Whatcha reading?
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Silent Majority
- Singer-Songwriter Nancy
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Re: Whatcha reading?
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
- Dr. Medulla
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Re: Whatcha reading?
Have you ever read Daniel Quinn's Ishmael, a novel that questions what Quinn regards as the myth of civilization? It's, fundamentally, an argument hostile to progress (that is, ever-expanding material acquisition) and valourizes a more "primitive" lifestyle.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 4:56pmSapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Silent Majority
- Singer-Songwriter Nancy
- Posts: 18734
- Joined: 10 Nov 2008, 8:28pm
- Location: South Londoner in the Midlands.
Re: Whatcha reading?
No, but it sounds up my boulevard.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:27pmHave you ever read Daniel Quinn's Ishmael, a novel that questions what Quinn regards as the myth of civilization? It's, fundamentally, an argument hostile to progress (that is, ever-expanding material acquisition) and valourizes a more "primitive" lifestyle.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 4:56pmSapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
- Dr. Medulla
- Atheistic Epileptic
- Posts: 116570
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
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Re: Whatcha reading?
Yeah, I suspect you'd find the critique pretty nutritious.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:36pmNo, but it sounds up my boulevard.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:27pmHave you ever read Daniel Quinn's Ishmael, a novel that questions what Quinn regards as the myth of civilization? It's, fundamentally, an argument hostile to progress (that is, ever-expanding material acquisition) and valourizes a more "primitive" lifestyle.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 4:56pmSapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
Re: Whatcha reading?
I read it back in '01 and many years later, I recall that I found some parallels when I started reading Ernest Becker's work, strangely enough.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:52pmYeah, I suspect you'd find the critique pretty nutritious.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:36pmNo, but it sounds up my boulevard.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:27pmHave you ever read Daniel Quinn's Ishmael, a novel that questions what Quinn regards as the myth of civilization? It's, fundamentally, an argument hostile to progress (that is, ever-expanding material acquisition) and valourizes a more "primitive" lifestyle.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 4:56pmSapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc
- Dr. Medulla
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Re: Whatcha reading?
I don't know him. Can you specify or point to particular works?Kory wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 9:28pmI read it back in '01 and many years later, I recall that I found some parallels when I started reading Ernest Becker's work, strangely enough.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:52pmYeah, I suspect you'd find the critique pretty nutritious.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:36pmNo, but it sounds up my boulevard.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:27pmHave you ever read Daniel Quinn's Ishmael, a novel that questions what Quinn regards as the myth of civilization? It's, fundamentally, an argument hostile to progress (that is, ever-expanding material acquisition) and valourizes a more "primitive" lifestyle.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 4:56pmSapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
Re: Whatcha reading?
Everyone is raving about this book, but I trust your assessment more. Now I'm glad I won't have to read it and I can go back to my trashy mysteries.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 4:56pmSapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
Got a Rake? Sure!
IMCT: Inane Middle-Class Twats - Dr. M
" *sigh* it's right when they throw the penis pump out the window." -Hoy
IMCT: Inane Middle-Class Twats - Dr. M
" *sigh* it's right when they throw the penis pump out the window." -Hoy
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Silent Majority
- Singer-Songwriter Nancy
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Re: Whatcha reading?
The Beastie Boys book is far more fulfilling.JennyB wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 10:32amEveryone is raving about this book, but I trust your assessment more. Now I'm glad I won't have to read it and I can go back to my trashy mysteries.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 4:56pmSapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
Re: Whatcha reading?
For sure.Silent Majority wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 11:48amThe Beastie Boys book is far more fulfilling.JennyB wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 10:32amEveryone is raving about this book, but I trust your assessment more. Now I'm glad I won't have to read it and I can go back to my trashy mysteries.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 4:56pmSapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
Got a Rake? Sure!
IMCT: Inane Middle-Class Twats - Dr. M
" *sigh* it's right when they throw the penis pump out the window." -Hoy
IMCT: Inane Middle-Class Twats - Dr. M
" *sigh* it's right when they throw the penis pump out the window." -Hoy
Re: Whatcha reading?
The Denial of Death is the famous one, though Escape from Evil is where I saw the parallels. I don't think you'd be interested though—he's very Freudian.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 9:32pmI don't know him. Can you specify or point to particular works?Kory wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 9:28pmI read it back in '01 and many years later, I recall that I found some parallels when I started reading Ernest Becker's work, strangely enough.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:52pmYeah, I suspect you'd find the critique pretty nutritious.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:36pmNo, but it sounds up my boulevard.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 5:27pm
Have you ever read Daniel Quinn's Ishmael, a novel that questions what Quinn regards as the myth of civilization? It's, fundamentally, an argument hostile to progress (that is, ever-expanding material acquisition) and valourizes a more "primitive" lifestyle.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc
- Dr. Medulla
- Atheistic Epileptic
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Re: Whatcha reading?
I'll make a note of the titles, but, yeah, doesn't sound like it's really up my alley.Kory wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 3:22pmThe Denial of Death is the famous one, though Escape from Evil is where I saw the parallels. I don't think you'd be interested though—he's very Freudian.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 9:32pmI don't know him. Can you specify or point to particular works?Kory wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 9:28pmI read it back in '01 and many years later, I recall that I found some parallels when I started reading Ernest Becker's work, strangely enough.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Silent Majority
- Singer-Songwriter Nancy
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- Joined: 10 Nov 2008, 8:28pm
- Location: South Londoner in the Midlands.
Re: Whatcha reading?
I loved the Beastie Boys book. As writers, they're good musicians but the passion and the story and the growth that their music career took on is all in there and their obvious love of Yauch is a highlight. I'm on a real early hip hop kick now.JennyB wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 2:02pmFor sure.Silent Majority wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 11:48amThe Beastie Boys book is far more fulfilling.JennyB wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 10:32amEveryone is raving about this book, but I trust your assessment more. Now I'm glad I won't have to read it and I can go back to my trashy mysteries.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 4:56pmSapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
Re: Whatcha reading?
It was truly heartwarming. I'm getting the little guy into the BBs now. He keeps asking me which ones are from Brooklyn.Silent Majority wrote: ↑08 Dec 2018, 6:08amI loved the Beastie Boys book. As writers, they're good musicians but the passion and the story and the growth that their music career took on is all in there and their obvious love of Yauch is a highlight. I'm on a real early hip hop kick now.JennyB wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 2:02pmFor sure.Silent Majority wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 11:48amThe Beastie Boys book is far more fulfilling.JennyB wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 10:32amEveryone is raving about this book, but I trust your assessment more. Now I'm glad I won't have to read it and I can go back to my trashy mysteries.Silent Majority wrote: ↑21 Nov 2018, 4:56pmSapiens by Yuval Noah Hari. Audiobook. I remember seeing every slim, good looking middle class twenty something guy in black glasses on every train reading this and knew I'd basically enjoy the stupid looking book. It's pretty good in the prehistory stuff, in the areas I'm least informed in, but smug, reductionist and elitist elsewhere. I like his theory that we all started working a lot harder as we moved from foraging to farming. I'm also impressed with the arrogant hubris of the project. Giving a history of the human race was bound to reveal the writer's pretty conventional biases when it came down to what to put in and what to leave out.
Got a Rake? Sure!
IMCT: Inane Middle-Class Twats - Dr. M
" *sigh* it's right when they throw the penis pump out the window." -Hoy
IMCT: Inane Middle-Class Twats - Dr. M
" *sigh* it's right when they throw the penis pump out the window." -Hoy
-
Silent Majority
- Singer-Songwriter Nancy
- Posts: 18734
- Joined: 10 Nov 2008, 8:28pm
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Re: Whatcha reading?
Millard Fillmore - Paul Finkelman. Paul Finkelman's book sings with a breezy contempt for Fillmore, comparing him with Lincoln so as not to excuse Millard's bigotry as "of its time."Just a book built on the case that this racist weakling was a piece of shit. Now straight onto a book about Franklin Pierce.
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Re: Whatcha reading?
The truly insane part of your project is well underway.Silent Majority wrote: ↑18 Dec 2018, 6:05amMillard Fillmore - Paul Finkelman. Paul Finkelman's book sings with a breezy contempt for Fillmore, comparing him with Lincoln so as not to excuse Millard's bigotry as "of its time."Just a book built on the case that this racist weakling was a piece of shit. Now straight onto a book about Franklin Pierce.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft