What book are you reading?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Nietzsche: a philosophical biography-- by Rudiger Safranski. Goes through the development of Nietzsche's ideas by placing them in context of what was going on in his life at the time, e.g. he'll quote from the book he was writing and then from his notes or letters. The first half was very enjoyable and interesting, second half shows the strangeness of Nietzsche. Also the second half spends more time on the parts of Nietzsche's philosophy that I don't find very interesting.

[Jack50]

I read at least 3 books at once Currently in order of depth of time reading them ie-which one I have read the most. In Search of the Dark Ages - Michael Wood; Sex with Kings - Eleanor Herman, and Sixth Edition of The Western Experience Volume I to the Eighteenth Century - several writers,authors. Ther ewas a large book sale 2 weeks ago and I spent $30 USD on books at 50 cents USD to $2 USD My best pick up for $1 USD is Teach Yourself Latin by Gavin Betts. Believe me I'm taking a whole salt shaker to make sure I don't stumble

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Media Madness: James Bowman. Excellent book, short at 100 or so pages but that's all the longer it needed to be. Avoids wasting time talking about liberal bias in the media, instead he talks about how the need to pretend to be objective causes a wide variety of problems.

[Vlixes]

Husserl's "Philosophy as strict science"; possibilty of philosophy beyond counterphilosophies of old and new like naturalism, psychologism and historicism, all forms of scepticism.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Heaven's Command: an imperial progress--Jan Morris. One of my favorite history books that I've read so far. Covers the first 60 years of Victoria's reign, following the growth of the British Empire. Morris has a real knack for painting a lively and interesting portrait without much straining. First book in a trilogy.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Vikings!: Magnus Magnusson. The exclamation point was the publishers idea I think. Good book, gives the background on the vikings and Europe, and then takes you up to 1066. He goes back and forth between talking about viking culture and quoting from the sagas, to describing important people and events, to diving into scholarly and archaeological questions. Hundreds of pictures which are very helpful.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in history--Thomas Carlyle.

Collection of six lectures:

1. (5 May) The Hero as Divinity. Odin. Paganism: Scandinavian Mythology
2. (8 May) The Hero as Prophet. Muhammad: Islam
3. (12 May) The Hero as Poet. Dante; Shakespeare
4. (15 May) The Hero as Priest. Luther; Reformation: Knox; Puritanism
5. (19 May) The Hero as Man of Letters. Johnson, Rousseau, Burns
6. (22 May) The Hero as King. Cromwell. Napoleon: Modern Revolutionism

Very interesting book, his general comments and bio's as well as his discussion of hero-worship. Excellent writer.