0
shropshire

So, what are you reading at the moment?

Recommended Posts

Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly. Great read! And don't let the title fool you. If you're Christian but not Catholic, just insert the word Christian wherever you see Catholic. If you're not Christian, but believe in a power higher than yourself, just insert the words "higher power", or whatever you believe in...pm with your name and address if you'd like me to mail you a copy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I just finished Riding Rockets. Really enjoyable read - Mullane is pretty open and uncensored in what he has to say about NASA, the culture there, the lack of political correctness among the astronaut corps in his day (he calls them planet Arrested Development), NASA political BS, and the like. It's a really fun read about the really cool parts and the really mundane parts of space exploration.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

I just finished Riding Rockets. Really enjoyable read - Mullane is pretty open and uncensored in what he has to say about NASA, the culture there, the lack of political correctness among the astronaut corps in his day (he calls them the Arrested Development crowd), NASA political BS, and the like. It's a really fun read about the really cool parts and the really mundane parts of space exploration.



Bored stiff on a cruise ship last year I read Scott Carpenter's biography...an interesting story. Gave some insight to the way NASA was back then and the effect it had on the 'stars' of the program.

I've heard of 'Riding Rockets' ...on your endorsement I'll pick it up. B|










~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Almost finished reading A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. An extremely funny travel memoir about two guys who hike the Appalachian Trail. I highly recommend it.



Read it last year. Loved it!

Just got done with "the art of racing in the rain". It was a decent book.

Just started "Shop class as soulcraft". This has been very good read so far too. Its a book about the skillled trades, how they are overlooked, and how schools have consistantly steered children away from skilled trades and taught children to kind of look down upon the people working in the field of skilled trades. This all even though the intelligence needed to get into the skilled trades is often higher than that required to get into most colleges. I work in skilled trades (industrial controls electrician and automation programming) and many people in my family in past and present generations do too, so it's tripped my trigger a bit.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I just started reading some of the Amazon customer reviews of Riding Rockets. Everyone who gave it 1, 2, or 3 stars ranged from horrified to disappointed at his "potty humor" and "lack of discretion." They seemed to be looking for the highly varnished, astronaut-as-superhuman-hero type of book ... this is NOT that, and that's precisely why I enjoyed it so much. Mullane is very open about the fact that he, in many ways, is old school and at times probably needs to grow up and/or shut up. But he's honest... and that's the cool part. He comes across as a real human being, flaws and all, as do many of the others he describes.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I like to have at least one non-fiction and one fiction book going, and switch back & forth depending on my mood. My current non-fiction is Diplomacy by Henry Kissinger. For fiction, I just finished reading Musachi by Eiji Yoshikawa, an historical/biographical novel about a famous samurai in the 17th Century, Miyamoto Musachi.

I love anything about the space program, so in light of Krisanne's endorsement of Riding Rockets, I'm now itching to check it out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Just finished Bram Stoker's Dracula which I'd rate as a solid meh. Prior to that it was The Great Book of BASE by Matt Gerdes which was a very interesting read. Just started Fleming's Casino Royale and I'm half way through Denis Pagen's Understanding the Sky - A Sport Pilot's Guide to Flying Conditions

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote


I love anything about the space program, so in light of Krisanne's endorsement of Riding Rockets, I'm now itching to check it out.



This thread was perfect timing - when I finished it yesterday I was thinking about starting a thread just to tell people about the book because as I read it I kept thinking "Skydivers would LOVE this guy!":D:D
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
LIFE by Kieth Richards.
ONE ON ONE by Peter Mansbridge. A series of interviews from a TV show on CBC. The Aga Khan, The Dalai Lama, Bill Gates, Brian Wilson, Dianna Krall, Taraq Aziz, Karzai, Clinton, Obama, Thatcher, and on and on. An amazing list.

On Deck
THE LONG ROAD TO FREEDOM -Mandella
THE GOD DELUSION- Dawkins
THEY FIGHT LIKE SOLDIERS, THEY DIE LIKE CHILDREN- Romeo Dallaire
THE CAGED VIRGIN- Ayan Hersey Ali
(gotta stop buying books faster than I can read them)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

0