Book recommendations

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

I have a business trip to Europe next week, and I realized I haven't had a chance to indulge in a good book lately. Any recommendations? The genres I have enjoyed are (1) good historical nonfiction stories, bonus points if somewhat geeky (have read a few about the building of the A-bomb, the space race, and one about methamphetamine), (2) good hard-core sci-fi (haven't read one of those in a while!), and (3) ENJOYABLLE social, political, or self-help (stuff like Freakonomics, Crucial Conversations, etc. Rant books or stuff that could be summarized in 10 pages need not apply).

Anyone?

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

Any of the Feynman books if you haven't gotten to them.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 8:42 am

Prime Obsession ( about Riemann Hypothesis)
Fermat's Enigma (soln for x^n + y^n = z^n for n > 2 ?)
Code Book (cryptography throughout the ages)

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 9:30 am

The Creature From Jekyll Island - Does a good job of explaining how our monetary system works with a healthy mix of conspiracy theory and conspiracy fact.

Voyager - This one may be difficult to find but I have a copy you may borrow. It's the story of the Rutan family and the construction and subsequent flights of the "homebuilt" airplane that was the first to fly non-stop around the world.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 1:03 pm

For my inner geek, I appreciate the Great Courses audiobooks/lectures
http://www.thegreatcourses.com/greatcourses.aspx

In for Jennfier Bedell's sci-fi recommendations....preferably a top-10 list of sci-fi and fantasy.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 1:10 pm

The River of Doubt about Teddy Roosevelt's trip down the river in S. America by Candace Millard. Excellent account of the trip and includes rivers, cannibals, and American heroes.

If you are a fan of Star Trek - Redshirts by John Scalzi told from the point of view of the doomed redshirted ensigns

Ready Player One - Ernest Cline I think

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Good stuff so far, keep 'em coming!

Jordan, I may want to take you up on your offer on loaning Voyager... Which side of town do you live and work in?

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 2:30 pm

I'm reading Atlas Shrugged. It is quite prophetic in regards to the current economic world. Kind of like reading Jules Verne as a kid and wondering how he got so much so write about the future.

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 2:47 pm

Mike, I live and tend to stay around North Raleigh near 440 and Wake Forest Rd.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

If you haven't read it already, The Forever War by Joe Haldeman is one of my recently read Sci-Fi favorites. After waiting 25 years for the rights to become available, Ridley Scott is working on a movie version right now that could be quite epic.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 4:44 pm

clinehall wrote:

Kind of like reading Jules Verne as a kid and wondering how he got so much so write about the future.

Either that is a really good pun, or that VT degree is not worth it!

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue May 14, 2013 9:46 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

clinehall wrote:

Kind of like reading Jules Verne as a kid and wondering how he got so much so write about the future.

Either that is a really good pun, or that VT degree is not worth it!

You do realize VK that Cline went to an engineering school to learn how to drive a train right?

It's pillow talk so I shouldn't say too much................. :lol:

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed May 15, 2013 2:07 pm

steve remchak wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

clinehall wrote:

Kind of like reading Jules Verne as a kid and wondering how he got so much so write about the future.

Either that is a really good pun, or that VT degree is not worth it!

You do realize VK that Cline went to an engineering school to learn how to drive a train right?

It's pillow talk so I shouldn't say too much................. :lol:

Who did you guys pick on before me?

MarekRozanski · **Posted:** Wed May 15, 2013 7:53 pm

Not a light read, but you might enjoy this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Musimathics-Mathematical-Foundations-Music-Volume/dp/0262516551

This one's a quick and fun read that may be perfect for your trip:
http://www.amazon.com/Year-French-Thomas-Flanagan/dp/159017108X

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed May 15, 2013 9:00 pm

Sci-fi

* The Forever War, Joe Haldeman (as mentioned above)
* Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson (circa early 1990's, but still a great book)

History/Non-Fiction/Etc.

* Longitude, Dava Sobel - Story about the quest to solve the problem of determining your longitude for navigation at sea. Ultimately it is about the first accurate clocks and the politics and science behind it.
* Come Up and Get Me, Joe Kittinger - Autobiography of Joe. Most know him from his 100K+ foot skydive from the early 1970's, but he also did a bunch of other stuff.

Richard

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