Books

[badfaith]

Yeah, I know, this aint a library!

I just want some advice.

Have been thinking about getting an e-reader, cause I'm tired of buying novels that I'll only read once, and then sit on the shelf taking up space and wasting paper. Also, newspapers are so huge now, with all the supplements that you only read half of, then have to throw away.

We don't have the Kindle in UK yet, but Sony has just released that touch thing, and Asus is going to launch a double touch book thingy. So does anyone own a device like this, are they functionally feasable replacements yet, should I wait for Kindle, buy a Sony or give it a couple of years for advancement in technology?

And seeing as I've entitled this topic "books" any other book related discussion would be interesting.

Do Conservatives Dream of Elective Sheep?

[joannajewsom]

On a related note, all of the free library branches in Philadelphia, my hometown, are closing next week. Fucking socialism.

[Elston]

Why are the public libraries closing in Philadelphia?

Personally I'm a huge fan of libraries. I always have a sizable stack of books laying around my room. I like variety. I think I have about 15 things taken out. The hardest part is finding something interesting to read, but by taking out a bunch of stuff you always find something that captures your attention. I mostly read nonfiction, but I watch a lot of movies, so that is where I get my stories from. I get my news from the internet and don't bother with newspapers. I don't bother with the news that often actually. I wish there were more books available online for free to read. I don't mind reading things off the computer, but it seems only 100 year old books are readily available. I'm all for wasting paper. The environment can go screw herself. I think once you come to terms with your own mortality, it becomes harder to care about stuff like saving paper. It's basically a feel good thing anyway. Like God.

[joannajewsom]

Good news! The libraries aren't closing anymore. They were originally supposed to close on Oct. 2nd because of a budget crisis, but the dudes in Harrisburg worked something out.

I agree, more books should be available online for free. And screw the environment. Earth will blow up in the next 50 years anyway. We need to make sure we get our money's worth, if you know what I mean.

[1234567890]

I found librivox.org to be a god sent, this is bea.com so i assume you have the ability to take them on the go, or enjoy in the comforts of home. they also tend to have links to other sites for the same book. just in different formats.

[Elston]

I agree librivox is incredible. Although some of the people who volunteer to read are a bit nuts. Not to mention it's jarring when they have a bunch of people alternating chapters.

[badfaith]

I may be wrong, but the concept of a free library financed through public finances (i.e : the taxpayer) is the very definition of socialism.

The Idea that a particular group or groups can pool resources to accomplish more than the individual or individuals can by themselves is socialism in ethos... also, interestingly, this is also the central plank of the idea of stocks and shares- what is erroneously called "the free market", or capitalism. Therefore we can only conclude that at root the two philosophies are in fact the one and the same, with arguably only one difference: socialism is mandatory, but capitalism, neccessity.

but I'd be able to read about it in my new e-book reader if I had one.

[badfaith]

1.The Illiad- Homer
2.The Old Man and the Sea- Ernest Hemmingway
3.Metamorphasis- Franz Kafka
4.The Machine- Franz Kafka (short story)
5.Flatland- Edwin A Abbot
6.The Plague- Albert Camus
7.Our Man in Havana- Grahame Greene
8.The Undiscovered Self- Carl Gustav Jung
9.Being and Nothingness- Jean Paul Sartre
10.Dune- Frank Herbert.

[Elston]

A rather excellent collection you've got there. I haven't read the Iliad myself. I highly recommend Jung's Analytical Psychology: it's Theory & Practice, which is a series of lectures he gave intended as an introduction to his philosophy. A very good book. And seeing as you enjoy philosophy I have to recommend something from Nietzsche. Perhaps On the Genealogy of Morals.

[badfaith]

Have Read Beyond Good and Evil, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, and am quite keen on jungian Psychology (have some of the Routledge complete works editions)... kind of sets a frame in which philosophy makes sense to me.

Freud always seemed to suck ass to me, so never bothered to read any of his stuff... WE ARE NOT MECHANICAL ANIMALS!!!

But I have been thinking recently of perusing some Freud, perhaps as a comparitive study... possibly motivated by the desire to have my worst fears about him confirmed... but would be pleased to accept advice on where to start.

Being and Nothingness I found to be a real brain bender... my head actually hurt reading it... but it was all the more rewarding for having made the effort.