Holiday Books
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Discussion

soir

Original Poster:

2,277 posts

269 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Can anyone recommend any good books to read?

I read 3 books while at school, but tend to read about 3 in a week on holiday these days. Was not academic when younger at all, but find I wish to learn more the older I get (29). My brother was the opposite, top school, top uni, top awards...

Now i tend to read the easy sporting autobiographies, Grisham novels and occasional crime caper types, however I'd really like to read some books where I will actually learn something (Read Da Vinci Code a few months ago and the most interesting thing in the whole book for me was about Phi -had never heard of this in my life) My brother told me the best book he'd ever read was the history of the british empire which I've borrowed for pending holiday - can anyone else recommend anything which would be relativley easy to read yet I may learn something from?

How to win friends & influence not required (note for sarcastic pher's!!)

andy mac

73,668 posts

285 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
'The Long way round' is a good read. From the Ewan mcGregor, and Charley Borman trip around the world on motorbikes... great read. Not taxing in the slightest, and very interesting.

Hughesie2

12,790 posts

312 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
andy mac said:
'The Long way round' is a good read. From the Ewan mcGregor, and Charley Borman trip around the world on motorbikes... great read. Not taxing in the slightest, and very interesting.


the DVD is a great compliment to the book as well...

andy mac

73,668 posts

285 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Hughesie2 said:

andy mac said:
'The Long way round' is a good read. From the Ewan mcGregor, and Charley Borman trip around the world on motorbikes... great read. Not taxing in the slightest, and very interesting.



the DVD is a great compliment to the book as well...

Got both! Love the series, and have a new-found respect for Mr McGregor, as I always thought he was a bit of a prick!! He's alright by me!

Incorrigible

13,668 posts

291 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
I'm currently battling my way through "Racing and sportscar chassis design" (Costin and Phipps)

Very good

andy mac

73,668 posts

285 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
What about one of Stephen hawkings books? have to read back a page every now and then, but very interesting.

FunkyNige

9,821 posts

305 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
andy mac said:
What about one of Stephen hawkings books? have to read back a page every now and then, but very interesting.


Brief History of Time is OK, the rest aren't anything special IMHO, he also labours easy points and breezes over the more involved stuff.

Enimga's OK, but it can be a bit tedious in parts.

deckster

9,631 posts

285 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
soir said:
can anyone else recommend anything which would be relativley easy to read yet I may learn something from?


Anything by Richard Dawkins. He's a brilliant writer and guaranteed to make you think. 'A Devil's Chaplain' is a good place to start - it's a collection of essays and there's bound to be something that interests you.

jimothy

5,151 posts

267 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Bill Bryson's 'A short history of nearly everything' - science in a very simple form.

alltorque

2,646 posts

299 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all


?

alltorque

2,646 posts

299 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Hughesie2 said:

alltorque said:




the DVD is a great compliment to the book as well...


pdV6

16,442 posts

291 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Currently reading Crichton's 'State of Fear'.

Should appeal to the average PH'er (if such an animal exists)

steveherb

250 posts

267 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Anything by Robert Ludlum, and Band of Brothers is an absolute must.

andy mac

73,668 posts

285 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
2001:Space Odyssey.. great book... And very thoughful... Or anything by Ian M. Banks... Start with excession though, as it sort of introduces you to his little universe.

Hughesie2

12,790 posts

312 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
alltorque said:

Hughesie2 said:


alltorque said:





the DVD is a great compliment to the book as well...





Excellent editing my man !!