Everyone:

This thread is for all of us to make some early suggestions for the August Book of the Month. Any ideas? Please post a few words about why you recommend whatever book it is that you are recommending. Thanks!

Chris O'Connor

"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

I'll throw out two suggestions.

1) The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of Humanity by Roy Porter

I would like to read this mainly for the practical benefits. First, I'll already be reading it for my other group in the month of August. Secondly, with my background in the medical field this could be very interesting and perhaps even useful in my job.

2) Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan

The other day I was talking to a friend. I told him that I don't believe in demons, ghosts or aliens invading earth. But I do wonder why people believe that they have had encounters with these extraterrestrial and supernatural beings. I'm sure a lot of stories are fabricated, but I also think that some people have had unusual experiences and really believe they were visited by the ghost of a dead relative or ET. What are they experiencing? What are out of body experiences? Is it simply a different level of consciousness like a dream or hallucination? My friend suggested that I read this book. I've been wanting to read it anyway just because it sounds cool.

Cheryl

I like Cheryl's second suggestion:

2) Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan

because I get into that stuff. Also, I believe in things like that, and knowing that Cheryl does not, I am thinking that some good discussions might emerge.

Also, I would like to read anything on Alert Einstein or a biography on any other interesting person in History.

I have an interest in reading a story on how "the underdog" triumphs even though the odds are against them. I am sure that there are true stories on this, but I will have to do some research. I am not one that has alot of "literary knowledge" so this will be a challenge, but I like that....I will learn from this endeavor. Since I am not reading July's book, (and by the way, I hope no one is upset about that, it is just a personal choice), I will have the time to do so.

- Lauren

I'll add my vote to Sagan's The Demon Haunted World for August's book. It's been awhile since I read it - since the year it was published, I think - so I've been thinking about a re-read anyway (I consider the book important and relevant enough to be worth several readings) .

Also, I'd like for Lauren to read it; The Demon Haunted World definately contains somes questions to her answers.


G

hehe, The Demon Haunted World - great book. Once again, something I've recently read. I'd still be glad to discuss it. Plus I can get on with the rest of my backlogged reading stack and still participate.

In the spirit of Lucaya's suggestion, "anything by Einstein", I'd like to read something else by Richard Feynman. Having just completed The Pleasure of Finding Things Out by Feynman, I highly recommend it to everyone here. Since that's the only work of Feynman I've read though, I'd like to suggest that we formally read anything else by Feynman. Perhaps Six Easy Pieces would be good since that's a fairly easy to find book.

Steve

Everyone:

I was laying low waiting to hear some more suggestions. Demon Haunted World sounds like an excellent choice for August! I own the book and have read it once and would love to read it again and discuss it in depth. Sagan was and is one of my all-time favorites. August could be a fun month for BookTalk. Great idea.

And everyone...please spread the word around about this book discussion group. We could really use another dozen people or so. If you know someone from another message board you think would fit well here at BookTalk....invite them over. The more the merrier.

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

As an alternate book, or just for fun, I have another suggestion: Letters From the Earth by Mark Twain.

I know it's technically fiction, but it is also an insight into the world as Samuel Clemens saw it. Plus, anything that was banned from original publication is likely worth a read.

I've read excerpts from this online. It's a collection of writings that were published posthumously. The title piece concerns fictitious letters that the angel Satan sends home to his buddies in heaven regarding the humans on earth and their practices and beliefs.

Steve

Newbie here - Naddia invited me over from a local board. I already own "Demon Haunted World", but haven't read it, so that would make it easy on me which of course is your first priority. "Letters from Earth" would also be good, but would probably make strongly religious folks uncomfortable if I recall the gist of it correctly.

I mentioned to Naddia that I had belonged to another one of these clubs a long time ago where they read a book, but didn't discuss it until the next month - i.e. while you were reading one book, you were discussing the one you finished last month. That way everyone is pretty much up to speed. Here it is July 27 and you haven't decided on the book for August - I also noticed that by mid-June, many had not received the book under discussion yet. Just something to think about...

LanDroid,

Welcome to the board! I hope you stick around. Post an introduction and let us get to know you a bit. You make some good points. We should probably go ahead and choose a book for August. Is it going to be Demon Haunted World? I've already bought it. It seems that might be a good one to go with. Perhaps we could do Letters from Earth in September. I wouldn't mind some good heated debates with religious folks now that I'm on the winning team.

Nad

LanDroid:

Excellent suggestion! Let's plan on discussing the Book of the Month at the end of the following month. We read "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" in July 2002, so our discussion would be at the end of August for this book. In August we will be reading "Demon Haunted World," so let's plan on discussing it at the end of September.

Heck, I'm not even done with this months book. Tomorrow night in the chat room for the scheduled chat we can discuss up to the point each of us has read, and also I wouldn't mind just chatting and getting to know each other. Any suggestions you guys have to attract some new members here would also be a good thing to talk about in the chat room. I hope many of you plan to be there tomorrow night.

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

Edited by: Chris OConnor  at: 7/29/02 6:05:32 pm

If we're going to be discussing each book during the month after it's read, wouldn't that mean we start the discussion at the beginning of that month (as opposed to the end)? I think it's a great idea to hold off the discussion until the month is over and everyone's finished the book, but why would we have to wait until the end of September to discuss Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee?


G