How about Biographies?

Mr. Pessimistic · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: How about Biographies?

How about also discussing a Biography in addition to the Fiction and Non-Fiction selections?

Just a thought.

Mr. P.

The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P.

Once you perceive the irrevocable truth, you can no longer justify the irrational denial. - Mr. P.

The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets"

I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper

Wishwas · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 11:50 am Post subject: Re: How about Biographies?

Yes, I fully support that!
Several of my favourite books are biographies.
One of the books I have read more than 3 times is:
'Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!' (Adventures of a Curious Character) (available in Paperback)
by Richard P. Feynman, Ralph Leighton

And I have been planning to suggest it.

Mr. Pessimistic · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 12:13 pm Post subject: Re: How about Biographies?

I think biographies of important and relevant figures would add to the community.

Mr. P.

The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P.

Once you perceive the irrevocable truth, you can no longer justify the irrational denial. - Mr. P.

The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets"

I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper

MadArchitect · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: How about Biographies?

I don't see why we shouldn't consider them. I've had a copy of "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" that I've been meaning to read for some time -- I certainly wouldn't mind seeing it included as a BookTalk discussion.

Are you suggesting that we treat biographies as a category distinct from fiction and non-fiction -- that is, that we read them in addition to the current categories that we read?

Personally, I think we should include them as non-fiction readings. Biographies could be suggested and voted on along with the usual non-fiction suggestions.

Mr. Pessimistic · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: How about Biographies?

I just think that biographies would not compete well with the standard non-fiction choices and would tend to never be voted for.

I am suggesting a separate reading fromn the two main readings. Nothing as spotlighted maybe...mayb it could find a place in the "Additional" section.

Mr. P.

The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P.

Once you perceive the irrevocable truth, you can no longer justify the irrational denial. - Mr. P.

The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets"

I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper

MadArchitect · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 1:34 pm Post subject: Re: How about Biographies?

Yeah, there has to be a way to make more of the "Additional Readings" forum. I hate seeing them sit there, not getting new posts. I know that we're all reading other things, I just don't know why we aren't discussing them. The way I see it, if two people are reading or have recently read the same book, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to discuss it in the Additional Readings forum.

Mr. Pessimistic · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 1:38 pm Post subject: Re: How about Biographies?

I did pick up Brave New World for just that reason...but by the time I joined in...everyone gave up.

SHould we just start threads based on what we are all reading and see who jumps in?

Mr. P.

The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P.

Once you perceive the irrevocable truth, you can no longer justify the irrational denial. - Mr. P.

The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets"

I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper

MadArchitect · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: How about Biographies?

I would say, start threads on books that you're really, really enjoying, and hope that your enthusiasm encourages other people to read it as well. I wouldn't start books on just any book that you're reading. I think that'll lead to a lot of frustration.

Beyond that, I think we should be using those forums to organize other readings. Interbane and I did that once -- we were both interested in reading Karl Popper's "Objective Knowledge", so with both picked it up and started a thread. We don't have to be organizing huge readings in there -- two or three people is enough to make a discussion thread worthwhile.

I also like the idea of playing little reading games. In the Lounge, the other forum I post to, we used to play movie and book challenges, where we'd challenge one another to read books that we liked. It sometimes led to interesting conversation. We could also use the additional readings forums to stage debates over books and the topics they cover. That would work out nicely, now that we have new chat software that allows us to hold moderated debates.

Mr. Pessimistic · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: How about Biographies?

Quote:
We could also use the additional readings forums to stage debates over books and the topics they cover. That would work out nicely, now that we have new chat software that allows us to hold moderated debates.

Oh my Mad...believe it or not...I was just going to post something like you just suggested! I like the "Debate the Book" idea...it could add a touch of fun and excitment to the community as well as continuing to help educate us all through reading.

Mr. P.

The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P.

Once you perceive the irrevocable truth, you can no longer justify the irrational denial. - Mr. P.

The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets"

I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper

MadArchitect · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: How about Biographies?

Well, let's start a thread in one or both of the additional readings forums and try to get some interest worked up. The way I see it, we'll need four things -- two debators, one moderator, and a book. And we should try to think of the best combination of those things so that we don't end up with total chaos. I'd be interested in working as either a debator or a moderator for the chat, provided that we can agree on a time when I'll actually be able to access a computer.

Or maybe you see the debate working a different way. We can toss around ideas about a format.

As for books, I think we should pick something that is a) relatively short, so that the debators don't have to invest too much time, less than 300 pages if we can find something interesting in that range, and b) provocative without being too obvious. I'll see if I can think up some suggestions. You toss around some ideas as well. My time is up for the day, but I think this is a pretty exciting idea if we can get people interested.

Mr. Pessimistic · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: How about Biographies?

I like it. Anyone else have any input?

Mad: Can you set up the threads laying out the details? You are much better at structuring these things than I...if you dont mind. I would say we should definitely set a thread up in both the fiction and non-fiction forums.

We can do moderated live chat debates...I was thinking more of a single thread, posting debate...or maybe we can do both and see which works best. The plus of a posting debate is that schedules are not too much of a factor...although we should agree that timely responses are expected.

Short books are best I agree...but we could also do short stories for this format.

Mr. P.

The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P.

Once you perceive the irrevocable truth, you can no longer justify the irrational denial. - Mr. P.

The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets"

I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper

Edited by: misterpessimistic at: 5/19/06 3:24 pm


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