Sunday Morning Book Thread - 04-07-2024 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]

Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread! The place where all readers are welcome, regardless of whatever guilty pleasure we feel like reading. Here is where we can discuss, argue, bicker, quibble, consider, debate, confabulate, converse, and jaw about our latest fancy in reading material. As always, pants are required, unless you are wearing these pants...

So relax, find yourself a warm kitty (or warm puppy--I won't judge) to curl up in your lap, remember to protect your eyes during tomorrow's solar eclipse, and dive into a new book. What are YOU reading this fine morning?

PIC NOTE

Since a solar eclipse will be occurring tomorrow, I felt that a picture of this book/comic/game store might be appropriate. It used to primarily sell fantasy and science fiction books, but under the current owner it has morphed into a comic book and gaming store, though it does have a few remnants of fantasy and science fiction books.

WHY READ NONFICTION?

Last week we explored the benefits of reading fiction, so I thought it only fair to also discuss the benefits of reading nonfiction, as I know we have a lot of Morons who prefer nonfiction over fiction. I tried searching for a good YouTube video on the subject, but they seem to be lacking compared to videos extolling the benefits of reading fiction. Perhaps there is an unfair bias against reading nonfiction...

So why read nonfiction? To learn stuff, of course!

I admit that my own journey into nonfiction didn't really start in earnest until I was an adult. As a young squirrel running through the treetops of my home forest, I didn't give much thought to reading nonfiction. I always thought it was "boring" compared to the adventures I was used to reading. It just wasn't for me. In college, I somehow got a job where my task was to explain mathematics (algebra, trigonometry, and calculus) to undergraduate students. All of a sudden, I developed a keen interest in the history and origins of mathematics, as I wanted to demonstrate to students that mathematics had immediate relevancy in their lives. It was not just an abstract subject, but came from a lot of people who were attempting to solve difficult problems in the real world and the only way to overcome the challenges was to invent entire branches of mathematics.

I also expanded my knowledge of science at the same time, so that I could include scientific information in the subjects I was writing about at the time. So I bought books on a variety of scientific subjects (mostly physics related since I had been a failed physics major--I still loved the subject, but didn't want to learn all the math involved).

Then 9/11 happened and that completely changed my worldview--or reinforced it. In any event, I studied Islam in some depth thanks to books by Robert Spencer, Raymond Ibrahim, and others. This was also when I developed my personal conservative philosophy on life by reading books by Ann Coulter, Mark Steyn, Glenn Beck, Michelle Malkin, etc.

The nice thing about reading nonfiction is that you can explore virtually any topic to any depth that you desire. If you just want a basic understanding of Newtonian mechanics and electromagnetism, then Isaac Asimov's Understanding Physics may be just right for you, as it just requires a working knowledge of basic algebra. However, if you *really* want to know physics in-depth, then Roger Penrose's The Road to Reality will give you the math explaining the physics with both barrels blazing. Both are excellent books, but are written for different audiences for different purposes.

Among my favorite nonfiction book series are The Politically Incorrect Guides, published by the conservative-leaning Regnery Publishing company, as they give you a high-level overview of topics such as capitalism, English literature, Islam (and the Crusades), intelligent design, and more. They are all well-written, easily digestible, and include many resources for further reading. The Complete Idiot's Guides are also well worth your time for casually becoming familiar with a wide variety of subjects.

If you are looking for an emotional experience comparable to that found in fiction, then biographies and memoirs might be right for you. There are many compelling biographical stories out there about people whose lives have been enriched and changed by tragedy and triumph. My pastor at church recently promoted a book about a young Muslim woman who converted to Christianity after experiencing a "God incident." Her Muslim faith was unable to incorporate this into her life--only Christianity could do that. It's stories like these that serve to inspire us.

What are some of YOUR favorite nonfiction reading experiences?

HISTORY'S MOST BANNED BOOKS

For those who prefer the TL;DW (too long, didn't watch) summary, here are the "banned books" he's discussing in the video above.

• Animal Farm by George Orwell -- I may be one of the few American kids of my era who *didn't* read Animal Farm in school. I know it was taught by some of the other English teachers, but for whatever reason, I was never part of that class. I am, of course, familiar with the general outline of the story. As an allegory about the evils of Communism, it's no wonder it's been banned in Communist countries (or rewritten to *promote* Communism instead)
• 1984 by George Orwell -- Perhaps THE greatest dystopian novel ever written (sorry, We), even people who have never read it (like me) still know it's a powerful tale of an overwhelmingly powerful God-like State that crushes all within it under the eternal bootheel of oppressive tyranny. This is another book that was frequently taught in school when I was growing up, but again I never seemed to end up in that English class. As with many other dystopian novels, our "elites" prefer to view this book as an instruction manual instead of the warning against oppression that it is.
• Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov -- Yet another banned book I haven't read. This is definitely a controversial book, as on its surface it appears to glamorize the attraction an older man feels for a much, much younger woman (12-year-old girl, actually). However, Nabokov himself and others who have studied the novel state that there are layers of complexity that demonstrate the narrator is a deeply disturbed man who faces psychological challenges that make him a not-very-nice person underneath it all. Still, the novel gets talked about a lot and I would not be surprised to see the "elites" promoting this as appropriate school material sometime soon.
• The Anarchist's Cookbook by William Powell -- I had heard of this book when I was growing up, and in my youth I was somewhat "anarchist curious" but I never had the nerve to obtain a copy of this book as I didn't want to be on anyone's "list." Of course, now you can find bootleg copies of this all over the internet if you know where to look, along with various other anarchist-related materials. Probably best to give this one a pass.
• The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie -- Most of us are probably familiar with the controversy surrounding this book. Almost before the ink was dry, a fatwa was placed on his head by the Ayatollah of Iran, proclaiming that he was a blasphemer against Islam and therefore any action against him by Muslims (up to and including his murder) is completely justifiable. He was grievously wounded in an attack a couple of years ago, but survived. I have not read this particular book, but we did read Haroun and the Sea of Stories in one of my English classes in college. It was a fairly enjoyable story, as it's a fairy tale for children. In some ways, it resembles The Neverending Story by Michael Ende as the main protagonist is a young boy who has to save the fount of all stories in the world.

BOOKS BY MORONS

Moron Author "Ordinary American" has released a new book, this time dealing with a personal nonfiction issue related to his father.

Perfesser:

My new book is out, very different, non-fiction, offered for your consideration. It is the story of how my father was slandered by journalist Gabriel Sherman in his biography of Roger Ailes, and my forensic correction of the record. In his book, Sherman devoted a chapter to my father and his development of the broadcasting progenitor of CNN, Television News, and the fact he hired Roger Ailes for his first, major position in the industry. It was mostly lies and smears.

Thanks for any consideration for your stately and unrivaled Sunday Book thread.

Best regards,

Rip Pauley

The Executive and the Smear: The Toxic Farce of Progressive Journalism--A Case Study

MORON RECOMMENDATIONS

During our anniversary camping trip last weekend, I was able to actually spend some quiet time getting some sun and reading.

I read our own TJM's The Battle of Lake Erie end to end. First completed book in a long time for me. I don't read books very often, so I felt it as an accomplishment.

The book itself was a reasonably fast read as it's not long and not difficult to get through at all. It's very descriptive and does a good job of setting up the characters and giving you a mental picture of time and place. Once things get going, you can immerse yourself into the story and get the sense of being there. It's not overly descriptive but gives you what you need to feel a part of the action.

I enjoyed reading it and thought it was well done.

Typos aside.....

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at March 31, 2024 10:16 AM (Zz0t1)

Comment: There is a lot to be said for getting away from it all and just finding time to sit down and read. Even if you have to leave the comfort of the city or town, with all of the distractions that prevent you from reading. When you are out in the woods and have nothing else to do, then reading a book, listening to nature, and just enjoying the time alone with your thoughts and the ideas of a quality author can do much to refresh the spirit. Keep reading, Sponge!

Also, TJM has a new book recently released....

For the ardent bibliophile, serendipity usually plays a big role. Many times I've taken a flyer on an author previously unknown to me, and been rewarded in a big way.

One such instance occurred years ago, when I was perusing the 50-cents-a-book racks at the main public library in Richmond, Virginia. I bought a work of historical fiction entitled A Sailor of Austria, by John Biggins, based largely on the information on the dustjacket, and the intriguing topic: the Austro-Hungarian Navy. I embarked on a delightful journey of discovery as I read of the adventures of Otto Prohaska, a captain in the Austro-Hungarian submarine service in WWI. I went on to acquire all the books in the series and thoroughly enjoyed them all. A great pay-off for an initial investment of only 50 cents.

Posted by: Paco at March 31, 2024 09:48 AM (njExo)

Comment: Paco is absolutely spot on with his observation. I, too, have taken chances on authors while shopping around at used bookstores or library sales because for a dollar or two, I may stumble into a world of fantastic adventure and excitement. For me, it was finding a copy of P.C. Hodgell's Dark of the Moon, book 2 of the Chronicles of the Kencyrath at a library book swap. I was hooked. Later, I found a copy of God Stalk (book 1) at a used book store here in town. Since then, I've steadily acquired the rest of the books in the series. So yes, go out there and scour used bookstores and library book sales! You never know what treasures you will find!

It is May 1940. A has-been old man has just been made prime minister of Britain, and must rally a demoralized country against a foe that has trampled every continental nation it invaded. In The Splendid and the Vile, Erik Larson provides the reader with an inside look at Churchill and his entourage as the Blitz begins. A heroic yet bittersweet evacuation from Dunkirk saves thousands of soldiers to live and fight another day, but retreat is not victory. Churchill knew that an almost impossible slog lay ahead for his country, and it was due to his personality that Great Britain held fast. From previously unreleased war records and personal diaries, Larson reconstructs the period from when Churchill took the reins until the battle of Britain was won. The confidence and charisma that Churchill showed was contagious, and turned a nation from defeatism into a fighting force that eventually caused America to join the fight, and to ultimate victory. Throughout the book, Larson captures the man who transformed the mood of a nation, and who refused to allow the word surrender to be uttered.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 31, 2024 09:12 AM (JYvcN)

Comment: Among the various branches of nonfiction, biographies may be best at capturing the imagination by presenting us with the the incredible life of a real person and their accomplishments. Winston Churchill is one of those mythical, legendary figures upon whom the fate of the world rested at one time, not unlike George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.

More Moron-recommended reading material can be found HERE! (1000+ Moron-recommended books!)

WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THIS PAST WEEK:

After reviewing some of OregonMuse's old Book Threads, I thought I'd try something a bit different. Instead of just listing WHAT I'm reading, I'll include commentary as well. Unless otherwise specified, you can interpret this as an implied recommendation, though as always your mileage may vary.

New Classroom Instruction that Works: The Best Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement by Bryan Goodwin & Kristin Rouleau

As part of my job, I read a lot of books about education. Turns out there are some actual effective strategies that anyone can learn that can be used in any classroom to improve learning. There's been a ton of research in the past couple of decades showing the real way in which people learn. This book condenses much of that down into a digestible 150 pages or so. It did not have any new information for me, as I had already much of this information in other sources. Still, for faculty it's a pretty good resource because it's easy to read, based on fairly good evidence, and doesn't require drastic changes to one's teaching style. Merely start inserting tweaks here and there.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

This was a love letter from Brandon Sanderson to his wife Emily. It's also the third entry in his "Secret Projects" series. The plot follows a young woman--Yumi--who is trapped in an endless cycle of ritual serving her local communities by conjuring up spirits that provide them with benefits. Meanwhile, Painter wanders the eternal dark streets of his industrial city, searching for "nightmares" that plague humanity. When he encounters one, he "paints" the nightmare into a harmless shape on his canvas. A mystical incident links these two and they discover the hidden truths about both of their worlds. Will they be able to master the skills needed to protect humanity from a threat that will destroy both of their worlds? Like the other entries in the Secret Projects, this has quite a lot of whimsical humor, but also poignancy, with a satisfying Sandersonian conclusion.

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

The Hyperion Cantos is the next series on my "bucket list" to finish before my milestone birthday later this year. I have read the first one several years ago, but I'm re-reading it to refresh my memory. It's inspired by Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (among other classics) as it features a group of pilgrims on a journey to a quasi-religious site on the planet Hyperion. Each pilgrim has their own tale to tell about their previous encounter with the supernatural being known only as "The Shrike." Simmons' style of writing is an interesting contrast with Asimov's, as Simmons has a literary background, so he tends to spend a lot of time on his characters, giving them incredible depth and complexity. His worldbuilding is also more involved and complicated, with a lot of weird details that take some time to understand (what is a "time debt?").

Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons

Book 2 in the Hyperion Cantos follows the pilgrims from Hyperion as they arrive at the mysterious Time Tombs, seeking an audience with the lethal and capricious Shrike, who is said to grant boons to one pilgrim while killing the rest. Meanwhile, overhead, the Ousters are waging war against the Hegemony for control of the planet Hyperion, as both factions believe Hyperion is the key to the future of humanity. Within the TechnoCore, the mysterious AI rulers of humanity are also engaged in a covert war amongst themselves. These factions believe that Hyperion will either lead to the elevation of intelligence to a higher, unified plane, or the ultimate destruction of humanity. It's a very, very, very strange world that Simmons has created here. One of the most unique and engaging. I have little frame of reference for much of the technology that is in use, as the terms only give me a vague sense of understanding. Farcasters are holes in the fabric of the universe that allow instantaneous travel, but farcaster gates have to be deployed manually via the FTL technology, which is faster than light, but not by much, as it can still take months or years to travel between stars in cryogenic fugue. However, once a farcaster gate is set up, now a planet becomes instantly available to any other farcaster linked in the network. The lack of a farcaster on Hyperion is one of the significant plot points, as it has resisted being absorbed into the Worldweb of humanity. The Cult of the Shrike plays a part in all of this...

Endymion by Dan Simmons

Nearly three centuries have passed since the events of Fall of Hyperion. The Pax has taken over the galaxy, ruling it with an iron fist. Raul Endymion is chosen to go on a quixotic quest to save the One Who Teaches as she returns from the future to guide humanity, protected by the mysterious Shrike. Will she survive to spread her message of hope and redemption for humanity? Or will she be captured and corrupted by the Church?

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