What have you read recently? 2009 -2020

[TeeRuh]

Is your avatar Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday?

Ha

Yep. Love that Movie. Audrey Hepburn left this world way to soon!

t.r.

 

[TeeRuh]

Just finished The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet. This was a fascinating book that I absolutely could not put down. An historical novel that takes place from 1799 in Japan. A time-frame when Japan was nearly in total isolation. Lots of adventure and some really great innovative writing. Goes nearly 500 pages and I did not want it to end.

t.r.

 

[donheff]

Just finished, The Most Powerful Idea in the World: The Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention, by William Rosen. It closes with a quote from Abraham Lincoln that is the kernel of the book: "The patent system added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius." The author makes a good case that the ideas of Lock and Coke holding that individual intellectual property is property worth protecting led to an environment in Britain and America that was essential for the blossoming of the industrial age. Whether you find his thesis compelling or not the story is fascinating. I didn't remember (if I ever learned) that the original steam engines driving the revolution relied on atmospheric pressure pushing pistons down (after low pressure steam was condensed). My image of steam power was always the familiar high pressure push in locomotives and electric plants. The characters in this story are colorful and fascinating -- good read.

 

[Martha]

Just finished, The Most Powerful Idea in the World: The Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention, by William Rosen. It closes with a quote from Abraham Lincoln that is the kernel of the book: "The patent system added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius." The author makes a good case that the ideas of Lock and Coke holding that individual intellectual property is property worth protecting led to an environment in Britain and America that was essential for the blossoming of the industrial age. Whether you find his thesis compelling or not the story is fascinating. I didn't remember (if I ever learned) that the original steam engines driving the revolution relied on atmospheric pressure pushing pistons down (after low pressure steam was condensed). My image of steam power was always the familiar high pressure push in locomotives and electric plants. The characters in this story are colorful and fascinating -- good read.

I buy the importance of the patent system and how it inspired innovation. In contrast, the copyright system which gives many more years of protection ranging from 70 to 120 years, stifles invocation and is simply the product of strong lobbies.

So there.

 

[donheff]

I buy the importance of the patent system and how it inspired innovation. In contrast, the copyright system which gives many more years of protection ranging from 70 to 120 years, stifles invocation and is simply the product of strong lobbies.

So there.

+1 I agree completely. Mickey Mouse getting more time - gimme a break.

 

[HFWR]

I buy the importance of the patent system and how it inspired innovation. In contrast, the copyright system which gives many more years of protection ranging from 70 to 120 years, stifles invocation and is simply the product of strong lobbies.

So there.

Technology is usually obsolete in a relatively short time. On the other hand, Chuck Berry is timeless...

 

[kyounge1956]

I've recently read Buy-ology—Truth and Lies about Why we Buy, a book on the emerging field of neuromarketing. This is the study of how the body and brain react to images, sounds, smells etc, with a goal of determining what part of a marketing strategy customers are really responsive to, whether the reaction to a product or product-related image or sound is positive or negative, and so on. It's a short, interesting, easy-to-read book written by an industry leader, and (quite unintentionally on the author's part) frightened me a lot.

 

[Cattusbabe]

I got half way through Freefall by Joseph E. Stiglitz te Amazon.com: Freefall: America, Free Markets, and the Sinking of the World Economy (9780393338959): Joseph E. Stiglitz: Books and put it down. I do not see any chance that any of Stiglitz ideas becoming policy.


I then picked up and read Stop Acting Rich and Start Living like a Real Millionaire by Thomas Stanley, which is just more Millionaire Next door stuff. Amazon.com: Stop Acting Rich: ...And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire (9780470482551): Thomas J. Stanley: Books



I am currently reading The Rise of the Creative Class: And How It's Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life by Richard Florida Amazon.com: rise of the creative class: Books
I'll let ya know how this goes.

 

[W2R]

I am halfway through Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins.
This book is absolutely fascinating and ostensibly non-fiction. Perkins was an economist working for an international consulting firm that he says acted as a front for the NSA. He worked in mostly third world countries, and his job was to provide optimistic economic projections used to encourage leaders of these countries to accept huge loans from the World Bank that would benefit the U.S. in the long run. Halfway through the book as I am, I am not yet sure if I believe his story or not, but it is certainly entertaining.

Also I just finished The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. We all know about the Sherlock Holmes stories, which are as delightful now as ever.

 

[happy2bretired]

I've completed about 18% of Les Miserables according to my Kindle. I kept a few of my late husband's books and started reading a 1940ish edition but the print was so small I had to order it for my Kindle so I could enlarge the font.

 

[W2R]

I've completed about 18% of Les Miserables according to my Kindle. I kept a few of my late husband's books and started reading a 1940ish edition but the print was so small I had to order it for my Kindle so I could enlarge the font.

Get out the tissues!! That book is SO SAD. I started it last spring (loved it half a century ago and wanted to re-read it from my present viewpoint). Unfortunately I had to take a break before I finished it because it really got to me. It is so sad! It is still on my Kindle, waiting for me, though.

 

[Moemg]

I've been on a Lisa Scottoline kick . I read "Daddy's girl " & "Legal tender " . She has been described as a female Grishman . They are good ,fast reads that you keep you hooked .

 

[happy2bretired]

Get out the tissues!! That book is SO SAD. I started it last spring (loved it half a century ago and wanted to re-read it from my present viewpoint). Unfortunately I had to take a break before I finished it because it really got to me. It is so sad! It is still on my Kindle, waiting for me, though.

Oh nuts. I heard that it was sad...but, now you've really got me wondering about it. I may have to take a break too. I've noticed so far, that even though it was written so long ago, there is so much that is pertinent today - kinda timeless. I've caught myself just sitting there pondering what I've read sometimes.

 

[RoccoPacco]

I've been on a Lisa Scottoline kick . I read "Daddy's girl " & "Legal tender " . She has been described as a female Grishman . They are good ,fast reads that you keep you hooked .

I just finished Look Again by Lisa Scottoline - really enjoyed it and really made you think! My two favorite books of the summer are:
1) The Art of Racing in the Rain -- Garth Stein
2) I am The Messenger - Markus Zusak

 

[Moemg]

I just finished Look Again by Lisa Scottoline - really enjoyed it and really made you think!

I read that sometime last year & did not even realize it was a Lisa Scottoline book until recently . She also writes a column for the Philadelphia enquirer that has been made into the book " Why my third husband will be a dog ".

 

[Meadbh]

I am considering buying a Kindle as I have waaaay too many books! So I have downloaded Kindle for PC on my computer, partly to see if I like to read for pleasure on a screen (I know I know, it's not the same), and partly to see whether the Amazon library would keep me interested. To start with, I've downloaded ten free books. I'm currently 29% of the way into Honore de Balzac's The Country Doctor (translated from the French). I'm quite enjoying it!

 

[Moemg]

I am considering buying a Kindle as I have waaaay too many books! So I have downloaded Kindle for PC on my computer, partly to see if I like to read for pleasure on a screen (I know I know, it's not the same), and partly to see whether the Amazon library would keep me interested. To start with, I've downloaded ten free books. I'm currently 29% of the way into Honore de Balzac's The Country Doctor (translated from the French). I'm quite enjoying it!

I bought a nook and I like the portability for travel and Doctor's appointments but it will never replace the library for me . Last week I was at a new Physician's office and all they had were old Sports Illustrated . This week I am scheduled to spend three hours there so my Nook is loaded and ready to go .

 

[Kroeran]

I am a huge Randy Wayne White fan (something else we have in common). He's fantastic. Other faves in the Florida genre are Tim Dorsey and SV Date. I began my immersion into Florida fiction with the beloved late John D. MacDonald and I think RWW is truly his heir-apparent. I have every single one of JDM's books, all of Dorsey's, and all of RWW.

Have you read Ted Bell's work--very similar in concept and truly awesome. Start with Hawke.

Also a surprise find was Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton. A real page turner and way different than his other work.

I was a huge John D fan and as I am getting perilously close to ER (spouse is going in a few months, and is starting to make noises about wanting company sooner rather that later), I need to get back to reading fiction...watching less fox news and dealing with bullies on other forums!

Bell and Crichton were unknown to me. Any other names in this genre you can name would be appreciated

 

[Sue J]

I just finished Jeff Yeager's "The Cheapskate Next Door", quite a good read and entertaining, too!

Now I'm reading Robin and Dominguez's "Your Money Or Your Life". I had read this many years ago, possibly when it first came out and I got a lot out of it. Now that DH is retired and we are in a whole new phase of our lives I'm reading it from a new perspective. I'm doing a lot of head nodding and "oh yeah".

Thanks for mentioning Kindle for PC. I just installed it and I'll try reading a few of the free books and see how I like the format. Not quite like a real Kindle but our son just bought the new Kindle and I'm curious if this is something I could get into.

 

[Sarah in SC]

I was a huge John D fan and as I am getting perilously close to ER (spouse is going in a few months, and is starting to make noises about wanting company sooner rather that later), I need to get back to reading fiction...watching less fox news and dealing with bullies on other forums!

Bell and Crichton were unknown to me. Any other names in this genre you can name would be appreciated

Yes, throw out that TV and start reading--we did that over 10 years ago and are much happier for it.
Wow, okay, if you like Florida fiction, there are some great ones, but Randy Wayne White is definitely the most similar. Others are Tim Dorsey (who writes a lot like Carl Hiassen, same zany characters), SV Date, and James W. Hall.

Ted Bell really is fantastic, his newest, Warlord, comes out next week. I re-read my John D. MacDonald's every now and again, especially the Travis' series. One of my faves to re-read this time of year is Condominium, which has one of the best descriptions of a hurricane ever. An older one of his about a hurricane is Murder in the Wind. Great stuff!

I have every single one of JDMs books and a handful of scholarly work written about his life. Have you read his pamphlet Reading for Survival? It is awesome and I have a slim first edition of it. Here is a reprint that, if you like the Travis McGee series, you will appreciate.

http://education.gsu.edu/sdecker/Class/Assessment/Achievement/Reading/Reading For Survival.pdf

 

[M Paquette]

I just finished reading Cory Doctorow's "Little Brother", an interesting and instructive book on abuse of power and the false dichotomy between security and privacy. The book is technically a 'young adult' work, and I think it would be one heck of an addition to a senior year high school reading list, as a supplement to the usual "1984" or "Brave New World".

Caution: Don't have this book on your Kindle when going through a TSA checkpoint.

 

[haha]

She also writes a column for the Philadelphia enquirer that has been made into the book " Why my third husband will be a dog ".

I know the answer to this one. Because she felt that her 1st and 2nd ones were also dogs.

My current reading is Niall Ferguson's Ascent of Money. It isn't at all technical, but it is a very interesting and IMO useful look at how we arrived at our modern monetary system.

Ha

 

[martyp]

The Stieg Larsson "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series. Liked the first movie and read the next two books. The second movie was so-so but the books were a great guilty pleasure. I hope to do a lot more guilty pleasures when I retire in Dec.

 

[haha]

I am reading Spend 'til The End, by Larry Kotlikoff and Scott Burns. A very well written book that deviates widely from the usual retirement saving and investing book.

The theoretical framwork for their approach is consumption smoothing. This is my second time through this book, the prior time about 2 years ago. I like it, but it takes awhile to be sure I am getting their points, because they are different from what you usually come across.

Ha

 

[Sarah in SC]

I am reading Spend 'til The End, by Larry Kotlikoff and Scott Burns. A very well written book that deviates widely from the usual retirement saving and investing book.

The theoretical framwork for their approach is consumption smoothing. This is my second time through this book, the prior time about 2 years ago. I like it, but it takes awhile to be sure I am getting their points, because they are different from what you usually come across.

Ha

This is the basis for his software, the ES planner, which I think is very interesting. I've been trying to convince my older boss to pony up for it and play with it a bit as research for his own retirement book.