What book are you reading right now?

For the second time.

So far, so wonderful...

Remaining in an Irish mood (after James Joyce's "Dubliners").

The story of our most beloved entertainers:

Ditto...

And now for something completely different:

Well up to standard.

steve

About to start it tonight.

I have been lucky enough to climb with Martin both in Scotland and in the Himalaya so I may be biased, but this is a well written insight into the world of a truly iconic climber and mountain guide. 

The latest Murakami.

Nothing happens!

If you love the beauty of cold places, this is the book for you. It certainly is for me:

Starting with the story, skipping the introduction.

More a fan of the author than football per se, but an enthralling read

I hope the cover of the book isn't covered in solid rocket fuel.

No - just pure hydrogen...

Viv's fascinating - and occasionally disconcerting - account of her life and music:

My father in law was one of those who heard the SOS from Hindenburg. He was a radio operator on a merchant vessel coming in NYC.

I've just read '10 Billion' by Professor Stephen Emmott.

I know it has been criticised in some quarters for scaremongering and 'unscientific exaggeration', but it is nonetheless a thought provoking read. It is very short, but it forecasts doom for our planet, driven by exponential population growth and the effects we are all having on global warming and the consequences thereof.

Just started this:

steve

I think as a polemic or a warning - in the tradition of books like Gordon Rattray Taylor's The Doomsday Book - it's fine but it seems to be too ridden with unverified assertion and wild extrapolation to be taken entirely seriously as a work of science. Quite a good (ie compelling) read though.

I'm reading and "Idiot's Guide" to Canadian history. As a recent, but permanent, Canuck, (7+ years and counting) I felt the need to get quickly up to speed. A few quick takeaways -

• The French and British went at it pretty solidly for a long time. Helps explain the current attitudes in some quarters. Although victories and defeats were randomly distributed between these two groups, the First Nations were always the losers.
• The US have long been confused by the notion that Canadians don't secretly, nor desperately, want to be Americans. George Washington was one of the most surprised and confused by this notion.
• British Columbia, where I now reside was until quite recently just as likely to have become a state of the USA, joining Washington and Alaska and isolating Canada from the Pacific Coast.
• The maritime provinces have always viewed themselves somewhat differently to the rest of Canada. This likely continues to this day.
• The popular notion that Canada was a safe haven for escaping US slaves needs to be viewed with some suspicion. Legally a haven; socially and politically, not so much, perhaps. Still, better than the alternative.

Starting tonight.

When the Germans were retreating from countries they had occupied during WW2, many of the soldiers were surprised that the locals were glad to see the back of them.

Kind of similar to your notion above.  But I think you will find that Americans believe that all nations want to be Americans and cannot believe differently.

Sort of explains their foreign policy?