What Book Are You Currently Reading?

The Audacity of Hope




I'm about 100 pages in, and the more I read, the more I hope that Obama is the next president of the USA.

Fred

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:


The Audacity of Hope



I'm about 100 pages in, and the more I read, the more I hope that Obama is the next president of the USA.

Fred

Fred,

I received this book for Christmass and it is sitting on the bottom of my reading list.
With all the great fictions and non-fictions available I have very little incentive to read a book written by a politician, especially when I just finished reading Jimmy Carter's latest shallow book.

Hope to hear you again soon,

Haim

This is a novel about Brian Clough's 44 days in charge of Leeds United. Suprisingly, it works very well - although I am a fan (of Leeds Utd). I can't help thinking what might have happened if he had stayed longer.

Stuart Maconie - Pies and Prejudice - a journey around the North of England . Very funny and angry. Recommended .

Glenda

quote:

Originally posted by Haim Ronen:

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:


The Audacity of Hope

I'm about 100 pages in, and the more I read, the more I hope that Obama is the next president of the USA.

Fred,

I received [Obama's The Audacity of Hope] for Christmass and it is sitting on the bottom of my reading list.
With all the great fictions and non-fictions available I have very little incentive to read a book written by a politician, especially when I just finished reading Jimmy Carter's latest shallow book.

Hope to hear you again soon,

Haim

Haim, although I can certainly understand the impulse to do so, in my view it would be a mistake to dismiss Obama as just a mere politician. He is literally a politician, yes, but in the sense of politics as defined by the late Senator Paul Wellstone:

Politics is not about power. Politics is not about money. Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and in our world. Politics is about doing well for people.

This is the kind of politician, the kind of human being, Obama is ... he's the real deal. If you are concerned about the future of the country in which you live (and, really, the world in which we all live due to the disproportionate influence of the USA), you'll want to move this book from the bottom to the top of your list. It's not just the very well written and substantive book of a politician, it's the manifesto of someone who could very well be a true leader, someone whose primary interest is bringing disparate sides together for the common good.

All best,
Fred

David Niven "The Moon's a Balloon".

This man had a fantastic life. I have just got to the end of WW2 in the book. There are some really funny scenes and a host of famous friends. He had a few discussions with Churchill, met Ian Fleming during the war and they became friends. Very rich in the people he met and the fortune of opportunity and friendship.

One of the best biographies I have read.

Milan

quote:

Originally posted by Milan:
David Niven "The Moon's a Balloon".

This man had a fantastic life. I have just got to the end of WW2 in the book. There are some really funny scenes and a host of famous friends. He had a few discussions with Churchill, met Ian Fleming during the war and they became friends. Very rich in the people he met and the fortune of opportunity and friendship.

One of the best biographies I have read.

Milan

You will no doubt enjoy 'Bring on the empty horses' Niven's second volume of his autobiography and every bit as good as the first.

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

...Politics is not about power. Politics is not about money. Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and in our world. Politics is about doing well for people.[/i]

All best,
Fred

Fred I wish your guy well.

You say that it is not about money but they tell us (the Chicago Tribune) that it takes these days $275,000 for every 24 hours of campaigning...

I hope your guy does not mortgage his ideals (like most politicians do) to raise all those millions he needs to run.

On top of being a politician's book, it is of someone writing about himself and his ideas. Not really my cup of tea.

Just imagine, Fred, how much music you can listen to instead of reading someone talking about himself.

Best regards,

Haim

quote:

Originally posted by Haim Ronen:
On top of being a politician's book, it is of someone writing about himself and his ideas. Not really my cup of tea.

Just imagine, Fred, how much music you can listen to instead of reading someone talking about himself.

But doesn't it entirely depend on which person and what ideas? And, by the way, in Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope, he is decidedly not just "talking about himself."

As far as leaving more time for music, for me, music doesn't exist in a vacuum outside the rest of life ... it is made of life, which contains books, ideas, and the people behind them. Extremely interesting to me, and it nourishes my musical world as well.

All best,
Fred

Giving up on it after 37 pages. I do not find him funny anymore.

Haim

Affluenza - by Oliver James

..."The Affluenza virus is a set of values which increase our vulnerability to psychological distress: placing a high value on acquiring money and possessions, looking good in the eyes of others and wanting to be famous. Many studies have shown that infection with the virus increases your susceptibility to the commonest mental illnesses: depression, anxiety, substance abuse and personality disorder."

I'm still trying to work out if this is another psycho babble bandwagon on which to jump, but even if it is, it also sounds a bit like a definition of HiFi upgrades!

I love this book. I'm reading it yet again.

I loved reading all the series of Dirk Bogarde's autobiography. I thought they were superbly written. When I read his biography I was bitterly disappointed to discover how much they they were 'fictionally enhanced'!

Snorre Sturlason - Heimskringla:

Bloody good read so far.

"Inside Out" Nick Mason's excellent memoir of his Pink Floyd experiences. Candid and funny.

My wonderful wife was invited to the House of lords yesterday and bought a few goodies from their little shop. She also picked this up from the Parliament bookshop (also available on Amazon!)



I thought it may be dull but so far have found it a fascinating read. Never realised our current Queen's Great Great Grandmother was Queen Victoria but hey...........

Regards

Diccus

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
Never realised our current Queen's Great Great Grandmother was Queen Victoria but hey...........

Titular heads.

I am reading Sting's autobiography "Broken Music".

Ian Rankin - The Ressurection Men.

The Old Curiosity Shop: Charles Dickens
Rotting Hill: Wyndham Lewis
JR: William Gaddis

"The Big Show" Pierre Clostermann. A Free French fighter pilot's memoir of the Second World War. Immensely gripping.