2013: What are you reading at the moment?

[Neoma]

This discussion thread was locked by Neoma (a host of the Non-Fiction group).

I'm reading A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage. I can't wait until I get to the coffee/tea parts of the book. Alcohol is a bit boring to me.

[Skinner]

1. I read that one earlier this year when Amazon had it as their "daily deal".

Overall a fun read, and pretty quick.

Just finished "The disappearing spoon" -- lots of quirky anecdotes about chemistry:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Disappearing-Spoon-Periodic-Elements/dp/0316051632

[Neoma]

4. I think I'll get that one at the library later.

[kag]

2. No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin

It's about FDR and Eleanor during WWII. It's got some pretty fascinating history, but it's dense and thick. I'm a slow reader, so I've been at it for months, but I'm nearly finished.

My favorite part was when she talked about Eleanor's role in FDR getting the nomination for a third term. In fact, it's where the title of the book comes from. Eleanor was truly a remarkable woman. FDR refused to go to the convention that year because he didn't want it to appear that he was "asking" for the nomination. He wanted them to force it upon him. (He was a great man, but he did have a colossal ego.) So, he sent Eleanor. She gave a speech that had the rest of the convention chanting FDR's name, and basically begging him to take the nomination, which was just what he wanted.

It's pretty clear that without Eleanor, U.S. history would be very different.

[Neoma]

3. I got that book at Christmas.

I plan to read it after I read FDR's biography... As in it's 5 thick books just about his life by Kenneth S. Davis. So it'll be awhile.

[Neoma]

5. I'm now reading Gulp by Mary Roach.

Library book spree...

[MizzM]

6. Generally Read Fiction but...

I made a new rule for myself. Every time I go to the central library in my city, I need to take out one biographical book. I am presently reading "Thomas Jefferson, The Art of Power" by Jon Meacham. I am amazed how nasty and divisive politics were during the birth of our country and the ensuing years. Nothing changes it seems.

[Zorro]

7. Just finished The First Tycoon -- The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt

Exhaustively researched and fascinating read about the man, life in early NYC, and the rise of the corporation in US business culture -- all against a background of momentous events in American history, from the rise of the steamboat trade, the California gold rush, the Civil War, the birth of the railroads, to the various post-war economic calamities.

Highly recommended, but it's a massive work and it takes a while to get through it.

[closeupready]

12. I have that one, started it once before, put it down only because

while it's a terrific read, it really DOES take a lot of time and effort. I'll tackle it one of these days. And Fortune's Children, immediately thereafter, lol.

[Graybeard]

8. Appetite City by William Grimes

It's a history of restaurants in New York City starting with the street-side Oyster Stands in and around the Fulton Fish Market in the early 1800s.

It's hard to believe but there were no restaurants in America until the 1850's. People ate at home and travelers had a buffet table in their hotel
or a very limited choice of foods at the inn.

The Delmonico brothers changed everything in NYC when
they opened their "french-style" eating establishment in the 1830s.

It's a good read.

[Lisa D]

9. Radical Acceptance

by Tara Brach. The subtitle is: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha.

[Kennah]

10. "Speed of Trust" by Stephen Covey

He's the son of the Stephen Covey who wrote "7 Habits of Highly Effective People".

Doing it as part of a Continuous Process Improvement book club at work. All too often, I find a lot of workplace process improvement initiatives to be utter horseshit because there is rarely managerial buy-in or follow through. This may be little different, but at least those of us in the book club seem to believe in doing things better, so the discussion is good.

I think he nails it in breaking down Trust into four core components:
- Integrity
- Intent
- Capability
- Results

Some of the quotes he uses in the book produce a visceral reaction in me, like Jack Welch. I don't trust that fuckhead for one second.

Covey also repeats some RW mantras about America being a society of whiners and victims. Born with a silver spoon, so I should not be surprised if he has 0.1 percent mentality.

Trust starts with oneself and radiates outward to relationships (personal or business), organizations, and society.

[closeupready]

11. Paul Bowles: A Life, biography by Virginia Spencer Carr.

[Carrie Jones]

13. i am reading

Carrie by Stephen King, very interesting

[Neoma]

14. I've been on a Stephen King kick.

They're my husbands and they're fast reads and so I can get more books on my bookshelves finished by going through a lot of the fast reads...

[SheilaT]

15. The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets

by Simon Singh.

Did you guys know that many of the writers on that show had serious degrees in math or physics? Whoa!

[Neoma]

17. I already knew that, because the internet tells all.

[SheilaT]

18. Apparently I've been hanging out

in the wrong part of the internet!

[SheilaT]

16. Now I'm on The Sixth Extinction

by Elizabeth Kolbert.