Requesting Book Suggestions

[CaptainCrunch]

If your into 20th century history you could try The Cold War edited by Robert Cowley which is a book of essays about differnet periods and turning points in the cold war. Its probably one of the better books that I've read.

[kermitology]

For some non-fiction that's really interesting I recommend Antony Beevor. His books Stalingrad, Fall Of Berlin 1945 and The Mystery Of Olga Chechova are awesome.

Agamemnon.. you recomended Freidman.. I took a crack at The World Is Flat and thought it was absolute crap. His writing style I thought to be juvinile and repetitive, maybe the other one is different, but I did NOT like The World Is Flat.

[CaptainCrunch]

Beevor is a great read. Fall of Berlin was terrific I might have to re read that one of these days.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Beevor is a great read. Fall of Berlin was terrific I might have to re read that one of these days.

I have become mesmerized with Soviet history since reading that book. He writes it so perfectly.

[CaptainCrunch]

I've always like Soviet history and pre soviet history because of the people that have been allowed to get into power in that country. Russia has just never gotten a break from thier leadership despite the fact that with thier resources and number of people, and the iron in thier stock they've failed at almost every turn.

Now you can bring up thier victory in World War II, but history has to look back on it as a failure because of the ineptitude of thier leadership that lead to the throwing away of millions of unneccessary lives.

[icarus]

CaptainCrunch, you should check out Solzhenitsyn's August 1914, which I'm reading at the moment. One of the neatest and most engaging books I've ever read; if you like Russo-Soviet military history you have to read it.

[CaptainCrunch]

Thanks Icarus, I'll put it on my book list. I'm currently in the middle of The Cold War which I mentioned earlier, then I plan on picking up some more history books. A great book to read if your into history is the Court of the red Tsar by Simon Montefiore which goes through the life of Stalin and even publishes some of his letters to his children, great read but a little heavy.

[Phanuthier]

I'm reading a book called "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond, and actually enjoying it.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by flamingchina

Anything by Chuck Palahniuk
I'd suggest survivor

And the winner is!

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, I'll take a look back at this thread the next time I'm looking for books!

[Hakan]

I have an Amazon gift certificate.

Lets keep the suggestions coming. Special request, good books on Hockey or other non-fiction books you found were captivating.

My suggestion? Shakey - Jimmy McDonough

The biography of Neil Young a must for anyone interested in the 60s-70s rock star culture. This book has it all.

[RougeUnderoos]

This book about the boxer Jack Johnson is a good book.

So is this one about Sonny Liston. Not great because the author is a real jackass but the story is good.

I'm not a big boxing fan but they sure do have some real characters involved in that "sport". The Jack Johnson story is amazing. PBS did a documentary that goes with the book.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Well it isn't fiction...but Long Shadows by Erna Paris is excellent...

Also, this book on the Mossad was pretty cool...erhmmm...I mean sinister

Those are the darkest things I have read recently
________
WEED TRACKER

[kermitology]

MUST..BRING..THREAD..BACK..TO..LIFE...

So I ended up getting two books from this whole thing.

One was called Miss Misery by Andy Greenwald which was a really entertaining work of fiction about the indie/emo + blogging culture centred in New York. It was wildly amusing to me in a few parts and I really enjoyed it.

The second book was one of the recommendations here Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk. Frankly...I wasn't overly impressed. It hit the nail right on the head in terms of being a perfect satire of American idolization of celebrities being made up to seem like more than they are, but it just wasn't something I was thrilled with reading.

I'd certainly recommend both books, but Survivor just wasn't quite my cup of tea. Looks like my next task is Timothy Findley's Famous Last Words. My all-time favourite book is The Wars so I'm looking forward to one hell of a read.

Thanks everyone!

[flamefan74]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I'm reading a book called "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond, and actually enjoying it.

Haven't read that yet, but have started to read another of his called Collapse. Pretty good so far, will have to check out G,G, and S. I also believe Discovery did a program based on G, G, and S. Saw parts of it and was good.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I've got this Indigo gift card burning a hole in my pocket and I want desperately to find some books to buy. I've got one already in mind, but I'm looking for something that's REALLY dark, perhaps disturbing, and really good to read.

I figure that CP is generally a great resource to find out about anything new, so here goes.

Give me your suggestions for books to read. I generally read a lot of history but I'm really looking for fiction here. I'd like to avoid murder mystery if possible, just not what I want to read right now.

GO!

I know you are a history buff. I am reading Mao by Jung Chang ( I think that is her name), anyway, great great book. A bit pricey though, 50 dollars or something at Indigo.

[CaptainCrunch]

Peter12, if your reading up on Mao, you might want to pick up the book "Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader" by Bradley Martin, its a history of modern North Korea under the leadership of the Kim's. Its an incredible read and somewhat scary

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by flamefan74

Haven't read that yet, but have started to read another of his called Collapse. Pretty good so far, will have to check out G,G, and S. I also believe Discovery did a program based on G, G, and S. Saw parts of it and was good.

I'm a slow reader (that, and school) and really, you look at life differently after reading that book. A book or movie has never done that for me.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Peter12, if your reading up on Mao, you might want to pick up the book "Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader" by Bradley Martin, its a history of modern North Korea under the leadership of the Kim's. Its an incredible read and somewhat scary

Thanks for the recommendation, this Mao read is incredible and creepy as hell.

Too many good books to read and mid-terms are just around the corner. I think I might actually read for Reading Week.

[Flame On]

Famous last words was a strange one. I found it both good and hard going at the same time. Maybe thats due to the time spanning nature of it and the flashback narrative that it keeps cutting back to.
Not the cheeriest of books either.