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Official Book thread: non fiction edition

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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
So summer is coming up and that means we will soon be able to waste away days in a hammock with a good book. I personally like non-fiction books the most and certainly looking for some good new books.

my interests are mostly science-oriented books but others might think otherwise.

so basically post some books reviews NS!
Apr 12 2012 2:10PM
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iFlip
Posts: 4544 - Karma: 19,137

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This reads better than almost any fiction. It is one of those rare books you cannot put down. Endurance is the story of Shackelton's South Pole trip, and the absolutely amazing story of survival of the crew. What they did and went through is just unreal.

Apr 12 2012 2:12PM
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JakeAssBeatClap
Posts: 6673 - Karma: 2,537
DMT the Spirit Molecule by: Dr. Rick Strassman

The Singularity is Near by: Ray Kurzweil
Apr 12 2012 2:14PM
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skituner
Posts: 1162 - Karma: 127
Christopher McDougall - Born to Run

Susan Casey- The Wave
Apr 12 2012 2:18PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
I guess I might as well start it off. I really have been enjoying physics books lately. I'm sure you have all heard of/read Brian Greene's trilogy as well as Stephen Hawkings, so I wont bother posting them.

A couple books I have really enjoyed lately have been

Massive, The Hunt For The God Particle by Ian Sample

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It's less about the physics behind the search for the Higgs Boson and more about the story of the search. The book 2 years old but is still a great way to get up to speed on where the research is going. It's also a very light read. Good book for anyone interested in particle physics and the large hadron collider.


Whole Earth Discipline; An Ecopragmatist Manifesto by Stewart Brand

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This one is about environmental problems we will face in the next couple decades. He has some very cool ideas on what to do. Don't expect a "normal" book about the environment though. A lot of environmentalists might actually be a bit horrified what he has to say. Again this is a nice light read.
Apr 12 2012 2:21PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
I have read this book, it was great.

Some other good ones are frozen in time and the man who mapped the Artic. Neither are quite as good, but Frozen in time is pretty close. The man who mapped the artic is more of a traditional biography and they both have the same ending!
Apr 12 2012 2:24PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
This is definitely on my list!

As for the guy who said the wave, also a great book. This thread is already delivering!
Apr 12 2012 2:26PM
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Aidan-G
Posts: 9415 - Karma: 10,861
I know it's fiction but Vonnegut. Anything by Vonnegut
Apr 12 2012 2:30PM
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northeast
Posts: 2119 - Karma: 254
Jay-Z - "Decoded"
Apr 12 2012 2:41PM
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KEVTRON
Posts: 3545 - Karma: 1,222
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
Apr 12 2012 2:42PM
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easiestEC
Posts: 2471 - Karma: 489
agreed
Apr 12 2012 2:42PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
someone say non fiction??

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Apr 12 2012 2:46PM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 237
I really enjoyed the Steve jobs biography. Sort of have to be an apple fanboy though.
Apr 12 2012 2:48PM
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goonsquad08
Posts: 622 - Karma: 39

Eleven Seconds was a good read for me.

 It's a book about a hockey player who ends up becoming paralyzed from a hit from behind his first shift and the journey he went through to get to that point and how his life changed from that point on. If you like hockey, or sports in general, I recommend it.

Apr 12 2012 4:23PM
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steezbox
Posts: 1394 - Karma: 701
I haven't read it yet, but I have heard nothing but good things about "The Singularity is Near". I'm going to be picking it up soon.
Apr 12 2012 5:45PM
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SkiThe603
Posts: 5376 - Karma: 498
that is wrong, that's complete fiction
Apr 12 2012 5:54PM
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Lansfield
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Apr 12 2012 5:55PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
I was going to say don't feed the troll, but then I realized I would just be doing the same thing. so how about we ignore him from now on and keep posting good books...
Apr 13 2012 2:48AM
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DIX~
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Apr 13 2012 2:51AM
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ajax
Posts: 2852 - Karma: 1,245
sorry, but threads
Apr 13 2012 3:47AM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
bump +k for book ideas
Apr 22 2012 2:24AM
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ski93
Posts: 1280 - Karma: 84
Travels by Michael Crichton

a very good read, he's also my favorite author
Apr 22 2012 2:26AM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,329
Endurance
Into Thin Air

my two favorites
Apr 22 2012 2:27AM
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ski93
Posts: 1280 - Karma: 84
I second this one. It's awesome
Apr 22 2012 2:28AM
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Davy.Crockett
Posts: 5373 - Karma: 324
^ as they were saying, into thin air, or anything else by jon krakauer, like where men win glory, into the wild, or under the banner of heaven are all good.


also unbroken, the story of louis zamperino.

incredible book
Apr 22 2012 2:38AM
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Dan.P
Posts: 1351 - Karma: 12
This. its amazing

Or for an easier read, get the man eaters of Tsavo by JH Patterson. Its also really good

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Apr 22 2012 5:06AM
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bstuck1
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Apr 22 2012 9:33AM
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EmperorKuzco
Posts: 6660 - Karma: 254
The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit
Apr 22 2012 10:08AM
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Dr.Gonzo
Posts: 2552 - Karma: 87
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if your into warfare or anything like that, read this. its 800 pages of the entire history of the 2nd world war, written really well, i liked it.
Apr 22 2012 10:20AM
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roddy116
Posts: 10635 - Karma: 7,506
its a graphic novel with characters as animals but its not nonfiction and its probably my favorite book next to the lord of the rings and eragon.
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Apr 22 2012 12:58PM
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iFlip
Posts: 4544 - Karma: 19,137
I own this book and would also strongly recommend it. Anything by Capstick is excellent. Check out The Last Ivory Hunter, also by Capstick.
Apr 22 2012 1:01PM
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aloha.
Posts: 412 - Karma: 163
Read "Into the Wild" written by Jon Krakauer, which is the story of Christopher McCandless. Really a great read and its not super long either. 
Apr 22 2012 1:04PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
Or any other Jon Krakauer book

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Apr 22 2012 1:11PM
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ironic
Posts: 735 - Karma: 104

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Apr 22 2012 1:14PM
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ironic
Posts: 735 - Karma: 104

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Apr 22 2012 1:14PM
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ronalddregan.
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Apr 22 2012 2:06PM
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thenightman
Posts: 766 - Karma: 132
It's also a movie, but its an insanely easy read and it's about skiing. Overall a good story and it's the only book i've read for pleasure in the past seven years (since 6th grade).
Apr 22 2012 2:37PM
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thenightman
Posts: 766 - Karma: 132
sorry, the book is The Edge of Never by William A Kerig

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Apr 22 2012 2:38PM
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Janky
Posts: 1323 - Karma: -100
books
Apr 22 2012 2:43PM
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EmperorKuzco
Posts: 6660 - Karma: 254
Into the Wild wins
Apr 22 2012 3:01PM
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84west
Posts: 646 - Karma: 1,254
heard the author speak and then read this book. It was a quick read, but dealt with some heavy shit

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Apr 22 2012 3:26PM
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james6345789
Posts: 4763 - Karma: 467
I think I'll read that.

And on the note of hammocks: my backyard sucks for one, I wish I had a good spot for one.
Apr 22 2012 4:02PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
If you get one without a bar you can bring it everywhere with you. I only have the bar kind though. I don't have a backyard either. Last summer my backyard was the yukon, so I always had trees! This summer I'll have to scope out a nice tree combo on the beach.


Apr 24 2012 5:15PM
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james6345789
Posts: 4763 - Karma: 467
I have an eno double nest with their slap straps, they're the tits! I got a good deal from REI. All the trees in my backyard are like 40 feet apart.
Apr 24 2012 9:39PM
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EricaMN.
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Apr 24 2012 9:48PM
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yourthemannowdog
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 313
Oh cool you read books on abstract topics. You must be sooooo intelligent.

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Apr 24 2012 10:26PM
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james6345789
Posts: 4763 - Karma: 467
I might just get that one too
Apr 24 2012 10:30PM
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Bodhisattva_
Posts: 5749 - Karma: 2,009
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Story of a Navy SEAL who was ambushed by Taliban, his whole squad and his best friends died all except him and he went on to survive in the mountains of Afghanistan.
Apr 24 2012 10:39PM
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thenightman
Posts: 766 - Karma: 132
I had to read this in English class senior year and fucking loved it, it's about 'nam.

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Apr 24 2012 10:42PM
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paige.
Posts: 1932 - Karma: 922
For those of you who liked Into Thin Air/climbing stories in general check out this one:
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I still find it hard to believe that this story is true. If you're feeling lazy you can watch the movie, although I found it took a lot away from the story.

And one that I really enjoyed last summer:
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This book goes against the grain of the standard 'humans and chimps share 99% of their DNA so they must be just like us POV' and looks at the remarkable differences between humans and primates despite this genetic similarity. Written by a guy who isn't in the field so you don't get any one primatologist pushing their theory down your throat. Good if you have any interest in primatology/human origins/evolutionary psych etc.
Apr 25 2012 1:37AM
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Bodhisattva_
Posts: 5749 - Karma: 2,009
Miitredsss for when I get my Kindle back
Apr 25 2012 11:01PM
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