Grand unified books thread

[Razgovory]

I've been reading Kant

Any particular reason for this?

Not really.  Philosophy is interesting.  It can also be lucrative.  I bet Minksy can tell you about a certain devotee of Karl Popper who made a fortune in international finance using some of Popper's insights.

[The Minsky Moment]

Red Capitalism: The Fragile Financial Foundation of China's Extraordinary Rise

Two western investment bankers based out of China give a provocative and pessimistic analysis of Chinese financial institutions and economy.

[Norgy]

Don't tell us how it ends! 

[The Minsky Moment]

Don't tell us how it ends! 

No Red wedding, if that is your concern.

[Syt]

Anyone know any decent histories of Parthians, Kushan Empire, Ancient India or the Han Dynasty?

Not just a chronological account, life and customs of the inhabitants would be most interesting.

I guess not?

[Valmy]

The Parthians are really hard because all we know about them comes from their neighbors.  For whatever reasons Persians quit writting things down between the Seleucids and the Sassanids.

[Barrister]

I read a biography of Lady Jane Franklin recently.  Interesting character, if sometimes not particularily lovable.

But Ihad no idea that Sir John Franklin was at one time the governor of Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania - and the name was actually changed at Lady Franklin's insistence).  It got me slightly interested in the history of Australia, since I realized I knew nothing about it of any importance.

Can anyone suggest a book?

[Admiral Yi]

There was a book that came out to great acclaim a few years back but I can't remember the title for sure.  The Fatal Shore??

[Gups]

I read a biography of Lady Jane Franklin recently.  Interesting character, if sometimes not particularily lovable.

But Ihad no idea that Sir John Franklin was at one time the governor of Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania - and the name was actually changed at Lady Franklin's insistence).  It got me slightly interested in the history of Australia, since I realized I knew nothing about it of any importance.

Can anyone suggest a book?

There's some good historical fiction if that's any use -

The Secret River by Kate Granville

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-River-Kate-Grenville/dp/184195828X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307380789&sr=1-1

Convict and family transported to Oz, gets freedom after a while, comes into conflict with the locals.

English Passengers by Matthew Kneale

http://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Passengers-Matthew-Kneale/dp/0140285210/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307380907&sr=1-1

English vicar perturbed by new evolutionary theory decides that the Garden of Eden is to be found in Tasmania. Black comedy with disturbing account of ethnic cleansing of Tasmanian aborogines.

[Jacob]

Anyone know any decent histories of Parthians, Kushan Empire, Ancient India or the Han Dynasty?

Not just a chronological account, life and customs of the inhabitants would be most interesting.

I guess not?

The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press has a good general survey series of Ancient China.

I only read The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han by Mark Edward Lewis, but found it quite good. Can't speak for the rest of the series, but I plan on getting the remaining books eventually.

For India, I was quite impressed by John Keay's general survey India: A History. His book on China, China: A History was worth it as well.

[Malthus]

There was a book that came out to great acclaim a few years back but I can't remember the title for sure.  The Fatal Shore??

Yup.

Plenty of old-fashioned convict-whupping goodness. 

[Syt]

Anyone know any decent histories of Parthians, Kushan Empire, Ancient India or the Han Dynasty?

Not just a chronological account, life and customs of the inhabitants would be most interesting.

I guess not?

The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press has a good general survey series of Ancient China.

I only read The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han by Mark Edward Lewis, but found it quite good. Can't speak for the rest of the series, but I plan on getting the remaining books eventually.

For India, I was quite impressed by John Keay's general survey India: A History. His book on China, China: A History was worth it as well.

Thanks. I've seen that India book in a local bookstore - will check it out and probably order the Chinese books.

[Scipio]

Cromwell by John Buchan.  A sort of companion to his shorter life of Montrose.  Fascinating work by a fascinating writer.

[Gups]

Anyone know any decent histories of Parthians, Kushan Empire, Ancient India or the Han Dynasty?

Not just a chronological account, life and customs of the inhabitants would be most interesting.

I guess not?

The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press has a good general survey series of Ancient China.

I only read The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han by Mark Edward Lewis, but found it quite good. Can't speak for the rest of the series, but I plan on getting the remaining books eventually.

For India, I was quite impressed by John Keay's general survey India: A History. His book on China, China: A History was worth it as well.

The China one was good but I thought there was just too much to cover.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

Reading an old Phillip Kerr book... "A Philosophical Investigation"... fun, kind of quaint actually as it came out in 92 but predicts a 2013 where everyone has "picto-phones" which sound a heck of a lot like iphones/blackberries, and other conveniences taht are fairly similar to the now. The serial killer "Wittgenstein" is well scripted and I'm enjoying the book in the same way I enjoy a good Kinky Friedman, or Elmore Leonard.