Currently reading? (Distraction thread.)

[stereopticons]

1 hour ago, throwaway1463 said:

"Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

I loved that book!

[Neist]

On 1/19/2017 at 3:39 AM, TK2 said:

Oh good to hear, it's been on my kindle a few weeks after I read Arlie Hochschilds Strangers in their Own Land. (Also good.)

 

The book is very big history, so how much one enjoys the book will probably depend one's tolerance to big history (big history tends to seem unfocused). However, the book is well-written, or at least I think so.

13 hours ago, RevTheory1126 said:

Or another question (that's somewhat related to reading/distractions), anyone have a good podcast to recommend? I've really enjoyed Council on Foreign Relations podcast called "The World Next Week," really great stuff.

 

One of my many pecularities is that I'm certain that I've listened to more podcasts than close to, well, anyone. I listened to around 8 hours a day for over 10 years.

What sort of topics do you enjoy? I could give you some of my favorites, but they might not become your favorites.  

[RevTheory1126]

5 hours ago, Neist said:

One of my many pecularities is that I'm certain that I've listened to more podcasts than close to, well, anyone. I listened to around 8 hours a day for over 10 years.

What sort of topics do you enjoy? I could give you some of my favorites, but they might not become your favorites.  

Wow, dedication. I like several things, but in podcast form, I am most interested in smart reflection on popular culture, sports, and politics. I also like accessible things about science and medicine/health. I also enjoy people that are doing something really unique and clever, I'm pretty open if it's clearly someone's passion.

[Neist]

18 hours ago, RevTheory1126 said:

Wow, dedication. I like several things, but in podcast form, I am most interested in smart reflection on popular culture, sports, and politics. I also like accessible things about science and medicine/health. I also enjoy people that are doing something really unique and clever, I'm pretty open if it's clearly someone's passion.

 

 

Hm. There isn't a huge amount of overlap in our interests, but here's a list of my a few of my favorites that seem more relevant to your interests.  

• Freakonomics
• Planet Money
• More Perfect
• Revisionist History
• Pod Save America (haven't listened yet, but looks to be good)
• This American Life

Hope that helps!

[RevTheory1126]

On 1/18/2017 at 1:35 AM, fadedfigures said:

Finally, Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys go to the Quittich World Cup, which is totally fun, except Voldemort's henchmen/henchwomen show up and cause tons of trouble, including setting the Dark Mark over the campgrounds. Because of course they would. The incident is blamed on a house elf, and they all go back to Hogwarts to find out that Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Cup, which is only hosted every 100 years, and only students who are of legal age may participate by entering their names into the Goblet of Fire. Which, you know, is a giant middle finger to anyone who was not born in that specific year in 100 years, but whatever, because of course, Harry is entered into the tournament by some unknown force. By the magical power of contracts, he has to participate, and everyone is like, "What the fuck, Harry," and he's like, "What the fuck to you too, I don't want to do this." But he does it, and does super well, and also overcomes Ron's poor attitude because Ron is like, "You always get to be famous and stuff," and Harry is like, "Seriously?" But Harry advances far in the competition, and even gets to the finals, and so he and the other Hogwarts student, Cedric Diggory, end up winning together because they both touch the trophy at the same time. Except the trophy is a portkey, and it transports the pair to a graveyard, where Cedric is killed and a bunch of Death Eaters are there, along with Pettigrew. He does some serious black magic, and Lord Voldemort is given a human body once more. He comes to duel Harry to kill him, except Harry is saved by a wild coincidence, in which Harry's and Voldemort's wands "connect," since they have the same core. So Harry is able to escape and he brings back both Cedric's body and the news that Voldemort is back, and Dumbledore is like, "...well, shit." Harry wins the Triwizard tournament, gives Fred and George Weasley his winnings, and goes back to live with his aunt and uncle. 

Started Order of Phoenix last night, thanks again @fadedfigures

[RevTheory1126]

On 1/21/2017 at 8:51 AM, Neist said:

Hm. There isn't a huge amount of overlap in our interests, but here's a list of my a few of my favorites that seem more relevant to your interests.  

• Freakonomics
• Planet Money
• More Perfect
• Revisionist History
• Pod Save America (haven't listened yet, but looks to be good)
• This American Life

Hope that helps!

I've heard good things about Revisionist History, and of course, I love Planet Money. This looks like a fun list! Thanks

[Archaeodan]

Cod: A biography of the fish that changed the world by Mark Kurlansky

I'll add in my enthusiastic approval of Freakonomics. Really interesting read!

[GreenEyedTrombonist]

Adding to the podcasts, if you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I love the Sunnydale Study Group podcast (http://sunnydalestudygroup.libsyn.com/ the hosts and sometimes guests go through each episode of Buffy, one episode per podcast episode).

If you're a tabletop rpger (DnD, Shadowrun, etc) you might want to check out Inside the Master's Studio (http://www.audioentropy.com/masters-studio-blog/ the host interviews different GM's in each episode).*

You guys might also be interested in the podcasts of Thomas Smith. There are 4 that I know of:

Thomas and the Bible (http://www.thomasandthebible.com/ now complete, he went through the entire Bible over a 6 year period)

Serious Inquiries Only (http://seriouspod.com/ previously Atheistically Speaking http://atheisticallyspeaking.com/ but moving to more politics/pop culture/news with less of a bent on the atheist element)

Opening Arguments (http://openargs.com/ love this one; it's Thomas and a lawyer going through the nuances of US law)

Comedy Shoeshine (http://comedyshoeshine.com/ this one is more relaxed and is Thomas and his brother hanging out, talking and joking about whatever)

 

*Full disclosure, the first two podcast recs are slightly self-serving as I've guested on both of them, but I'm not recommending the podcast I co-host because it's made for a very small group of people (fans of one Twitch channel) so I don't think it's something most people here would want to check out.

[The Shade King]

I am reading lots of random fiction. I read about 2 or 3 200 pages books a day to escape the torturous wait.

[rising_star]

On 1/24/2017 at 1:48 PM, Archaeodan said:

Cod: A biography of the fish that changed the world by Mark Kurlansky

How was this? I've been meaning to read it...

[MonkeyPants]

Patient HM: A Story of Memory, Madness, and Family Secrets by Luke Dittrich. I'm deeply interested in the history of medicine and epidemics, so this book was irresistible. It's very well-written, absorbing.

[Archaeodan]

10 hours ago, rising_star said:

How was this? I've been meaning to read it...

I'm not finished, but it's really good so far! I mean, I may be biased, as I study human/animal relations through history, but a social worker friend recommended it to me, so there's your non-specialist fan. 

[Charlsa]

We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People by Peter van Buren and Travels in the Reich: 1933-45 Foreign Authors Report from Germany edited by Oliver Lubrich. Let's be real, the last four months of reading have all been orchestrated to avoid the dense academic text ReNew Marxist Art History which I know will be enriching/challenging/essential. Also I know as soon as I finish it, I'll have to go back to Aesthetics and Politics. I'm hoping that I can inch my way back to it by reading more non-fiction.