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Anyone reading any good academic books? I am reading Senator Obama's book, which is decent so far. Some good general thoughts about America and about his first year or so in office.

Anything else out there? No Dean Koontz, please...

DanGenck wrote:Anyone reading in a good academic books? I am reading Senator Obama's book, which is decent so far. Some good general thoughts about America and about his first year or so in office.

Anything else out there? No Dean Koontz, please...

I'm taking 20 units. All I do is read academic books. One good book I read for "leisure" is Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. It compares the development of different societies through history.

laxative wrote:

DanGenck wrote:Anyone reading in a good academic books? I am reading Senator Obama's book, which is decent so far. Some good general thoughts about America and about his first year or so in office.

Anything else out there? No Dean Koontz, please...

I'm taking 20 units. All I do is read academic books. One good book I read for "leisure" is Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. It compares the development of different societies through history.

Good book. I really like Diamond's writing. I have his newer book but I haven't cracked it yet. I just started "The Sun Also Rises," but I am not really liking much.

DanGenck wrote: I am reading Senator Obama's book, which is decent so far.

I had the opportunity to see Senator Obama speak at USC. He's a very bright and articulate man. I think I'll read his book.

Couple from the Psych perspective: The Games People Play, Man's Search For Meaning.

Couple my Dad (Former R&D Director of Frito-Lay) told me are really good that CEO's are reading: Blink, The World Is Flat

I'd have to say my favorite non-fiction book is 1491 by Charles Mann...it goes into depth on the civilizations that existed in the "New World" before Columbus came over. Of course, I'm a history major so I'm into that kind of stuff.

I'd also have to recommend Ellison's Invisible Man, it's a novel, but it offers unbelievable insight into the black modern experience. Easily one of the best books I've ever read.

I've been told that The World is Flat is a must-read as well.

A book I thoroughly enjoyed, and highly recommend, is A History of Knowledge by Charles Van Doren (yeah the quiz show guy). It is a relatively brief overview of the major steps in history that have contributed to our collective knowledge today. Also, Western Canon which examines the literature we have canonized through time and why we have done so. It is a pretty tough read, but interesting. Both books also cite numerous works that have had a major impact on the world and I found myself slowly collecting these other books as well.

The World Is Flat is excellent but I suggest starting with The Lexus and the Olive Tree, both by Thomas Friedman.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond

Why Is Sex Fun?: The Evolution of Human Sexuality by Jared Diamond

Space, the Dormant Frontier: Changing the Paradigm for the 21st Century
by Joan Johnson-Freese, Roger Handberg (note - expensive)

Bare Branches: The Security Implications of Asia's Surplus Male Population (BCSIA Studies in International Security) (Hardcover)
by Valerie M. Hudson, Andrea M. den Boer

Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville

I heard an interview earlier this year on NPR with Mark Kurlansky. He has written several books on things that we take for granted. One is Salt: A World History, and he did another book on Cod.

Both are fascinating reads on off-beat topics and are highly recommended. Of course there is also State of Denial if you want to leave shking your head.

The Pentagon's New Map

Laxfan 25 wrote:

I heard an interview earlier this year on NPR with Mark Kurlansky. He has written several books on things that we take for granted. One is Salt: A World History, and he did another book on Cod.

Read the Cod book........it was very good. Basically it's about how salted cod helped settle the new world. Pretty facinating actually.

I just finished reading the Da vinci Code, that was a pretty good non-fiction read

Failed States by Noam Chomsky

Watchdogs of Democracy? The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public by Helen Thomas.

DanGenck wrote:Anyone reading any good academic books? I am reading Senator Obama's book, which is decent so far. Some good general thoughts about America and about his first year or so in office.

Anything else out there? No Dean Koontz, please...

Any news on the possibility of Obama running for the presidential office??

Ohh yea.........Any one see Newsweek 2 weeks ago?