Will half to read this- Thanks On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 4:17 PM, retiredjim34 <[email protected]> wrote:
> > If this thread is to be a book sharing project, and if those books are > to have some relationship to philosophy, then the best I've read in > decades is Lin Yutang's The Importance of Living. It was written in > the late 1930s and is still in print. Jim > > On Jul 31, 3:25 pm, frantheman <[email protected]> wrote: > > I've a couple of weeks holidays coming up ta the end of August and > > would be interested to hear some reading suggestions. But, as one > > shouldn't take without giving, I thought I'd get the ball rolling with > > a brief description of some of the books I've found good in the past > > few months ;-) > > > > Harry Thompson, This Thing of Darkness: I owe this tip to Ian - thanks > > mate! A well researched, very well written historical novel, based > > mainly on the voyage of the Beagle and the lives of its captain, > > Robert FitzRoy and his most famous passenger, Charles Darwin. The > > character of FitzRoy, an interesting historical figure in his own > > right, is particularly well done. Sadly, there will be no more gems > > from this author, as he died tragically young four years ago. > > > > Tom Holland, Persian Fire: Who says ancient history is boring? > > Holland's excellent book describing the war between east and west, a > > war between a superpower representing then civilised values (the > > Persian empire) against barbarian rogue states (Athens and Sparta) > > challenging the world order reads like a thriller. His previous work, > > Rubicon, about the fall of the Roman Republic is equally good. I'm > > loking forward to reading his latest, Millenium, about the early > > European Middle Ages, featuring the crusades. > > > > Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind: This is the best fantasy book > > I've read in a long time (and I read quite a bit of fantasy). > > Extremely well written, it's hard to describe. As the author himself > > says, "If I could sum it up in 50 words, I wouldn't have needed to > > write a whole novel about it." The first of a trilogy, the second part > > of which is due out this summer, it's simply an amazing first novel. > > > > Daniel C. Dennett, Consciousness Explained: For anyone wanting to get > > into contemporary philosophy, and particularly the vexed questions of > > consciousness and epistemology, this is a very good starting point. > > Dennett's position is unashamedly empirical (he identifies himself as > > a Bright and is a pal of Dawkins [though a much more incisive > > thinker]) but, more importantly, he also, unusually for a philosopher, > > writes lucidly, entertainingly and well. > > > > Mary Doria Russell, The Sparrow/Children of God: These two have to be > > read together. Wonderful science fiction, the hero being a Jesuit > > scientist whose first contact with an alien civilisation brings his > > faith into fundamental crisis. The books take a sympathetic position > > regarding rational faith in a personal God, although the author > > describes herself as an agnostic. Many issues discussed on Minds Eye > > come up here, along with complex characters, a compelling story and > > good science fiction. > > > > So, what about you? > > > > Francis > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
