P&N Book Club

[judasmachine]

I figured I'd revive this thread and just ask for suggestions, this way we can have a list of books to read on our own. I'm always looking for a good book.

Rule #1: This is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you become enlightened, don't come crying to me.

Rule #2: If you wish to discuss a book, please read it first.

Rule #3: Try to keep your suggestions 'on topic.' By this I mean one that is relevent to Politics, History, Culture, or News. Magazine, and online articles are for their own threads.

Disclaimer #1: I do not endorse Amazon, it's just the easiest to link to and find what you're looking for.

Disclaimer #2: You will find books here that offend you! Don't sue me.

Disclaimer #3: If I get your name wrong, I apologize, and just PM me and I'll correct it.

Nominated Books: (books suggested by members)

Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate--The Essential Guide for Progressives by George Lakoff (aidnjn)
Everything Bad is Good for You by Steven Johnson (OrooOroo)
Marriage, A History: From Obediance to Intimacy, Or How Love Conquered Marriage by Stephanie Coontz (OrooOroo)
A People's History of the United States 1492 to Present by Howard Zinn (judasmachine)
Ishamel by Daniel Quinn (judasmachine)
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown (judasmachine)
God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong, and the Left Doesn't Get It by Jim Wallis (conjur)
The Holy Bible (judasmachine) note: at least read Genesis, and Revelation
The Qur'an (judasmachine)
Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell (WelshBloke)
Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell (Welsh Bloke)
The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell (Welsh Bloke)
The Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin (judasmachine)
History Of God : The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam by Karen Armstrong (jimkyser)
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie (Forsythe)
Constitution and Declaration of Independence of the United States (Conjur)
No God, But God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam by Reza Aslan (judasmachine)
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond (Yllus)
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (Conjur)
The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene (Conjur)
The Structure of Evolutionary Theories by Stephan J. Gould (Conjur)
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (judasmachine)
Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein (Yllus)
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein (judasmachine)
The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto Che Guevara (Proletariat)
The Cube and the Cathedral: Europe, America, and Politics Without God by George Weigel (Riprorin)
, said the shotgun to the head by Saul Williams (proletariat)
The God of Small Things by Aruhndati Roy (proletariat)
IBM and the Holocaust: The Strategic Alliance between Nazi Germany and America's Most Powerful Corporation (Steeplerot)
Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos by Michio Kaku (TastesLikeChicken)
Ignorance, A Novel by Milan Kundera (InfectedMushroom)
Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand (Vic)

 

[aidanjm]

What a great idea. Are people going to suggest possible books? If they are, I'd suggest "Don't Think Of An Elephant" by Geroge Lakoff.

 

[Vic]

I'm in.

 

[Kerouactivist]

Sounds like a great idea...

 

[0roo0roo]

well theres the everything bad is good book. a quick read. not info dense or anything, but it does make the point that the culture isn't as dumb as people keep saying it is. judgement clouded by nostolgia.

and theres a new Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage
by Stephanie Coontz http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/067003407X/qid=1117786914/
haven't read it but its about the ugly truth of the lie of our current view of the institution of marriage and the nuclear family that conservatives pretend always existed and are constantly trying to save.

streaming audio of her on terry gross's fresh air program today http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4677073

and then theres the mao-the unknown story. but thats not out yet. reviewed in the economist, and apparently has information from documents released by russia from the former soviet union. very bad things. book will never see the light of day in china no doubt. claims complicity with japanese even.

 

[aidanjm]

I guess the problem would be political books tend to be highly partisan. So maybe you'd need a liberal bookclub and a conservative bookclub..

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well theres the everything bad is good book. a quick read. not info dense or anything, but it does make the point that the culture isn't as dumb as people keep saying it is. judgement clouded by nostolgia.

and theres a new Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage
by Stephanie Coontz http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/067003407X/qid=1117786914/
haven't read it but its about the ugly truth of the lie of our current view of the institution of marriage and the nuclear family that conservatives pretend always existed and are constantly trying to save.

streaming audio of her on terry gross's fresh air program today http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4677073

and then theres the mao-the unknown story. but thats not out yet. reviewed in the economist, and apparently has information from documents released by russia from the former soviet union. very bad things. book will never see the light of day in china no doubt. claims complicity with japanese even.

I heard portions of Terry Gross's interview with the author while I was driving last night. Seemed like an interesting book. Turns a lot of current ideas of marriage history on its head.

 

[aidanjm]

Maybe we should start off with a book providing a basic introduction to the logical fallacies and argument techniques. We could use this as an opportunity to imcrease the overall standard of discussion here on P&N.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
and theres a new Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage
by Stephanie Coontz http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/067003407X/qid=1117786914/
haven't read it but its about the ugly truth of the lie of our current view of the institution of marriage and the nuclear family that conservatives pretend always existed and are constantly trying to save.

That book on the history of marriage looks pretty interesting, actually.

Wonder if it's available in australia yet

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
I guess the problem would be political books tend to be highly partisan. So maybe you'd need a liberal bookclub and a conservative bookclub..

I would have no problem reading Savage's "Liberalism is a mental disorder" or whatever book Hannity has out now.

They get all the air time, what Liberal writer books are out there???

 

[conjur]

Stephen King's The Dark Tower series!!


:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[judasmachine]

well all you need is an open mind, and a library card, or money. but i thought we could kind of just suggest books and gain a consensus on what to read or just build a list ( a few at a time as most of us are busy).

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: aidanjm
I guess the problem would be political books tend to be highly partisan. So maybe you'd need a liberal bookclub and a conservative bookclub..

I would have no problem reading Savage's "Liberalism is a mental disorder" or whatever book Hannity has out now.

They get all the air time, what Liberal writer books are out there???

Speaking of reading stuff you don't agree with, I've even read the Left Behind series.

 

[PatboyX]

w00!
books!

 

[judasmachine]

Any conservatives wish to suggest some reading? I don't know any off hand other than like Ann Coulter or Rush's books. Although I was hoping to steer clear of those two and the likes of Al Franken too.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: conjur
Stephen King's The Dark Tower series!!


:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

w00t! But not the last one, it's a bit of a downer..

--

So is anyone willing to buy books for the rest of us poor folks? Maybe an exchange-by-mail program? I'll have to check if my local library carries all the newest political books...

 

[conjur]

SSSHHHHHHHH!!! DAMNIT!!

I haven't read them all yet! I'm waiting for the paperback versions. I only have First Edition, First Printing hardcover of the newest books.

 

[Amplifier]

Might I recommend this book?

 

[conjur]

What about God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It?

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: Amplifier
Might I recommend this book?

sure if you can explain it's relevance. i actually like the harry potter books, but feel it lacks relevance here.

 

[PatboyX]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: conjur
Stephen King's The Dark Tower series!!


:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

w00t! But not the last one, it's a bit of a downer..

--

So is anyone willing to buy books for the rest of us poor folks? Maybe an exchange-by-mail program? I'll have to check if my local library carries all the newest political books...

political books are hard to get at the library by me.
depending on what it is, it might be easier to get a half.com resell.

 

[WelshBloke]

I don't know if these would be on topic but I'd highly recomend these George Orwell books.

Down and out in Paris and London
Homage to Catalonia
The Road to Wigan Pier

They are all very enjoyable reads and Orwell manages to touch on social politics in an (IMHO) unbiased and personal way.

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
I don't know if these would be on topic but I'd highly recomend these George Orwell books.

Down and out in Paris and London
Homage to Catalonia
The Road to Wigan Pier

They are all very enjoyable reads and Orwell manages to touch on social politics in an (IMHO) unbiased and personal way.

Actually I was thinking of creating a required reading list too. Some of Orwell's books would fall into this category, as he deals with all sides. He hated liberals as much as conservatives. Well their extremes anyway.

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: PatboyX

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: conjur
Stephen King's The Dark Tower series!!


:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

w00t! But not the last one, it's a bit of a downer..

--

So is anyone willing to buy books for the rest of us poor folks? Maybe an exchange-by-mail program? I'll have to check if my local library carries all the newest political books...

political books are hard to get at the library by me.
depending on what it is, it might be easier to get a half.com resell.

I'd be down with an email share program. We just need a 'heatware' type way of checking up on people. I'm near broke myself and have to rely on what the library carries. (thank god for socialistic book sharing insititutions)

 

[WelshBloke]

Yeah he had a very pragmatic approach to politics.

I suggested those as they really are very interesting from a social history point of vew as well.
They are based on Orwells personal experiances of poverty and social injustice.