I've been thinking about picking up Guns Germs n Steel, but the impression I've got from a few folks is that it's kind of outdated/too general and basically a bit too "pop history." Is that accurate? If so, is there something better to pick up in the same vein?
I don't know why it would be outdated. It is fairly general, as he is trying to describe the major sweep of civilization from very early times. It is more of the "why" of history, not the how.
he's not the first guy to try and answer the questions he poses
there are certainly plenty of critiques one could make about it but it's still worth reading if you don't want to jump into about twenty different academic disciplines
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FandyienBut Otto, what about us? Registered Userregular
edited March 2010
Readin' Ciaphas Cain, Hero of the Imperium right now
I read too much fantasy. I need some nonfiction in my life. What are some good ones my library is likely to have? I added Charlie Wilson's War and Lost City of Z from the last page. Anything science, history, or both. I also have Freakonomics on deck at home, I like stuff like that, just generally interesting analytical or investigation stuff.
Check out Carl Sagan if you're interested in science.
I've read 1 or 2 of his, a long time ago. Demon-Haunted World (very good) and something else I can't remember.
I read too much fantasy. I need some nonfiction in my life. What are some good ones my library is likely to have? I added Charlie Wilson's War and Lost City of Z from the last page. Anything science, history, or both. I also have Freakonomics on deck at home, I like stuff like that, just generally interesting analytical or investigation stuff.
Check out Carl Sagan if you're interested in science.
I've read 1 or 2 of his, a long time ago. Demon-Haunted World (very good) and something else I can't remember.
Cosmos is the one most people have read.
hmmmmmm I think I am going to check out my half price books for some Sagan, I've been meaning to read Cosmos or Pale Blue Dot for awhile now
I just read A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor. Has anyone else read it? Is this an argument to seek salvation through Jesus because someone can destroy the life you've constructed for yourself on a whim?
I've been thinking about picking up Guns Germs n Steel, but the impression I've got from a few folks is that it's kind of outdated/too general and basically a bit too "pop history." Is that accurate? If so, is there something better to pick up in the same vein?
It's definitively on the "pop history" side. He greatly simplifies historical processes and ignores examples which run counter to his arguments. But it's well written and worth reading, as long as you keep in mind that it's just a theory.
So I picked up House of Leaves a couple weeks ago, inching my way through it when I can, which, sadly is usually between the hours of 12 and 3 in the morning.
The more I do this the more irrationally paranoid and edgy I feel, and I can't sleep.
I'm liking this book.
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Bloods EndBlade of TyshallePunch dimensionRegistered Userregular
A dream of mine is to go into a Faulkner class on campus and then the second the teacher says, "Faulkner," I scream "Faulkner, I barely know her!" And then run out of the class.
How do you get mistaken for Canadian? Do you talk about hockey and poutine, eh?
She's very cheerful, rosy-cheeked, respectful of authority, and liberal. When she goes to foreign countries nobody believes she's American despite her protestations.
ArtreusI'm a wizardAnd that looks fucked upRegistered Userregular
edited April 2010
I finally had a chance to make it into the used/rare book store here. I thought it was mostly a rare book store but it is actually mostly used with a few rare books. It was neat and I wish I had money and more time to look around in there. There was an amazing book on the Korean war that I would have grabbed if it hadn't been $50. Also some books that were locked away in a display case because they were old enough to be semi-falling apart.
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I don't know why it would be outdated. It is fairly general, as he is trying to describe the major sweep of civilization from very early times. It is more of the "why" of history, not the how.
he's not the first guy to try and answer the questions he poses
there are certainly plenty of critiques one could make about it but it's still worth reading if you don't want to jump into about twenty different academic disciplines
It's actually pretty wonderful
Cosmos is the one most people have read.
hmmmmmm I think I am going to check out my half price books for some Sagan, I've been meaning to read Cosmos or Pale Blue Dot for awhile now
Dresden lovers rejoice, for I have just purloined my library's copy of Changes and will probably have it read by Saturday. I'm just so happy.
For any publishers reading, I'm definitely not breaking the street date because it's not available to the public yet. Only to me.
Anyway. Butcher shouldn't be too mad, that's the same look from the Van Helsing movie Hugh Jackman was in. Jackman could pull it off though.
It was good.
I need to read this
it's the last mccarthy book I haven't read
and I'm telling you, if you like noir and humor, you'll really get a kick out of this book
i can now also say "I'm reading Thomas Pynchon" all snooty-like
Steam profile.
Getting started with BATTLETECH: Part 1 / Part 2
reading about a retarded dude has never been more confusing.
Also made me want to die a little bit, it is so very depressing.
i should reread it immediately
this is true
also if you have any fetishes about 'manson chicks'
that's awesome
hey, I just had an idea
Harry Dresden/John Constantine meet in a bar somewhere
there's a writing prompt for you
Stuff I have left to read: A Confederacy of Dunces
Just thinking out loud here.
The more I do this the more irrationally paranoid and edgy I feel, and I can't sleep.
I'm liking this book.
Cage is a huge fan of Butcher. He produced the Dresden Files TV show.
oh hey, Going Postal trailer
not that quentin's chapter is any less confusing so far
My college roommate is weirdly like Quentin's roommate.
Do all neurotics gravitate towards rosy-cheeked, hearty friends who are either Canadian or frequently mistaken for Canadian?
http://numberblog.wordpress.com/
She's very cheerful, rosy-cheeked, respectful of authority, and liberal. When she goes to foreign countries nobody believes she's American despite her protestations.
http://numberblog.wordpress.com/