What are you currently reading?

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Gordon

Pigeon
Orthodox Inquirer
Went on a future dystopian binge and got around to 1984, Brave New World and Animal Farm... 1984 is my favorite of the 3. Finally understand where the "orange man bad" and sheep memes originated.

Also - On the Acquisition Of The Holy Spirit by St. Seraphim of Sarov and The Orthodox Veneration of Mary by St. John Maximovitch. Got so much out of them both.

I love the concept of trading in virtue. It stands in direct opposition to the earthly rich and powerful, who's greed and lust can never be satiated. Where as the acquisition of The Holy Spirit is fulfilling, abundant and inexhaustible. The more you add to the bank the more you obtain. Same things goes when you do good, not for good itself, but for the profit derived from it, the gifts of The Holy Spirit. The spring of water leaping up to eternal life in John 4:13.

Jay Dyers book on meta-narratives is also very good. The chapter on Egyptian gods is very interesting - isis, apophis and osiris. I searched the acronym IAO and one of the first things that popped up was the "Information Awareness Office" established by DARPA, who's official seal features the pyramid with the all seeing eye, with its vision of light directed to the earth. Isn't mentioned in the book but I found it a little surprising how open they are with their degen schemes.

Currently reading "Ideas have consequences" by Richard Weaver. Got some good notes out of it so far. Was highly recommended by Ft Steven Allen from his 'Orthodox survival course.' It's a good explanation of the decline, accelerated by the rise nominalism.
 
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rodion

Robin
Orthodox
“The place of Blessed Augustine in the Orthodox Church” was a very good read. I liked the emphasis on the piety and love for Christ that is apparent in all of St Augustine’s writings that all the Holy Fathers share and that it was always acknowledged in the east despite some of his over-emphases that sadly lead to consequences never intended by the saint.

A good read for converts with a tendency toward anti-westernism. The orthodox path is the royal path, it is discerning and not knee jerk or condemning.

I’ve also started reading Confessions as a result
 
Celibate Warrior21

Celibate Warrior21

 
Banned
Other Christian
I recently started re reading - ' The Way of the Superior Man', by David Deida on Kindle.

Looking back I always thought this book was written by some New Age dude who happens to do A LOT of Yoga. lol....Yep, that's definitely the vibe I'm getting from it.

Anyone here read this book in the past? What do you guys think?
 
R

rodion

Robin
Orthodox
Celibate Warrior21 said:
I recently started re reading - ' The Way of the Superior Man', by David Deida on Kindle.

Looking back I always thought this book was written by some New Age dude who happens to do A LOT of Yoga. lol....Yep, that's definitely the vibe I'm getting from it.

Anyone here read this book in the past? What do you guys think?
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I think he touches on some truths about the dynamic between men and women, but these truths are cloaked by pages and pages of gayness
 
B

BasilSeal

Kingfisher
Trad Catholic
Gold Member
I wanted to like the book No Apologies by Anthony Esolen, since it had been getting good press, but it was pretty average. There really wasn't a lot in it that I found particularly deep or illuminating on the topic of the importance of men and masculinity. I guess if you've never given the topic any thought, it might hold your interest longer than it did for me.
 
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Jiminique

Chicken
Catholic
I want to thank whoever recommended Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series on this thread a few years ago. The first two in particular (First Man in Rome and The Grass Crown) are the most exciting and realistic feeling books about ancient Rome I've ever read. The sharply gendered cast are an absolute treat.

I'm currently reading the plays of Arthur Miller. His characters' ever-skirmishing dialogue really flows through the pages. There's some underrated gems among the famous ones (like Incident at Vichy or After The Fall) but my favourite is the Crucible. The strength of the writing alone makes it a classic, but it's more than that.

I knew about the basic story, and how its McCarthy era motivations have an inverted parallel with our current times, before I started, but still found it unnervingly vivid.

From his annotations:

"At this writing, only England has held back before the temptations of contemporary diabolism. In Communist countries, all resistance of any import is linked to the totally malign capitalist Succubi, and in America anyone not reactionary is open to the charge of alliance with the red hell.

Political opposition, thereby, is given an inhumane overlay which then justifies the abrogation of all normally applied customs of civilized intercourse. A political purity is equated with moral right, and opposition to it with diabolical malevolence.

Once such an equation is effectively made, society becomes a congerie of plots and counterplots, and the main role of government changes from that of the arbiter to that of the scourge of God.

The results of this process are no different now than ever, excepting perhaps their degree of cruelty. Normally the actions and deeds of a man were all that society felt fit to judge. The secret intent of an action was left to ministers, priests and rabbis to deal with.

To diabolism risen, however, actions are the least important manifests of the true nature of a man."
 
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JGB

Sparrow
Orthodox
I've been reading Watership Down for a few days now. It's an enjoyable read, aside from some sun god cosmology that the rabbits seem to believe in one of the early chapters. Because of that specifically I can't recommend it, but it does get recommended in certain circles, so I figured I'd throw in my two cents. Enjoyable read otherwise, so far.
 
Bizet

Bizet

Woodpecker
Other Christian
The Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum

I never watched the Matt Damon Bourne films, so I knew very little about this book before I picked it up. I have to say, I'm really enjoying it so far - well written with very little wokeness.
 
A

Arturo80

Sparrow
Orthodox
rodion said:
Without spoiling anything, that book consolidated my opinion of him as a bit of a weirdo
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One way of describing him

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Iacobus

Iacobus

Robin
Orthodox
Benjamin Cooper said:
It by Stephen King :)
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Tried reading this recently, couldn't finish it ultimately. He definitely had a knack for latching onto those things from our childhood that always mysteriously hinted of danger like storm drains, which is brilliant in a way. But it was way too meandering & used the same narrative tricks over and over, and that's without even getting into the super weird/degenerate aspects.

The Stand is a pretty based book though IMO & reflects a belief in genuine good & evil. I also enjoyed his book on the JFK assassination despite him endorsing the Oswald theory.
 
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Twigg

Sparrow
Orthodox
Can anyone recommend any good Sci-fi or Fantasy with good moral themes. I’ve already read Lord of the rings. But was wondering if there was any other fantasy out there by Christian writers. I’ve been looking into Vox day series but don’t know enough about it yet.
 
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