It opened with an intriguing mystery about a few aliens infiltrating earth, but unfortunately skipped back and forth from a future set Ender's Game type scenario (not my cup of tea).
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@tim said in TSF Book Club:
@paekakboyz Started it recently, but haven't had time to read more of it.
It opened with an intriguing mystery about a few aliens infiltrating earth, but unfortunately skipped back and forth from a future set Ender's Game type scenario (not my cup of tea).
I've finished it. I found that structure a bit annoying, but once I got used to it and you start seeing the connections between the points of view it gets a bit of momentum.
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This is the third book I've read now that looks at fanciful end games for the pick a gender politics. Hamilton deals with this in tolerable way without getting too SJW on it, in fact has a good dig and both sides of those spectrums.
Not his best book, but he left me wanting more. It's clear from the plot that this structure won't be in the next book, so that will make it easier to enjoy (for me).
I loved the portal take on prisons. You see that idea and go, yep that's what they would do.
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These are an amusing/light read;
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@rembrandt said in TSF Book Club:
I read Steven Adams book last week, thought it was fantastic, super easy and quick read. This from a guy who has probably never watched a full NBA game in his life.
That sounds just like Valerie Adams book , worth a read if you get a chance .
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@Tim Lee Child obviously just dialing it in these days.
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For a long running series of books I thought Past Tense was one of the better Lee Child ones yet. One of the darker plot lines (I was reminded of Make Me a few times while trying to figure out what the heck was going on), and in many ways the arc with Patty overshadowed what Reacher was up to.
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Two books on the go depending on mood and time...
The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse, historical mystery, not as enjoyable so far as her other books I've read but sticking with it.
Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins... Judge me not, is this classed as a "self help" book? It's interesting and quite motivating but not sure why I'm getting out of it really...
Both have one thing in common, size. I love a big thick book! And none of this kindle or audible malarkey. -
@antipodean via bloody dial up internet off that horrific description of opening a file!!
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@Tim said in TSF Book Club:
I remember reading that, and just imagining Lee C sitting in a wheelchair, with a warm blankey, muttering about the kids outside on their magic phones crushing candy.
Also, didn't Jack Reacher show a reasonably competent level of tech savvy in checking his bank balance over the phone, maybe in Never Go Back? -
I've just finished Robin Ince's - "I'm a Joke and So Are You: A Comedian’s Take on What Makes Us Human". It's the best non-fiction book I've read over the last couple of years.
Evening Standard's the Best Comedy Books of the Year, 2018 Skinny's Book of the Year, 2018 'Joyfully entertaining. Full of warmth, wisdom and affectionate delight in the wonder and absurdity of being human.' Observer 'Funny, honest and heart-warming.' Matt Haig What better way to understand ourselves than through the eyes of comedians - those who professionally examine our quirks on stage daily? In this touching and witty book, award-winning presenter and comic Robin Ince uses the life of the stand-up as a way of exploring some of the biggest questions we all face. Where does anxiety come from? How do we overcome imposter syndrome? What is the key to creativity? How can we deal with grief? Informed by personal insights from Robin as well as interviews with some of the world's top comedians, neuroscientists and psychologists, this is a hilarious and often moving primer to the mind. But it is also a powerful call to embrace the full breadth of our inner experience - no matter how strange we worry it may be!``` -
@Stockcar86 said in TSF Book Club:
I've just finished Robin Ince's - "I'm a Joke and So Are You: A Comedian’s Take on What Makes Us Human". It's the best non-fiction book I've read over the last couple of years.
Evening Standard's the Best Comedy Books of the Year, 2018 Skinny's Book of the Year, 2018 'Joyfully entertaining. Full of warmth, wisdom and affectionate delight in the wonder and absurdity of being human.' Observer 'Funny, honest and heart-warming.' Matt Haig What better way to understand ourselves than through the eyes of comedians - those who professionally examine our quirks on stage daily? In this touching and witty book, award-winning presenter and comic Robin Ince uses the life of the stand-up as a way of exploring some of the biggest questions we all face. Where does anxiety come from? How do we overcome imposter syndrome? What is the key to creativity? How can we deal with grief? Informed by personal insights from Robin as well as interviews with some of the world's top comedians, neuroscientists and psychologists, this is a hilarious and often moving primer to the mind. But it is also a powerful call to embrace the full breadth of our inner experience - no matter how strange we worry it may be!```I'll put it on my "to read" list.
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Anyone read Mark Mansons new book, Everything is Fucked? Its got me hooked pretty much straight away, about half way through now. I found myself nodding and agreeing with a lot of what he says. Basically explaining how we think, why we do things, why religion exists, tribalism, value hierarchy, beliefs, why kids and young adults behave the way they do. Worth a read if you like that sort of thing.
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So in the last couple of months i have read both Duff McKagan's and Slash's books. It's very interesting reading two retellings of the the same story.
Of the two, i think Duff's is the better book. He's obviously the smarter of the two, and his book reflects that. It's better written, and provides a lot more depth and introspection to events. It's also a pretty amazing story of how a guy can completely change his lifestyle, and get a heap more depth to his life. It's a little, not sure what the word is, not quite preachy, but there is a certain element of "look at everything i have been able to do".
Slash's book is way more of a rock n roll go hard lifestyle retelling. It's really simply written, tends to jump around a bit, and is a basic retelling of events through Slash's eyes. He's a bit of a fuck up who is a pretty damn handy guitar player. He's also not afraid to say what he thinks of people, or their band, or indeed their entire scene (the man fucking hates Poison).
Things to come out of both books: Don't try and party with Motley Crue. Don't talk shit about Axl, only they are allowed to do that. And i think the saddest thing is none of them ever took the time to reflect and celebrate what a phenomenal musical and commercial achievement Guns n Roses really was. Also the music industry is packed with giant fluffybunnies who will rob these blokes blind, fuck them over, and not think twice about it.
It's incredible that these 5 self-destructive assholes managed to come together so beautifully at all, let alone for the length of time they did (which wasn't actually that long when you think about it).
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I also read Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" (apparently a TV series as well now?). The first half of this book, maybe even the first two thirds, is a really interesting, really original premise, and really well written. I thought the ending was a little rushed, which is weird because it's not a short book.
I can easily see why it was made into a TV series though, it's almost written for it.
I have to say, over all i really enjoyed it as a novel, and i thought the writing style was top notch. I would read more by this bloke.
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I've been smashing out some books on Audible the last couple months. Feels kinda weird to say its reading but there is just so much more time in the day to listen to a book than read and although very dubious to begin with, I'm now a huge fan.
Scott Adams - Bigly
This is bloke most famous for 2 things.
- Author of the Dilbert cartoons
- In 2016 when experts were saying Hillary had a 98% chance of winning the election he came out and said it was Trump that had the 98% chance.
The book is obviously around the 2nd point. He's a trained hypnotist and early on in Trump's running he noticed that Trump himself was actually not the buffoon that many believed but actually a master influencer. The book details a lot of his blog posts at the time and how he was able to predict quite accurately what the outcome of the election would be when 'experts' couldn't. As time goes on its hard to disagree with his analysis of Trump.
If you want to get an understanding of the Trump phenomenon and a good understanding of human nature, particularly this strange phenomena where two people can see the same thing and come away certain of different interpretations (extremely useful for TSF!) then I highly recommend it. He's not a Trump fan as such, definitely more of a democrat politically but he clearly has an insight most people don't have.
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@mariner4life said in TSF Book Club:
So in the last couple of months i have read both Duff McKagan's and Slash's books. It's very interesting reading two retellings of the the same story.
Of the two, i think Duff's is the better book. He's obviously the smarter of the two, and his book reflects that. It's better written, and provides a lot more depth and introspection to events. It's also a pretty amazing story of how a guy can completely change his lifestyle, and get a heap more depth to his life. It's a little, not sure what the word is, not quite preachy, but there is a certain element of "look at everything i have been able to do".
Slash's book is way more of a rock n roll go hard lifestyle retelling. It's really simply written, tends to jump around a bit, and is a basic retelling of events through Slash's eyes. He's a bit of a fuck up who is a pretty damn handy guitar player. He's also not afraid to say what he thinks of people, or their band, or indeed their entire scene (the man fucking hates Poison).
Things to come out of both books: Don't try and party with Motley Crue. Don't talk shit about Axl, only they are allowed to do that. And i think the saddest thing is none of them ever took the time to reflect and celebrate what a phenomenal musical and commercial achievement Guns n Roses really was. Also the music industry is packed with giant fluffybunnies who will rob these blokes blind, fuck them over, and not think twice about it.
It's incredible that these 5 self-destructive assholes managed to come together so beautifully at all, let alone for the length of time they did (which wasn't actually that long when you think about it).
My son is 10 and plays guitar - obsessed with G&R and Nirvana. Reckon I have heard November Rain about 37 times in the last 3 weeks alone, which at 8mins of length, is a fair bit of rain. Thank fck it is such an incredible song.
