Grand unified books thread

[Sheilbh]

Empire of Secrets.

Very interesting history on the role played by the intelligence services (especially MI5) during decolonisation, largely based on relatively recently declassified material.

[Maladict]

Reading the Bombing War by Richard Overy. Interesting stuff, and well written.

[The Brain]

Finished Superfortress: The Boeing B-29 and American Airpower in World War II, by Bombs Away LeMay. America, fuck yeah!

[Habbaku]

Reading the Bombing War by Richard Overy. Interesting stuff, and well written.

Yep. Ignore Ide.

[Savonarola]

I've been reading the Ralph Griffith translation of the Atharvaveda.  Some of his translations are odd; my favorite is a hymn entitled:

The hyperbolical glorification of the Vrātya or Aryan Non-conformist

I think I'll start calling myself "The Aryan Non-conformist."   

I finished the (why it gotta be) black Yajur-Veda and the Atharvaveda.  The black Yajur-Veda has liturgies for the various sacrifices, simlar to the white Yajur-Veda; but there's a number of prose parts which explains the meaning of the individual sacrifices.  These are always presented as a formulaic question and answer of Rishis.

The Atharvaveda is the last of the Vedas and covers a lot of different topics.  The first several books are the most curious, as they're filled with spells and charms, magic (in this sense) is not found anywhere else in the Vedas.  Later books have hymns, prayers and the occasional hyperbolical glorifications.

[Valmy]

Anyway takeyh is pretty sharp so I certainly wouldn't say its "fiction"

CC was just trolling Yi.

[Admiral Yi]

Right.

[Admiral Yi]

I picked up Annie Proulx's "Accordian Crimes" at a friends moving sale because I had read and enjoyed her book about the dude that kills a chick while fucking her and turns into a vagrant out of grief.  It appears to be telling stories the of various immigrants to the US through the device of an accordian that gets passed around.

One downside is Annie's picture on the back cover.  I had pictured her as this willowy hippy chick and she's a battleaxe.  Much nicer to read books by hott chick authors.

[Razgovory]

Authors are not known for their attractiveness.  They are sort of like Radio personalities.

[Eddie Teach]

I picked up Annie Proulx's "Accordian Crimes" at a friends moving sale because I had read and enjoyed her book about the dude that kills a chick while fucking her and turns into a vagrant out of grief.  It appears to be telling stories the of various immigrants to the US through the device of an accordian that gets passed around.

One downside is Annie's picture on the back cover.  I had pictured her as this willowy hippy chick and she's a battleaxe.  Much nicer to read books by hott chick authors.

At least the battleaxe could have the decency to put a blurb or reviews on the back cover and her picture on the overleaf.

[Razgovory]

If I ever write a book I'm going to put that picture of Conrad Veidt on the dust jacket.  I reckon these days more people identify me with that then my own face.

[CountDeMoney]

You should use the photo that comes with the frame, Raz.  That'll throw them.

[crazy canuck]

Read the Cave and the Light while on holiday.  The author gives his take on how Western thought, science and culture has been influenced by Plato and Aristotle.  It is an enjoyable read right up to the point where he struggles to describe modern economics.  But in the areas that are is strengths (particularly the impact on the development Christianity) he does well.

[Valmy]

If I ever write a book

'Best Basements in Missouri'

It would be one of those big Coffee Table books.

[The Brain]

A basement tape about basements?