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P&N Book Club

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Great Idea but I wouold cut down on the number of choices, it spreads the vote too thin.

Stick with 5-10 each month.
 
Originally posted by: venk
Great Idea but I wouold cut down on the number of choices, it spreads the vote too thin.

Stick with 5-10 each month.
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Yeah I'm going to have to... this is kind of a mess right now, but it's early yet.
 
Originally posted by: judasmachine
Originally posted by: yllus
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein.

Please, please forget about the horrendous movie of the same name that utterly destroyed the entire spirit of the novel. I consider this to be Heinlein's finest work and a must-read for both politicos and sci fi aficionados. I believe it's also required reading for all U.S. Marines.
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I was definately going to include the Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Heinlein as it's a manual for libetarian revolution. Also his book Stranger in a Strange Land was a landmark piece in and of itself. I like Heinlein if you can't tell.
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Great choices. I re-read Stranger in a Strange Land a few weeks ago, came back to this thread to recommend it. (Didn't realize you added a poll.) Under the guise of fiction, Heinlein offers some cutting insight into both commerical religion and government.

 
Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
Originally posted by: judasmachine
OK I'm going to close voting at 7PM Central time today (6-6-05). It looks like the Constitution may win.
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I hope not. It's a bit boring. Also there isn't much we can discuss on it that hasn't been discussed a million times before.
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You definately have a point but let's knock it out of the running real fast and move on.
 
How about a book by David Savage? As much as you may not like his views he is very intelligent and makes you think. When Mr savage was younger he combed the world looking for a cure for cancer. He claims he kept a journal of his activities. I really wish he would write a book about that. Among other things, Mr Savage is a Botanist.
 
How about a book by David Savage? As much as you may not like his views he is very intelligent and makes you think. When Mr savage was younger he combed the world looking for a cure for cancer. He claims he kept a journal of his activities. I really wish he would write a book about that. Among other things, Mr Savage is a Botanist.
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you know his name is really wiener right?


anyways, three books i havent read yet but sound sorta interesting.. and of course each has streaming audio interviews from npr🙂
http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R506061000
Mon, Jun 6, 2005
Christopher Hitchens on Thomas Jefferson
Michael Krasny talks to writer Christopher Hitchens about his most recent book "Thomas Jefferson: Author of America."
Host: Michael Krasny
Guests: Christopher Hitchens , contributing editor to Vanity Fair and the Atlantic Monthly. He writes for many publications, including The Nation and Slate. He is a visiting professor at the New School University in New York. His books include "Letters to a Young Contrarian," "Why Orwell Matters," "Love, Poverty and War: Journeys and Essays" and, most recently, "Thomas Jefferson: Author of America."


http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R506071000
Tue, Jun 7, 2005
Mark D. Jordan - Blessing Same Sex Unions

Michael Krasny discusses gay marriage and Christianity with Mark D. Jordan, author of "Blessing Same-Sex Unions: The Perils of Queer Romance & The Confusions of Christian Marriage."
Host: Michael Krasny
Guests: Mark D. Jordan, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Religion at Emory University. He is the author of "Telling Truths in Church," "The Silence of Sodom: Homosexuality in Modern Catholicism," and, most recently, "Blessing Same-Sex Unions: The Perils of Queer Romance & The Confusions of Christian Marriage."



http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R506021000
Thu, Jun 2, 2005
"The Israelis"
Forum discusses a book revealing a diverse picture of Israel's inhabitants.
Host: Michael Krasny
Guests: Donna Rosenthal, journalist and professor at UC Berkeley's School of Journalism. She's author of "The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land."
 
It's a good idea but it's just hard logistically to put it together in an environment like this.

Maybe the reading selection should have a requirement that at least 3 or 4 participating people have already read. That way there will at least be a small group (which usually works better anyway) that can definately discuss and perhaps you'll get that one or two extras that went out and read it. That way you can probably do TWO per month to sustain interest.

You can choose 10 or 15 readings, and people can list which ones they've read. The most read book wins.

I don't know if anything will work, but in any case you tried.

 
Even if it doesn't work, it gives everyone a reading list. People may not discuss the books on the list but at least they have a good reading list that might will enlighten them if they read the books on the list. That overall will lead to more intelligent discussion.
 
"Wedding of the Waters" by Peter L. Berstein. A book about the planning and construction of the Erie Canal in the early 1820s. A very interesting history and analysis of one of the first publically funded (almostly entirely by the state of New York) works projects that was an enormous financial success and generated great growth and income for the State of New York, as well as tying the western frontiers to the original states. Washington (and others) were very fearful that mountain barriers and lack of easy Eas-West access would eventually cause the developing western areas to split off from the United States.

The Erie Canal project came in early, and under budget, using almost completely government financing and free employed labor. A few years earlier a similar project on the Potomac (that George Washington backed) failed-which used mostly private financing and slave or impressed labor.

A very impressive read of the early developing years of our country. The main fault of this book is that it is almost totally lacking in maps, diagrams or engineering discussions.

Here's a link to the Amazon webpage on it:

Amazon.com-Wedding of The Waters summary and reviews
 
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