OFFICIAL POLL: January & February 2011 Non-Fiction Book

[Chris OConnor]

OFFICIAL POLL: January & February 2011 Non-Fiction Book

This is the official poll for deciding which non-fiction book we will read and discuss as a group during the months of January and February 2011.

READ THESE RULES BEFORE VOTING PLEASE

Poll Starts: Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Poll Ends: The poll ends when we have a clear winner. You can count on the poll being up for at least 10 full days.

• You MUST have 10 or more total posts on the BookTalk.org forums to vote. We usually require 25 forum posts. We're going to attempt to lighten up on this rule, but please DO NOT vote if you aren't going to participate.

• You can cast 3 votes and distribute your 3 votes however you like. If you don't assign all 3 votes it will be assumed that you wished to assign all 3 of your votes to the one book you selected.

Example:

2 votes for Book #1
1 vote for Book #2

• You can try to convince other people to vote for your book choice by explaining why you're voting the way you're voting. You are doing BookTalk.org a huge service by explaining a little about why you picked whatever book you picked, although this extra step is not required. People do read comments and you do stand to influence them if you make a passionate plea for your book, and the whole goal of our book selection process is to find a book that will stimulate discussion. So don't be shy about attempting to sell us on your book choice.

• Vote today! Please don't wait till you see other people voting because they're waiting for YOU to vote.

Now, on to our book choices...

[Chris OConnor]

I'm not going to post book descriptions or reviews. Everyone can click on the provided links and read all about each book.

Book 1:
The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values
by Sam Harris

Book 2:
The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves
by Matt Ridley

Book 3:
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine
by Michael Lewis

[DWill]

I'll cast my three votes for The Moral Landscape.

Whichever book wins, I suggest we do a head count of people who have the book and are going to be in, and that we wait until at least a few have started reading before beginning the discussion.

[Chris OConnor]

You're right, DWill. We don't necessarily have to start this book on January 1st.

[The Ritzy]

3 votes for The Big Short.

[Chris OConnor]

3 votes for The Moral Landscape

[Dexter]

3 votes for The Moral Landscape

[Interbane]

I've been following the blogs over at Rationally Speaking concerning the influence of science on human values. I'm definitely game!

3 votes for the Moral Landscape

[Robert Tulip]

I've already ordered my import copy of The Moral Landscape and give it three votes.

[oblivion]

3 snow-covered, icycle-decorated, below zero votes from me for "Moral Landscape"