(Part 2) Best literary movements & periods books according to redditors
We found 948 Reddit comments discussing the best literary movements & periods books. We ranked the 443 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
I'm doing my own research into this as I also became interested in Battutah after reading your post.
Mackintosh-Smith has a one-volume abridgement of the travels, unrelated to his personal three-volume reconstruction of the journey. This is abridged from the four-volume translation by Gibb and Beckingham, published by the Hakluyt Society, which I believe is the edition you mentioned.
It is worth noting that the scholars who compiled the complete Arabic version of the Travels were critical of the translation you linked by Samuel Lee:
> "In their introduction Defrémery and Sanguinetti praised Lee's annotations but were critical of his translation which they claimed lacked precision, even in straightforward passages."
Took that straight from Wikipedia but it claims to be sourced from the French edition of the Travels, here. It's also worth noting that translation is fairly dated by this point.
Personally I'm not the type who can get through four volumes of older, translated text, so I'll likely go with the Mackintosh-Smith abridgement. Figured it was worth posting so people know what options are out there. There's also Dunn's version as you say, which is another option.
The MonkeySphere, more formally known as Dunbar's Number.
I sometimes wrap other ideas around that, but that usually nails it for me. Doesn't sound it'll be too much use for your application, though. In which case I recommend The Tao of Pooh and Te of Piglet and Fuck It - The Ultimate Spiritual Way.
The Culture is the "enemy" in Consider Phlebas; Banks is setting things up for the rest of the series by seeing things from Bora Horza Gobochul's viewpoint in this book. So no, the other books aren't as full of torture and gore as CP. Violence there definitely is, even though it is more of the "impersonal millions dying" type.
You also have to remember that Banks dreamed up/wrote The Culture books at a time when space opera had been in a coma for many, many years. He re-defined what space opera (and SF in general) could do/should be; something similar to what GRRM did many years later for fantasy. If you've read modern space opera/SF before reading The Culture, it might help keeping this in mind.
I'd also recommend reading Banks' A Few Notes on the Culture, which he wrote much before the novels. If you want a more critical look at The Culture, Simone Caroti's book is really good.
The inclusion of SK in the series will make more sense when you read book 7. Also, I highly recommend reading Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Complete Concordance after you're done as well. This book helped me understand and appreciate the books moreso. SK's inclusion in the series is quite fitting and one of the reasons I like the series so much.
Most things from the past will be unknown to most people - usually people know of the major stuff - not the minor details.
You might consider reading original material from scholar/travelers from China to India (the advantage of reading original material - esp. for a writer - is that you get loads of detailed material which is relevant for you and you may notice it - although it may not be relevant for the wider picture a historian maybe painting - so there will be details which will be valuable to get a sense of the environment).
For example:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faxian
and his accounts of visit to Taxila (Greco-Buddhist university - in present day Pakistan - which was part of the greater India in pre-1947 era):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxila
Or this guy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xuanzang
another link for him:
http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Xuanzang_or_Hsüan-tsang
There are many other original travelogues you can read to get an idea of that period and region.
You can read Al Biruni's India - which chronicles India as he experienced it in 1000 AD - the variations in Hinduism as were apparent to him. He bitterly criticizes one of his contemporary Muslim conquerors for being brutal (Mahmud Ghaznavi who is remembered by both Muslims and Hindus for his aggressive actions against hindus and their temples).
And these are all modern looking books - i.e. since the people/scholars who wrote these were perceptive etc. So Al Biruni's India includes some details about variations and the types of people.
https://www.amazon.com/Alberunis-Abridged-Library-Al-Biruni-1993-05-01/dp/B017POL2C8/
As aid to Al Biruni's critical recounting of the state of India around 1000 AD (much of the book is very technical examination of things) - you may consider reading some of the British journals of the people of India - where they documented for each region the tribes and their oral history (as an effort to understand them so they could rule them).
There are many books about history - Ibn Khaldun's Preface to his history of the world is one of the most famous books of science/observation (The Muqaddimah) - but you could peruse his voluminous history of the world - which would be somewhat fanciful - and this again would be around 1000 AD.
https://www.amazon.com/Muqaddimah-Introduction-History-Princeton-Classics/dp/0691166285
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Biruni
If you have interest in the European region from 900AD - there are some travelogues by Muslim scholars/travelers who went north into european lands (the inspiration for the movie starring "The 13th Warrior" starring Antonio Banderas):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120657/
The 13th Warrior
https://www.amazon.com/Ibn-Fadlan-Land-Darkness-Travellers/dp/0140455078/
Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness: Arab Travellers in the Far North
Again these books come across as very contemporary - as their writers analyze each group of different (to their eyes) people they meet. It also gives secondary insight into the details of those periods.
Although slightly later than your time period - from the 1300s - you can read Ibn Battuta and his travels all over - and his fanciful descriptions of the people he meets:
https://www.amazon.com/Travels-Ibn-Battutah/dp/0330418793/
I understand this. Some relevant links in Norwegian:
University of Oslo on how Christianity came to Norway
Here an article on the first Christian inscriptions in Norway from University of Technology and Science in Trondheim
Both the above articles refer to the fundamental academic book on early Christian influence in Norway: Fritjof Birekli Tolv vintre hadde kristendommen vært i Norge = Christianity had been 12 winters in the country
Snorri Sturlassons books on Norse mythology as well as on king Haakon the Good and other early Norwegian kings are available in English. His books are fundamental sources for an understanding of the Norse universe of thoughts for the twelfth century when they were written - and is what OP is looking for
Read the Roman historian Livy, The War With Hannibal. Get the Penguin Classics edition.
>I wouldn't recommend any single source in the first place.
I'll recommend a single source for hermetic philosophy: the Corpus Hermeticum.
Here are a bunch of books you may be interested in. If you want a good place to start, look at George Silver first, then go from there. He doesn't talk about sword and targe, but he talks about timing and how to move correctly.
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Of-Defence-George-Silver/dp/1581607237/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1DF0FCFNQH8MXDQ3BWGK
http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Swordsmanship-Techniques-Scottish-Swordmasters/dp/1891448153/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=146FGG67D9GKR3T2HMCY
http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Martial-Culture-Heritage-Scotland/dp/1581606923/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=146FGG67D9GKR3T2HMCY
http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Broadsword-Lessons-Drills-Practices/dp/1581607288/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=146FGG67D9GKR3T2HMCY
http://www.amazon.com/Highland-Knife-Fighting-With-Sgian/dp/1581605668/ref=pd_sim_b_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=146FGG67D9GKR3T2HMCY (just because it's Scottish and nice to know.)
http://www.amazon.com/Broadsword-Singlestick-Quarter-Staff-Walking-Stick-Self-Defense/dp/1449917178/ref=pd_sim_b_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=146FGG67D9GKR3T2HMCY (way late, but may still be useful)
I just ordered the readers companion and I have high hopes for it http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0345511190/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?ref_=pe_309540_26725410_item_image
EDIT: Realized that was the mobile link. Fixed the link: http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Readers-Companion-Star-Wars/dp/0345511190
UPDATE: An I received it. It completely lives up to my expectations.
I'm torn between a general intro to philosophy, some sort of historical survey, or just a regular philosophy book.
I'd probably give them Four Texts on Socrates, and insist that they read the editor's introduction for context. I just think that the best intro to philosophy is to read Plato.
I would pick up a copy of America: https://www.amazon.com/America-Jean-Baudrillard/dp/184467682X
It's an easy read (more of a travel log than a formal text).
As far as the story's structure goes, the protagonist remains the focus of the story no matter whether he turns from a good guy into a bad guy, or a bad guy into a good. An the antagonist is a character who seeks to prevent the protagonist from achieving his goal. So the antagonist can be good or bad as well. Protagonist doesn't mean hero and antagonist doesn't mean villain.
Try The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox.
The newest Essential Reader's Companion is the best yet. So many original pieces of artwork in it, and the summaries are insanely well done. You could honestly read through just that and have a pretty thorough understanding of everything that has ever happened in the Star Wars EU.
Pick up this book as a reference guide to Legends:
The Essential Reader's Companion (Star Wars) (Star Wars: Essential Guides) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345511190/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_LqdWub0TSAMDG
The best place to start is the Thrawn Trilogy. I started with Darth Plagueis.
I haven't read this myself, but it might help:
The Culture Series of Iain M. Banks: A Critical Introduction by Simone Caroti
https://www.amazon.ca/Culture-Iain-M-Banks-Introduction-ebook/dp/B00WAKN7XK
A few bits of advice: A) Forever is relative - you're going to live 100% of your life no matter how long that is, B) being a junior in college really isn't that large of an investment relative to the rest of your life, and C) if you really want to think about your place in a post-human world, might I suggest the excellent In the Dust of This Planet.
> If God said rape was moral you’d agree.
No, i wouldn't. I can disagree with god.
I provide as evidence the fact that I disagree with god about beating slaves. So no.
You're also not answering the question.
> I chose to say god spelled with a small g as a proxy for all of every and any concept of god as it might exist in any way shape or form other than God
Yeah, that's going to get confusing. Just say christian god, vs gods or something.
​
I don't really care what Darwin thought about god.
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> He exists outside of our physical realm, thus being our objective source for morality.
I don't see the connection between these two things.
​
> Since you are unwilling to conceive of Him or any other being as existing outside of the physical universe
I've never done this. You just decided that I think god is within the universe or something. You're just putting words in my mouth.
> in a reality where there is only the physical universe and what is contained herein, all that could ever exist is what is subjective and phenomenal
This is false. The fact that there is a chair under me right now is an objective fact.
> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BRJWCO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qjLTBbF83HQ01
In your own words please.
I respectfully disagree with the statement that
>the increased use of auxiliary verbal tenses, especially passé composé, is probably due to Germanic influence.
First, according to the language histories I've consulted (by Romance scholars Ralph Penny and Rebecca Posner), the compound past tense (with habere) was already present in spoken Latin.
Second, in contrast to the "not universal" claim in Wikipedia, Posner states that "nearly all the Romance languages make some use of a compound perfect".
Third, Posner (former Chair of Romance Linguistics at Oxford, and a great writer!) specifically disparages the Germanic hypothesis:
>Some commentators have implausibly attributed the use of the ESSE auxiliary with some intransitive verbs to the influence of German, where the distribution of haben and sein auxiliaries is similar, but others have linked it to stative and passive uses of the ESSE auxiliary.
Finally, according to Bernd Heine and Tania Kuteva's World Lexicon of Grammaticalization the evolution from a possessive to a perfective is "mostly confined to European languages," meaning that it's also found elsewhere. I wish they were more specific on this point; the only other language they give as an example is Cantonese. I also wish they discussed the être-based passive.
If you want to write, write.
Most novice writers are not good. I'm not good, but I write because I love writing. Keep writing and you'll become better.
Somethings that I noticed while reading it once-over:
> A half empty whiskey bottle sat on the nightstand, its remaining contents enjoying their final moments of freedom
How is bottled liquid ever free?
> Worldly matters were hardly his concern anymore.
This feeling could be very powerful shown rather than told. Show the reader his feelings through action.
> he whispered.
and
> remarked Craig
And
> he coughed
and
> he slurred
There is nothing wrong with "he said." The impact of 'he whispers' isn't as intense when you frequently use tags like this.
If you seriously want to get into writing, I recommend Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft (8th Edition) by Janet Burroway. It's a great book for beginning writers and has some absolutely fantastic samples.
Best of luck.
For a history of Spanish, I thought this book was excellent:
https://www.amazon.com/History-Spanish-Language-Ralph-Penny/dp/0521011841
>I couldn't recommend translations for either of these to English, as I've read them in Norwegian translations.
I have this edition of the Heimskringla and this of Egil's saga and found them both to be pretty solid and readable. The Penguin edition of Njal's saga is also pretty good.
Not sure if this is what you had in mind, but I believe Ralph Penny's History of the Spanish Language is an authoritative text on the evolution of Spanish language. I used it in a Spanish philology class. IIRC it goes into great technical depth.
Me again :) I had some more ideas.
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You might also enjoy Livy's War with Hannibal, a really exciting book about the battle between Hannibal and Fabius Maximus, and their different fighting styles (Maximus was very cunning, or maybe just considered so because he won). I have this exact edition and it's a fun read, also full of gossip about goings-on in Rome at the time.
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You could also have a look at Caesar's Conquest of Gaul: the history of his conquest, straight from the horse's mouth, as it were. I recall it being a bit dry and self-congratulatory, but hey, it's the man himself!
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If you're looking at a very realistic description of political leadership (including military), have a look at Machiavelli's Prince. Despite having a reputation that's, well, Machiavellian, it's actually a very reasonable books about attaining and keeping political power. It's very much in line with what you say about
\> not making them the perfectly good side
plus he talks a lot about his ideal Prince, the infamous Cesare Borgia (who was a condottiere, or military leader of sorts). Loads of examples about his military achievements are given.
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From modern history, De Gaulle's War Memoirs is very well-written and makes one fully realise the difficulties he faced and the responsibilities he took!
You should check out the Star Wars Reader's Companion
Here is a link to the videos for the 4 part "Sweet Swan of Avon" documentary, where Petter Amundsen details his theories. They are in Norwegian with English subtitles. I believe this is the series that appeared on tv, before the full length documentary was made.
http://vimeo.com/album/2918997
I have not found a video link for "Shakespearre: The Hidden Truth" yet, but will post here if I do.
He does have an ebook on Amazon. "Oak Island & the Treasure Map in Shakespeare by Petter Amundsen".
http://www.amazon.com/Oak-Island-Treasure-Map-Shakespeare-ebook/dp/B007TUGKCQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421438525&sr=8-1&keywords=shakespeare+the+hidden+truth
As a Canadian I have known about the mystery of oak island for many many years, I learned about it as a child. I have read several books on Oak Island, with different theories. I am following the series "The Curse of Oak Island" on the history channel. I would love to see the mystery solved, which is why I tune in every week. The show is repetitive, and geared to keep the reader in suspense. It is made for TV and thus it sensationalizes every find or new piece of info. But I don't really care, I want to see the mystery solved!
OK, here is one book that uses actual historical facts and documents to make my point:
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Literature-Socialism-2nd/dp/0718892275
and a brief review of it:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/hitler-and-the-socialist-dream-1186455.html
EDIT:
>The Bolsheviks fought Mensheviks fought Maoists fought Anarchists fought whatever because they each regarded each other as insufficiently socialist. The Nazis fought everyone else (including non-leftist liberals and social democrats) because they were insufficiently Nazis and there was no room for ideological maneuver within Hitler's party.
Which still does not refute the fact that Nazis were leftist. They were simply a particularly nasty political group that wanted to have it their way over everyone else's body.
If you can link me to some, probably his greatest hits to get me started? I'll try Amazon right now.
Edit: Is this one okay?
I love getting the opportunity to plug my absolute favorite book
http://www.amazon.com/Scipio-Africanus-Greater-Than-Napoleon/dp/0306813637
Scipio Africanus was the man that beat Hannibal in the second Punic War. If you want a more Hannibal-centric text then I would recommend The War with Hannibal by Titus Livy, though that one was written in antiquity so you'll have to keep that in mind while reading it.
> As close as we could get it, he usually makes replicas for museums, this was an exact copy of a suit from the musee de l'armee in Paris.
Say no more. Good job! Any armour porn?
> We know, we wanted to test the fictional account of a knight, not the real thing and in so far as fiction goes, kite shields are common. :)
Right, that makes sense. Was this for a discussion within a group like the SCA? That would have been interesting to see the outcome from. Do you have any links?
> I could kiss you, thank you!
I highly recommend these manuals (along with Fiore) for HEMA/WMA combat techniques:
http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Hans_Talhoffer/Complete
http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Philippo_di_Vadi
http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Ludwig_VI_von_Eyb
I like George Silver for understanding the medieval mindset when it comes to warfare:
http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/George_Silver
Paul Wagner's work on Silver: http://www.amazon.com/Master-Of-Defence-George-Silver/dp/1581607237/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371540106&sr=8-1&keywords=master+of+defense
I don't agree with everything that is in here, but it's a mostly decent approach to pulling apart Fiore: http://www.amazon.com/Fiore-dei-Liberis-Armizare-Chivalric/dp/0982591179/ref=pd_sim_b_31
Probably the best translation of Vadi: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Veni-Vadi-Vici-Guy-Windsor/dp/9529316860/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
This is probably the best book on the medieval dagger (based on Fiore): http://www.freelanceacademypress.com/MAA1_MedievalDagger.aspx
I know that when I went in for my internship at an alternative publication, my editor told me to buy The Art and Craft of Feature Writing, by William Blundell. I'm still working on reading it, but it's been rather helpful and has some great tips about organization, leads, wordcraft, etc, as well as giving ideas new energy or looking at done to death topics from new perspectives.
Hope that helps!
I went to the University of Kansas so maybe I'm biased here, but our Classics professor's translations of both of these are amazing.
Happily. Here a few few quick resources I found for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plot_(narrative)
http://www.storymastery.com/articles/34-ten-simple-keys-to-plot-structure
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/how-to-structure-a-story-the-eight-point-arc/
And here a couple references that might interest you if you want more detail on what we generally expect from fiction:
http://www.amazon.com/Plot-Structure-Techniques-Exercises-Crafting/dp/158297294X
http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Fiction-Guide-Narrative-Edition/dp/0205750346
Now, I hope you don't mind if I assume you may feel that I have attacked your opinion of ME3 with my comments. It wasn't my intention to say that you can't enjoy it. Hell, I'm happy for you if you did. But there is a real difference between enjoying something and believing it is good.
In the case of ME3, we can see that some of the most well established principles of writing, thematic and structural elements which are integral to the crafting of a quality narrative, have been abandoned.
If you honestly want to know more, I'd encourage you to take a course in creative writing, or even better, in literary history. With a little background and perspective, you can start to understand why some books, films and games seem to be lacking and why others have a stronger appeal.
EDIT: As I look at your post again, I wonder why you are asking me for specific examples at all, when I have clearly outlined a major structural failing of the narrative in my last post. Oh well, maybe this additional information will be of use to you anyway.
Quality is more important than quantity here. For instance, there isn't even a dialogue called Death of Socrates. It's likely just an abridged version of the Phaedo.
If cost is an issue, I would recommend West and West's Four Texts on Socrates. You get Plato's "Euthyphro," "Apology of Socrates," "Crito," and Aristophanes' "Clouds" for $13 plus shipping. The last one is a real treat, and offers a glimpse into how Socrates was viewed during his life in Athens. The foot notes are really helpful too.
http://www.amazon.com/Four-Texts-Socrates-Euthyphro-Aristophanes/dp/0801485746
Edit: I'll add this. I have the Complete Works, and use it in a pinch to look things up. It's nice to have, but it costs a lot as you point out. And truthfully, if I was taking a class on say... The Laws, I'd have to opt for a better translation. It's kind of luxury book to have and looks nice on the shelf.
For one of my literary theory classes in undergrad, we used this book. The author analyzes 'The Great Gatsby' through the lens of 10 or 12 critical frameworks. It was really illuminating, clear, and enjoyable to read. Lit theory is the focus, but it also provided a lot of insight into the fundamental ideas of the various critical perspectives that were highlighted. Definitely recommended.
Critical theory does tend to be cryptic, deliberately so in a lot of cases. You might enjoy Baudrillard's America. It's fairly accessible as far as his stuff goes, if you have a rudimentary understanding of his Hyperreal idea.
I would reccomend that you start with "America". It is accessible (it does require work to understand his prose, terminology, etc.) and it does touch on some of big concepts. If you want something in terms of secondary literature, the Introducing series has a book on Baudrillard and Purdue has a few accessible modules on Baudrillard.
Awesome reply, thanks. I'm currently going through Herodotos' "The Histories", so I'm looking forward to learning more about Hannibal after I'm through with it. Though it seems like I'd find even the "boring" parts of Livy's writings interesting.
I also just checked Amazon, and it looks like there's quite a few Penguin Classics books on ancient history available. If anyone is interested, here's a link to "The War with Carthage" on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-War-Hannibal-Foundation-Classics/dp/014044145X/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QZTSAH3TVKP89YTGGA7
I have this edition, but interestingly, it seems to lack "Hermes Trismegistus, His First Book". The Copenhaver edition begins with "(Discourse) of Hermes Trismegistus: Poimandres". The edition which includes The First Book is called "The Divine Pymander". Both of these can be bought on Amazon.
"The Divine Pymander"
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002ECE6GQ/internetsacredte
"Hermetica"
(Copenhaver Translation)
https://www.amazon.com/Hermetica-Hermeticum-Asclepius-Translation-Introduction-dp-0521425433/dp/0521425433/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1537562450
This is writing. Kick at darkness till it bleeds ... something decent.
I envision an image, and draw it like a 9 year old. Because no practice.
I'm no genius at storytelling, but find like anything the skill slowly grows. Best resource I've ever come across was Janet Burroway. Like drawing, storytelling requires a specific set of skills you can hone.
The best FREE online source (http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/ice/)
The most important works on the subject are the EDDAS, the poetic and prose and your collection cannot be called complete without them (http://www.amazon.ca/The-Prose-Edda-Mythology-Classics-ebook/dp/B002RI9HRU/ref=pd_sim_kinc_8?ie=UTF8&refRID=0M032MEETG0CVXAT539W) (http://www.amazon.ca/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics-ebook/dp/B00LKGBK1Q/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1CGS5F6Q2WWB3HR2DKFR)
Sagas of the Icelanders is a pretty comprehensive book and an easier than scholarly text read (http://www.amazon.ca/Sagas-Icelanders-Penguin-Classics-Deluxe/dp/0141000031/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425947217&sr=1-1&keywords=sagas+of+the+icelanders)
A great historical (a little mythology) view of the Vikings in John Clements the Vikings (http://www.amazon.ca/Brief-History-Vikings-Jonathan-Clements-ebook/dp/B00AJN9KHC/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1425947425&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=the+vikings+john+clements)
A great dictionary/listing of Viking myths can be found in Cassell's Dictionary of Norse Myth & Legend (http://www.amazon.ca/Cassells-Dictionary-Norse-Myth-Legend/dp/0304363855/ref=sr_1_cc_8?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1425947500&sr=1-8-catcorr&keywords=dictionary+of+norse+myths+and+legend)
A great source for the kings of Norway and their (mis)adventuires would be the Heimskringla but there isn't as much mythology in there, more historical (http://www.amazon.ca/Heimskringla-History-Norway-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0292730616/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425947617&sr=1-1&keywords=heimskringla)
There's a bunch of other sagas you may want to sink your teeth into: Njal's, Grettir's, etc... If you want to listen about some Viking sagas via podcast, I'd recommend Saga thing, both entertaining and informative (https://sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com/)
Here are the ones I have and that I recommend:
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SPANISH
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The Story of Spanish: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Spanish-Jean-Benoit-Nadeau/dp/1250049040
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The History of Spanish: A Student's Introduction: https://www.amazon.com/History-Spanish-Students-Introduction/dp/1316507947 (available now from: https://www.bookdepository.com/History-Spanish-Diana-L-Ranson/9781316507940)
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A History of the Spanish Language through Texts: https://www.amazon.com/History-Spanish-Language-through-Texts/dp/0415707129
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A Brief History of the Spanish Language: (but it's really not brief) https://www.amazon.com/Brief-History-Spanish-Language-Second/dp/022613394X
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La maravillosa historia del espa?ol https://www.amazon.com/maravillosa-historia-del-espa/dp/8467044276
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A History of the Spanish Language https://www.amazon.com/History-Spanish-Language-Ralph-Penny/dp/0521011841
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The Evolution of Spanish https://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Spanish-Linguistic-Thomas-Lathrop/dp/1589770145
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Los 1001 años de la lengua española https://www.amazon.com/lengua-española-ESTUDIOS-LITERARIOS-Spanish/dp/968166678X
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FRENCH
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The Story of French: https://www.amazon.com/Story-French-Jean-Benoit-Nadeau/dp/0312341849
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A History of the French Language https://www.amazon.com/History-French-Language-Peter-Rickard/dp/041510887X
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French Inside Out: The Worldwide Development of the French Language in the Past, the Present and the Future https://www.amazon.com/French-Inside-Out-Worldwide-Development/dp/0415076706
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The French Language: present and past https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0729302083
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Once you start researching Esoteric interpretations, and secret societies, you won't turn back.
I suggest you start with "The Kybalion", and "Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius" http://www.amazon.com/Hermetica-Hermeticum-Asclepius-Translation-Introduction/dp/0521425433. This will give you a good base of understanding the source of mystery religions.
After reading these books you are going to need to decide on what your morals are, and what are your goals for learning the material? Are you learning to be wiser, and closer to God? Or to serve yourself? There are many schools and societies for both.
Lombardo's translation of the Odyssey uses an Earthrise photo -- from Apollo 8, 11, or 17, I am not sure. It's evocative but nothing like as fantastic as the cover of his Iliad. Does that count?
http://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Homer/dp/0872204847/
Plato's Apology is a must read. It's short, maybe about 30 pages. I've read it many times, and I get something new out of it every time. Basically Socrates was put on trial for corrupting the Athenian youth and inventing new gods, and this is Plato's version of it. But the book is almost entirely Socrates' reflections on his life, and what it means to be a philosopher.
I think it's the perfect introduction to philosophy in general. He talks about many things: wisdom, death, ethics, the conscience, and what it means to know.
Here's the translation I like best. It has some other Plato dialogues and Aristophanes' play about Socrates. The running commentary is also very helpful, especially if it's your first introduction to Plato/Socrates.
I've been a professional journalist for 20 years, half of it as a freelancer. I've found few books helpful; I've learned a lot more from personal mentoring and participation in a private e-mail list for journalists.
The exception is The Art and Craft of Feature Writing: Based on The Wall Street Journal Guide -- which helped me learn the difference between a topic and a story. One of my bosses (and mentors) handed it to me shortly after I moved from Writer to Editor, and I've been grateful ever since.
It's included here, along with many other discourses. I highly recommend it :)
"The Art and Craft of Feature Writing: Based on The Wall Street Journal Guide" book (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0452261589 not aff link) is surprisingly good, I'm reading it just now.
While the book is primarily targeted towards journalists writing features, there is also a good explanation about how to build a story, which elements should be there, or what makes the story (un)interesting.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007TUGKCQ/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
So as others have said these are basically internet problems and if you log off and do some IRL political activism then those problems are much much less bad (not perfect, and I do understand that you've already had one negative experience of activism, but a lot better).
I'd also say these are largely bubble problems and if you step back and try not to take the political bubble too seriously then you will also find that helps. A lot of what you're talking about is basically the "office gossip" of the left, it's not really the substance, and just as if you spend your time at work getting involved in the gossip and not the work then you'll get depressed so too with the left.
But insofar as there's a substance issue here I do have someone you might like, but I'm giving you a health warning first. I personally feel identity politics is very important and if you negate it what you end up with is the "dirtbag left" (ie eXile, chapo etc..) which just very quickly becomes quite toxic and entitled and complacent. It's important to have compassion when thinking about people whose life experiences might be different to your own, otherwise the slide down the slope into the alt right is alarmingly short.
Now, all that said, the man you're looking for is Mark Fisher (RIP), Vampire Castle, K-Punk and Acid Communism. He was a controversial figure, but I think you're going to love him, and he's much more nuanced and compassionate (and clever) than the dirtbag crowd
Pitch, pitch and pitch.
gekogekogeko just posted some excellent examples of the art
Other than that I have only seen one book that I consider worth reading: William E. Blundell - The Art and Craft of Feature Writing: Based on the Wall Street Journal Guide.
Combine the two and have patience.
A little girly but my favorite book of all time is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I read it for the first time in the 7th grade but my mother got it for me before I was born. I guess she knew I would be a reader.
My favorite recently read would be The Meaning of Night. I'm not one for mysteries, I pretty much read exclusively Fantasy and Historical Fiction. But this book was recommended by a friend and at first was a little hard to get into but once I found my rhythm I finished it almost in a day.
This book has always been a favorite of mine-I had it given to me once for my birthday, and that copy disappeared, so after a year I bought it for myself and I was reading it at work one day (on a slow afternoon while hanging out with the wallabies), set it down to help someone, and when I turned around it was stolen! Either I am not meant to have this book-or I have the worst luck ever!!
If God said rape was moral you’d agree.
That’s my argument.
When I said you believe god is contained within our physical realm, I could have (should have?) said “the concept of god”, but I chose to say god spelled with a small g as a proxy for all of every and any concept of god as it might exist in any way shape or form other than God. I’m trying to stipulate exactly what you believe, a Darwinian version of god. I say Darwinian and not evolutionary because of my exposure to the Darwin, and the Evolution of God, (The Evolving God: Charles Darwin on the Naturalness of Religion https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I2MZNGO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_raLTBbSC832CC) a work detailing how his belief in god as I have described him is what has prevailed more than his Origin or Species (which was being chased by a variety of biologists just like so many contemporaries were chasing flight.)
My reason for claiming that you are mixing objective and subjective comes from my original argument that He exists outside of our physical realm, thus being our objective source for morality. Since you are unwilling to conceive of Him or any other being as existing outside of the physical universe, all sources of morality must proceed from within our own natural realm and must all be subjective. This is why I believe I say, “you’re being subjective!” but you say “oh yeah, well you’re being subjective too!” Well of course you say that, in a reality where there is only the physical universe and what is contained herein, all that could ever exist is what is subjective and phenomenal because the objective and noumenal aren’t just beyond our grasp, they’re not even conceivable. Here I am trying (with all my frail might) to follow the work of Eugene Thacker (In the Dust of This Planet: Horror of Philosophy vol. 1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BRJWCO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qjLTBbF83HQ01).
Disclaimer: The works cited here do not represent my views. They are from renown atheists, but they’re rael smart.
I have three things to say in response to anyone's disdain for this series:
1.) Stephen King's self-inclusion was more critical to the theme of this series than almost anything else. You cannot have a story that transcends space and time (read: where and when) like DT does, without acknowledging the fact that the person writing the stories is from one of those specific spaces/times.
2.) One of the key concepts reiterated throughout all 7 books was that of Ka, the always turning wheel of fate. Keyword there: WHEEL. It would stand to reason that any ending, would only recycle to the "beginning" of the wheel. Therefore the ending could have been nothing other than to reset and start over. Although this time one thing is different, which may very well change certain things on the next cycle, but inevitably he will face the same rotation again, and again.
3.) I fortunately was able to read all 7 books without having to wait for any to be released. This afforded be the ability to read it all within the guise of an entire series, rather than one at a time which applies a different conceptualization of each part. Even having read it all only once, I was certain I would have picked up on a lot more had I known where it was all heading. Re-reading it was an incredible experience for it. I've since re-read it several times over, including Robin Furth's Concordance, which guided me through the various characters, times and themes throughout. My most recent re-read included the Marvel comic series, which also helped illustrate several things I had been missing.
TL;DR - If you find any issue with how King completed his magnum opus, than a re-read is imperative. Like the wheel of Ka, everything will be the same, save for anything you find different.
this has been the most illuminative book for me:
http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Fiction-Guide-Narrative-Edition/dp/0205750346
Thanks for the help, everyone, but I've found one that I'm going to buy!
http://www.amazon.com/Heimskringla-History-Norway-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0292730616
Four Texts of Socrates, start with the Euthyphro.
http://www.amazon.com/Four-Texts-Socrates-Euthyphro-Aristophanes/dp/0801485746
That author is the Professor of my Philo. Professor.
Thank you for posting this! A short note on bibliography: Mead's translation of Corpus Hermeticum is nice because it is free (link), but one of the best modern translations is the (non-free) one of Copenhaver (link) .
eta: OP quote for larification
>Will I enjoy the Dark Tower Series if I am not a Stephen King fan?
You will. I read a few King novels in the long ago and then, probably unwisely, wrote him off. Years later I was coerced into reading The Gunslinger and tore through the other three available at the time. He actually makes some of the more significant references obvious. So, if they're interesting as you read The Dark Tower, you can self select which ones you want to explore further.
There's also Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Complete Concordance, Revised and Updated and this wiki page if you just want some clarification.
The Art and Craft of Feature Writing looks beyond the writing and into the blocks of building stories. The book was for a long time, and may still be, part of the Wall Street Journal training for new reporters.
The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox is rather good pseudo-Victorian fiction. A little predictable, plot-wise, in some places, but the general ambience is very good.
Did you mean the Fisher book? If so then yes it's in print and ebook. The quotation is from its final chapter, which is the draft introduction to his never completed book, Acid Communism.
Books:
#ACCELERATE
Inventing the Future (Left Accelerationism)
Libidinal Economy (Lyotard)
Anti-Oedipuis: Capitalism and Schizophrenia (Deleuze and Guattari)
Capitalist Realism (Fisher)
K-Punk(Fisher, a newly released anthology)
Articles:
This is the best introduction I've come across
The MAP (Manifesto for an Accelerationist Politics)
This article from The Guardian
I recommend the Lombardo Edition.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WAKN7XK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T2_w9FBzb43ZZX35
Silver's Paradoxes of Defence and Bref Instructions. Plenty of versions online, but the most modern transcription from Silver's handwritten manuscript is the book Master of Defence https://www.amazon.com/Master-Defence-Works-George-Silver/dp/1581607237/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EZ12ZKKE4MNW2QZESYQN and Stephen Hand's English Swordsmanship https://www.amazon.com/English-Swordsmanship-Fight-George-Silver/dp/1891448277 is a superb how-to manual.
I've been mostly going through this one: http://www.amazon.com/Travels-Ibn-Battutah/dp/0330418793/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419450305&sr=8-1&keywords=ibn+battuta+tim
i've enjoyed it quite a bit so far. he does admit to excising what he considers to be uninteresting details, so i may have to find a more comprehensive volume.
Try playing Knights of the old Republic 1 and 2, it tells you a lot about the Second Sith War and the Mandalorian Wars. Also I would highly recommend all the new Essential guides, found in any Chapters store or Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Jedi-vs-Sith-Essential-Guide/dp/0345493346
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-The-Essential-Atlas/dp/0345477642/ref=pd_sim_b_1/184-0640685-6358056
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Guide-Warfare-Star-Wars/dp/0345477626/ref=pd_sim_b_1
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Guide-Vehicles-Vessels-Star/dp/0345449029/ref=pd_sim_b_4
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Weapons-Technology-Revised-Edition/dp/0345449037/ref=pd_sim_b_1
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Guide-Alien-Species-Star/dp/034547760X/ref=pd_sim_b_3
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Guide-Droids-Star-Wars/dp/0345477596/ref=pd_sim_b_1
http://www.amazon.com/The-Essential-Chronology-Star-Wars/dp/0345449010/ref=pd_sim_b_4
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Guide-Characters-Star-Wars/dp/0345449002/ref=pd_sim_b_4
This one is good for books.
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Readers-Companion-Star-Wars/dp/0345511190/ref=pd_sim_b_1
> What's the best way to study Taoism?
I don't know the best way, but I think reading multiple translations helps of the same works. My favourite version of the Tao Te Ching is the one by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English. I don't know if it is the most accurate, but it is the most poetic of the ones I have found. There are also several translations freely available online.
I also learned a lot from practising Tai Chi from a good teacher - Tai Chi is rooted in Taoist philosophy.
I also highly recommend The Tao of Pooh and The Te Of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff for an in-depth analysis of Taoism from the viewpoint of one of its great western masters - Winnie the Pooh.
I do not know the Wayne Dyer translation, but I have not seen any other translation mention worshipping the Tao. only honouring and respecting it.
The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox.
Hitler socialized the industry of the state for the German people. The Holocaust was influenced by Marxist theory. Case in point, Engels on genocide:
>"All the other large and small nationalities and peoples are destined to perish before long in the revolutionary world storm. For that reason they are now counter-revolutionary."
Sauce on Engel's ruminations
Hitler's influence and critiques of Marxist doctrine.
And here's the book so you can read it for yourself.
Featured on Season I episode 4 of COOI. This is a 2009 show. The show was updated in 2016 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOXZS3mR1Ek
After appearing on COOI, he wrote a free ebook in 2017 on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Oak-Island-Treasure-Map-Shakespeare-ebook/dp/B007TUGKCQ?keywords=Oak+Island+and+the+Treasure+Map+in+Shakespeare&qid=1540673446&sr=8-1-fkmrnull&ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1. I don't have the time to read it. Maybe someone else can. However, I would be more interested if the Amundsen hadn't moved on to writing fad diet books.
I would definitely recommend Baudrillard's book America for more about the idea of the "Anytown." Specifically, he considers the illusion of travel on the interstate highway system--you're never really traveling anywhere when every town has basically the same strip malls, McDonald's, Exxon, Arby's, Motel 6, etc. right off the exit. All you've done is trick yourself into thinking you've gone somewhere else.
thats addressed in the link i posted, that you clearly failed to read. this section here, among others:
>The trouble with Weimar Republic politicians, he told Otto Wagener at much the same time, was that "they had never even read Marx", implying that no one who had failed to read so important an author could even begin to understand the modern world; in consequence, he went on, they imagined that the October revolution in 1917 had been "a private Russian affair", whereas in fact it had changed the whole course of human history! His differences with the communists, he explained, were less ideological than tactical. German communists he had known before he took power, he told Rauschning, thought politics meant talking and writing. They were mere pamphleteers, whereas "I have put into practice what these peddlers and pen pushers have timidly begun", adding revealingly that "the whole of National Socialism" was based on Marx.
>That is a devastating remark and it is blunter than anything in his speeches or in Mein Kampf.; though even in the autobiography he observes that his own doctrine was fundamentally distinguished from the Marxist by reason that it recognised the significance of race - implying, perhaps, that it might otherwise easily look like a derivative. Without race, he went on, National Socialism "would really do nothing more than compete with Marxism on its own ground". Marxism was internationalist. The proletariat, as the famous slogan goes, has no fatherland. Hitler had a fatherland, and it was everything to him.
and further:
>That is how he reportedly talked to his fellow Nazi Otto Wagener in the early 1930s. The socialism of the future would lie in "the community of the volk", not in internationalism, he claimed, and his task was to "convert the German volk to socialism without simply killing off the old individualists"
but really, just read the article. its pulled from this book, btw
read the source...
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/hitler-and-the-socialist-dream-1186455.html
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Literature-Socialism-2nd/dp/0718892275
It's meticulously researched.