Trying to Read some Good Books

Ive started this new reading program for myself. Just because Im out of school now doesnt mean I should stop my education. I was at the library the other day when I came up with this reading program. All non-fiction books. Maybe not strictly because I really want to read 2030 by Albert Brooks.
Im going to call it the Past - Present - Future reading program.
I will use the 3 week borrowing time to read 3 books.
Every 3 weeks I will get 3 new books with one pertaining to each of the Past, Present, or Future.
In other words: 1 book exploring the past, 1 present, and 1 future.

My first round is comprised of these non-fiction books.
Past:
Are We Rome? by Cullen Murphy. It explores the parallels, similarities, and differences when comparing modern day United States with the Republic and Empire of Rome.
Present:
Generation Rx by Greg Critser. How prescription drugs are altering american lives, minds, and bodies. (tagline)
Future:
The Universe Next Door by Marcus Chown. Explores the "mind-bending" new ideas on the cutting edge of technology such as atom splitting, and intergalactic and time travel.

and what is the point of telling us this?
do you think we think highly of you now because you can read a book? wait sorry ... 3?

comeback to us when you have finished these books and have figured out the meaning of life...

The hardest thing I can do is read while I'm high. And since Im either working, fucking, drinking, or getting high, I never have the time to read.

aww duck, man, don't be so harsh on this guy. he's just trying to start a conversation. Poor lonely guy.

No, GottaDick, I really couldnt give a fuck less what you think. This thread applies to those who are interested in learning and may be looking for some good ideas for reading material. Why dont you just stick to threads about trolls you stupid fuck, or debate about retards fucking.

Its a shame you cant read See4.

I am really getting tired of people making stupid comments.
If you were in public and you overheard somebody talking about books they were going to read, would you respond the way you did.

There is no difference between public and web conversations, use good manners, respect people and there ideas.

If you do not like what there saying, then don't listen or respond.

Coco, when I had more time I used to read alot. Mainly fiction though, or science based books.

I once started a Stephen Hawikings book, made it a 1/4 through, and did not know what he was talking about, way way over my head.

Always keep learning....

cocobuds said:

No, GottaDick, I really couldnt give a fuck less what you think. This thread applies to those who are interested in learning and may be looking for some good ideas for reading material. Why dont you just stick to threads about trolls you stupid fuck, or debate about retards fucking.

Its a shame you cant read See4.

Click to expand...

I was about to take see4's advice until you started dropping such vulgar language and called me stupid.
If you knew anything about me you would know I actually settled the debate about whether or not the MENTALLY HANDICAPPED should have sexual relations with each other...

If you would of mentioned this

This thread applies to those who are interested in learning and may be looking for some good ideas for reading material.

Click to expand...

in your initial post maybe I wouldn't of got the feeling you were being arrogant about your knowledge..

haha, whats up PV. I actually love when people use the veil of anonymity to accuse others of being exactly what they are scared of being.

Anyway, I really have never been much of a reader outside of school. Now that Ive been out of school for a few years now, I feel myself getting mentally sedentary. We can watch all the documentaries we want, but theres something extra you gain through reading.
Im a little ways through my first one, "Are we Rome?" and its been pretty intriguing thus far.

I'm in the process of reading, Third World America by Arianna Huffington. Pretty eye opening book.

The people in Washington idolize the Roman Empire as a model. The parallels are uncanny.
The size of the US Empire is growing at such rate, just like the Roman Empire, that it is impossible to gauge the ripple effects of its decisions from the top.
The armies began as proud patriots fighting for a good cause, then it was contracted out to the Barbarians (Blackwater and other PMC's)
We are the worlds premier power and we are not prepared for the responsibities that come with that role.

Good thread, the world could use more readers. I'm hard pressed to find a friend in real life who reads much of anything other than text messages... They catch me reading the newspaper at work on my break and I'm the 'smart guy'. WTF? ...

Guns, Germs & Steel - Jared Diamond, this would go into your 'past' section. I didn't have any idea how this book would impact my future when I picked it up, but I found it to be groundbreaking, man! Goes into 13,000 years of human history, from the beginning of our roots, when we first started domesticating plants and animals, details how religions started, how politics started, why Europeans discovered the Americas instead of Native Americans discovering Europe/Asia/Africa, ect. Insane amount of information, I think I went through 3 different highlighters! I couldn't put it down.

Collapse , also by Jared Diamond, this is the part 2 to G,G&S, while the former goes into how societies come into being and strive and succeed, this one talks about why they collapse. Incredibly relevant to today, also filled with loads of information and written with the layman in mind so as to explain otherwise complicated issues much more clearly.

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson. F U C K I N G E P I C ! Buy this book, you wont be disappointed. If you ever wanted to know how we know the things we know, what it took to discover the farthest reaching point of human knowledge, step by step, from Newton to Einstein, from Boyle to Pasteur, it's in this book. If you love science, this shit is just for you!

I'm big on history and science mainly it seems..

But I always try to encourage reading the Bible too, as it's 'message' is so influential in our society, and it's followers are so vast. It would really benefit anyone to read imo.

I have hundres of books just stacked on a shelf unread, just need to find the freaking time to do it.. And, when I do have the time to read a book, I'm freaking lazy as shit... Just bought the Game Of Throne books, thick ass books, need to catch up on that...

past - Napoleon's Buttons. it shows how different substances changed history. it has pictures of how the atoms come together to have the properties that they do. also theres tons of info about how those substances changed the world. off the top of my head, they talk about ascorbic acid, glucose, silk, and phenols, along with others

present(maybe?) - how we decide. this one is about how the different parts of the brain come together to make decisions. theres a ton of shit that happens in the background that we dont even notice. it showed me a lot

the only books i ever read where marijuana books the only thing that really interested me

Ive never read any books about weed. I learned pretty much everything I know about growing from RIU..
Ill post up a small book report on Are We Rome within the next 2 days for those who are interested.

Its a great idea coco..forget what anyone says. Youll be richer and better off for doing it.
I unfortunately cant reccomend anything cause all the reading i do is fiction. Im a huge star wars nerd and read just about anything i can get my hands on in that department.

i never read but my fave book is:






its sick they make everything they need on that island, its epic


also:

For Historical fiction that is actually well researched you can't beat Wilbur Smith. I read to entertain myself but also like to learn new things while being entertained.

I thought about this for awhile and I think the best book I read was Richard Bach "One"

Another if your into religion was "The Final Quest", cannot remember the author right now.

Both are really deep thinking books, Coco, Pad, and Zahet I know you would like them, especially you Zahet.