So what are you reading?

[David LaPell]

After my surgery a little more than a week ago I have been pretty much confined to a recliner so I needed to get some reading material together. Since I cannot lift more than five pounds or bend or twist at all the wife had to help so I had to be a little picky with what I wanted to read. It's all to the left of me on a small table that is the height of the arm of the recliner so I can slide the bigger books. I have my small netbook which id much smaller than a large laptop which is what I have been typing on since it doesn't hurt to have it in my lap.
I finished Legendary Lawman, the book about Jelly Bryce the other day, which is an excellent read so now I have been going through some older material. I brought down Magnum by Timothy Mullin, Burnin Powder by Douglas Wesson, No Second Place Winner by Bill Jordan, The Art of Bullet Casting, The Complete Book of Modern Handgunning by Jeff Cooper, and The Complete Guide to Handgunning by Phil Sharpe along with a few issues of Handloading and a couple other magazines. I also have The April 1936 Outdoor Life article with Doug Wesson's handgun hunts with the .357 Magnum as well as a 1959 Guns article by Skeeter Skelton. The problem is I am now bored and I can look forward to another three days in this chair until I see the doc again next week. I went out with the wife today because I can't drive and just two hours in the car getting my check and mailing out bills wiped me right out. Right now I am waiting to take another pain pill because once I take that I will fall asleep pretty fast. I take a lot of naps now just getting through the day. Anyway I have a lot of reading to do so what's on your list to read?

 

[ogilvyspecial]

I'm just getting into:
"19 with a Bullet", A South African Paratrooper in Angola,
by Granger Korff.

A close friend of mine saw action in Angola, as a "freelancer" back in 1975, before
moving on to Rhodesia so I've had an interest in that area of the world for years.

 

[Stainless44]

Not reading any gun stuff right now...though I need to put some on my list. I've got two in the lineup right now: "The Myth of Rational Markets" and "Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics".

i'll be watching this thread and making notes on some good "gun reading" material.

 

[P&R Fan]

I just read through Good Friends, Good Guns and Good Whiskey, Hoglegs, Hipshots and Jalapenos and I Remember Skeeter by the legendary Skeeter Skelton for about the 20th time. Now I'm re-reading The J.M Pyne Stories and other Selected Writings by Lucien Cary, edited by Guy Lautard. It's old stories from True Magazine from the '30s and '40s. Pyne was a fictional character bearing a close resemblance to legendary Single-Shot Rifle barrel-maker Harry Pope. Really good reading.

I'm also reading a novel by William F. Buckley, Jr. called Last Call for Blackford Oakes. It's a spy novel and kinda deep, but it's interesting.
Other than that I read and re-read lots of gun magazines that were my late Fathers and all the ones I've bought over almost 20 years. I've got thousands of 'em. And I just bought another one today.

I really should read my Bible too....maybe tomorrow.

Hope you feel better soon.
Jim

 

[Texas Star]

1.) "Dragon's Claw", a Modesty Blaise thriller by Peter O'Donell

2.) "The Evil That Men Do", by Stephen G. Michaud and Roy Hazlewood (A real life look into the minds of some vicious criminals)

3.) "Love Locked Out", a study of human sexuality in medieval times, by James Cleugh. Actually has studies from ancient Greek and Roman times to the Rennaissance.

4.) "A Time to Die", thriller by Wilbur Smith

 

[Sprefix]

The forum...........you asked.....

 

[jkc]

I am now, as usual, juggling several books at once. I just the other day concluded the Bernard Devoto edit of The Journals of Lewis and Clark, which is a "must read" for anyone interested in American history, geography, wildlife, or Indian affairs. I'm midway, about, through Mark Twain's Roughing It (his amusing account of a sojourn "out west"), and simultaneously, several books examining the Muslim religion and culture (I started through a stack of books with the most obfuscatory and apologetic first, and am progressing to the most candid, revelatory and honest, thence on to what promises to be harsh and condemning views, the latter the likely most accurate --- it's not pretty...) And, David, of probable interest to you, spread open on my kitchen island, accumulating Post-It note tags, is Rory Miller's Facing Violence, a surprisingly cerebral examination of the psychology and physiognomy of dealing with violent encounters, from a veteran CO and martial arts instructor. And, too, trying, like every other subscriber, to keep pace with each edition of The New Yorker, an informative if thankless and improbable task...

 

[ArcticFox]

In downloading books to my Kindle I saw that "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynnn was a hot best seller. It is a fast, thrilling, read about a married couple and I recommend it . Now, I'm onto the "Guns of August"...

 

[beemerrider]

As all of us are part of the "Gun culture", you owe it to yourself to read the book "Unintended Consequences" by John Ross, copyright 1996. You can find used copies on Amazon.com. They aren't cheap, but it is a fantastic book; no doubt my favorite of all the books I've ever read. I read it a second time last winter while recovering from another ankle fusion operation; I couldn't put it down.

 

[quneur]

The guy who invented lip gloss, Peter Hathaway Capstick.

 

[Gunslinger808]

Michael Chrichton's State of Fear.
Pretty good fiction that's based on the fallacy of Global warming.

 

[blujax01]

Complete Guide To Handloading by Philip B. Sharpe. 2nd Ed. 1941. After reading several comments in the reloading forum about the man's influence on the hobby, I Googled his name. I found a copy for the cost of a modern manual in supposedly "collectable" condition. Imagine my delight when an autographed copy (Keep Shooting - Phil Sharpe) showed up on my doorstep. The style of writing (... if the area the gun bug has chosen as his work space is fortunate enough to have electricity, a lamp of the so-called gooseneck type is recommended...) to his fastidious scientific method during experiments, this book is a must-have, in my opinion.

AND since it has been over 50 years past his death, the copyright has expired. If you Google the title, there are several places where it can be downloaded for free.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Berlin Noir, a compilation of three of Philip Kerrs's series about Bernie Gunther, a hardboiled private eye, set in the 1930's Berlin of the Third Reich. Bernie carries, and sometimes uses a "parabellum".

 

[S. Hammer]

Kriegsgefangener by Major Joseph H. Reus. It's an autobiography about the major being shot down in a B24 and spending a few years as a P.O.W. in Germany.

 

[Muddyboot]

Voodoo River and all the other Elvis Cole and Pike novel's by Robert Crais....

 

[Bullet Bob]

"The Violinist's Thumb" by Sam Kean about DNA - the development of the science that has detected it and the current knowledge. Very, very entertaining and fascinating.

 

[ordy]

Nelson Demille is my favorite autor. "Cathedral" or "Charm School" might be a good place to start. Stephen Hunter is pretty good. "I Sniper" is a good read, among others. Get well soon.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Why are you reading when you can be watching daytime TV????

 

[Dennis The B]

Why are you reading when you can be watching daytime TV????

As always, Caj, adding class to the discussion.

 

[Dennis The B]

Just finished "The Last Man" latest Vince Flynn novel; "World Without End", by Ken Follett; "Killing Kennedy", by Bill O'Reilly.

Working on "Theodore and Woodrow, by Judge Andrew Napolitano.

In the queue: "Thomas Jefferson - The Art of Power", by Jon Meacham; "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco; "Fall of Giants", by Ken Follett; and a re-read of "Atlas Shrugged", by Ayn Rand.

 

[Joewisc]

"The March of Folly" by Barbara Tuchman, a great historian. A fascinating read about the political mistakes made from the Trojan War to the Vietnam War.

"The Real Lincoln" and "Lincoln Unmasked" by Tom Di Lorenzo. An accurate picture of "Dishonest Abe."

John Lott's books on the bias against guns. Dry and statistical but he makes a solid case that there's less crime when there are more firearms in society.

"Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand, the author of "Seabiscuit." The unforgettable story of Louie Zamperini who survived harrowing experiences during WWII (a movie is in the works). Zamp is still alive today, around 94 years old. (a must read for military vets like myself).

 

[Marshwheeling]

Why are you reading when you can be watching daytime TV????

We could do that, but it would be wrong, that's for sure.

 

[Joewisc]

Just finished "The Last Man" latest Vince Flynn novel; "World Without End", by Ken Follett; "Killing Kennedy", by Bill O'Reilly.

Working on "Theodore and Woodrow, by Judge Andrew Napolitano.

In the queue: "Thomas Jefferson - The Art of Power", by Jon Meacham; "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco; "Fall of Giants", by Ken Follett; and a re-read of "Atlas Shrugged", by Ayn Rand.

Interesting list. I tried Eco but couldn't get through Foucault's Pendulum. Rand is tough sledding but sometimes worth the effort. I've read practically all of Follett's books, starting with The Eye of the Needle. His best was The Pillars of the Earth. I thought O'Reilly's Lincoln was terribly flawed and not scholarly at all. Check out Tom Di Lorenzo's books on Lincoln for a much more persuasive look at the 16th President and why he deserves to be ranked at the bottom the list of the greatest presidents.

 

[CW Spook]

I've got two or three I'm reading currently on my Nook; "The Journals of Lewis & Clark", Bruce Catton's "Glory Road", and "Molotov's Magic Lantern" by Rachael Polonsky, a quirky book on Russian history.

 

[silentflyer]

"James Monroe, The Last Founding Father" by Harlow Unger a pre Tea Party Patriot, and the real deal.

 

[longranger]

Unbroken,true story of Louie Zampini,Undaunted Courage,Lewis and Clark-Age of Wonder,story of all the great scientist,Voltare,Humphrey and others. Might as well learn a little history while on the mend.

 

[bobcat]

I'm finishing up "A Dawn like Thunder" by Robert J. Mrazek, the story of Torpedo Squadron 8, yet another story of unparalled courage during WW II. I've read "Unbroken", wow! I have "Hubris" a bigraphy of Hitler in que, as well as Walter Isaacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin. I'm listening to "American Sniper" on my IPOD, I'm always reading. Take care...

 

[amazingflapjack]

now finishing "a wanted man" by Lee Child (Jack Reacher)
Also like Nelson DeMille, but would recommend "Night Fall" or "The Lion's Game."

 

[Bat Guano]

Just finished "The Revenge of Conscience" by Budziszewski. Good book but still can't pronounce the author's name...

Am about halfway through Churchill's "History of WWII"--second time around. Erasmus' "In Praise of "Folly" is at my elbow to start...

Tried to slog my way through Camus' "The Rebel" but almost upchucked. Someone once said of a book that "It should not be set down lightly but flung across the room with great force". I would like to report that that is not only true but also made me feel much better, too.

Stephen Hunter's "Point Blank" is inbound as we speak. I think I will read the whole series.

Got a copy of Sharpe's book for Christmas, 1960. Somewhat dated but still good. I had it down to check something out yesterday.

 

[jkc]

Why are you reading when you can be watching daytime TV????

I think that my unsuccessful lobotomy explains this...