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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
  2. General Discussion
  3. What are you reading now?

What are you reading now?

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  • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

    Though next I need to pick up a lighter read.

    Thinking of re-reading Bonfire of the Vanities.

    George KG Offline
    George KG Offline
    George K
    wrote on last edited by
    #308

    @jon-nyc said in What are you reading now?:

    Thinking of re-reading Bonfire of the Vanities.

    Just don't stop at a questionable site in NYC these days, OK?

    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

    1 Reply Last reply
    • HoraceH Horace

      @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

      alt text

      "OK, I've been tasked to join 6 other people on a ship to a backwater planet which might be invaded. One of them might be a spy.

      But, before we arrive, each of us should tell us about his backstory."

      A nice take on the Canturbury Tales.

      Only about 10% into it, but it's engaging and fun.

      That's one of my favorite books. Didn't care for the sequels though.

      Doctor PhibesD Online
      Doctor PhibesD Online
      Doctor Phibes
      wrote on last edited by
      #309

      @horace said in What are you reading now?:

      @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

      alt text

      "OK, I've been tasked to join 6 other people on a ship to a backwater planet which might be invaded. One of them might be a spy.

      But, before we arrive, each of us should tell us about his backstory."

      A nice take on the Canturbury Tales.

      Only about 10% into it, but it's engaging and fun.

      That's one of my favorite books. Didn't care for the sequels though.

      I loved that book, too. The sequel I started wasn't very good.

      I was only joking

      1 Reply Last reply
      • jon-nycJ Online
        jon-nycJ Online
        jon-nyc
        wrote on last edited by
        #310

        @george-k Ha.

        Only non-witches get due process.

        • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
        George KG 1 Reply Last reply
        • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

          @george-k Ha.

          George KG Offline
          George KG Offline
          George K
          wrote on last edited by
          #311

          @jon-nyc

          I LOVED Bonfire of The Vanities.

          "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

          The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

          jon-nycJ 1 Reply Last reply
          • George KG George K

            @jon-nyc

            I LOVED Bonfire of The Vanities.

            jon-nycJ Online
            jon-nycJ Online
            jon-nyc
            wrote on last edited by
            #312

            @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

            @jon-nyc

            I LOVED Bonfire of The Vanities.

            Me too! I heard a discussion of it recently that talked about how relevant it all still is decades later. Made me want to read it again. I’m pretty sure I’ve read it twice already.

            Only non-witches get due process.

            • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
            kluursK 1 Reply Last reply
            • HoraceH Horace

              The best full body cycling workout is when you "plank":

              Link to video

              Doing it downhill is one thing, but the best plankers do it uphill.

              KlausK Offline
              KlausK Offline
              Klaus
              wrote on last edited by
              #313

              @horace said in What are you reading now?:

              The best full body cycling workout is when you "plank":

              Link to video

              Doing it downhill is one thing, but the best plankers do it uphill.

              Carbon aero wheels on a fixie? Silly.

              1 Reply Last reply
              • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

                @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                @jon-nyc

                I LOVED Bonfire of The Vanities.

                Me too! I heard a discussion of it recently that talked about how relevant it all still is decades later. Made me want to read it again. I’m pretty sure I’ve read it twice already.

                kluursK Online
                kluursK Online
                kluurs
                wrote on last edited by
                #314

                @jon-nyc said in What are you reading now?:

                @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                @jon-nyc

                I LOVED Bonfire of The Vanities.

                Me too! I heard a discussion of it recently that talked about how relevant it all still is decades later. Made me want to read it again. I’m pretty sure I’ve read it twice already.

                Sounds like the TNCR Book Club's choice for July is Bonfire of the Vanities. 😉

                1 Reply Last reply
                • bachophileB Offline
                  bachophileB Offline
                  bachophile
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #315

                  Project Hail Mary.
                  Andy Weir

                  If you liked The Martian you should really like this.

                  Loving it. Great summer vacation read.

                  Catseye3C 1 Reply Last reply
                  • bachophileB bachophile

                    Project Hail Mary.
                    Andy Weir

                    If you liked The Martian you should really like this.

                    Loving it. Great summer vacation read.

                    Catseye3C Offline
                    Catseye3C Offline
                    Catseye3
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #316

                    @bachophile Thanks, Bach. I've not redd The Martian; it's been on my semi-enthused reading list . . . the Look Inside looks great for this one. Love his lively style.

                    20,038 ratings, 4.5 average stars.

                    Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • kluursK Online
                      kluursK Online
                      kluurs
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #317

                      Finished
                      186512cd-29f7-4622-a3c4-bd04bf132a11-image.png

                      Kind of uneven - plot is good, detail that is interspersed is good, but I thought the lead character was particularly not credible - but it was an engaging morality play.

                      jon-nycJ 1 Reply Last reply
                      • kluursK kluurs

                        Finished
                        186512cd-29f7-4622-a3c4-bd04bf132a11-image.png

                        Kind of uneven - plot is good, detail that is interspersed is good, but I thought the lead character was particularly not credible - but it was an engaging morality play.

                        jon-nycJ Online
                        jon-nycJ Online
                        jon-nyc
                        wrote on last edited by jon-nyc
                        #318

                        @kluurs

                        I’m 560 pages in. With Wolfe the plot is just the substrate on which he paints his insights on culture and psychology. You definitely read him for those insights.

                        Only non-witches get due process.

                        • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • Doctor PhibesD Online
                          Doctor PhibesD Online
                          Doctor Phibes
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #319

                          Are there any dirty bits?

                          I was only joking

                          George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                          • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

                            Are there any dirty bits?

                            George KG Offline
                            George KG Offline
                            George K
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #320

                            @doctor-phibes said in What are you reading now?:

                            Are there any dirty bits?

                            You mean, "Does it have the 'Right Stuff'?"

                            "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                            The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                            kluursK 1 Reply Last reply
                            • George KG George K

                              @doctor-phibes said in What are you reading now?:

                              Are there any dirty bits?

                              You mean, "Does it have the 'Right Stuff'?"

                              kluursK Online
                              kluursK Online
                              kluurs
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #321

                              @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                              @doctor-phibes said in What are you reading now?:

                              Are there any dirty bits?

                              You mean, "Does it have the 'Right Stuff'?"

                              For Phibes, I think he's referencing the Right Stiff.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • kluursK Online
                                kluursK Online
                                kluurs
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #322

                                Collection of essays

                                c6a6ed6a-e17a-407e-80aa-e5eaac1da577-image.png

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • jon-nycJ Online
                                  jon-nycJ Online
                                  jon-nyc
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #323

                                  Let me know what you think about that Ken. I respected his writing during the Iraq war years ago.

                                  Only non-witches get due process.

                                  • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                                  kluursK 1 Reply Last reply
                                  • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

                                    Let me know what you think about that Ken. I respected his writing during the Iraq war years ago.

                                    kluursK Online
                                    kluursK Online
                                    kluurs
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #324

                                    @jon-nyc I just finished it. I heard Packer discussing this book on a podcast which is why I thought about reading this book.

                                    He divides the country into 4 major categories Smart America (the meritocracy), Just America (social justice youth), Free America (libertarian types) and Real America (traditionalists - ala Sarah Palin). He does a decent analysis of how these groups developed - goes back prior to the Civil War.

                                    One of his major premises for why we are where we are is that the happy days of post WWII where we were the shining city on the hill with economic opportunity for all is not quite as true in the front half of the twenty-first century.

                                    He talks about the the politicization of Covid, not pleased with what DJT did with that and goes into some detail.

                                    He does also has some brief bios of Frances Perkins, Andrew Greeley, and A Philip Randolph.

                                    There's a lot of territory covered. He's a leftist but with plenty of abuse of wokeness and idiocy for the Smart America group. If you like Sam Harris, this would be on the same shelf. I think this is easily as good as his last book.

                                    Catseye3C 1 Reply Last reply
                                    • kluursK kluurs

                                      @jon-nyc I just finished it. I heard Packer discussing this book on a podcast which is why I thought about reading this book.

                                      He divides the country into 4 major categories Smart America (the meritocracy), Just America (social justice youth), Free America (libertarian types) and Real America (traditionalists - ala Sarah Palin). He does a decent analysis of how these groups developed - goes back prior to the Civil War.

                                      One of his major premises for why we are where we are is that the happy days of post WWII where we were the shining city on the hill with economic opportunity for all is not quite as true in the front half of the twenty-first century.

                                      He talks about the the politicization of Covid, not pleased with what DJT did with that and goes into some detail.

                                      He does also has some brief bios of Frances Perkins, Andrew Greeley, and A Philip Randolph.

                                      There's a lot of territory covered. He's a leftist but with plenty of abuse of wokeness and idiocy for the Smart America group. If you like Sam Harris, this would be on the same shelf. I think this is easily as good as his last book.

                                      Catseye3C Offline
                                      Catseye3C Offline
                                      Catseye3
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #325

                                      @kluurs This sounds really good. I'd like to read it someday. But even if I don't, I applaud you on a very well-written review.

                                      Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • jon-nycJ Online
                                        jon-nycJ Online
                                        jon-nyc
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #326

                                        Thanks @kluurs

                                        Only non-witches get due process.

                                        • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        • kluursK kluurs

                                          Finished

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                                          Currently Reading
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                                          HoraceH Offline
                                          HoraceH Offline
                                          Horace
                                          wrote on last edited by Horace
                                          #327

                                          @kluurs said in What are you reading now?:

                                          6ccccabc-cebc-4a44-bb2b-be96cd43ff19-image.png

                                          I couldn't abide this one. She writes as if she assumes her readers are imbeciles. Or maybe 10 years old.
                                          .
                                          .
                                          .
                                          .

                                          a5f0cdfc-7162-4f77-89c0-0af55de22f3d-image.png

                                          This one I loved. Also it has better practical knowledge. It's interesting that the "scientific consensus", and in particular the officially supported one from the governmental authorities, is still so wrong about weight loss. (Says a lot about "scientific consensus" in general.) There shouldn't be any reasonable doubt anymore that low carb diets are the best general approach. I was amused how Taubes, near the end of the book, gave a middle finger to diet books in general when he begrudgingly gave some simple diet advice: tape up on your refrigerator a one-page dietary outline given in a 1951 endocrinology textbook. It basically says to avoid carbs.

                                          Education is extremely important.

                                          kluursK 1 Reply Last reply
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