What are you reading these days? (printed matter only)

arjunmenon · 2009-10-22T09:15:37+00:00

I know we've discussed what everybody is listening etc etc, but i'd like a sneak peek into what everyone is reading these days. This week,I'm on : 1. A lion's legacy - RJ Patterson (very nice book about lion conservation in northern kenya) 2. A player's guide to chords & harmony - Jim Aikin 3. Guitar Player (Al DiMeola on the cover) 4. Creative recording Vol.1 Effects & processors (Can't remember the author's name and slightly outdated book, but still a good read because it details various effects).

singemonkey

Jack Flash Jr wrote Um. "World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War". Again. It's science people.

Way too few people are adequately prepared for the Zombie apocalypse. I intend to hole up in the local Macro, with the steel shutters down, and enough fuel to power the generators - and my chainsaws of course - for several years.

[deleted]

Aja, have you read Philip Ball's Critical Mass?

Conrad

chris77 wrote Small Gods - Terry Pratchett, for like the umpteenth time! I have all his books and inbetween new ones I re-read the old ones. Once you get Pratchettenitus, there is no cure I am afraid...

Oh awesome! I just finished the 5th elephant and before that Going postal. You are right about Pratchettenitus!

Jack-Flash-Jr

singemonkey wrote
Jack Flash Jr wrote Um. "World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War". Again. It's science people.
Way too few people are adequately prepared for the Zombie apocalypse. I intend to hole up in the local Macro, with the steel shutters down, and enough fuel to power the generators - and my chainsaws of course - for several years.

That would be the one in Ottery right? I'm going to hole up at Paul Bothners or Marshall music. I won't last as long but it'll be a sweet demise. Plus as Keef has demonstrated, an axe makes for a pretty good axe.

chris77

Conrad @ Yip, Pratchett is awesome. Going Postal is one of his better newish books, but to get the most out of the discworld series try reading his older books first. The characters become family and you will have a better grasp of all the inside and running jokes and plots that he weaves through the series. The books are funny as hell for sure, but the brilliantly satirical way in which he mirrors the human conditition warts and all is what I love best. Wait till you meet Granny Weatherwax, Rincewind and the Death of Rats... the smile will last for days!

singemonkey

Jack Flash Jr wrote
singemonkey wrote
Jack Flash Jr wrote Um. "World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War". Again. It's science people.
Way too few people are adequately prepared for the Zombie apocalypse. I intend to hole up in the local Macro, with the steel shutters down, and enough fuel to power the generators - and my chainsaws of course - for several years.
That would be the one in Ottery right? I'm going to hole up at Paul Bothners or Marshall music. I won't last as long but it'll be a sweet demise. Plus as Keef has demonstrated, an axe makes for a pretty good axe.

When I emerge from the rubble, filthy, starving, and half-insane, I'll haul 50 Marshall stacks over the rotting corpses up to the top of the ABSA tower, plug 'em all in and play the last post as the sun sets on humanity ?

Conrad

chris77 wrote Conrad @ Yip, Pratchett is awesome. Going Postal is one of his better newish books, but to get the most out of the discworld series try reading his older books first. The characters become family and you will have a better grasp of all the inside and running jokes and plots that he weaves through the series. The books are funny as hell for sure, but the brilliantly satirical way in which he mirrors the human conditition warts and all is what I love best. Wait till you meet Granny Weatherwax, Rincewind and the Death of Rats... the smile will last for days!

@Chris. I am a converted disciple already. I have already read most of his books. Those were just the last 2 that I read. Death is probably my favourite character. Pratchett just has this incredible insight and I really don't know how 1 brain can know so much and be that creative. My favourite author.

Jack-Flash-Jr

singemonkey wrote
Jack Flash Jr wrote
singemonkey wrote
Jack Flash Jr wrote Um. "World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War". Again. It's science people.
Way too few people are adequately prepared for the Zombie apocalypse. I intend to hole up in the local Macro, with the steel shutters down, and enough fuel to power the generators - and my chainsaws of course - for several years.
That would be the one in Ottery right? I'm going to hole up at Paul Bothners or Marshall music. I won't last as long but it'll be a sweet demise. Plus as Keef has demonstrated, an axe makes for a pretty good axe.

When I emerge from the rubble, filthy, starving, and half-insane, I'll haul 50 Marshall stacks over the rotting corpses up to the top of the ABSA tower, plug 'em all in and play the last post as the sun sets on humanity ?

The post-zompocalypse bible shall record: And on the 7th Day Lord SingeMonkey emerged from the rubble.....

chris77

He-he... Glad to hear I am not the only one that thinks so! Pitty about the Alzheimers hey. I almost get depressed thinking that every book might be his last and someday the magic will end. ☹

Conrad

chris77 wrote He-he... Glad to hear I am not the only one that thinks so! Pitty about the Alzheimers hey. I almost get depressed thinking that every book might be his last and someday the magic will end. ☹

Ya I was shocked when I heard. Such an amazing mind.... but then many people disagree with me and can't stomach his books at all.

dee

Conrad wrote
chris77 wrote Conrad @ Yip, Pratchett is awesome. Going Postal is one of his better newish books, but to get the most out of the discworld series try reading his older books first. The characters become family and you will have a better grasp of all the inside and running jokes and plots that he weaves through the series. The books are funny as hell for sure, but the brilliantly satirical way in which he mirrors the human conditition warts and all is what I love best. Wait till you meet Granny Weatherwax, Rincewind and the Death of Rats... the smile will last for days!
@Chris. I am a converted disciple already. I have already read most of his books. Those were just the last 2 that I read. Death is probably my favourite character. Pratchett just has this incredible insight and I really don't know how 1 brain can know so much and be that creative. My favourite author.

Have you guys read his other books? Such as Strata, The Dark Side Of The Sun, and his books aimed at "younger" people, such as The Carpet People and the Bromeliad Trilogy? Also very good light reading!

Good news is that he has just relased a new book, called Unseen Academicals!

Conrad

dee wrote
Conrad wrote
chris77 wrote Conrad @ Yip, Pratchett is awesome. Going Postal is one of his better newish books, but to get the most out of the discworld series try reading his older books first. The characters become family and you will have a better grasp of all the inside and running jokes and plots that he weaves through the series. The books are funny as hell for sure, but the brilliantly satirical way in which he mirrors the human conditition warts and all is what I love best. Wait till you meet Granny Weatherwax, Rincewind and the Death of Rats... the smile will last for days!
@Chris. I am a converted disciple already. I have already read most of his books. Those were just the last 2 that I read. Death is probably my favourite character. Pratchett just has this incredible insight and I really don't know how 1 brain can know so much and be that creative. My favourite author.
Have you guys read his other books? Such as Strata, The Dark Side Of The Sun, and his books aimed at "younger" people, such as The Carpet People and the Bromeliad Trilogy? Also very good light reading!

Good news is that he has just relased a new book, called Unseen Academicals!

I did read Carpet people (I think he wrote that at age 17?) and I have all the others you mentioned at home but I haven't read them yet. I will check out Unseen Academicals. Thanks for mentioning that. I think I read Good Omens 3 times. That was interesting since he was only a co author and you can tell that te humour is slowed down slightly and that the dark atmosphere that Neil Geiman portrayed in his comic was suddenly present.

AlanRatcliffe

chris77 wrote to get the most out of the discworld series try reading his older books first.

+1.

Wait till you meet Granny Weatherwax, Rincewind and the Death of Rats... the smile will last for days!

The Luggage, Death himself, Nanny Ogg...

Don't forget all the characters in Soul Music. Not to mention the memorable phrases like "Born to Rune", "One of life's natural drummers" and "Music with rocks in". Should be required reading (as should Alan Dean Foster's Spellsinger series).

Conrad

Alan Ratcliffe wrote
chris77 wrote to get the most out of the discworld series try reading his older books first.
+1.

Wait till you meet Granny Weatherwax, Rincewind and the Death of Rats... the smile will last for days!
The Luggage, Death himself, Nanny Ogg...

Don't forget all the characters in Soul Music. Not to mention the memorable phrases like "Born to Rune", "One of life's natural drummers" and "Music with rocks in". Should be required reading (as should Alan Dean Foster's Spellsinger series).

Hehe yes Foul ole Ron, Detritus, Carrot, Vimes...

FatBoy

I love Pratchett's books, so sad to hear he has Altzheimers now, I hope we can get a few more books out of him! I didn't know he has a new one out, will order it straight away!!

Heath

I am now reading a popular mechanics from 1952 and a playboy from 1971 . The popular mechanics is bloody interesting and the playboy is scarey shit ..... I thank the makers of razors for todays playboys. But funny as hell none the less

aja

Stratisfear wrote Aja, have you read Philip Ball's Critical Mass?

Haha funny you should mention it, I actually have the book, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Did you read it, if so, was it good? I am looking forward to it...
Some others I have waiting to be read are:
Chaos; James Gleick
The Quantumn Quark; Watson
Sync; Steven Strogatz
The origin of species; Darwin

I usually buy a few books at a time... Not really a fiction book kind of person.

BTW, Estoril books in cresta is my favourite bookshop. Better than exclusive IMO

LMinnie

Well I just turned the final page on Polar Shift - Clive Cussler

Ive read almost all of his books from the Dirk Pitt and Kurt Austin series's 's's..

I also just put down Matthew Rileys last book... Seven Ancient Wonders.

Both of these authors do action/adventure/thriller type stories that are mile a minute read page turners if you will.

oh and also just closed this months Speed and Sound..Thanks Spykey!!!

[deleted]

aja wrote Did you read it, if so, was it good? I am looking forward to it...

BTW, Estoril books in cresta is my favourite bookshop. Better than exclusive IMO

Yeah, it's great - I have some qualms with trying to create analogies between social phenomena and physics...but overall it's a very intriguing book, and Ball writes really well.

Estoril in Fourways is also a very good store, but the flagship Hyde Park Exclusive Books and the one overlooking Sandton Square are infinitely better than the other branches...

singemonkey

Stratisfear wrote Yeah, it's great - I have some qualms with trying to create analogies between social phenomena and physics...

Yeah. Cos then suddenly the fact that you like unicorns can be described as "quantum." :?

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