What book is everyone reading at the moment?

[T'ai Chi]

The Grammar of Science, by Karl Pearson.

Description from Amazon

originally published in 1892, was considered an essential read by budding young scientists like Albert Einstein. Pearson's work contributed to Einstein's greatest discoveries by introducing him to the ideas of relativity of motion, equivalence between matter and energy, and the concept of antimatter. Pearson opens his book with a definition and discussion of science itself, detailing what is required for inquiries to be scientific in nature. He then moves on to discuss space and time, motion, matter, and the future of scientific progress. Professionals and students alike will be fascinated by Pearson's insight into the nature of reality. British professor KARL PEARSON (1857-1936) worked at University College in London. He invented mathematical statistics and formed the Department of Applied Statistics at the University of London. He wrote many books and papers, including a biography of Francis Galton, a proponent of eugenics, and studies on evolution.

 

[qayak]

Just finished Feynman's "Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman" and it's sequel "What do you care what other people think?". These are absolutely fantastic books, the most entertaining and interesting biographic-type books I have ever read. A must read.

I'll second that. I have also read The Pleasure of Finding Things Out, The Meaning of It All, Six Easy Pieces, Six Not So Easy Pieces, Feynman's Lost Lecture and Perfectly Reasonable Deviations. I recommend them all. The Lost Lecture comes with a CD of Feynman giving the lecture "The Motion of Planets Around the Sun."

 

[meg]

Just finished The Accidental by Ali Smith (loved it!)
Just started God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens
Just bought At the Center of the Storm by George Tenet and Bill Harlow

 

[Architect]

I am Legend by Richard Matheson.

 

[Bikewer]

Just got Bart Ehrman's book on The Gospel Of Judas from the library, but I'm actually reading Charles Stross' The Atrocity Archives.

Stross is a relatively new sci-fi writer, and excellent. This is actually a couple of earlier novellas expanded into one novel. Imagine high-tech spy thriller by way of Lovecraft and Len Deighton. Magic is real, but it's all mathmatics; and the Lurkers at the Threshold are lurking....
Good stuff.

 

[SteveGrenard]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this one yet but I would recommend:

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

by Susanna Clarke


It is historical fiction about two rival Victorian magicians who use illusions to help Britiain in its various military conflicts in the 19th Century. I think Randi would like this one as well.

 

[Senex]

I am 4/5th's through David Copperfield. This book is brilliant. If you are of a skeptical nature as I am, I recommend Charles Dickens. Mr. Dickens provides a moral compass for non-theists. David Copperfield has friends in many stations of life because he is a sincere fellow. Charles Dickens makes me laugh and cry and aspire to do better (or at least to not be part of the problem) all in the same chapter.

I find it shocking that someone as brilliant as Charles Dickens can be popular. Usually what is popular is not brilliant. Dickens is both brilliant and popular.

Go figure.

 

[Bikewer]

I snagged a nice hardback copy of "Jonathan Strange" at our campus bookstore sale. Three bucks....

I have to finish my library book before I start it.

 

[Spidey13]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this one yet but I would recommend:

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

by Susanna Clarke


It is historical fiction about two rival Victorian magicians who use illusions to help Britiain in its various military conflicts in the 19th Century. I think Randi would like this one as well.

I mentioned reading it somewhere in this thread, though I never gave a review or anything. I also highly recommend it. Good stuff.

 

[Spidey13]

I've just started on The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar. It has an introduction by Neil Gaiman, so that's a pretty good endorsment.

 

[headscratcher4]

Osman's Dream...a history of the Ottoman Empire. SO far, very interesting.

 

[Senex]

I finished David Copperfield. Coincidental meetings raised my brow, but the beauty of the narrative is undiminished. It is a wonderful book and dead white guys have much to teach us. The book inspired me to be myself and to be a better version of myself.

Charles Dickens is moral and not religious. I put forth his works are in keeping with the JREF.

I challenge every person who reads this to go to their library and pick up a book written by Mr. Dickens. You will at least be entertained, and if you are of a mind to, you could be changed for the better.

 

[cafink]

I'm several chapters into Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. So far, it seems to have the same sort of flavor as Mark Haddon's wonderful The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I'm quite enjoying it.

 

[D'rok]

"A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry.

 

[Spidey13]

I've just started on The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar. It has an introduction by Neil Gaiman, so that's a pretty good endorsment.

OK, I don't care how much Mr. Gaiman gushes over this book in the introduction, it is extremely mediocre. I was disappointed.

Anyway, I have now just started a little book called Flim-Flam! by a bearded gentleman whose name eludes me.

 

[HarryKeogh]

Ancestor by Scott Sigler. Skepticality had the author on its podcast and the book is available for free on the web (as a podcast and a pdf file). This book is so bad it's making me angry. No cliche is left untouched. This may be one of the few times I don't finish a book I started.

 

[hipparchia]

Cup of Gold by Steinbeck.

Also trying to plough my way through The Life and Adventures of Avakum Zahov by Andrej Gulyashki. In short, a Bulgarian socialist version of Sherlock Holmes. A guy who is an archaeologist by education, but works for the State Seciruty Agency (Darzhavna Sigurnost). Complete with the author's view of Mr. Watson, this time a village vet. Cutesy.

 

[catbasket]

I've been going through a spell of re-reading Stanislaw Lem novels. Just finishing Tales of Pirx The Pilot, off to the library tonight to try to snaffle More Tales of PTP and The Futurological Congress.

 

[Mephisto]

I am Legend by Richard Matheson.

I read that a long time ago and liked it quite a bit. It was the basis for the 70s Charleton Heston movie, The Omega Man.

I currently reading Shakespeare's plays (I'm on the Twelfth Night). I'm planning on reading Macbeth next. I read that there was a connection between Guy Fawkes co-conspirators and Shakespeare and heard that he wrote Macbeth to placate King John. Either way, it'll be a good read, it always is.

 

[Chris Haynes]

I read that a long time ago and liked it quite a bit. It was the basis for the 70s Charleton Heston movie, The Omega Man.

....

And this movie The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price. I movie I liked better than Heston's. Which is why I bought the book through Scholastic Books in high school at the time The Omega Man. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the book.

Now Will Smith will take a crack at it: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480249/

I just finished Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, and am trying to start Pope Joan. My niece suggested a Pope Joan book, but I just realized that there are several and I have no idea which one she meant!