Thursday, February 09, 2006

Page Migrations

With the new work hours there is considerable downtime and I can't wear the iPod during work hours so I've finally been able to get some reading done. (Ok, sometimes it's hard to read because there is this person I work with that has a booming and excited voice that resonates off the walls and he needs to talk about everything he does including his last bathroom visit.) I've been stockpiling books to read for the last few years and now can start getting into them. Although I promised someone (cough, Lloyd) that I'd start with the Da Vinci Code, I was drawn into Thomas Sowell's Migrations And Cultures: A World View.

I don't mention Mr. Sowell much but, as I have been reading his column at Townhall.com, he has had a way with words in turning my Polaroid view to that of a wide-angle lens. The book has over 100 pages of reference material (which made the book look ominous) but contains statistics for immigration, emigration, repatriation, remittance and much more that I never knew were documented that far back. If anything, the book does a good job of showing you the struggle of many different cultures to better themselves (which often bettered the economy of the country they came to) while enduring the societal issues of progressing beyond the standards of people of the host country (many of these led from terse harmony to civil wars and genocide to dictatorships.) A very impressive read although it may make your brain hurt a little.

Now I'm off to work and to start Dan Brown's novel in hopes to finish it before the movie is released. I'm sure that it'll be a much easier read. What've you got in your current reading list?

15 comments:

Lily said...

I am currently nearing the end of George RR Martin's, A Feast for Crows. On tap after that is Going Postal by Terry Prachett. Also on the pile is a few Neil Gaiman books, Tolkien's LOTR.

My pile keeps growing, I've had to create a spreadsheet file for the books on my to read list.

Matt said...

I'm stuck in tech manual land. No fun reading here.

Anonymous said...

I've gotten stuck in trilogies and I don't know why I do that to myself. I read the first book, finish it waaaaay before the next is even released. For someone with little patience, this is crazy.

I've started Robert Newcomb's trilogy The Destines of Blood and Stone, first book Savage Messiah. Kind of LOTR-ish. I'm waiting to get Christopher Paolini's second book in his trilogy, Eldest. Also, LOTR-ish. I'm stuck in a genre.

Sar said...

Hi '80sNut, I found you through David Amulett's (though I'm sure I've seen you around more than that).

I've started The Historian 3 times now. It had amazing reviews and is an awared winning novel, but I have yet to find myself "lost" in it. Well, and being a blogaholic doesn't help either. :)

Fred said...

I just bought a book from a fellow blogger that I'm pretty excited about. I can finally stop reading textbooks.

And, look out for Sar, Martin, she's a sneaky one.

Bar L. said...

Hey Martin, great question. I love to read and usually have several books going at once.

Right now:
Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli

The Anatomy of a Motive by John Douglass

Restless Pilgrim, The Spiritual Journey of Bob Dylan by Scott Marhsall

and

The Mind Body Perscription by Dr. Sarno

Teri said...

I am up to my eyeballs in textbooks right now..I will get back to you on that in a few months... Oh wait, nevermind, I will be reading textbooks then too.. sigh

LoraLoo said...

Sadly I am reading nothing right now. Somewhere along the way reading took a back seat. I just don't seem to sit down long enough to pick up a book.

Jay Noel said...

I'm reading Curious George. I wanted to sort of get reaquainted before I took my son to see the movie.

Unknown said...

I know you don't want to know what I have read lately. The list is long...Sara Douglas' 'Wayfarer Redemption' series, Rachel Caine's latest, Trudy Cananvan's new series 'Priestess of the White','St Vidicon' by Stasheff...I could go on...

David Amulet said...

The Da Vinci Code is about the quickest, easiest read ever. I say you'll be done with it in about three days.

My current reads are George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones (I'm just starting the series, lily--don't ruin it for me!), How Customers Think by Gerlad Zaltman, and the draft chapters of my own novel I started years ago. The latter ain't so good ...

-- david

Ethel said...

I've just gotten back into reading, myself. I used to devour books in the hours before I'd go to bed, but then I just kind of quit. I couldn't even bring myself to read while waiting for a flight at the airport. I've eased myself back into it, and look forward to checking out what you are reading.

Martin said...

Finished Di Vinci Code this morning. It's going to make for a very good film. Newest book going in my work bag is Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell. I'll probably throw in Angels & Demons after that.

Nik said...

I thought Angels & Demons was actually better than DaVinci Code. I loved them both, but I like A&D more-- I had the illustrated edition which was quite helpful and cool to have a reference for some of the stuff.

I'm currently re-reading Johnathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. Good stuff!

Lily said...

David, Don't worry. I would never do that to anyone. :)
I hope you enjoy the series.