We should start a book club

I'd like to see a book subforum.

I've repeatedly pointed out Bagdikian's 'Media Monopoly' as a book crucial to understanding the makeup and culture of the media, and based on the large number of posts about left/right wing media bias, I'm guessng very few folks have read his work.
 
Darat said:
If Members want to get together on this happy I’ll be happy to set up a controlled sub forum. (And by controlled all I mean is that it’s not to be used as a sub-forum of this section but just for the "The BookClub" idea.)
Click to expand...
Three modest proposals:

1) Darat - make it so.
2) Make our first reading assignment either Sharansky's The Case for Democracy, since it seems to be getting a lot of buzz recently, some people here have already read it, and it's a fairly fast read, or else Bagdikian's Media Monopoly, based on crimresearch's recommendation.
3) The choice from 2) to be made by our New and Deluxe Book Club Maximum President-for Life, Mycroft.
 
I suggest we not worry about creating a process and just put someone in charge. That person would be responsible for taking suggestions, weeding out nutty polemics and queuing up the rest so as to present a mix of viewpoints, all the while being responsive to the opinions of the participants as to what exactly constitutes a nutty polemic and a good mix of viewpoints. Since I’m suggesting this, I’ll even volunteer for the post.
Click to expand...
I like the idea of a book club. I also like having one person in charge of choosing books instead of a committee. I am fine with it being Mycroft.

Choose a book and let's go.

CBL
 
IllegalArgument said:
I'm interested, are we limited the books to political ones only?
Because I just got through reading some damn interesting books about human perception. I would strongely suggest reading "Blink" and "The Tipping Point".

"Case for Democracy" is a great book I would definately recommend it for everyone to read.
Click to expand...

Lets not forget History as well.

I'm currently reading "Flyboys", an excellent investigation into the atrocities suffered by captured US pilots in and around Chichi Jima Island during WWII. It discusses how the Japanese viewed foreigners and reveals just how close George H.W. Bush came to becoming one of those captured and murdered pilots.

I'm in if you'll have me...sniff... :(
 
CBL4 said:
I like the idea of a book club. I also like having one person in charge of choosing books instead of a committee. I am fine with it being Mycroft.

Choose a book and let's go.

CBL
Click to expand...

I second this idea although I wish to see it going a bit further. I suggest two people being involved in choosing books. Mycroft and Cleon or Capel Dodger. I would propose unique of course but he is not a USA resident Capel Dodger isn't either but he is a maniac who spends his life reading books in front of a fireplace. :)

I haven't contacted any of the gentlemen to ask them if they are interested.

Also I hope that if this starts somebody will get into the trouble to buy the book and mail it to me( do I have to say on my expence? No I don't) because I would love to be in the position to follow the discussions. :)

BTW.
There was a very interesting poster who used to post here, he was middle aged, democrat I think and he was a financial consultant,( severe critic of Israel) Randfan and Tricky must know of who I am talking about,I missed him where is he? He was smart and well read, I wish he posted more.
 
He he

Dr. Chinese. :) I have just e-mailed him. Have in mind that he appeared as a democrat in MY eyes, I don't know if he was a democrat but he didn't seem as a republican. Interesting guy. ( Kodiak will have a stroke now :p )
 
To get the ball rolling, I'm going to try and get a copy of "Media Monopoly" asap. Since, I have already read "Case for Democracy".
 
Cleopatra said:
He he

Dr. Chinese. :) I have just e-mailed him. Have in mind that he appeared as a democrat in MY eyes, I don't know if he was a democrat but he didn't seem as a republican. Interesting guy. ( Kodiak will have a stroke now :p )
Click to expand...

I wouldn't have a stroke over anyone in this forum, though subgenius, AUP, KOA, and CovetPachyderm (AKA: UCE) often drive me to my wits end. :)

Surprise, surprise, there are even those to my left (politically)who I actually like: for instance Tricky, Crossbow, and Tmy.
 
From Princeton Univ.

Last night, I was watching Jon Stewart interviewing a Princeton U. professor who has put out a small book (an essay actually) called "On Bullsh*t" -- by Harry Frankfurt.

Considering the extreme amount of B.S. pervading our society it would seem to be appropriate to have this on the list of the new Book Club.


(Jon was having a great time saying the book title and having it "bleeped" on air each time, and the professor was obviously loving the attention and the audience laughter).
 
Originally posted by Cleopatra
I second this idea although I wish to see it going a bit further. I suggest two people being involved in choosing books. Mycroft and Cleon or Capel Dodger. I would propose unique of course but he is not a USA resident Capel Dodger isn't either but he is a maniac who spends his life reading books in front of a fireplace.
Click to expand...

I hope Cleon and/or CapelDodger participate, I’d be interested to see what they contribute, but the idea is for everyone to suggest their favorite book, not just me. Feel free to talk one of them into taking my place, I only volunteered for the sake of expedience.

Originally posted by BPSCG
Three modest proposals:

1) Darat - make it so.
2) Make our first reading assignment either Sharansky's The Case for Democracy, since it seems to be getting a lot of buzz recently, some people here have already read it, and it's a fairly fast read, or else Bagdikian's Media Monopoly, based on crimresearch's recommendation.
3) The choice from 2) to be made by our New and Deluxe Book Club Maximum President-for Life, Mycroft.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, let’s go!

To start us off gently and because half of us have already read it, I will put up The Case for Democracy, by Natan Sharansky as our first offering. It is a fast read, and honestly the main ideas of the book can be found in the introduction with the rest of the book being anecdotes from Sharanskys’ life describing how he came to his ideas and how he thinks they should be applied in the world today.

The second book, for those who want to read ahead, will be The Media Monopoly by Ben H. Bagdikian. Reading the product description on Amazon I can see this book has been around for a while demonstrating a staying power that suggests substance of it’s content. I look forward to reading it.
 
Darat - where's our subforum?

BTW, for those of us who don't want to build a new bookcase to accomodate all this reading, let's not forget there are libraries. Even if the next selection is Totalitarianism Is Your Friend, from a radical lefty, I'll read it. Doesn't mean I'll want to lay out good shekels to buy it.
 
I got The Media Monopoly from the library, it's been out for years, so there's a good chance your library has it.
 
Ok - I'll get onto it, it's done.

However I've taken an administrator decision on how to structure it, what I'll actually do is every month create a new sub-forum within that section (see example) titled as the book. This should keep it looking tidy and make it easy for newcomers to check out.

There is only one additional rule I think that is needed for this specific section, and I may if I get time this week codify it in a neat and tidy way but for now a summary:

It is only to discuss the specific book that is "Book of the Month", off-topic or very general issues will be moved back into the main section.

And as a plea! Leave behind the baggage many of you do have with each other in the general section and please try forget the “fact” the Member just making a post is a fascist/leftwing/neo-liberal/commie/rightwing/neo-conservative to one side and address the points they make!

It may be a good idea to decide a little in advance what the next book is going to be, that way I or Upchurch can create the new section ahead of time and if someone can provide a brief description/blurb to promote it we can add that to the forum description.

Is the first real book now confirmed as “The Case for Democracy, by Natan Sharansky”
 
I nominate Inside the Asylum by Jed Babbin.

Perhaps after The Case for Democracy and The Media Monopoly?
 
Darat said:
Is the first real book now confirmed as “The Case for Democracy, by Natan Sharansky”
Click to expand...
Since New and Deluxe Book Club Maximum President-for Life Mycroft appears to be temporarily away from the forum, I am hereby appointing myself Acting New and Deluxe Book Club Maximum President-for Life pro tempore, and in that capacity, am advising you, "yes." You may now create the subforum for this book.

(Wow, I'm really enjoying this power. Maybe I'll overthrow Mycroft and set up my own personal cult-of-personality fiefdom here...)
 
Won't Oprah be jealous of this competition?

I just joined a branch of the Las Vegas library system (Clark County) last night. They had a section devoted to Oprah book selections, which I purposely avoided.

I'm always open to any book recommendation (except for Oprah).

Charlie (read or die) Monoxide
 
I suggest we hold off until everyone has a chance to read the book. I will buy or order this today but it will be at least a few days before I get to read it. I am sure there are others who are in the same boat.

Perhaps we should start the discussion on the first of the month.

I am posting this here and in the actual book club thread. Forgive my duplication.

CBL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom