Suggestions needed for August & September 2011 NON-FICTION book discussion!

Chris OConnor · Sun Jul 03, 2011 11:49 pm

What would you like to read as a group for our August and September 2011 NON-FICTION discussion?

Please put some thought into this. What non-fiction book would you like to discuss as a group? Only make suggestions if you have over 25 quality posts on our forums. Posts where you are saying "great post! or where you are advertising your own books aren't what we consider quality posts. We only want suggestions from people who have a track record of being active on our forums. It is pretty easy to get up to 25 posts so start now and you can earn the right to influence what books we read in the future.

When you make your suggestions provide the title, author and a link to where we can read more about your suggestion. And tell us WHY you would like to read your non-fiction book suggestion.

Most importantly this thread is a DISCUSSION so participate. Making your suggestion is the first step. But we need you to take the time to look at what other people have suggested and comment. Would you read their book suggestion? Why do you like or dislike their suggestion? Don't be shy. If you think their book suggestion is boring, too long, or not likely to generate quality discussion just say so. Conversely, if you think they have suggested a great book you should say so. We ONLY read and discuss books that a lot of people have left positive feedback on so if you see a book you might enjoy and you don't speak up you have not done yourself or BookTalk.org a service. We need feedback on ALL suggestions.

Please only make one or two suggestions per person. Put some thought into this. We don't need quantity as much as quality. Nobody wants to research 5 books per person. It becomes like homework. It is far better to suggest one book that you think would be excellent as the focus of discussion.

Now what would you like to discuss in August and September 2011??

Robert Tulip · Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:01 am

1. The Bible Unearthed by Israel Finkelstein
Discussed here: the-bible-unearthed-t10904.html

2. Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection by DM Murdock
Booktalk member Tat Tvam Asi has said that Ms Murdock would be willing to participate in discussion. This book presents a very interesting study of the relation between religion and mythology.

Dexter · Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:25 am

Joshua Foer, Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
http://www.amazon.com/Moonwalking-Einst ... pd_sim_b_2

Looks like a fun and interesting read. To be honest, I'm not sure if it will provoke discussion, but I'd like to read it anyway, so I'm throwing it out there.


	Quote: Moonwalking with Einstein follows Joshua Foer's compelling journey as a participant in the U.S. Memory Championship. As a science journalist covering the competition, Foer became captivated by the secrets of the competitors, like how the current world memory champion, Ben Pridmore, could memorize the exact order of 1,528 digits in an hour. He met with individuals whose memories are truly unique—from one man whose memory only extends back to his most recent thought, to another who can memorize complex mathematical formulas without knowing any math. Brains remember visual imagery but have a harder time with other information, like lists, and so with the help of experts, Foer learned how to transform the kinds of memories he forgot into the kind his brain remembered naturally. The techniques he mastered made it easier to remember information, and Foer's story demonstrates that the tricks of the masters are accessible to anyone. --Miriam Landis

realiz · Tue Jul 05, 2011 12:56 pm

Joshua Foer, Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

This does sound interesting.

tat tvam asi · Tue Jul 05, 2011 1:37 pm


	Robert Tulip wrote: 1. The Bible Unearthed by Israel Finkelstein Discussed here: the-bible-unearthed-t10904.html 2. Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection by DM Murdock Booktalk member Tat Tvam Asi has said that Ms Murdock would be willing to participate in discussion. This book presents a very interesting study of the relation between religion and mythology.

Yes, both of these books would be good. And if we discuss CiE Murdock will join the discussion. This book goes point by point citing sources both primary and from those of leading modern Egyptologists to establish what exactly was floating around in the pre-christian mythological motif realm. For instance, Christian apologists contend that Isis was not regarded as a virgin mother in the Egyptian mythos, and therefore Christianity did not copy this ancient motif. However, Isis says of herself in an inscription as Sais (and more) "I am the Great Virgin (Hwnt)... " In the end all of the apologetics break down completely. This book is perfect for doing a chapter by chapter investigation, and, we could have quite a crowd participating in the discussion if word got around that we'd be discussing it.

President Camacho · Tue Jul 05, 2011 1:43 pm

More religion, huh?

tat tvam asi · Tue Jul 05, 2011 2:10 pm

Only in the sense of debating religious claims...

President Camacho · Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:24 pm

Please email me both of your mailbox addresses. I'll send on some new Louisville Sluggers cuz I know by now your bats have got to be pretty worn out after beating this dead horse for so long.

I thought we had a pretty lively debate about American Exceptionalism and population decline. There are other topics worthy of discussion... that's all I'm saying.

giselle · Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:22 pm

Hear! Hear! Pres Camacho, I agree. Lots of good non-fiction out there that has nothing to do with religious debate. I like Dexter's suggestion above. And the discussion on American Exceptionalism was interesting and looks like there is some good writing on that. And many, many other topics. Lets branch out a bit and do something ... fresh.

mzspaztastic · Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:24 pm


	realiz wrote: Joshua Foer, Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything This does sound interesting.

LOVED THIS BOOK!

Or also, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

tat tvam asi · Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:53 pm

It may be beating a dead horse, but what will receive more views?

The world still very much hinges on religion and religious claims and until the tables have turned and theism has become the minority position in the world, the bats will just have to keep getting refreshed over and over again. Are we to discuss books that promote atheism and freethought or not? If so then we'll be discussing religious issues on a regular basis one way or another. But whatever, this goes according to popular vote so mine has been cast and we'll just have to see what the majority of people feel like discussing.

Azrael · Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:32 pm


	Robert Tulip wrote: 1. The Bible Unearthed by Israel Finkelstein Discussed here: the-bible-unearthed-t10904.html 2. Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection by DM Murdock Booktalk member Tat Tvam Asi has said that Ms Murdock would be willing to participate in discussion. This book presents a very interesting study of the relation between religion and mythology.

I will second that vote. That would be one I would join.....especially number 2. Good suggestion Robert!

President Camacho · Wed Jul 06, 2011 3:17 pm

Well said, Tat. Although your post seems altruistic, this subject seems your life's interest. Your last sentence is all that was needed. Everything prior to it was an emotional call to arms in order to gain interest in your life's pursuit. I choose to acknowledge this website's broader contribution to humanity: enlightening people with what humanity has learned and not just what it's failed to grasp.

I wonder how many people over the long term will stand the same subject matter before getting bored and finally neglect the website all together. What you'll have is nothing but members exactly like yourself. I know I don't enjoy talking into a mirror.

By introducing this subject matter sparingly you'll net more intelligent fish that have never thought about exploring this subject. Instead you're systematically boring me and possibly others while unintentionally turning off would be new members.

This is my view and it isn't shared by everyone. This is just my own personal view. If we discussed books about cats, I'd have the same problem. It's one theological discussion after another. Maybe this gets some people excited but there are other solvable problems out there. I wonder what would happen if, in congress, this topic had to be settled. Wow. Nothing productive would get done for a very long time.

tat tvam asi · Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:09 pm

I'm sure you're bored and that's fine. But obviously quite a few people carry on discussions aimed at religious debate. And obviously being born into fundamentalism set me off in the direction of learning it's darker secrets and then waging full on war against it. So of course it would strike you as my life's ambition or whatever, I've said as much several times. But I didn't even post the request, Robert did. I've just cast a vote. Others may follow. In the end we'll either be discussing CiE or something else. It's pretty cut and dry.

If you'd like to bicker with me then just start a new thread ased on just that and we can go round for round as long as you'd like. But at this point you're just trolling up the thread with aside nonsense so let's move it elsewhere and let people cast votes or suggest new material.

Akhenaten · Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:15 pm


	Quote: 1. Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection by DM Murdock Booktalk member Tat Tvam Asi has said that Ms Murdock would be willing to participate in discussion. This book presents a very interesting study of the relation between religion and mythology.

I'd like to see a vigorous discussion on this topic defended by DM Murdock and look forward to the lively exchange.

Forum rules

Suggestions needed for August & September 2011 NON-FICTION book discussion! Tweet This Topic

Who is online

Chat Room Always Open!