Books you recommend - nonfiction

[cqaigy2]

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawkins.

Was there a beginning of time? Could time run backwards? Is the universe infinite or does it have boundaries?

It begins by reviewing the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein, before delving into the secrets which still lie at the heart of space and time, from the Big Bang to black holes, via spiral galaxies and strong theory.

 

[dmccarty]

....

Was there a beginning of time? Could time run backwards? Is the universe infinite or does it have boundaries?

..

I just read a review about this book, The Order of Time, Carlo Rovelli - Amazon.com, and it sounds very interesting. The reviewer said that author was a good writer and explainer of complex stuff. I saved the book to a wish list and another book by the author.

There was a TV show on yesterday that was talking about time. Going forward in time makes sense. They lost me when talking about going back in time. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

I just need MORE time. I wish they could solve that one.

Later,
Dan

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

.


Guns, Germs, and Steel --- Jared Diamond (older history)

Against the Gods --- Peter L Bernstein (older history)

The Way of the Gladiator --- Daniel P Mannix (Roman Empire)

Fart Proudly --- Benjamin Franklin (early eastern America)

Ride the Wind --- Lucia St. Clair Robson (later 1800s western America)



These are fiction set in non-fictional historical context:

Mila 18 --- Leon Uris (early WII, Poland)
Armageddon --- Leon Uris (end of WWII, Berlin)


The Shadow of the Storm --- Kurt R A Giambastiani (OK, this is science fiction! US western historical, Pres Custer )



.

Some excellent suggestions here. :thumbsup:

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

The Devil in the White City - It is a very interesting look at building the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. It is also about the first US serial killer who thrived while the fair was being built. Very interesting book.

Also a great book.

I'd add of the top of my head:

'Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage murders and the birth of the FBI'. A really good book about a bunck of inheritance murders in OK early on in Hoover's reign.


'Under the Banner of Heaven: A story of violent faith'. By Jon Krackuer about the Elizabeth Smart murder and that Mormon Fundamentalist community....


And of course '1776' by David McCullough

 

[Omega Woods]

Someone mentioned "Against the Gods". A very interesting read.

"The Last Lion" by William Manchester

And a bunch of others...

 

[dmccarty]

Just read this review of a new book/translation of Sun Tzu's Art of War, Chinese military classic The Art of War gets revealing new translation – book review | South China Morning Post

Sounds interesting enough to buy an read/reread.

Later,
Dan

 

[Einthewoods]

I think it was in the "Your land is my land" thread that someone mentioned the book "The gift of fear". I just read and it is a good book. I'm ordering my kids a copy.

Spoiler alert, the fella is anti gun for sure which I just had to ignore. Other than that, very good book.

So, whoever mentioned that book a couple weeks back, thanks! Highly recommend.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I think it was in the "Your land is my land" thread that someone mentioned the book "The gift of fear". I just read and it is a good book. I'm ordering my kids a copy.

Spoiler alert, the fella is anti gun for sure which I just had to ignore. Other than that, very good book.

So, whoever mentioned that book a couple weeks back, thanks! Highly recommend.

I'm about half way through "The Gift of Fear".

I recall two books that I read many years ago, that I highly recommend. For the scientist in you, and for a bit of an insight into what you are as an evolved human being, "The Naked Ape", by Desmond Morris is a must. It will open your eyes, or in the least challenge your intellect.

The second is "Jews, God and History", by Max Dimont.

 

[PJSprog]

I recall two books that I read many years ago, that I highly recommend. For the scientist in you, and for a bit of an insight into what you are as an evolved human being, "The Naked Ape", by Desmond Morris is a must. It will open your eyes, or in the least challenge your intellect.

I have both The Naked Ape and The Human Zoo by Desmond Morris. His viewpoint as a trained zoologist is quite fascinating. Excellent reads.

 

[HCJtractor]

Empire of the Summer Moon, is excellent. About the Comanche raids, during the westward expansion of Texas and Colorado, the kidnapping of Sarah Parker and her life with the Comanches, the rise of the Texas Rangers, etc. I hunted this area of Texas and was interesting to see what happened there not that many years ago.

Another is River of Doubt, about Teddy Roosevelt’s adventure down an uncharted river in the Amazon basin.

Lost in Shangri-La. A true story about a crash of a WW II bomber (on a sightseeing cruise with officers and nurses) in the darkest regions of New Guinea in 1945, their survival and rescue, and their encounter with a cannibalistic Stone Age tribe that had never seen civilized man.
Interesting, it includes interviews with both the survivors and the tribal members who were forever changed by this exposure.