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The Good Book Thread?
- Thread starter Kento
- Start date
Precisely. I devour them daily and mix in plenty of higher grade material too.
Yeah I'm bout it. Intellectually stimulating reading is great and all, but usually I just want to read something fun. Plus I figure I am picking up at least a few good tactical and self defense tips along the way.
When I told my buddy that I was working through Jack Reacher book #22, and how the author spins a good mysterious yarn initially to keep you hooked but end up being the giant gift under the Christmas tree with only a pair of socks inside, he replied, "Have you even read that many Hardy Boys books?"
I’m in the middle of John Toland’s Hitler biography, bought it because it was the book they read in Barbarian Days while waiting for waves on Tavarua, thought that was an interesting read for a tropical island. Anyways it’s a long one too (~1,000 pages), I read the first 300 or so pretty quickly but now I’ve slowed down so it’ll probably take me months to actually finish. Crazy in depth, Toland did over 200 interviews for it if I remember correctly, would be interested in seeing how it compares to Shirer’s book. At the risk of committing reductio ad Hitlerum, definitely eerie comparison of societies, as well as the personality comparisons—almost too easy.
Besides that I’be been reading In Love With the World by Mingyur Rinpoche, who is a buddhist monk that grew up sheltered and privileged in and by the religion and decided to test his beliefs/teachings/education by ditching his esteemed role in the monastery, fleeing town, and living on the streets. A nice, easy read when compared to a tome about Hitler.
Also got a discounted 3 months subscription of the New Yorker Magazine, trying to finish each weeks magazine before the next one comes has been consuming most of my reading time.
I picked up "Falling into Battle" by Andrew Wareham. So far, very good. Based on WWI. Four kids, three end up in the British Navy, one ends up in the British Army.
It was a different time back then. You didn't have the luxury to sit around all day laying on the couch playing video games. Very well written.
One of the things that gets to me is just how hard it was, even back then, to live on a "modern" warship. Destroyers. No heat, everything soaking wet, day in, day out. The small ships like Destroyers didn't even have wireless/radio to communicate.They could do 28 knots with no radar. Only paper charts for navigation.
It was a different time back then. You didn't have the luxury to sit around all day laying on the couch playing video games. Very well written.
One of the things that gets to me is just how hard it was, even back then, to live on a "modern" warship. Destroyers. No heat, everything soaking wet, day in, day out. The small ships like Destroyers didn't even have wireless/radio to communicate.They could do 28 knots with no radar. Only paper charts for navigation.
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I see nothing wrong with a little brain reboot. What are you going to do, read Ulysses, Infinite Jest, Gravity's Rainbow, etc. back to back? I took a break while camping this weekend with The Broker by John Grisham. Smooth read and had a great setup but a complete letdown of a conclusion. Perhaps an alternate title of The Hardy Boys Run Out of Viagra. Oh well. It was a chill read during downtime. I'm not sure there were even a pair of socks in that box.Yeah I'm bout it. Intellectually stimulating reading is great and all, but usually I just want to read something fun. Plus I figure I am picking up at least a few good tactical and self defense tips along the way.
When I told my buddy that I was working through Jack Reacher book #22, and how the author spins a good mysterious yarn initially to keep you hooked but end up being the giant gift under the Christmas tree with only a pair of socks inside, he replied, "Have you even read that many Hardy Boys books?"
Tacos, bet that Toland book is also an interesting read. Skimmed through some reviews. Seems like it has a lot of similarities to Shirer in that in discusses the inner workings with the various battles acting as a secondary part of the story. The amount of compilation and research involved to prepare both of those books is staggering.
Just started Aztec by Gary Jennings last night. So far so good. Only about 50 pages in or so. Already has a couple of jabs at the Christians in those days for being horrified by a young woman showing a bit of leg but having no problem raping Aztec women in the streets on a whim. Funny anecdote about a kid wearing a pumpkin on his head because those with cowlicks were at high risk of being sacrificed. Good times.
I spent one night on the USS Alabama - which is *way* more modern than the ships you're talking about.
Way more modern, but still... no air conditioning. After just one summer night in those bunks down in the Port of Mobile, Alabama, my crotch was starting to rot. Can't imagine months and months living in that sweltering can while it floated around the South Pacific. Nasty.
at least those bunks are open on all sides
the midways bunks were walled off on all but one side...worse boy scouts overnight event EVER
the midways bunks were walled off on all but one side...worse boy scouts overnight event EVER
I spent one night on the USS Alabama - which is *way* more modern than the ships you're talking about.
Way more modern, but still... no air conditioning. After just one summer night in those bunks down in the Port of Mobile, Alabama, my crotch was starting to rot. Can't imagine months and months living in that sweltering can while it floated around the South Pacific. Nasty.
I always thought that if I had to join the armed forces, the Navy would be a better choice because at least you go to nice places.I spent one night on the USS Alabama - which is *way* more modern than the ships you're talking about.
Way more modern, but still... no air conditioning. After just one summer night in those bunks down in the Port of Mobile, Alabama, my crotch was starting to rot. Can't imagine months and months living in that sweltering can while it floated around the South Pacific. Nasty.
After seeing those bunks . . . Not so much.
We call them "racks." They only stack them 3 high now. They really suck for side-sleepers.
Navy: never again volunteer yourself.
The quarantine and my boycott of Amazon has led me to re-read some old favorites. Midway through Barbarian Days now. It has completely sucked me in even this second reading. I really like the Ocean Beach chapter.
What's a good amazon alternative for ordering cheap, used books? I tried one website and the search function was horrible?
What's a good amazon alternative for ordering cheap, used books? I tried one website and the search function was horrible?
My household has been trying to buy from local, independent bookstores and biting the bullet on the premium.