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Suggestions for our Jan. & Feb. 2003 Book Selection need

Collaborate in choosing our next NON-FICTION book for group discussion within this forum. A minimum of 5 posts is necessary to participate here!
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Chris OConnor

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Suggestions for our Jan. & Feb. 2003 Book Selection need

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I am nominating Darwin's "Origin of Species!" And we wouldn't even have to go buy it, although I know many of you already own it. Here is a link to the entire text online...www.literature.org/authors/darwin-charles/I think we could attract a ton of people to the site if they knew we were reading and discussing this book over a two-month period.Chris "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward,for there you have been, and there you will always want to be." -- Leonardo da Vinci
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Re: Suggestions for our Jan. & Feb. 2003 Book Selection

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Chris,Origin of the Species has been on my "to read" list for quite a while. I bought the book some time ago but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I have so little understanding of evolution and thought that this would be a good place to start. Cheryl
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Chris OConnor

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Re: Suggestions for our Jan. & Feb. 2003 Book Selection

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Perhaps we can all discuss this topic Thursday night in the chat room.Chris "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward,for there you have been, and there you will always want to be." -- Leonardo da Vinci
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Re: Suggestions for our Jan. & Feb. 2003 Book Selection

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I'd like to suggest Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe. Published in 1999, it was a New York Times bestseller. In it Greene describes the string theory with remarkable facility and wit. It's engaging reading, intentionally written for the layman, though I've yet to find a group of non-scientists who are enthusiastic about discussing it. I'd love to do so here! Ando
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Re: book suggestion

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My only complaint against reading Origin of Species would be that so much of Darwin's original evolutionary theory has been modified, expanded and many of his original ideas about specifics have been shown false (ie -- Darwin originally proposed that modern day whales descended from bear-like ancestory; actually the link is closer to cows). I do understand that it is a classic and could be read for it's historical value alone. What do I know, though, I'm just a newbie! Personally, one of the books I would recommend is Elaine Pagels' Origin of Satan. It's a fascinating book and her writing style is superb. In it she shows how the idea of Satan has evolved over time and how the early Christians used the idea to "demonize" their opposition, primarily the religious Jews. Bradley
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Chris OConnor

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Re: book suggestion

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People visiting are going to get the wrong idea about us! LOLThe Demon Haunted WorldThe Lucifer PricipleThe Orign of SatanChris "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -- Albert Einstein"If you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being." - Jerry Falwell"I don't see any god up here." - Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (the first man in space), speaking from orbit, 1961.
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Another suggestion

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Chris,How about Let's Worship the Devil by B. Elzebub.(That's a joke BTW)Bradley
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Chris OConnor

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Re: Another suggestion

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OMG LOLI have read the "Satanic Bible" several times and actually recommend it as part of a well wounded education in comparative religion.Chris "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -- Albert Einstein"If you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being." - Jerry Falwell"I don't see any god up here." - Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (the first man in space), speaking from orbit, 1961.
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Re: Another suggestion

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Well wounded education... LOL. I need to remember that one.Cheryl
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Re: Another suggestion

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I'm with Johnny in saying No to Origin. While the idea behind it is the spirit of evolution, many of Darwin's conclusions are now held to be incorrect, and his general idea about the theory is modified heavily. We would probably do better off reading something by Dawkins or Gould, if Evolution is the topic desired. Alternatively, Sagan has two good books on biology, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors and The Dragons of Eden
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