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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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  • 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 Offline
              kluursK Offline
              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 Offline
                    kluursK Offline
                    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 Offline
                            kluursK Offline
                            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 Offline
                              kluursK Offline
                              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 Offline
                                  kluursK Offline
                                  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
                                        • HoraceH Horace

                                          @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.

                                          kluursK Offline
                                          kluursK Offline
                                          kluurs
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #328

                                          Knocking off another book I didn't read in school.

                                          0a36de31-0d5f-4e1e-8ccc-611284778338-image.png

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