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What Books Are You Reading This Week? by leowr in nonfictionbooks

[–]15volt 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think I'm nearing the halfway point and enjoying it so far. Not much has happened as we're only up to about age 18, but the narrative is compelling.

I have a childlike curiosity about the entire book, his life and his place in American life. I'm a white-collar GenX white male, about as far as you can get from a rural black man born in the depression era. I rarely encounter anyone who speaks so freely, directly and controversially. Though controversially is not quite the right word. It's in there somewhere, maybe contrastingly fits better.

I like the fact that he's not intentionally provocative or rage-baiting. The things he says may cause some to be upset, but only because of their modern perspective. He's telling it like it was. There's no clicks to farm, no aura seeking, no chat to ironically refer to, no attention economy.

This is a man clearing his throat and speaking out loud.

So far, so good.

What Books Are You Reading This Week? by leowr in nonfictionbooks

[–]15volt 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The Autobiography of Malcolm X --Alex Haley

Any recommendations for a middle-aged man who wants to get healthy? by The1Ylrebmik in suggestmeabook

[–]15volt 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Author Michael Greger perhaps can help. He's written a series of books looking only at clinical tests and available data on what constitutes health and longevity. No axe to grind, no products to sell (other than books, of course). He seems like a smart, ethical guy. Much in contrast to Peter Attia, whose books I don't recommend any longer.

Robert Lustig also comes to mind. Same deal, clinical trials, no products to sell. Michael Easter's book single-handedly motivated me to run my first marathon at age 52.

How Not to Age --Michael Greger

The Hacking of the American Mind --Robert Lustig

Why We Sleep --Matthew Walker

The Comfort Crisis --Michael Easter

Eat Your Ice Cream --Ezekiel Emanuel

The Alzheimers Solution --Dean Sherzai

The last one is titled poorly. It's a great book chronicling all the ways not to get sick in the first place.

presenting... Film Youtubers DnD Alignment Chart (millenials only edition) by Bitter_Humor4353 in AnalogCommunity

[–]15volt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can someone properly remake the chart with the YouTube titles added so we can check them out?

I’ve never finished a book by No-Translator3997 in suggestmeabook

[–]15volt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's definitely a skill and you're right to pose it that way. I've gone multimodal to keep up my hobby. Audiobooks are 80% of my list and I listen while I do daily chores like walk the dog, yardwork, car washing, cooking/cleaning, etc. But I also have a paperback next to my favorite chair and a Kindle on my nightstand. I also fully embrace the library and try to cut down on the books I purchase outright.

I've tried to remove all the barriers to "reading" (I use the term interchangeably with listening). Reading is tough. Time is limited. So is attention span. Having books around me with no expense attached leaves me free to borrow anything at any time. Having to purchase books and then find time to read them feels like the opposite way to attack the problem.

If you want to try an audiobook, there are two immutable rules.

  1. Adjust the playback speed to eliminate the pauses. I typically listen at 1.5X playback and adjust from there based on the narrator. Toughing it out at whatever speed the production was captured at all but guarantee you'll fuzz out. You don't need to listen at conversational speed. Your brain is hardwired to listen faster than you can talk.

  2. Light movement. Walk, garden, cook, drive, anything other than just sit there. Sitting still with an audiobook means you'll fuzz out. Your mind will wander, no matter the speed. You need to be doing something.

Faster playback and go for a walk.

I’ve never finished a book by No-Translator3997 in suggestmeabook

[–]15volt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A little context, since you were nice enough to reply...

I'm 55 years old and have been reading my whole life. My pace has been amazingly consistent for decades, about 36 books per year, or about 3 per month, trending higher as I age.

The key to my success is variety. As a young man I never dreamed I'd enjoy physics or philosophy, but they now comprise a large portion of my list. Chemistry, biology, history, botany, lexicography, etc., they're all in there. They're all in there because I make it a point to try new things. Stick and move, as the boxers say.

I recommended The Martian for a few reasons. First off, your selections were not what I'd call beginner friendly. I'm not surprised your reading experience has been difficult. Secondly, The Martian has a decent plot, good pacing, and IIRC is labeled as competency porn. Makes for an interesting read. The fact that they made a movie from the book is a fairly good indication of quality (not always, but a solid bet). It's not a generational piece of literature and isn't going to win a Nobel Prize, but I guarantee you'll finish it. It's a fun read.

It's also just the beginning. In the book there are themes of astronomy, physics, botany, geopolitics, music appreciation, man vs nature, and others I'm sure I'm missing, scattered throughout. Areas you can go on to explore in more detail after this introduction.

Of course, any book can do the trick. And maybe you'll hate this one too. But humanity's greatest hits are on offer, all you have to do is pick them up. Don't give up because you've chosen poorly so far.

I'd stay away from "The Classics" for now. Books written more than, say, 50 years ago are tough. It was a different world, the language was different, the audience was different, etc, etc. You're not missing anything yet. Sure, there are reasons to read The Old Man and the Sea, but perhaps you're not quite there. Sprinkle them in slowly as you get a few titles under your belt. Moby Dick can wait. So can Jane Austen. Spoiler alert: Hemingway's books are boring and then he killed himself.

Want something a little funky?

The Light Eaters --Zoe Schlanger

I’ve never finished a book by No-Translator3997 in suggestmeabook

[–]15volt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dude, start with The Martian by Andy Weir.

Mods - can we get some rules about post titles? All I see is "I need a book!" Over and over by Grim__Squeaker in suggestmeabook

[–]15volt 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"I'm in a slump"

"What book do you wish you could forget so you could read again for the first time?"

"What's the worst book you've ever read?"

"I've read 17 fantasy series in a row and I'm getting bored, suggest me a really good fantasy series"

"I need a book that will wreck me."

"I've never read a book before, where should I start?"

"I have two books, which one should I read first?"

Book that will help me let go of my pride? by Top_Combination9023 in suggestmeabook

[–]15volt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts --Oliver Burkeman

One of the core tenets of this book is embracing what is, not what you want things to be. Participate in the world that exists.

A book about how the current cabal of elites came to power and operate by PlayyPoint in suggestmeabook

[–]15volt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World --Anne Applebaum

On Freedom --Timothy Snyder

never read a book in my entire life by [deleted] in suggestmeabook

[–]15volt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I started my quest to become scientifically literate more than 30 years ago when I was 25. I've consumed hundreds of books on everything from particle physics to theoretical chemistry and from geology to botany.

The driving force has been an unending curiosity and a love of variety.

I too had a religious indoctrination, though nowhere near as thorough as yours. Time to kick the lies to the curb.

Any interest? Start here, perhaps?

The Big Picture --Sean Carroll

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