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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
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  3. What are you reading now?

What are you reading now?

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  • Catseye3C Catseye3

    Thanks for the recco.

    Perusing his book The Spy and the Traitor, here's the last line of the Amazon blurb: "Like the greatest novels of John le Carré, it brings readers deep into a world of treachery and betrayal, where the lines bleed between the personal and the professional, and one man's hatred of communism had the power to change the future of nations." !!!

    Speaking of Le Carre, he wrote, "“The best true spy story I have ever read.” Whoa! Could you ask for a better cover blurb???

    bachophileB Offline
    bachophileB Offline
    bachophile
    wrote on last edited by
    #335

    @catseye3

    For the ultimate le carre experience, the Karla trilogy. I’ve read it a number of times.

    1 Reply Last reply
    • Catseye3C Offline
      Catseye3C Offline
      Catseye3
      wrote on last edited by
      #336

      Here I am again. 🙂

      The exploits of the man in this book, Witold Pilecki, I redd about in some detail in another book. So gripping, I redd it twice. Tremendously heroic, a story of unbelievable courage.

      1fe0f187-b051-44cc-95ba-7f722cbc87ee-image.png

      Amazon: The incredible true story of a Polish resistance fighter’s infiltration of Auschwitz to sabotage the camp from within, and his death-defying attempt to warn the Allies about the Nazis’ plans for a “Final Solution” before it was too late.

      To uncover the fate of the thousands being interred at a mysterious Nazi camp on the border of the Reich, a thirty-nine-year-old Polish resistance fighter named Witold Pilecki volunteered for an audacious mission: assume a fake identity, intentionally get captured and sent to the new camp, and then report back to the underground on what had happened to his compatriots there. But gathering information was not his only task: he was to execute an attack from inside—where the Germans would least expect it.

      The name of the camp was Auschwitz.

      Over the next two and half years, Pilecki forged an underground army within Auschwitz that sabotaged facilities, assassinated Nazi informants and officers, and gathered evidence of terrifying abuse and mass murder. But as he pieced together the horrifying truth that the camp was to become the epicenter of Nazi plans to exterminate Europe’s Jews, Pilecki realized he would have to risk his men, his life, and his family to warn the West before all was lost. To do so, meant attempting the impossible—an escape from Auschwitz itself.

      2.557 ratings; average 4.5 stars

      https://www.amazon.com/Volunteer-Mission-Underground-Auschwitz-Holocaust-ebook/dp/B07C2CH12H/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+volunteer+one+man&qid=1628002477&s=books&sr=1-1

      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
        #337

        Another so called classic off the "should be read" list. I'm sure the book was startling for 1955. I never had an interest in reading it because of the subject matter - and can appreciate the adverse critical response to the book. I'm not sure if would have achieved its status were it not for it being banned for a period of time. The writing is at times salacious, engaging, and occasionally witty, but ultimately for me, meh.
        cdf4cc8f-2086-492e-b613-5fc1e333913e-image.png

        I've just started this one - and hope it lives up to its hype. Per the book, 90% of us are not breathing correctly (hint: should not be mouth breathers).
        210c2e2b-a932-448c-850a-df1bb18782e8-image.png

        George KG 1 Reply Last reply
        • kluursK kluurs

          Another so called classic off the "should be read" list. I'm sure the book was startling for 1955. I never had an interest in reading it because of the subject matter - and can appreciate the adverse critical response to the book. I'm not sure if would have achieved its status were it not for it being banned for a period of time. The writing is at times salacious, engaging, and occasionally witty, but ultimately for me, meh.
          cdf4cc8f-2086-492e-b613-5fc1e333913e-image.png

          I've just started this one - and hope it lives up to its hype. Per the book, 90% of us are not breathing correctly (hint: should not be mouth breathers).
          210c2e2b-a932-448c-850a-df1bb18782e8-image.png

          George KG Offline
          George KG Offline
          George K
          wrote on last edited by
          #338

          @kluurs said in What are you reading now?:

          Per the book, 90% of us are not breathing correctly (hint: should not be mouth breathers).

          A book has to be written to tell me to breathe through my nose?

          Really?

          "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

            @kluurs said in What are you reading now?:

            Per the book, 90% of us are not breathing correctly (hint: should not be mouth breathers).

            A book has to be written to tell me to breathe through my nose?

            Really?

            kluursK Offline
            kluursK Offline
            kluurs
            wrote on last edited by kluurs
            #339

            A book has to be written to tell me to breathe through my nose?

            Really?

            I'm only on the first chapter. I suspect there will be more to learn, and the book has 12000 5-star reviews. What he does talk about in the first chapter is that people even a couple of hundred years ago seemed to have wider mouths and better developed airways. He goes into some of the evolutionary developments of the sinuses and airways in general. It appears that we're developing in ways that are increasing deformities of the mouth and increasing our risk for respiratory problems. I'll have a better sense of things after I finish the book.

            One of the points I found interesting is that even with high performance areas - such as running/cycling - breathing through the nose, while reducing the number of breaths, increased endurance.

            1 Reply Last reply
            • kluursK Offline
              kluursK Offline
              kluurs
              wrote on last edited by
              #340

              a4032678-cb05-4a9d-b490-a924001763e2-image.png

              This book is a bit uneven and I suspect most of you will have your BS meter go off at least once. On the other hand, there is a fair amount of interesting and useful information. Originally, I passed up on the book as I wasn't sure the topic deserved the time. The author notes that people can train their breathing - and even remodel some of the airways - even late in life. There's some discussion that our modern mouths are different than even a couple of hundred years ago - more cramped with crappy teeth, especially compared to people a few hundred years ago - though I'm not entirely sold on that.

              He talks about the divers who train themselves to hold their breath for several minutes - and notes that divers seem to believe that most others can train themselves to do the same. He provides some evidence to suggest that breath training could help asthmatics and others with breathing issues.

              There's some discussion that breathing can help other conditions aside from breathing such as scoliosis - which I find less credible - but who knows?

              I have both the audio and hardcopy of the book - and would suggest the audio as the appendix has a guided overview of breath training - where they actually provide the exercises.

              1 Reply Last reply
              • kluursK Offline
                kluursK Offline
                kluurs
                wrote on last edited by
                #341

                Started this - audio version.
                425743e3-af8b-45b0-a5f9-533dd7c8d98b-image.png

                1 Reply Last reply
                • JollyJ Offline
                  JollyJ Offline
                  Jolly
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #342

                  alt text

                  Maybe not his best, but I like the 1950's Heinlein stuff...

                  “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                  Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • jon-nycJ Offline
                    jon-nycJ Offline
                    jon-nyc
                    wrote on last edited by jon-nyc
                    #343

                    Decided to dive into the origins of CRT.

                    B08EA256-208E-4386-BC68-BC5BCE72994E.jpeg

                    Only non-witches get due process.

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

                      Decided to dive into the origins of CRT.

                      B08EA256-208E-4386-BC68-BC5BCE72994E.jpeg

                      HoraceH Offline
                      HoraceH Offline
                      Horace
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #344

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

                      Decided to dive into the origins of CRT.

                      B08EA256-208E-4386-BC68-BC5BCE72994E.jpeg

                      Please report back whether you’re able to spot an idea.

                      Education is extremely important.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • kluursK Offline
                        kluursK Offline
                        kluurs
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #345

                        c1aeff9a-a9d9-44c0-8358-0163d1e893cc-image.png

                        Another book on breathing...
                        87addc77-d1bd-488f-a7e2-973ab066b047-image.png

                        George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                        • kluursK kluurs

                          c1aeff9a-a9d9-44c0-8358-0163d1e893cc-image.png

                          Another book on breathing...
                          87addc77-d1bd-488f-a7e2-973ab066b047-image.png

                          George KG Offline
                          George KG Offline
                          George K
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #346

                          @kluurs said in What are you reading now?:

                          Another book on breathing...

                          Take it from an anesthesiologist: Breathing is good.

                          "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
                          • Catseye3C Offline
                            Catseye3C Offline
                            Catseye3
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #347

                            Full disclosure, I'm not reading this; it didn't make the wish list cut, but . . .

                            Any Western fans here? I'm posting it for two things, the authors -- Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins; could you die? -- and what has to be one of the all-time great Western book titles.

                            Are you ready?

                            Last Stage to Hell Junction

                            Really, how can you resist?

                            9eea9e2a-e182-450b-aefe-1ff289e13efd-image.png

                            Sheriff Caleb York has a tin star, a blazing gun, and plenty of courage. All he needs is a little luck to deliver big justice . . .

                            https://www.amazon.com/Last-Stage-Junction-Caleb-Western-ebook/dp/B081VWCBGN?

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

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • markM Offline
                              markM Offline
                              mark
                              wrote on last edited by mark
                              #348

                              Started reading this one tonight.

                              2021-08-28-03-57-39-The-God-Virus-How-Religion-Infects-Our-Lives-and-Culture-PDFDrive-pdf-and-1.png

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • kluursK Offline
                                kluursK Offline
                                kluurs
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #349

                                Finished

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                                Currently Reading
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                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • kluursK Offline
                                  kluursK Offline
                                  kluurs
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #350

                                  I've heard this pianist and knew a bit of her story. It was nice to get the full story. She lived through the excesses of the Great Leap Forward and her perseverance to become a pianist is amazing. My teacher from my conservatory days was able to travel to China when things first opened up.. I still remember his descriptions of the students at the Shanghai Conservatory. He was amazed at the level of talent and made close friendships with several of the teachers there.

                                  As an aside, being a fan of Lin Yutang, a Chinese polymath whose philosophical works I read as a student, I was pleasantly surprised to learn she also was influenced by his work.

                                  f62fc395-2f74-419b-b5da-a53a89247d2c-image.png

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  • bachophileB Offline
                                    bachophileB Offline
                                    bachophile
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #351

                                    alt text

                                    just started this, its the story of an american british convoy to deliver matériel, to archangel in arctic russia, summer 1942. along the way, the c0mplex relationship between FDR, Churchill and Stalin.

                                    when it comes to history, im a sucker for all things maritime (yes i loved greyhound with tom hanks even though some panned it) and every time i think there cant be another angle about world war two that hasn't been covered, i discover this. Just started but I know from the first few pages it will be my kind of book.

                                    JollyJ 1 Reply Last reply
                                    • George KG Offline
                                      George KG Offline
                                      George K
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #352

                                      Starting this tomorrow:

                                      Screen Shot 2021-09-19 at 7.43.06 AM.png

                                      Screen Shot 2021-09-19 at 7.43.48 AM.png

                                      "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
                                      • CopperC Offline
                                        CopperC Offline
                                        Copper
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #353

                                        I'm reading Player Piano again.

                                        It's probably 50 years since I first read it and it still works.

                                        Catseye3C 1 Reply Last reply
                                        • CopperC Copper

                                          I'm reading Player Piano again.

                                          It's probably 50 years since I first read it and it still works.

                                          Catseye3C Offline
                                          Catseye3C Offline
                                          Catseye3
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #354

                                          @copper said in What are you reading now?:

                                          I'm reading Player Piano again.

                                          If I ever knew about this book, I've forgotten it. So I had to look it up. I would say it's an excellent choice for a re-read. 🙂

                                          Two things he wrote in it that stood out for me: "Democracy owed its life to knowhow", and "Those old enough to remember and too old to compete . . . "

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

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