Currently Reading: Wherever You Go, There You Are
Recently Finished: Wool; All the Pretty Horses
Beer Leg Book Club - hijack
Sort of, in my own disorganized fashion: lift some heavy things; do some body weight exercises; sprint a couple of times a week; do a lot of walking (occupational hazard) 😉
7 Pillars of Wisdom
Mr Shepp, The Seven Pillars is a great choice. Easily one the best five books I've ever read. In fact, maybe the best. Would recommend it highly to everyone. The abridged version titled Revolt in The Desert is definitely worth a read in its own right. Lawrence was not just a warrior and leader of men, but a prolific and exceptional writer.
My mother was a bit of a "shade tree" scholar on Egypt, Israel, Arabia and the history of the Middle East, she had an extensive library on the subject. She handed The Seven Pillars of Wisdom to me one fine day, and said "here you go son, you'll get years of enjoyment out of this one". She was right. It's a book you can re-read through the years and still get more out of it each time.
Another one she gave me which I love and recommend (even if just for the chapter titles alone) is Adventures of a Red Sea Smuggler, by Henri de Monfried. Also published under the titles "Pearls, Arms and Hashish" and simply "Hashish". This guy was a great adventurer and master story teller. Read it if you can find it. I'm reading it again right now in fact. Warning: Do NOT loan this book out, even to your best friend. You will never get it back. Took me four loan-outs to learn that lesson, and it got harder to find a new copy every time.
Currently Reading:
My Ishmael, Daniel Quinn
Cactus and succulents; Sunset magazine, editors. (More just paging through for the succulent planting advice)
The Intellectual Devotional, David Kidder and Noah Oppinheim
A Bouncer's Guide to Barroom Brawling, Peyton Quinn
Recently Finished:
1Q84, Haruki Murakami
After Dark, Haruki Murakami
The Story of B, Daniel Quinn
Ishmael, Daniel Quinn
John Dies at the End, David Wong
Year of the Flood, Margret Atwood
On Deck:
Only Revolutions, Mark Danielewski
Debt: The First 5000 Years, David Graeber
Anthem, Ayn Rand
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid; Douglas Hofstadter (This one's been "on deck" for about 3 years now.)
I have also recently started a reading journal so I keep track of my recent reads and my reflections on them. I don't know how many times I've stared at a book cover in the library and wondered if I've already read it...
I loved All the Pretty Horses. Anything by Cormac McCarthy pretty much kicks major butt.
Beer Leg Book Club - hijack
I kinda do a hybrid crossfit workout. I incorporate a changing workout from heavy lifts and sprints, to high reps and little rest time in between sets. For me I like to put my headphones and 'disappear' into my workout and not be on the same workout as a bunch of other people.
I kinda follow the paleo diet, although I disagree about avoiding grains/rice. Limit them? Yes, but the Asian culture eats them and last I checked they were healthy ;).
A couple of my friends own this crossfit in Southington, CT
7 Pillars of Wisdom
You are at least the forth person who has said something similar to me about the Seven Pillars of Wisdom. I had two people express the opinion that it is one of the greatest books ever written in the english language. I am just into the first chapter and I will say that T. E. Lawrence is an extraordinarily gifted writer.
Amazon.com has one copy of Adventures of a Red Sea Smuggler, by Henri de Monfried for $1500. I'm afraid that I'll have to pass on that and look for a used cheaper version. I have a used book store that I frequent. I'll try it. Thanks for the recommendation. I'm always looking for a good read.
7 Pillars of Wisdom
> You are at least the forth person who has said something similar to me about the Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Make that five.
Recently finished: Preston Falls by David Gates.
On the nightstand: The Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace. Wired magazine. Sports Illustrated.
On Deck: California Gothic by Denis Johnson.
Forever quoting: Confederacy of Dunces.
7 Pillars of Wisdom
> Another one she gave me which I love and recommend (even if just for the chapter titles alone) is Adventures of a Red Sea Smuggler, by Henri de Monfried. Also published under the titles "Pearls, Arms and Hashish" and simply "Hashish". This guy was a great adventurer and master story teller. Read it if you can find it. I'm reading it again right now in fact. Warning: Do NOT loan this book out, even to your best friend. You will never get it back. Took me four loan-outs to learn that lesson, and it got harder to find a new copy every time.
I was able to find a very good used copy for $14 plus shipping. Thanks for the recommendation.
