Grand unified books thread

[Savonarola]

How I hate it when the joke is on me.

What's up next, "It Can't Happen Here"?

I hope it's not a sign, but one of the books I posted about here in the post before post I quoted was "The Origins of Totalitarianism."

[Malthus]

Halfway though Jungle of Stone. It's a great read, though mostly taken from Stephens' own work, there's a lot of added detail.

The description of Catherwood's initial despair at attempting to draw Mayan sculpture really struck home to me - I've attempted the same thing, so I know exactly what he was talking about: the ornamentation and concepts are so alien to western-trained artists as to be basically incomprehensible; it is very hard to draw things you seriously don't understand, even with tools like a camera lucida (which I for one never used). Plus, the sheer complexity of it is daunting; plus he was drawing them in most uncertain conditions - in the middle of a malarial jungle during a civil war. Yet he eventually succeeded so well his drawings are still referenced today. 

[The Brain]

I like browsing Amazon. They have really good recommendations in different categories.

[garbon]

In Amazon's recommendations to me, there's DIY tools which is a picture of a lockpick set.

[CountDeMoney]

In Amazon's recommendations to me, there's DIY tools which is a picture of a lockpick set.

Actually, that is a really, really helpful skill to learn. You know, like a hobby.

[11B4V]

I like browsing Amazon. They have really good recommendations in different categories.

Didn't know you were a fan.

[The Brain]

I like browsing Amazon. They have really good recommendations in different categories.

Didn't know you were a fan.

Gardening is my escape from the cares and worries of everyday life.

[Archy]

In Amazon's recommendations to me, there's DIY tools which is a picture of a lockpick set.

They think you're a gentleman master thief

[garbon]

In Amazon's recommendations to me, there's DIY tools which is a picture of a lockpick set.

They think you're a gentleman master thief

Actually just looked again and it isn't only a lockpick set, it comes with a lock too as it is a practice set.

[Grey Fox]

That's a very marketable black market skill to have. Even excluding the gentleman cambrioleur career. People get locked out of their apartments all the time.

[garbon]

That's a very marketable black market skill to have. Even excluding the gentleman cambrioleur career. People get locked out of their apartments all the time.

For a good portion of the year, one could break into my flat using a credit card.

When I was in NYC, I had experience breaking into my apt via the fire escape and a window that couldn't lock. I also had visions of being killed SVU style given how they had plots involving such a break-in.

[Syt]

Ordered two books for Christmas:

Roger Crowley - Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Impire (really enjoyed his books Empires of the Sea, and the one about the rise of Venice)
Richard J. Evans - The Pursuit of Power: Europe, 1815-1914

[Malthus]

Ordered two books for Christmas:

Roger Crowley - Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Impire (really enjoyed his books Empires of the Sea, and the one about the rise of Venice)
Richard J. Evans - The Pursuit of Power: Europe, 1815-1914

Thanks for mentioning the new Crowley book - I too liked the other two. Will look into this.

[garbon]

Finished "War and Peace"

[Syt]

In German,  there's still no alternative to the Bergengrün translation of War and Peace. It's the only one to make an effort to preserve as much of the French dialogue as possibleinstead of translating it, too.