Holy thread resurrection, Batman! I recommend “The Boys the the Boat” as a fantastic and incredibly well written and interesting summer read.
A thread is never dead on NN.N
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I highly recommend this one too
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I enjoyed this one as well.
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Almost done with Walter Isaacson’s The Codebreaker about the creation of CRISPR.
Fascinating look at the world of academic genetic research and other relevant topics.
My first Isaacson book. Will definitely be reading more of his work.
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Reading Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger. Fascinating look at WW1 from the perspective of the German infantryman.
Kind of reminds me of the Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat except it’s non fiction.
If you like Cruel Sea you will like this.
If your looking for a good book set in the Vietnam war era The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen. That was an amazing book I read last year.
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
huh huh huh- you said “Pillars”
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Follett is one of those many authors who I have never read but have books by them on my too read list. I will get there one day.
So many books so little time.
Been almost 1.5 years since this thread has been updated.
Here’s a run down on books I’ve read since then I would recommend. Four stars or higher.
This does not include any graphic novels or comic trade paperbacks that I read a ton of. If anyone wants to trade recommendations on those let me know.
Control Freak by Cliff Bleszinski - four stars
When we cease to understand the world by Benjamin Labatut - five stars
Sneaker Wars - 4 stars
Three Body Problem - 5 stars
Just for Fun by Linus Torvalds - 4 stars
Chip War by Chris Miller - 4 stars
The Formula (about F1) by Joshua Robinson. I gave it 3 but if you’re new to F1 you will probably give it 4 stars.
Currently reading The Storyteller by Dave Grohl. This is likely to be a five star. Great book so far. If you like musician bios highly recommended.
Not necessarily a favorite, but it’s been crazy hearing all the history around me I didn’t know existed. Great time to pick it up for a read considering the time of year too.
Who’s Your Founding Father? By David Fleming
Great book on the Meck Declaration of Independence that history has tried to forget and of course UNC-CH played a part in helping that effort.
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I finished the Last Flight by Amelia Earhart. It collected the logs she sent back along her final flight, as well as some of the prelude to the flight.
It was pretty interesting. A bit dry, as she wasn’t a trained writer. However, I enjoyed it and learned a lot about her path and obstacles along the way.
The Story Teller by Grohl is wild. He is like the ultimate name dropper that is not a name dropper but actually living that life. I was at Barnes and Nobles and picked it up and started flipping through the pages. Kurt Cobian, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul McCartney. Pantera owning their own strip club and it goes on and on. Definitely an interesting life he has lived.
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Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. Also recommend the movie. Anthony Quinn as Zorba. The only movie that I memorized parts of. Very powerful.
Ok I’ll have to check that out. I knew of the movie title but not a book.
Sounds very interesting.
Regarding the Grohl book.
Its a great story so far. His talent took him far from humble upbringings.
The key factor seems to have been his natural talent and the support of his mom.
I’m only to the point where he just joined Nirvana
Not sure if I posted about this but I read “The Sympathizer” last year.
It’s the book the new HBO show is based on.
I have to say that was one of the best books I’ve ever read. Easy top 5.
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Hope you’ll watch AND read! The last scene in the movie still blows me away, and I’ve watched it more times than I care to admit. To tell the truth, I think I’m so drawn to the movie because I identify so readily with both Zorba AND “the Boss”.
Read Doom Guy by John Romero (bio of the ID software legend) and A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan on vacation this year.
Both highly recommended.
Right before vacation I read The Maniac by Benjamin Labatut. If you like reading about scientists and their lives and work then this book and his other book called When we cease to understand the world are for you.
Since I’m on that subject. Another plug for The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes which I consider the finest non fiction work I’ve ever read.