Need some book recommendations

Mike Lowe · 05-16-2012, 06:57 PM

I like non-fiction, and I've enjoyed books like The Art of War, and the work of guys like Malcolm Gladwell--very cerebrial type of reading. I love psychology, pirates (sort of random), and also sports too...although sports are the least interesting for me in reading (although I loved Moneyball before it became a phenomenom). I've also been heavily interested in finding a good book about Leonardo Da Vinci that's not just a catalog of his works.

Anyway, I know that's sort of a short, random list, but I figured there are other guys on this forum who could at least point me in the right direction.

PurdueBrad · 05-16-2012, 07:07 PM

These don't necessarily fit your interests so take it for what you will but these are some of the more interesting non-fiction works I've read in the last year or so:

David Grann's The Lost City of Z which details Percy Fawcett's attempts to find El Dorado

Rawhide Down which details the Ronald Reagan/John Hinckley events.

Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto which takes a look back at the GTA craze.

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Medicine, Madness, and the Murder of a President which examines the assassination of James Garfield.

Finally, I enjoyed Not By a Long Shot: A Season at a Hard Luck Horse Track which details the 2001 season at Suffolks Downs in Boston.

rowech · 05-16-2012, 07:26 PM

I know you said non-fiction but with the mention of psychology, I'll throw out Caleb Carr's "The Alienist" as a really cool book.

Might give Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" a try as I enjoyed that quite a bit.

Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe" perhaps.

NorvTurnerOverdrive · 05-16-2012, 07:48 PM

i recommend this book to everyone. from wiki

Quote:

Man's Search for Meaning is a 1946 book by Viktor Frankl chronicling his experiences as a concentration camp inmate and describing his psychotherapeutic method of finding a reason to live. According to Frankl, the book intends to answer the question "How was everyday life in a concentration camp reflected in the mind of the average prisoner?" Part One constitutes Frankl's analysis of his experiences in the concentration camps, while Part Two introduces his ideas of meaning and his theory of logotherapy. It is the second-most widely read Holocaust book in the bookstore of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

According to a survey conducted by the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Library of Congress, Man's Search For Meaning belongs to a list of "the ten most influential books in [the United States]." (New York Times, November 20, 1991). At the time of the author's death in 1997, the book had sold 10 million copies in twenty-four languages.

Senator · 05-16-2012, 07:54 PM

Smart Football

The Passage of Power

Thank me later.

Grover · 05-16-2012, 07:58 PM

The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson

Also anything by Jared Diamond if you like history.

britrock88 · 05-17-2012, 12:20 AM

Kahneman, Thinking Fast and Slow.

AENeuman · 05-17-2012, 01:10 AM

Yeah, non-fiction!

I second think fast and slow.
Also:
Psychopath test- fun read on our world really being run by psychopaths
Gang leader for a day- amazing story of sociologist living with a drug dealer in Chicago
The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions Armstrong rocks, this book brings in east and west very well

Mike Lowe · 05-17-2012, 12:01 PM

GREAT recs guys thank you. Some of these, the mystery-type stories, I'd like to try and work into the one class I teach.

I think I'm going to start with Thinking Fast and Slow, but I've added most of these into my Amazon cart.

I think I might swing by the bookstore and get this first one though--looks great!

Honolulu_Blue · 05-17-2012, 12:11 PM

I really enjoyed "Blank Slate" by Steven Pinker.

Amazon.com: The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature (9780670031511): Steven Pinker: Books

korme · 05-17-2012, 12:12 PM

Which Gladwell books have you read?

Young Drachma · 05-17-2012, 12:31 PM

A random smattering of randomness...

Debt: The First 5,000 Years

This Love Is Not For Cowards: Salvation and Soccer in Ciudad Juárez

Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier

Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crisis

You Are Not A Gadget

Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other

Diamond Dollars: The Economics of Winning In Baseball

05-16-2012, 07:54 PM	#5
Senator FOFC's Elected Representative Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The stars at night; are big and bright	Smart Football The Passage of Power Thank me later. __________________ "i have seen chris simms play 4-5 times in the pros and he's very clearly got it. he won't make a pro bowl this year, but it'll come. if you don't like me saying that, so be it, but its true. we'll just have to wait until then" imettrentgreen "looking at only ten games, and oddly using a median only, leaves me unmoved generally" - Quiksand

05-16-2012, 07:58 PM	#6
Grover Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lisboa, ME	The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson Also anything by Jared Diamond if you like history. __________________ Come On You Irons! West Ham United \| Philadelphia Flyers \| Cincinnati Bengals \| Kansas City Royals FOFC Greatest Band Draft Runner Up FOFC Movie Remake Draft Winner FOFC Movie Comedy Draft Winner Last edited by Grover : 05-16-2012 at 07:59 PM.

05-17-2012, 01:10 AM	#8
AENeuman College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: SF	Yeah, non-fiction! I second think fast and slow. Also: Psychopath test- fun read on our world really being run by psychopaths Gang leader for a day- amazing story of sociologist living with a drug dealer in Chicago The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions Armstrong rocks, this book brings in east and west very well Last edited by AENeuman : 05-17-2012 at 01:11 AM.

05-17-2012, 12:01 PM	#9
Mike Lowe College Prospect Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA	GREAT recs guys thank you. Some of these, the mystery-type stories, I'd like to try and work into the one class I teach. I think I'm going to start with Thinking Fast and Slow, but I've added most of these into my Amazon cart. I think I might swing by the bookstore and get this first one though--looks great! __________________ Be fulfilled. Be grateful. Be good to one another. @MikeLowe47 @SimSportsGamin9 Website \| YouTube \| Discord

05-17-2012, 12:11 PM	#10
Honolulu_Blue Hockey Boy Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Royal Oak, MI	I really enjoyed "Blank Slate" by Steven Pinker. Amazon.com: The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature (9780670031511): Steven Pinker: Books __________________ *Steve Yzerman*: 1,755 points in 1,514 regular season games. 185 points in 196 postseason games. A First-Team All-Star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Selke Trophy winner, Masterton Trophy winner, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Olympic gold medallist, and a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. Longest serving captain of one team in the history of the NHL (19 seasons).

05-16-2012, 07:26 PM	#3
rowech Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2006	I know you said non-fiction but with the mention of psychology, I'll throw out Caleb Carr's "The Alienist" as a really cool book. Might give Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" a try as I enjoyed that quite a bit. Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe" perhaps.

05-17-2012, 12:20 AM	#7
britrock88 Pro Starter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Madison, WI	Kahneman, Thinking Fast and Slow.

05-17-2012, 12:12 PM	#11
korme Go Reds Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bloodbuzz Ohio	Which Gladwell books have you read?

05-17-2012, 12:31 PM	#12
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	A random smattering of randomness... Debt: The First 5,000 Years This Love Is Not For Cowards: Salvation and Soccer in Ciudad Juárez Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crisis You Are Not A Gadget Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other Diamond Dollars: The Economics of Winning In Baseball Last edited by Young Drachma : 05-17-2012 at 12:31 PM.

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