What are you reading?

[Warhawk]

Just finished The Devil Colony by James Rollins. For the lack of a better reason why, I read his books because they are entertaining. Not as detail oriented as Dan Brown and definitely on the Hollywood side of things, but I just enjoy his stuff. He mixes in enough truth and details to make it interesting and try to tie his story together amid all the action. You just keep turning the pages to see what's next. And the Sigma Force story just gets deeper and deeper.... ;-)

[Emma]

Gettin' down on The Help. It shall be Hilarious.

[Prophetess]

Just started reading The Phantom of the Opera. Seen the play,have never read the book.

[Warhawk]

I am about halfway through "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" by Jared Diamond. I highly recommend it based on what I've read so far. A fascinating look at societies and why some collapse (Easter Island, Vikings in Greenland, etc.) and why some succeed (Iceland, Japan, etc.), focusing on internal and external reasons including a lot of detail on climate, food sources, trade, etc. I am adding "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by the same author to my Amazon wish list now.

[Warhawk]

OK, hadn't updated in a while, but here goes!

Read a travel guide to Maui - "Maui Revealed" - as we will be visiting soon. I like how the info is presented. Very enjoyable reading as well, with some good humor and personal stories thrown in. They also have an app (separate purchase) for Apple devices that seems to have everything in the book and more in it that is also GPS-based. Very nice!

Finished reading "Sisterhood of Dune" as well, another book in the ever-expanding Dune series. Like the other recent releases, I find it enjoyable but not as in-depth as the original series.

For work-related reasons, I had to read "Hot - Living Through the Next 50 Years on Earth" - if you don't have to, don't bother. While some of the info he presents is interesting, he comes off as a whiney little b**** who probably cries himself to sleep every night. He ignores some basic background items that should be discussed in every book about climate change and basically assumes that if it wasn't for humans, the earth would be a static system and never change. Whichever side of the aisle you are on regarding this topic, you have to have a basic understanding that this is NOT the case before you can begin to even discuss this topic. There is a lot more here to complain about as well, but why bother.

Oh, I also read "Cold Vengence" by Lincoln and Child a while back. Another Pendergast novel. Not as good as some of their others, but I can't stop myself.

I am just digging into "Inheritance" - book 4 of the Eragon series. I liked the rest, so I am finishing off the series.

[Warhawk]

Ah, forgot to mention I am also reading the Bible using an app on the iPhone. Never had read it before so I am tackling it with the 1-year plan where they put the books and chapters in chronological order for you. Using the YouVersion Free Bible App - like it VERY much. Has multiple versions (NIV, KJ, Amplified, etc.) and you can switch between the versions at will if you like. Very neat.

For some bathroom reading, I just started reading a book my wife had laying around - "Tales From the Teacher's Lounge" - a hilarious book by a teacher on some of the students, faculty, and parents he has encountered over the years. Highly recommended for some light reading.

[VF21]

I have read many of Stephen King's books, but not "the Shining" yet. I should read it. (adds to list) Maybe my favorite is "The Stand."

If you really want to get the full effect of "The Shining," you have to read it all alone stuck in a snowstorm, preferably with the power out. I did that and it scared the crap out of me!

[Dime Dropper]

Ashamedly, I'm currently reading the FIRST Harry Potter book. That's pretty crazy considering how much I read, and that I study English. JK Rowling is a genius.

[arwen undomiel]

I'm re-reading the entire Wheel of Time series in anticipation of the final volume. On Book 5 now, hoping to get them all re-read by the time the last book is published. 13 books averaging 700-800 pages each = beaucoup material.

[Emma]

Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Desert

It's a vocabulary playground, written intelligently and without apology.

[Glenn]

"A Princess of Mars" written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and soon to be in your neighborhood theater called "John Carter." I think the Martian series by ERB was on a par with his "Tarzan" series. This will be my third reading which is almost something I never do much less read any book twice.

[Warhawk]

I am about halfway through "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" by Jared Diamond. I highly recommend it based on what I've read so far. A fascinating look at societies and why some collapse (Easter Island, Vikings in Greenland, etc.) and why some succeed (Iceland, Japan, etc.), focusing on internal and external reasons including a lot of detail on climate, food sources, trade, etc. I am adding "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by the same author to my Amazon wish list now.

OK, so I just finished reading "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" and while interesting in topic, it is slow reading at times and not as good as Collapse, in my opinion. But I would read GGS first if you are going to read both. The topics are interesting and answer questions you may not know you had to begin with.

I also read "Up and Down California in 1860 -1864, the Journal of Wiliam H. Brewer". He helped lead the first geologic survey of California. I wasn't quite sure of what to expect with this one and think that I was hoping for more than I got. It was still neat to read about his travels and the conditions of many cities he visited at the time and the adventures he had. Not as much geology as you may think, but more about the travels and perils of such a journey across California in that time.

I also tore through a couple novels by Boyd Morrison just for fun.

I just started reading "Two Graves" by Lincoln and Child. Another Pendergast novel. Haven't gotten far into it yet, but a refreshing change of pace after GGS!

[VF21]

I'm re-reading the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. I'd forgotten how enjoyable they are to get lost in for a few hours at a time.

[Prophetess]

I'm re-reading the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. I'd forgotten how enjoyable they are to get lost in for a few hours at a time.

those are some really good books. Wish I had the whole series. I have bits and pieces of them.

I'm currently reading A Christmas Carol on ebook(almost done, next up is Les Miserables), Agatha Christies' Mrs.McGinty is Dead in paperback, any and all books that Ziah brings me(this is a wide variety of paperback and hardback books). His favorite lately are easy read Mickey books for prereaders, he's picking up words and I love it!

[Warhawk]

Just finished reading Earth Unaware by Orson Scott Card. It is the first in a series covering the First Formic War that precedes the events in Ender's Game. Takes a while to set up the story, but gets going partway through and is entertaining. Easily read - it is in a young adult style of writing. The sequels should be better without all the "required" backstory to start the new series.

[TyFreak Evans]

I will be honest. Never have been a huge fan of reading, and I probably never will. BUT, I have always been a huge fan of the possibility of writing, and I am in the early stages of planning a novel, or a series of novels.

Stay tuned, my friends.

[The Hammer]

Just finished:

Born to Run by Chris McDougal

HIGHLY recommended.

If you want to know what the whole barefoot running revolution/vibram fivefingers thing is all about, read this book. Also watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrnj-7YKZE<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrnj-7YKZE">

[spudfan]

Born to Run is a great book for entertainment and motivation. As far as actually running advice and realistic information...

[The Hammer]

Born to Run is a great book for entertainment and motivation. As far as actually running advice and realistic information...

Completely agree. And, the "nutrition" advice is absolutely ****ing horrendous.

He's a great writer, no doubt. But if I ever saw him in person I would dress him down vociferously for taking a subject with some solid science behind it, and completely butchering the presentation of that science, which makes him and the (still decent) science look totally retarded. How that **** got past his posse of proofreaders boggles my mind.

I will refine your point a bit if I may. For running advice, I agree, but for running philosophy, it's pretty spot on. But you can't run on philosophy. What most people end up doing is getting psyched about barefoot/minimalist running after reading the book, and then going to youtube for Lee Saxby, Dr. Cucuzzella, or Dr. Lieberman videos (or other qualified coach) to get the basics.

But really, it's pretty simple. Just take off the ****ing retarded foam cushion, and your pretty far along to changing your stride naturally. Use what minimal road/trail protection you need, just don't pad your heel, and don't have arch support... and transition SLOWLY. You can also do some very basic posture/balance drills. Lee Saxby has some great vids.

I'm a full on barefoot/minimalist convert at this point, and it happened pretty damn quick after getting wind of this philosophy. It's a game changer for me.

[Padrino]

currently reading Strange Light by Derrick Brown. it's one of my favorite new collections of poetry. i'd offer that it can be read by anyone. anyone. so don't be afraid to approach the fullness of its pages. flash a middle finger to the apprehension that high school classrooms instill in young readers with respect to poetry, because too many individuals carry that anxiety so much farther than is necessary. you don't have to "get it," and i don't care what your reading habits are, there's never a bad time to give poetry a try...