What are you reading right now?

Sailor Steve · 03-04-09, 01:15 PM

Am just starting The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay: Life in Medieval Africa, by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack; a book about Africa's history written by Africans.

From the Authors' Note:

Quote:

Once knowledge of these old empires resurfaced, some claimed that Jews, who had rebelled against the Romans in Cyrenaica (Libya) had migrated to the Western Sudan around A.D. 115 and built these civilizations. Another group pushed the theory that Sudanese achievements were the result of Arab invasions and the coming of Islam. Some even suggested that African accomplishments were the result of visitors from outer space. Any wild idea was more acceptable than to admit that Africans had the intellect and ingenuity to develop and control well-ordered empires.

It's a fairly short book, but looks to be informative in an area of history I'm definitely unfamiliar with.

Sailor Steve · 03-11-09, 09:31 AM

I finished the African history book, and it was pretty informative about the early empires of West Africa.

Now I'm into To Utopia And Back: The Search For Life In The Solar System, by Norman H. Horowitz. Horowitz was chief of the bioscience department for the Mariner and Viking Mars Missions at the Jet Propulsion Laboaratory in Pasadena, California. Published in 1986, the book starts by explaining how scientists classify life, including how DNA and RNA are constructed, then goes on to a history of research into how life works, follows with a history of speculation and research about Mars, and finishes with the story of the missions themselves and what they mean. All of this in language that an idiot like me can understand.

I barely started it today, but it's looking like a good one.

Thomen · 03-11-09, 01:53 PM

Reading "Operation Drumbeat" by Gannon. Interesting read and is a big help in translating KTBs from German into English.

Max2147 · 03-15-09, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomen

Reading "Operation Drumbeat" by Gannon. Interesting read and is a big help in translating KTBs from German into English.

A great book! Along with "Run Silent, Run Deep" it was the one that really got me into WWII subs.

"Sea Assault" is also a great book. It's about the sinking of the Shinano, written by the sub captain who sank it.

Overkill · 03-20-09, 09:34 AM

War at Sea: A Naval History of World War II by Nathan Miller.
Briefly covers the major events from '39 - '45 but still very informative and interesting reading.

kbak303 · 03-22-09, 12:53 PM

one for my graduate class-The Educator's Guide to School Law

one for fun...WolfPack-The Story of the U-Boat in World War 2

Sailor Steve · 03-26-09, 12:04 PM

Have just started The Politics Of American Government, a textbook of basic politics and how politics and government shape each other. Loving it so far.

ajrimmer42 · 03-14-09, 07:52 PM

I've just started reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. I've also recently finished reading the first 3 books in the Hornblower series, and the third and final book of the Brethren saga, Requiem by Robyn Young. All top books!

rubenandthejets · 03-15-09, 08:10 AM

Working through "The English Civil War at first hand" by Tristram Hunt-based on primary sources, lots of woodcuts and Dutch masters potraits of the main players.

Also going through "Minna no Nihongo" again...(Japanese for Everyone)

Kaye T. Bai · 03-15-09, 09:41 PM

I am currently reading "Red Storm Rising," by Tom Clancy.

I am about 50 pages into the book right now. So far, it is a very interesting book. The opening scene was perfect.

In the past few weeks, I have developed a certain interest in the Cold War; even though it is 2009.

Kapt Z · 05-04-09, 07:53 PM

The Lions of Al-Rassan - Guy Gavriel Kay

Fantasy based on medieval Spain

Sockeye · 05-06-09, 08:55 AM

Been a while since I've read some John le Carre, so I reintroduced a few to my little library: "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold", "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and "The Perfect Spy".... I wonder what they're about

I've read the first two before, but it's been long enough that I'll still be kept in suspense. Started on "The Spy..." last night, and I've been reminded about what I really appreciate in le Carre's writing--he keeps physical descriptions neat and concise; gives you the idea, but doesn't waste time counting the cracks on the sidewalk, the leaves on the tree, the clouds in the sky. Always appreciated here!

Sailor Steve · 05-06-09, 12:57 PM

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold was made into a cracking movie back in 1965, starring Richard Burton and Claire Bloom.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...4/imdb-button/

It's in black and white, and pretty faithful to the book.

Sockeye · 05-07-09, 10:12 AM

Aye!

Was reading too that BBC did a mini-series for "Tinker, Tailor,..." back in '79 with Alec Guinness as George Smiley. Another to watch out for

Murr44 · 05-09-09, 03:43 AM

Just started reading Hitler's Empire: How the Nazis Ruled Europe by Mark Mazower. Next on the "to read" list is Shattered Sword by Parshall & Tully. I bought the book back in 2005 & it's about time that I got around to reading it.

The Riddle of the Sands by Robert Erskine Childers is a really worthwhile book. I read it years ago & plan to read it again sometime. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Riddle_of_the_Sands for details.

03-11-09, 09:31 AM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I finished the African history book, and it was pretty informative about the early empires of West Africa. Now I'm into To Utopia And Back: The Search For Life In The Solar System, by Norman H. Horowitz. Horowitz was chief of the bioscience department for the Mariner and Viking Mars Missions at the Jet Propulsion Laboaratory in Pasadena, California. Published in 1986, the book starts by explaining how scientists classify life, including how DNA and RNA are constructed, then goes on to a history of research into how life works, follows with a history of speculation and research about Mars, and finishes with the story of the missions themselves and what they mean. All of this in language that an idiot like me can understand. I barely started it today, but it's looking like a good one. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-20-09, 09:34 AM	#5
Overkill Frogman Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 302 Downloads: 130 Uploads: 0	War at Sea: A Naval History of World War II by Nathan Miller. Briefly covers the major events from '39 - '45 but still very informative and interesting reading. __________________

03-26-09, 12:04 PM	#7
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Have just started The Politics Of American Government, a textbook of basic politics and how politics and government shape each other. Loving it so far. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-14-09, 07:52 PM	#8
ajrimmer42 Royal Kinotropist Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 987 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	I've just started reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. I've also recently finished reading the first 3 books in the Hornblower series, and the third and final book of the Brethren saga, Requiem by Robyn Young. All top books! __________________ Alex Don't judge a ship by the number of it's guns, but by the skill of it's crew.

03-15-09, 08:10 AM	#9
rubenandthejets 中国水兵 Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 279 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Working through "The English Civil War at first hand" by Tristram Hunt-based on primary sources, lots of woodcuts and Dutch masters potraits of the main players. Also going through "Minna no Nihongo" again...(Japanese for Everyone) __________________ HMAS Sydney III "Thorough and Ready"

03-11-09, 01:53 PM	#3
Thomen Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,207 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Reading "Operation Drumbeat" by Gannon. Interesting read and is a big help in translating KTBs from German into English.

03-22-09, 12:53 PM	#6
kbak303 Seaman Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 41 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	one for my graduate class-The Educator's Guide to School Law one for fun...WolfPack-The Story of the U-Boat in World War 2

03-15-09, 09:41 PM	#10
Kaye T. Bai Samurai Navy Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Western Hemisphere, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster Posts: 585 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	I am currently reading "Red Storm Rising," by Tom Clancy. I am about 50 pages into the book right now. So far, it is a very interesting book. The opening scene was perfect. In the past few weeks, I have developed a certain interest in the Cold War; even though it is 2009. Last edited by Kaye T. Bai; 03-16-09 at 12:36 PM.

05-04-09, 07:53 PM	#11
Kapt Z Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ...somewhere in the swamps of Jersey. Posts: 909 Downloads: 157 Uploads: 0	The Lions of Al-Rassan - Guy Gavriel Kay Fantasy based on medieval Spain

05-06-09, 08:55 AM	#12
Sockeye Machinist's Mate Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 127 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	Been a while since I've read some John le Carre, so I reintroduced a few to my little library: "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold", "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and "The Perfect Spy".... I wonder what they're about I've read the first two before, but it's been long enough that I'll still be kept in suspense. Started on "The Spy..." last night, and I've been reminded about what I really appreciate in le Carre's writing--he keeps physical descriptions neat and concise; gives you the idea, but doesn't waste time counting the cracks on the sidewalk, the leaves on the tree, the clouds in the sky. Always appreciated here!

05-06-09, 12:57 PM	#13
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	The Spy Who Came In From The Cold was made into a cracking movie back in 1965, starring Richard Burton and Claire Bloom. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...4/imdb-button/ It's in black and white, and pretty faithful to the book. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

05-07-09, 10:12 AM	#14
Sockeye Machinist's Mate Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 127 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	Aye! Was reading too that BBC did a mini-series for "Tinker, Tailor,..." back in '79 with Alec Guinness as George Smiley. Another to watch out for

05-09-09, 03:43 AM	#15
Murr44 Grey Wolf Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 913 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Just started reading Hitler's Empire: How the Nazis Ruled Europe by Mark Mazower. Next on the "to read" list is Shattered Sword by Parshall & Tully. I bought the book back in 2005 & it's about time that I got around to reading it. The Riddle of the Sands by Robert Erskine Childers is a really worthwhile book. I read it years ago & plan to read it again sometime. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Riddle_of_the_Sands for details. Last edited by Murr44; 05-09-09 at 03:57 AM.