MobileRead March 2010 Book Club Nominations

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But it is non-fiction and fits the subject for this month.

It's only the first part of a series.

[ziegl027]

I'd be interested in Stiff..

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex may also be of interest.

FWIW, I couldn't care less what motivates somebody else to read this book or that book. Maybe it's their most favorite ever that they've read a million times and want to share their enthusiasm with a new group of people. Maybe they read it once and didn't quite "get" it, and want to talk it over with somebody. Maybe they read it once in high school English, and want to give it another shot now that the stink of "education" is off of it. Maybe they want to read something new to them.

If you don't want to read something, don't nominate it or vote for it. Doesn't matter if it's because you've read it before, or are completely unfamiliar with it, or because you object to the overgratuitous use of the word "belgium".

[ziegl027]

Can somebody nominate more than one? If so, I'd like to nominate PDQ Statistics by Geoffrey Norman. It's highly recommended by a colleague, and glancing through the "Look Inside this Book" feature on Amazon it seems like a pretty entertaining read for a math book.

Interestingly, not available directly for Kindle through Amazon. Don't know if the various formats/sources listed on Inkmesh could be converted???

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

It's only the first part of a series.

That's ok as long as it's not book 2.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by ziegl027

Can somebody nominate more than one? If so, I'd like to nominate PDQ Statistics by Geoffrey Norman. It's highly recommended by a colleague, and glancing through the "Look Inside this Book" feature on Amazon it seems like a pretty entertaining read for a math book.

Interestingly, not available directly for Kindle through Amazon. Don't know if the various formats/sources listed on Inkmesh could be converted???

as was discussed last month you get three "strikes" either nominations or seconds or thirds.

[Sparrow]

I nominated 'A History of Western Philosophy' by Bertrand Russell; but neglected to provide a synopsis.

Amazon.com's description is:
"First published in 1946, History of Western Philosophy went on to become the best-selling philosophy book of the twentieth century. A dazzlingly ambitious project, it remains unchallenged to this day as the ultimate introduction to Western philosophy. Providing a sophisticated overview of the ideas that have perplexed people from time immemorial, Russell's History of Western Philosophy offered a cogent précis of its subject. Of course this cannot be the only reason it ended up the best selling philosophy book of the twentieth century. Russell's book was 'long on wit, intelligence and curmudgeonly scepticism', as the New York Times noted, and it is this, coupled with the sheer brilliance of its scholarship, that has made Russell's History of Western Philosophy one of the most important philosophical works of all time."

Google Books has a preview version (some pages are omitted).

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I nominated 'A History of Western Philosophy' by Bertrand Russell ...

Seconded.

[WT Sharpe]

The first book I read on my Kindle was Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries by Neil deGrasse Tyson. I enjoyed it so much that I'd like to nominate his latest book: The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet.

As the most visible representative of those who led the charge to demote Pluto from its planetary status, Tyson is perhaps the only astrophysicist in history to receive hate mail from third-graders.

From the New Scientist review by by David Shiga:

Most fascinating about the book is what it reveals about the public's relationship with astronomy. While scientists seeking funding tend to emphasise the potential practical benefits of their work for fear that people will not otherwise support it, the planet controversy shows that there is intense public interest in what's out there in the solar system. No matter how distant or disconnected from daily life, planets are personal.

[Ben Thornton]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I nominated 'A History of Western Philosophy' by Bertrand Russell

From the UK, this is $20 on Amazon, but I can't find it cheaper. Have you found it for sale anywhere else? It's a good book, but a bit punishingly long after GWTW (which I'm still hurrying through!)

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I nominated 'A History of Western Philosophy' by Bertrand Russell; but neglected to provide a synopsis.

Amazon.com's description is:
"First published in 1946, History of Western Philosophy went on to become the best-selling philosophy book of the twentieth century. A dazzlingly ambitious project, it remains unchallenged to this day as the ultimate introduction to Western philosophy. Providing a sophisticated overview of the ideas that have perplexed people from time immemorial, Russell's History of Western Philosophy offered a cogent précis of its subject. Of course this cannot be the only reason it ended up the best selling philosophy book of the twentieth century. Russell's book was 'long on wit, intelligence and curmudgeonly scepticism', as the New York Times noted, and it is this, coupled with the sheer brilliance of its scholarship, that has made Russell's History of Western Philosophy one of the most important philosophical works of all time."

Google Books has a preview version (some pages are omitted).

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Seconded.

Thirded (if that's allowed).

The best book ever written (IMHO, of course). I read this at least once a year.

I, however, have never been able to find a full e-book version for sale - has anyone here?

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Thirded (if that's allowed). ...

It's mandatory if the book is to be included in the voting.

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

... I, however, have never been able to find a full e-book version for sale - has anyone here?

That may be a problem, I read it in paper.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Thirded (if that's allowed).

The best book ever written (IMHO, of course). I read this at least once a year.

I, however, have never been able to find a full e-book version for sale - has anyone here?

Inkmesh lists a few options:
http://inkmesh.com/ebooks/history-of...and+Russell%22

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Inkmesh lists a few options:
http://inkmesh.com/ebooks/history-of...and+Russell%22

I think I have it in paper...

[WT Sharpe]

When I nominated Quirkology (which has been seconded and thirded), I neglected to provide a synopsis. Here's the Product Description from Amazon:

An award-winning psychologist exposes the truth behind life's little oddities and absurdities in this quirky and practical guide to life.

For over twenty years, psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman has examined the quirky science of everyday life. In Quirkology, he navigates the backwaters of human behavior, discovering the tell-tale signs that give away a liar, the secret science behind speed-dating and personal ads, and what a person's sense of humor reveals about the innermost workings of their mind-- all along paying tribute to others who have carried out similarly weird and wonderful work. Wiseman's research has involved secretly observing people as they go about their daily business, conducting unusual experiments in art exhibitions and music concerts, and even staging fake séances in allegedly haunted buildings. With thousands of research subjects from all over the world, including enamored couples, unwitting pedestrians, and guileless dinner guests, Wiseman presents a fun, clever, and unexpected picture of the human mind.

[Dr. Drib]

I'm recommending any Ann Rule non-fiction book.

What I'm saying is this: If you nominate one of her books, I'll second the nomination.

I think she's a wonderful crime writer and, as someone who enjoys the incredible features of crock-pots and microwaves, in addtion to enjoying Grateful Dead bootlegs recorded on antiquated 8-track tapes - I think I'm uniquely qualified to comment upon the depths of human depravity, surely a useful feature for someone who wants to make comments in a Book Club.

Hmmmmm????

Don