What are you currently reading?

[Stürmisch Bewegt]

I cannot read and simultaneously listen to music. I must give my full attention to either one or the other. This is a real killer of both time and opportunity.

I can do it, but am quite aware that both suffer from such foolish multi-tasking.  I had a roommate once decades ago; he was training to be an X-Ray Technician.  He claimed that to study he needed to have the radio AND TV on.  (On reflection, I think they must have served to numb the pain of studying for him, which meant he wasn't studying at all).  He failed his licensing exam 3X, and so was barred from trying that test ever again.  Last I knew he was selling fire extinguishers...

[aligreto]

I can do it, but am quite aware that both suffer from such foolish multi-tasking.  I had a roommate once decades ago; he was training to be an X-Ray Technician.  He claimed that to study he needed to have the radio AND TV on.  (On reflection, I think they must have served to numb the pain of studying for him, which meant he wasn't studying at all).  He failed his licensing exam 3X, and so was barred from trying that test ever again.  Last I knew he was selling fire extinguishers...

It is about concentration, isn't it  Some have greater powers than others. The above is a sorry tale though.

[Stürmisch Bewegt]

This afternoon I began - and with singular determination to complete in full - reading David Cairns' monumental two-vol. biography of Hector Berlioz, my hero and idol.  And no, Symphonie Fantastique will not be on in the background...nor the Roman Carnival Overture...

[aligreto]

This afternoon I began - and with singular determination to complete in full - reading David Cairns' monumental two-vol. biography of Hector Berlioz, my hero and idol.  And no, Symphonie Fantastique will not be on in the background...nor the Roman Carnival Overture...

Interesting. I would be interested in your thoughts when you eventually finish it.

[SonicMan46]

Issac's Storm (2011) by Erik Larson - about the early September 1900 'hurricane' that directly hit Galveston, TX causing over $100 billion dollars damage, adjusted to 2010 inflation and likely at least 8,000 deaths, the most deadliest natural disaster in USA history (see pic below, same link as in the quote). The book's name refers to Issac Cline, chief National Weather Bureau meteorologist in Galveston at the time of the storm - he lost his pregnant wife and almost one of his three children; in his name, the National Weather Service offers the Isaac M. Cline Award as its highest honor.

The Eagle's Claw (2021) by Jeff Shaara - an historic 'novel' about the Battle of Midway in early June, 1941 between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the United States early in WW II - one of the greatest sea battles of all time, plus the first that involved carrier based aircraft doing all of the fighting.  Dave

More than $34 million in damage occurred throughout the United States, with about $30 million in Galveston County, Texas, alone. If a similar storm struck in 2010, damage would total approximately $104.33 billion (2010 USD), based on normalization. In comparison, the costliest United States hurricanes – Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017 – both caused about $125 billion in damage. (Source)

The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place on 4–7 June 1942, six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea. The U.S. Navy under Admirals Chester W. Nimitz, Frank J. Fletcher, and Raymond A. Spruance defeated an attacking fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy under Admirals Isoroku Yamamoto, Chūichi Nagumo, and Nobutake Kondō near Midway Atoll, inflicting devastating damage on the Japanese fleet that rendered their aircraft carriers irreparable. Military historian John Keegan called it "the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare", while naval historian Craig Symonds called it "one of the most consequential naval engagements in world history, ranking alongside Salamis, Trafalgar, and Tsushima Strait, as both tactically decisive and strategically influential". (Link above)

   

[LKB]

Issac's Storm (2011) by Erik Larson - about the early September 1900 'hurricane' that directly hit Galveston, TX causing over $100 billion dollars damage, adjusted to 2010 inflation and likely at least 8,000 deaths, the most deadliest natural disaster in USA history (see pic below, same link as in the quote). The book's name refers to Issac Cline, chief National Weather Bureau meteorologist in Galveston at the time of the storm - he lost his pregnant wife and almost one of his three children; in his name, the National Weather Service offers the Isaac M. Cline Award as its highest honor.

The Eagle's Claw (2021) by Jeff Shaara - an historic 'novel' about the Battle of Midway in early June, 1941 between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the United States early in WW II - one of the greatest sea battles of all time, plus the first that involved carrier based aircraft doing all of the fighting.  Dave

   

A recommendation for anyone interested in the Battle of Midway who hasn't already had a crack at it:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shattered_Sword

[Brian]

I can't believe Jeff Shaara is still doing his thing writing novels about battles after something like 20 years - and all because his dad did it. Michael Shaara's novel about Gettysburg was remarkable, and then Jeff made it a trilogy about the Civil War. I actually met Jeff and got a book signed at Gettysburg in like 2003. Lost track about that time, however (he was in the middle of a series about the Revolution). Guess he is just doing all of America's wars.

[vers la flamme]

I finished Embers. I enjoyed it, though I found the resolution a bit anticlimactic—I guess that's the point.

Now reading Stefan Zweig's Chess Story



So far, so good. A short book and so far an easy read, but Zweig's language is vivid.

[aligreto]

Orwell: Keep the Aspidistra Flying





This is the story of a man, Gordon Comstock, who comes from an impoverished middle class English family. His problem is that the family motto, even in their penury, was to "Make Good" by getting a "good" job". Comstock's main ambition in life is to get out of the money-worship cycle. He consciously walks out of two "good" jobs as a result of his principles and ends up as a lowly paid assistant in a book shop while he harbours ambitions to be a poet. He becomes that starving Poet in the garret.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Some basic Stoicism ...

Epictetus:  The Enchiridion

Marcus Aurelius:  Meditations, (Introduction by Gregory Hays)

My bibles.

[vers la flamme]

I finished Chess Story. That was surprisingly really good! I am very impressed with Zweig's writing. Going to try and read more of his novellas.

My bibles.

I read Meditations back in high school, but I don't remember much of it. Time for a reread; I am interested in stoicism. Never read any Epictetus.

[Artem]

I finished Embers. I enjoyed it, though I found the resolution a bit anticlimactic—I guess that's the point.

That was my feeling too. The ending felt like he just needed to finish it quick and move on to something else.

[vandermolen]

My daughter gave me this for Father's Day:

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

My daughter gave me this for Father's Day:

Happy Father's Day, Jeffrey. That's a nice book by great author!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I finished Chess Story. That was surprisingly really good! I am very impressed with Zweig's writing. Going to try and read more of his novellas.

I read Meditations back in high school, but I don't remember much of it. Time for a reread; I am interested in stoicism. Never read any Epictetus.

Epictetus is my favorite Stoic philosopher.  He and Michel Montaigne have provided me with solace and hope throughout my life. William Irvin's works from Oxford University Press explain and discuss core issues in Stoicism very well. The books are highly accessible and often entertaining, and they are well-reputed in populace, as well as academics.

[vers la flamme]

Started this today:



Kitchen, by Banana Yoshimoto. I must admit, it's way, way better than I was expecting. A very visceral illustration of grief, from the perspective of a young woman. I'm impressed with Ms. Yoshimoto's writing and would love to read more. I'm about halfway done with this one.

Epictetus is my favorite Stoic philosopher.  He and Michel Montaigne have provided me with solace and hope throughout my life. William Irvin's works from Oxford University Press explain and discuss core issues in Stoicism very well. The books are highly accessible and often entertaining, and they are well-reputed in populace, as well as academics.

Thanks, man. I will have to put both William Irvine and Epictetus himself on the list, in addition to revisiting Marcus Aurelius.

[vandermolen]

Happy Father's Day, Jeffrey. That's a nice book by great author!

Thank you very much Manabu!
I've just about finished the first essay which I enjoyed reading. It confirms what I'd always believed about Italian Fascism - its lack of ideology and interest in achieving power by whatever method.

I love your new Avatar by the way!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Started this today:



Kitchen, by Banana Yoshimoto. I must admit, it's way, way better than I was expecting. A very visceral illustration of grief, from the perspective of a young woman. I'm impressed with Ms. Yoshimoto's writing and would love to read more. I'm about halfway done with this one.

I read the book right after the publication when I was about your age. I am delighted to  see that you like the book. I remember that my friend, literary major student at a prestigious university (alma mater of H Murakami), and I positively discussed about the book several times. I should re-read it soon. Her father is a well-known social critic/philosopher Ryumei Yoshimoto, and her sister is a cartoonist Yoiko Haruno.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Thank you very much Manabu!
I've just about finished the first essay which I enjoyed reading. It confirms what I'd always believed about Italian Fascism - its lack of ideology and interest in achieving power by whatever method.

I love your new Avatar by the way!

Sounds fascinating! For my job, I partly work on the characteristics and measurements of authoritarian personalities.

[vandermolen]

Sounds fascinating! For my job, I partly work on the characteristics and measurements of authoritarian personalities.

How very interesting!
I've worked with a few of those in my time - not a pleasant experience.
I think that Godzilla definitely has an authoritarian personality