Recommend some books

[Bluebell72]

Last week I read 'Just a boy' by Richard McCann. He's a son of the first victim of the yorkshire ripper
I'm not a big reader, but started reading this & couldn't put it down

I met him recently for a work thing. Unbelieveably down to earth, and inspiring in a quiet and dignified sort of way.


I am currently reading Greg Mortenson's 'Three Cups of Tea' - just to see what the hoo-ha is a bout.

American climber fails in ascent of K2, starts building schools in Pakistan and Afgahnistan instead. Founds a charity, becomes hugely successful, writes a couple of books about it, makes millions...but now he's being sued for racketeering and misrepresentation as people allege that schools have not been built and he has used the donated funds for his own.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I am reading The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln. It's not fiction, but it's not exactly fact.

 

[cisamcgu]

The Perfect Machine: Building the Palomar Telescope

Read it a couple of years ago - wonderful stuff.

 

[fimm]

Oh excellent. Lots of things to go at there. Thank you all very much!
Any more for any more?

 

[TheBoyBilly]

The Feather Men by Ranulph Feinnes, read it before the Yanks ruin it on screen. (the only book I have truly found 'unputdownable' by the way)

Bill

 

[L.E.D.]

Picked up Laurent Fignon 's autobiography in a charity shop and so far it's been the most enjoyable cycling related book I've read.

The single greatest non fiction book i've read is "If this is a Man / The Truce - Primo Levi "

Though I'm not sure the subject matter is to everyone's taste.

 

[marinyork]

Read the first half of Brian Greene's latest book : The Hidden Reality.

 

[JohnHenry]

A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains by Isabella Bird - fantastic story of a solo trip by an English vicar's daughter from San Francisco to the Rockies in 1873.

A Stranger in Blood by Pamela Cullen - the case files of Dr John Bodkin Adams of Eastbourne (makes Harold Shipman look like a pussycat, apparently!)

 

[vernon]

Being Digital by Nicholas Negroponte, a top honcho from MIT - worth reading if only to see how the current digital world differs from the one predicted by him in 1995

Musgrave of the Marshes - John Peel. A captivating autobiography.

Connected by Seymour Papert, another top honcho from MIT who examines the role of ICT on learning and family life.

The New Curry Bible by Pat Chapman - a curry lover's vade mecum

Indian Restaurant Cookbook - ibid

Are You Dave Gorman? by Dave Gorman - an entertaining account of the author's quest to meet as many Dave Gormans as he can.

 

[coffeejo]

Musgrave of the Marshes - John Peel. A captivating autobiography.

+1

 

[asterix]

The Great Game: On Secret Service in High Asia

Have only rec'd it today, so only read the cover! It's a well designed cover IMO.

 

[longers]

I recently enjoyed Carter beats the Devil by Glen David Gold and Arcanum by Janet Gleeson.

The first is a fictional account of a real life american magician and second is the story behind the production of porcelain in Europe. Both charity shop finds.

I could lend the second but have already lent the first elsewhere.

 

[PaulB]

Surprisingly enough from someone like me what frequents this site, the last two I read were about cyclists. Both Italian, as it happens. The story of Marco Pantani is a very grim one indeed but the Fausto Coppi one in the telling gives you a great overview of the Giro and how it gave Italy back its pride. A very good insight into Italian society after he met a woman who wasn't his wife, too!

My current read is Hitch-22, a memoir from Christopher Hitchens and I'm finding that really interesting. He's a great writer and sums up his (so far) fairly mundane life in a fascinating way. I am currently liking this one very much indeed.

 

[joolsybools]

The Moneyless Man - Mark Boyle

Hotel Babylon - Imogen Edwards-Jones & Anonymous (the TV series was based on this)

 

[funnymummy]

I was given a set of books by Anne Mustoe for Christmas, She set off to cycle the world - at 54 & knowing nothing about bikes!
I worked out my youngest will be old enough to leave home when i'm 59 & I know a lot about bikes.. I have a dream!