Some initial suggestions

greg in the machine · Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2002 8:52 am Post subject: Some initial suggestions

Since BookTalk is just now getting on it's feet it will probably be a month or two yet before we start making selections for the local discussion group. That, however, doesn't mean we can't start tossing around some ideas.

These are some of the books on my "to read" list:

1) The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins.

2) The Republic by Plato

3) Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women by Elizabeth Wurtzel

4) The Peace War by Vernor Vinge

5) The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

Feedback from anyone who has thoughts or suggestions about this list is appreciated.

G

NaddiaAoC · Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2002 11:52 am Post subject: Re: Some initial suggestions

Sounds like an interesting list, Greg. I would be interested in starting with any of those that you suggested. Blind Watchmaker would be a great place to start. I haven't finished it yet. I'm about 2/3 through it and would love to discuss it with others who were reading it.

Here are some on my "to read" list (in no particular order):

1) Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin.

2) Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan.

3) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

4) The Structure of Evolutionary Theory by Stephen Jay Gould.

5) Chariots of the Gods? by Erich Von Daniken.

6) Satanic Bible by Anton LaVay.

7) Tales of the Rational by Massimo Pigliucci.

Cheryl

Edited by: NaddiaAoC at: 6/1/02 11:54:24 am

greg in the machine · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2002 10:48 am Post subject: Re: Some initial...

That's an interesting list Cheryl. I've read some of them; The Demon Haunted World and Atlas Shrugged I can recommend as excellent books (though Rand's skewed political viewpoint must be taken with a grain of salt). I'd urge you to skip The Satanic Bible, however. LeVay was a fool - even other mystics considered him so - who was simply out to make a buck and live hedonistically. Much of his "satanism" was in fact stolen from the fiction of authors like H.P. Lovecraft.

If you're looking for a good book about mystic tradition and philosophy I'd recommend Aliestar Crowley's Book of the Law, which is considered definitive. Crowley, in addition to being as much a libertine as LeVay, was also considered selfish and irresponsible by his contemporaries; W.B. Yeats once waited in ambush for him outside the lodgehouse of The Order of the Golden Dawn with a crikkett bat (Crowley never showed up, which probably extended his life by a decade or so). Nonetheless, the man did honestly believe in and practice traditional occult mysticism and his considerable (though convoluted) intelligence is unquestionable.

Von Daniken's book is simply outdated. When Chariots of the Gods? was first published his theories were at least plausible - mostly because no serious investigation of the subject had as yet been attempted - but in the years since almost all of his "evidence" has been debunked and his hypotheses successfully refuted. The book is short enough that it might be worth a read just as a look back at what started all of the "ancient astronaut" hype, but if you want to get a look at it's modern equivilent go here: www.enterprisemission.com/ . Richard Hoagland is the name of the man who runs that website, and he is Von Daniken's "successor" of sorts. Keep in mind that both Hoagland and ol' Erich himself are largely considered quacks and profiteers by almost all of the mainstream scientific community.

From your list I'd say Gould's book might be good for BookTalk, or perhaps Tales of the Rational (which I've never heard of). Of course I'd be willing to re-read Atlas Shrugged or The Demon-Haunted World if the membership decides to select them.

G

ltlmzcbw · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2002 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Some initial suggestions

My two-cents:

Future Shock Alvin Toffler

Brave New World Aldous Huxley

The Feminine Mystique Betty Friedan

Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women looks interesting.

Stacy

ltlmzcbw · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2002 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: Some initial suggestions

My two-cents:

Future Shock Alvin Toffler

Brave New World Aldous Huxley

The Feminine Mystique Betty Friedan

Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women looks interesting.

Stacy

greg in the machine · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2002 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: Some initial suggestions

What is Future Shock about? I've heard the name of the book mentioned several times but never had anyone describe it to me.

G

ltlmzcbw · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2002 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: Some initial suggestions

G,
I have never read the book, I have only read and heard about it. The book was written in 1970 and Toffler writes how people will find it difficult to cope
with how much the world changes in the future (now). I read it described as a form of culture shock. If you would like more in depth information about it check out amazon.com, from the reviews posted the book looks like it is very interesting.

Stacy

Chris OConnor · Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2002 2:51 am Post subject: Re: Some initial suggestions

Everyone:

There is a "Book Suggestion" forum now for ideas on books we can read/discuss. In addition, there is a forum for Future Shock since this has been voted as our first book.

Chris


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