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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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  • J jon-nyc
    6 Jul 2021, 10:27

    @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.

    K Offline
    K Offline
    kluurs
    wrote on 6 Jul 2021, 18:20 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
    • B Offline
      B Offline
      bachophile
      wrote on 11 Jul 2021, 14:22 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.

      C 1 Reply Last reply 11 Jul 2021, 14:31
      • B bachophile
        11 Jul 2021, 14:22

        Project Hail Mary.
        Andy Weir

        If you liked The Martian you should really like this.

        Loving it. Great summer vacation read.

        C Offline
        C Offline
        Catseye3
        wrote on 11 Jul 2021, 14:31 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
        • K Offline
          K Offline
          kluurs
          wrote on 18 Jul 2021, 20:13 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.

          J 1 Reply Last reply 19 Jul 2021, 01:57
          • K kluurs
            18 Jul 2021, 20:13

            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.

            J Offline
            J Offline
            jon-nyc
            wrote on 19 Jul 2021, 01:57 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
            • D Online
              D Online
              Doctor Phibes
              wrote on 19 Jul 2021, 01:57 last edited by
              #319

              Are there any dirty bits?

              I was only joking

              G 1 Reply Last reply 19 Jul 2021, 11:47
              • D Doctor Phibes
                19 Jul 2021, 01:57

                Are there any dirty bits?

                G Offline
                G Offline
                George K
                wrote on 19 Jul 2021, 11:47 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.

                K 1 Reply Last reply 19 Jul 2021, 14:06
                • G George K
                  19 Jul 2021, 11:47

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

                  Are there any dirty bits?

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

                  K Offline
                  K Offline
                  kluurs
                  wrote on 19 Jul 2021, 14:06 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
                  • K Offline
                    K Offline
                    kluurs
                    wrote on 23 Jul 2021, 18:55 last edited by
                    #322

                    Collection of essays

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

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • J Offline
                      J Offline
                      jon-nyc
                      wrote on 23 Jul 2021, 22:45 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
                      K 1 Reply Last reply 23 Jul 2021, 23:20
                      • J jon-nyc
                        23 Jul 2021, 22:45

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

                        K Offline
                        K Offline
                        kluurs
                        wrote on 23 Jul 2021, 23:20 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.

                        C 1 Reply Last reply 23 Jul 2021, 23:25
                        • K kluurs
                          23 Jul 2021, 23:20

                          @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.

                          C Offline
                          C Offline
                          Catseye3
                          wrote on 23 Jul 2021, 23:25 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
                          • J Offline
                            J Offline
                            jon-nyc
                            wrote on 24 Jul 2021, 00:11 last edited by
                            #326

                            Thanks @kluurs

                            Only non-witches get due process.

                            • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • K kluurs
                              30 Jun 2021, 14:22

                              Finished

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                              968bd146-fba5-4c97-8a7d-52b39c10d0dc-image.png

                              Currently Reading
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                              HoraceH Offline
                              HoraceH Offline
                              Horace
                              wrote on 26 Jul 2021, 02:17 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.

                              K 1 Reply Last reply 26 Jul 2021, 03:05
                              • HoraceH Horace
                                26 Jul 2021, 02:17

                                @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.

                                K Offline
                                K Offline
                                kluurs
                                wrote on 26 Jul 2021, 03:05 last edited by
                                #328

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

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

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • HoraceH Offline
                                  HoraceH Offline
                                  Horace
                                  wrote on 26 Jul 2021, 15:01 last edited by
                                  #329

                                  Clipboard01.jpg

                                  I am amused by the disclaimer. "This book is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical provider to determine the appropriateness of this information."

                                  Then the book goes on to explain how most medical professionals are completely wrong and cannot be trusted on this subject.

                                  Education is extremely important.

                                  K 1 Reply Last reply 26 Jul 2021, 19:07
                                  • HoraceH Horace
                                    26 Jul 2021, 15:01

                                    Clipboard01.jpg

                                    I am amused by the disclaimer. "This book is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical provider to determine the appropriateness of this information."

                                    Then the book goes on to explain how most medical professionals are completely wrong and cannot be trusted on this subject.

                                    K Offline
                                    K Offline
                                    kluurs
                                    wrote on 26 Jul 2021, 19:07 last edited by
                                    #330

                                    @horace I just started reading this one. I prefer Dr. Fung's take on things to the Fast Feast Repeat book written by the teacher/educator. The thing I dislike about this latest book is the heavy handed promotion of Mr. Moore's other books. That seems a trend in a few of these books - hawking other books, supplements, products, etc.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    • C Offline
                                      C Offline
                                      Catseye3
                                      wrote on 30 Jul 2021, 14:31 last edited by
                                      #331

                                      bdc10ca1-a527-4ea2-b9f7-77ec90dc435a-image.png

                                      I haven't redd this book, but as there are a number of Le Carre fans here, I'm posting it because of what Kirkus Review said about it: “An absorbing, superbly written novel likely to stand as one of the best spy novels of the year”

                                      https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Intelligence-Oliver-Harris-ebook/dp/B07T3J2GJD/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+shadow+intelligence&qid=1627655453&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

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

                                      G 1 Reply Last reply 30 Jul 2021, 14:42
                                      • C Catseye3
                                        30 Jul 2021, 14:31

                                        bdc10ca1-a527-4ea2-b9f7-77ec90dc435a-image.png

                                        I haven't redd this book, but as there are a number of Le Carre fans here, I'm posting it because of what Kirkus Review said about it: “An absorbing, superbly written novel likely to stand as one of the best spy novels of the year”

                                        https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Intelligence-Oliver-Harris-ebook/dp/B07T3J2GJD/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+shadow+intelligence&qid=1627655453&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

                                        G Offline
                                        G Offline
                                        George K
                                        wrote on 30 Jul 2021, 14:42 last edited by
                                        #332

                                        @catseye3 thanks for the heads-up. I love a good spy thriller.

                                        I remember @bachophile recommending Red Sparrow, which I loved. However, the next couple of books in the series were not quite as good.

                                        However, fiction is never as good as fact.

                                        Want some real good spy stuff? Read Ben MacIntyre!

                                        "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
                                        • B Offline
                                          B Offline
                                          bachophile
                                          wrote on 30 Jul 2021, 15:12 last edited by
                                          #333

                                          Cats I hope u enjoyed the Hail Mary project. I thought it was very cool sci if.

                                          I can also recommended the bomber mafia, which I listened to as an audio book. For WW2 history buffs.

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