rgraham666
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2004
- Posts
- 43,689
I figure it's time I started a thread. I've been here a couple of months and it's past time I started something.
One thing I've always asked people when I'm getting to know them is what books they've read. I feel it gives me insight to their character.
I'll start.
Books that influenced me the most.
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
Don't be put off by the authour or genre. And forget the movie. The movie blew chunks big time.
But the book was something else. Under all the SF stuff was a very interesting tract on political philosophy. The most important things I took away from this book were that authourity and responsibility must always be equal. And that power is best wielded by the unselfish.
Voltaire's Bastards - The Dictatorship of Reason in the West by John Ralston Saul
This book can best be described as heretical. We in the West worship the idea of Reason. This book shows how Reason alone, without the other human traits, has become a straitjacket that limits our ability to think and is actually weakening our society.
Being a bit of a military history buff, I especially enjoyed the chapters, 'Learning How to Organise Death' and 'Persistent Continuity at the Heart of Power', which showed how Reason increased the frequency and destuctiveness of war instead of limiting as was hoped.
The chapters 'The Hijacking of Capitalism' and 'The Miracle of The Loaves' were about modern commerce and how Reason alone was as destructive an influence here as it was in warfare.
Most people I know hate this book. But I think that it does a very good job of explaining why we have so many difficulties solving our problems here in the West.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
As I mentioned I'm a military buff. This book is the best, as far as I'm concerned, on waging war. Sure, it was written 2,500 years ago, but only the tools of war have changed, not the nature of war itself.
What I like best is that it never says "This is what you must do." It almost always speaks in metaphors.
Eg. "For the impact of armed forces to be like stones thrown on eggs is a matter of emptiness and fullness." I interpret this as it being better to attack weakness rather than strength, which is the opposite on modern military strategy. A strategy failing miserably in my opinion.
And Sun Tzu always makes it clear that it is better to defeat your opponent than fight him. A thought many people cannot understand.
Books I never get tired of reading.
Neuromancer by William Gibson
The seminal cyberpunk novel. It's dark and swift, just the way I like it.
At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft
You never actually see anything in this novel, which is just as well. Just the hints given are quite enough to scare you out of your pants.
And of course, the Lord of the Rings. no explanation necessary.
So? What do my fellow Lits read?
One thing I've always asked people when I'm getting to know them is what books they've read. I feel it gives me insight to their character.
I'll start.
Books that influenced me the most.
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
Don't be put off by the authour or genre. And forget the movie. The movie blew chunks big time.
But the book was something else. Under all the SF stuff was a very interesting tract on political philosophy. The most important things I took away from this book were that authourity and responsibility must always be equal. And that power is best wielded by the unselfish.
Voltaire's Bastards - The Dictatorship of Reason in the West by John Ralston Saul
This book can best be described as heretical. We in the West worship the idea of Reason. This book shows how Reason alone, without the other human traits, has become a straitjacket that limits our ability to think and is actually weakening our society.
Being a bit of a military history buff, I especially enjoyed the chapters, 'Learning How to Organise Death' and 'Persistent Continuity at the Heart of Power', which showed how Reason increased the frequency and destuctiveness of war instead of limiting as was hoped.
The chapters 'The Hijacking of Capitalism' and 'The Miracle of The Loaves' were about modern commerce and how Reason alone was as destructive an influence here as it was in warfare.
Most people I know hate this book. But I think that it does a very good job of explaining why we have so many difficulties solving our problems here in the West.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
As I mentioned I'm a military buff. This book is the best, as far as I'm concerned, on waging war. Sure, it was written 2,500 years ago, but only the tools of war have changed, not the nature of war itself.
What I like best is that it never says "This is what you must do." It almost always speaks in metaphors.
Eg. "For the impact of armed forces to be like stones thrown on eggs is a matter of emptiness and fullness." I interpret this as it being better to attack weakness rather than strength, which is the opposite on modern military strategy. A strategy failing miserably in my opinion.
And Sun Tzu always makes it clear that it is better to defeat your opponent than fight him. A thought many people cannot understand.
Books I never get tired of reading.
Neuromancer by William Gibson
The seminal cyberpunk novel. It's dark and swift, just the way I like it.
At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft
You never actually see anything in this novel, which is just as well. Just the hints given are quite enough to scare you out of your pants.
And of course, the Lord of the Rings. no explanation necessary.
So? What do my fellow Lits read?
