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BOOKS - What are ASF members reading?

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A Year ( with swollen appendages) by Brian Eno- a diary that always makes me feel as though I never do enough with my life and always gives me new ideas...
 
Atlas79 said:
"Strange Places: a memoir of mental illness" by Will Elliott. Jaw droppingly good.

http://shop.abc.net.au/browse/product.asp?productid=166389&SearchID=1&SearchRefineID=4942639
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Thanks Atlas I have been looking for a little something extra for my wife for Xmas and this will do very nicely - cheers.

I've been doing quite a bit of bush work lately so lots of audiobook listening:
Stephen Hawking - The Universe in a Nutshell. As always leaves you with more questions - it is amazing what they can deduce and know about the small scale and large scale structure of the universe.

The Teaching Company Lecture Series: From Jesus to Constantine A History of Early Christianity.
A series of 24, 1/2 hour lectures on early Christianity. Very insightful - A historians view of the nature the early Christianities and Judaism, the construction and authors of the bible, the impact of the main players in the shaping of Christianity e.t.c. Interesting to see how the prevailing apocalyptic message preached by Jesus and his equivalents evolved into multiple strains focussed on the worship and resurrection of Jesus to the final version we know today and the events which allowed this to happen.

East of Eden: John Steinbeck.
One of the most enjoyable books I have read. I really became involved with the characters and even shed a tear when Sam Hamilton died. Great book.

iRobot - Isaac Asimov: A Sci-Fi classic.

The Great Gatsby: F Scott Fitzgerald. Well written, and enjoyable though was glad it ended.
 
Recently finished "Pasteur's Gambit; Louis Pasteur, the Australasian Rabbit Plague and a Ten Million Dollar Prize" by Stephen Dando-Collins.

I enjoyed this very much, not least because I didn't know anything about this little bit of history before I read it.

The publisher's blurb:
The incredible, previously untold story of Australia’s role in the creation of the world-famous Pasteur Institute.

n 1887, the desperate NSW Government of Sir Henry Parkes advertised an international competition for a biological cure for the rabbit plague then ravaging the farms of Australia and New Zealand. The competition, with a prize equivalent to $10 million today, would attract 1500 entries, and would generate a sensational episode in Australasian history that combined science, subterfuge, and scandal.

In Paris, famous microbiologist Dr Louis Pasteur, struggling to raise the funds to open his prestigious Pasteur Institute, saw the Australasian rabbit competition as the answer to his financial prayers. For Pasteur was convinced he had the biological remedy to the rabbit plague.

To Australia came Pasteur's dashing 25-year-old nephew, Adrien Loir, sent to prove Pasteur's remedy and return home within six weeks with the prize money. But Pasteur had not reckoned on sabotage by his greatest scientific rival, or on the self-interest of the competition's Australian and New Zealand judges, or the private agendas of local politicians. Young Loir, determined not to fail his uncle, was in for the fight of his life.

PASTEUR'S GAMBIT, featuring a cast of characters ranging from great names in science to legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt and a fast-talking Sydney larrikin, is the previously untold true story of an amazing episode in both scientific and national history.
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Shock Doctine - Naomi Klein

Very interesting books discussing the effect Milton Friedman's brand of economics had on the political & social welfare of the states who adopted his approaches. Very one-sided view of his work & the subsequent effect of the changes made but extremnely interesting and thought-provoking nonetheless.
 
The Dead Sea Scrolls, Translation and introduction by Geza Vermes.

Boy, the Essenes were a weird mob.


The man who owns the news (Rupert Murdoch), Michael Wolfe.

Know your enemy.
 
Mitch Albom [author of "Tuesdays With Morrie"] -- Just read his latest -- "Have a Little Faith". Exceptionally thought provoking - and a true story.
 
I'm reading Branson's autobiography...Losing my Virginity

Its ok, but i do like a more warts and all autobiography, Branson admits to the sex and drugs etc but never really goes into it..its an autobiography that never really get personal.

Still no where near as boring as Mandela's...Long walk to freedom. :sleeping:
 
Reading two at the moment:

The Pinstriped Prison by Lisa Pryor

and

Cityboy: Beer and Loathing in the Square Mile by Geraint Anderson.

My favourite book is appropriately my user name.
 
I recently downloaded a text to audio converter that enabled me to convert my e-books to audio books. (One that actually sounds quite life like). Very useful tool. Some of the books I highly recommend so far.

Fooled By Randomness: The Hidden Role Of Chance In Life And In The Markets

Why Government Doesnt work by Harry Browne

Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference

The Quants: How A Small Band Of Maths Wizards Took Over Wall Street And Nearly Destroyed It

Black Swan: The Impact Of The Highly Improbable

Ron Paul Revolution: History in the Making

Most of the titles are self explanatory. Links also provided. I did find Nassim Talebs books (fooled by randomness and the black swan) a little awkward to read at some stages but his message in both books highly resonated with me so I rated them highly.
 
Has anyone read any of the following:
- The Universal Principals of Succesful Trading by Brent Penfold
- Against The Gods: A Remarkable Story of Risk by Peter L. Bernstein
- The Flaw of Averages: Why We Underestimate Risk in the Face of Uncertainty by Patrick Leach

(I have ordered the first two)
 
I enjoyed Against the Gods both times I read it. Do you know when your new edition was published? Mine is 1998, so I think it's quite likely that there's an updated edition.

BTW, the subtitle is "The Remarkable Story of Risk", rather than "A Remarkable Story..." It's an intellectual history, about the development and application of quantitative methods to risk and uncertainty. If you enjoy that kind of popular mathematical /social history you might also enjoy "The Measure of Reality", by Alfred Crosby - not that you seem to be short of reading matter, but it never hurts to have some in reserve :)

Cheers,

Ghoti
 
Sorry about the typo. My bad.

My copy of "Against The Gods" hasn't arrived yet. I checked the website I purchased it from and it says it was published in 1998. Thanks for the recommendation of "The Measure of Reality", I'll add it to my list :)

Cheers.
 

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