RVF Book Club January 2014.

[Thomas the Rhymer]

What happened to Statsi?

Anyway, my next nomination for the book club is Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography, available here: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3335

If Statsi doesn't respond to this thread then maybe me or Faust can run the book club from February. I think more people will join in when they see the club is a persistent thing, for now of course it will just be a handful of people.

I'd like to encourage everyone to write down what they thought of the books in the club, even if they didn't finish it by the deadline.

 

[Statsi]

I'm struggling with the book to be honest. I'll sit down and finish it before February though. I'm happy for anyone to run the book club, so long as it's ran in a systemic and fair way. So whichever suggestion gets the most likes from participants should be taken for next month.

If anything it'd be nice to have someone mix it up and put a different spin on the book club. Maybe a more contentious book with a debate planned in club? Or a more educational text as an introduction to a field. Introductory economics books would be an interesting choice, or even a game resource with members testing the material would be awesome.

 

[Stun]

This is a great idea, gents, and motivation to start and finish a book. I'll read the Fineman book.

Thomas, I have always wanted to read about Roosevelt, but afraid I haven't been reading enough lately and would get mired in that one.

 

[Faust]

Thomas-

Have you read Theodore Roosevelt's biography before? I think we might do better, at least while we're getting this started, if we stick to books that one of us has read before.

 

[Kickb]

I'll join the club and I'll be an active participant. I'm going back to college in the Fall and this should increase a variety of skills that I have been neglecting since I dropped out about a year ago.

 

[Stun]

I'm about 40% of the way through the Feynman book, so I'm game to read the Roosevelt book as well this month.

 

[Thomas the Rhymer]

Thomas-

Have you read Theodore Roosevelt's biography before? I think we might do better, at least while we're getting this started, if we stick to books that one of us has read before.

No I haven't. I generally hate rereading books. But your suggestion is reasonable.

 

[Peregrine]

Both books are on my 2014 list. Have we decided on February's choice? I'll prioritize that one.

 

[Stun]

I vote for the Teddy Roosevelt book.

 

[Faust]

Thomas, can you read like a chapter or two of Roosevelt and tell us if you think it'll be a good fit? Teddy's a cool guy, but some of the turn of the century authors tended to drone on a bit.
I do like the fact that it's free and easily available, so if you can give us the OK we'll go with it for Feb.

 

[Peregrine]

Misread, thought it was BFranklin's autobiography. I don't think I get a vote, but I'm in favor of Feynman.

 

[Thomas the Rhymer]

Thomas, can you read like a chapter or two of Roosevelt and tell us if you think it'll be a good fit? Teddy's a cool guy, but some of the turn of the century authors tended to drone on a bit.
I do like the fact that it's free and easily available, so if you can give us the OK we'll go with it for Feb.

I'll do that tonight.

 

[Thomas the Rhymer]

Thomas, can you read like a chapter or two of Roosevelt and tell us if you think it'll be a good fit? Teddy's a cool guy, but some of the turn of the century authors tended to drone on a bit.
I do like the fact that it's free and easily available, so if you can give us the OK we'll go with it for Feb.

I'll do that tonight.

I realise now that only the first few chapters are his actual autobiography and that the rest of the book consists of political essays. I don't think it's a good nomination for the book club anymore. Let's go with Feynman.

 

[Kickb]

That's a book with a lot of personality.

He is very liberal with his exclamation points!

 

[Faust]

Statsi, would you like me to make the thread for this month's? We should probably ask different questions than the default ones, since it's not a standard fiction story.

 

[Stun]

I'm about halfway through the Feynman book, enjoying it so far but a warning: it's 100% stream-of-consciousness. I've heard better-organized thought coming from a 22-yo discussing her last visit to the nail salon. Can't wait for the section re his red-pill awakening.

 

[Architekt]

Read this over a couple of days and finished it a few days back. Pretty interesting book. Gives a bit of an insight into the beliefs and way of life back when this was written, and demonstrates how quickly political corruption can erode and destroy a state. I could talk about it more, but I'm a little stretched for time at this second

 

[Statsi]

Yeah go for it Faust. Run in your own way, just keep it systemic and open.

 

[ElJefe]

Just finished.

I like the book for its interesting (I believe) insight into the mind of a great academic.

I'm irritated Feynmann somehow thinks sophisticated prose would undermine his message. College students have better prose than this guy.

I especially liked his thoughts on the justification of science and art, and I admire his attitude towards learning. He got it: the point of learning and knowledge is not that it serves any specific purpose. It's enjoyable for its own sake, and that's what elevates us from barbarians or animals.

He really jumps around, so I found myself only skimming the passages where he got sidetracked. The book would've been a better story with more details in his private life. Everything comes out looking so damn rosy. No challenges, no character development. He's just born the way he is and nothing ever changed, he never had to really STRUGGLE. Boring.

So, 3/5.