Author Topic: Fave Books / Currently Reading  (Read 947366 times)

Steve of Bloomington

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 2262
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1905 on: July 23, 2013, 05:31:27 PM »
Debt: The First 5,000 Years by David Graeber

So far (I'm up to the 'Axial Age' ~800-200 BCE) there's a lot of focus on slavery, and I'm not sure this is going to change.

A few interesting items learned: the 'everything started with barter' theory is complete b.s., also that at one time Ireland priced most everything in units of 'bondmaids'.
 

I hate that book. It sets itself up to take down academic economics by repetitively pointing out that the barter theory is made up and inferring a conspiracy of the science from that.

Also here is a more informed opinion than mine:
http://noahpinionblog.blogspot.de/2013/02/david-graeber-debt-is-bad-or-something.html

Noah's just throwing up squid ink there. That's probably his worst post ever. That and this one.

I'll let you guys in on a little secret about how mainstream econ works. It's all about narrowing your focus so much that you just kind of forget about all the things that normal people care about. Once they get you seeing everything through tiny pinholes they cram a bunch of math through it, and you're so busy keeping up with that that you forget you ever cared about anything else. It's just a magician's misdirection. The thing that makes "Debt" so explosive, despite or because of being a huge woolly mess of a book, is that gets you to look at the big picture, the really really big picture again. Noah is doing the typical glib economist thing there and asking a lot of stupid questions, and complaining that Graeber didn't boil it down to some oversimplified math. Good! Graeber isn't claiming to have all the answers, the way economists do.

Also, there's not a single macro textbook in America that correctly explains where money comes from, so Graeber is not wrong there either.

True, largely the book comes across to me as 'let's look at this from an anthropological and historical viewpoint as opposed to a traditional economics lens', so I don't see it as a fault that he didn't make a lot of assumptions and shove everything down the oversimplified math hole.

fonpr

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 4099
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1906 on: July 23, 2013, 07:13:44 PM »
S.O.B., you are on fire. Keep burning bright.
"Like it or not, Florida seems dedicated to a 'live fast, die' way of doing things."

Shaggy 2 Grote

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 3892
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1907 on: July 24, 2013, 05:48:59 PM »
Not to get all name-droppy, but I know Graeber fairly well (I was an NYC activist in another life), and I always liked him.  Other people I know and trust have a negative opinion of him, however.  I haven't spoken to him since Occupy and Debt made their respective splashes, though, and I haven't read Debt even though I bought it when it came out.

Right now I'm reading Red Dragon for work, and a bunch of comics for fun.

Oh, good heavens. I didn’t realize. I send my condolences out to the rest of the O’Connor family.

hardweek

  • Achilles bursitis
  • Posts: 222
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1908 on: July 24, 2013, 06:19:16 PM »
Books (re)taking a more pronounced role in my life was my one resolution this year.

I've given myself the mandate of a book a month. I know that's laughable to most, but honestly even that is sometimes difficult to manage!

Also build myself an amazing little book cubby in the storage space under the stairs. Emptied 4 Ikea Billys into the custom shelves, then sold off 10 extra boxes to pay for the wood, nails and beer. I'll try to post a pic one of these days.

Lots of sports bios lately. Finally read Ken Dryden's The Game, which I really enjoyed. Suffering through Paul Shirley's Can I Keep My Jersey right now. Ugh. Ugh for so many reasons....

Steve of Bloomington

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 2262
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1909 on: July 25, 2013, 09:59:14 AM »
Not to get all name-droppy, but I know Graeber fairly well (I was an NYC activist in another life), and I always liked him.  Other people I know and trust have a negative opinion of him, however.  I haven't spoken to him since Occupy and Debt made their respective splashes, though, and I haven't read Debt even though I bought it when it came out.

Right now I'm reading Red Dragon for work, and a bunch of comics for fun.

I'd recommend reading <i>Debt</i>. I'm finding even outside of any political or ideological axes being ground the historical and anthropological content of the book is really fascinating.

Bryan

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 1635
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1910 on: July 25, 2013, 10:16:36 AM »
I recently finished Going Clear, the Scientology exposé by Lawrence Wright. I highly recommend it.

A couple of highlights from the book:

The L. Ron Hubbard era: Hubbard, a serial bigamist and lifelong philanderer, counsels his first wife that his journey is taking him onwards, and that a divorce would reflect poorly on him. Therefore, the best thing to do would be for her to commit suicide. (She didn't.)

The David Miscavige era: Miscavige keeps several ferocious dogs around the Sea Org compound. They routinely attack members of the Sea Org. Miscavige has custom military-style outfits made for the dogs, complete with epaulets bearing their rank: Captain. Most of the human Sea Org members are outranked by the dogs, so they have to salute the dogs anytime they wander past.


Steve of Bloomington

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 2262
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1911 on: July 25, 2013, 04:37:29 PM »
I recently finished Going Clear, the Scientology exposé by Lawrence Wright. I highly recommend it.

A couple of highlights from the book:

The L. Ron Hubbard era: Hubbard, a serial bigamist and lifelong philanderer, counsels his first wife that his journey is taking him onwards, and that a divorce would reflect poorly on him. Therefore, the best thing to do would be for her to commit suicide. (She didn't.)

The David Miscavige era: Miscavige keeps several ferocious dogs around the Sea Org compound. They routinely attack members of the Sea Org. Miscavige has custom military-style outfits made for the dogs, complete with epaulets bearing their rank: Captain. Most of the human Sea Org members are outranked by the dogs, so they have to salute the dogs anytime they wander past.

That book was packed with highlights. Miscavige didn't disappoint after we bid a sad farewell to LRH and his foibles.

fonpr

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 4099
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1912 on: July 25, 2013, 08:42:23 PM »
I recently finished Going Clear, the Scientology exposé by Lawrence Wright. I highly recommend it.

A couple of highlights from the book:

The L. Ron Hubbard era: Hubbard, a serial bigamist and lifelong philanderer, counsels his first wife that his journey is taking him onwards, and that a divorce would reflect poorly on him. Therefore, the best thing to do would be for her to commit suicide. (She didn't.)

The David Miscavige era: Miscavige keeps several ferocious dogs around the Sea Org compound. They routinely attack members of the Sea Org. Miscavige has custom military-style outfits made for the dogs, complete with epaulets bearing their rank: Captain. Most of the human Sea Org members are outranked by the dogs, so they have to salute the dogs anytime they wander past.

That book was packed with highlights. Miscavige didn't disappoint after we bid a sad farewell to LRH and his foibles.

Who are we?
"Like it or not, Florida seems dedicated to a 'live fast, die' way of doing things."

cavorting with nudists

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 1883
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1913 on: July 25, 2013, 11:30:45 PM »
Who are we?

Fredericks, don't you see? That's exactly the question Mr. Hubbard was sent here to answer!
"Another thing that interests me about The Eagles is that I hate them." -- Robert Christgau

Kormodd

  • Tarsel tunnel syndrome
  • Posts: 368
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1914 on: July 26, 2013, 12:20:35 AM »
I recently finished Going Clear, the Scientology exposé by Lawrence Wright. I highly recommend it.

A couple of highlights from the book:

The L. Ron Hubbard era: Hubbard, a serial bigamist and lifelong philanderer, counsels his first wife that his journey is taking him onwards, and that a divorce would reflect poorly on him. Therefore, the best thing to do would be for her to commit suicide. (She didn't.)

The David Miscavige era: Miscavige keeps several ferocious dogs around the Sea Org compound. They routinely attack members of the Sea Org. Miscavige has custom military-style outfits made for the dogs, complete with epaulets bearing their rank: Captain. Most of the human Sea Org members are outranked by the dogs, so they have to salute the dogs anytime they wander past.

That book was packed with highlights. Miscavige didn't disappoint after we bid a sad farewell to LRH and his foibles.

Who are we?

Mr. Hoffman has a question for you, Pig Fuck.
Ever do nothing and gain nothing from it?
Ever feel stupid and then know that you really are?
Ever think you're smart and then find out you aren't?
Ever play the fool and then find out that you're worse?

Mike Desert

  • Achilles Tendon Bursitis
  • Posts: 653
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1915 on: November 15, 2013, 02:21:42 PM »
The Sex Lives of Cannibals
Another San Fransisco Toilet Person

Steve of Bloomington

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 2262
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1916 on: November 19, 2013, 11:33:44 AM »
I recently finished Going Clear, the Scientology exposé by Lawrence Wright. I highly recommend it.

A couple of highlights from the book:

The L. Ron Hubbard era: Hubbard, a serial bigamist and lifelong philanderer, counsels his first wife that his journey is taking him onwards, and that a divorce would reflect poorly on him. Therefore, the best thing to do would be for her to commit suicide. (She didn't.)

The David Miscavige era: Miscavige keeps several ferocious dogs around the Sea Org compound. They routinely attack members of the Sea Org. Miscavige has custom military-style outfits made for the dogs, complete with epaulets bearing their rank: Captain. Most of the human Sea Org members are outranked by the dogs, so they have to salute the dogs anytime they wander past.

That book was packed with highlights. Miscavige didn't disappoint after we bid a sad farewell to LRH and his foibles.

Who are we?

People who are still alive.

Steve of Bloomington

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 2262
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1917 on: November 19, 2013, 11:43:13 AM »
Pete Townshend's 'Who I am' is kind of a slog. I need to be done with it and read 'Please Kill Me' next perhaps.

Josh

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 1386
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1918 on: November 19, 2013, 12:33:18 PM »
Pete Townshend's 'Who I am' is kind of a slog. I need to be done with it and read 'Please Kill Me' next perhaps.

our liberry downtown has the Peter Criss autobio
"Alright, well, for the sake of this conversation, let's say the book does not exist."

gravy boat

  • Achilles Tendon Bursitis
  • Posts: 898
Re: Fave Books / Currently Reading
« Reply #1919 on: November 19, 2013, 01:23:13 PM »
I finished George Pelecano's new book, the Double, pretty quickly. Made me go and get the first in the new Spero Lucas-series, The Cut.  If you like the crime thriller genre, I think Pelecanos is as good as anyone doing it today. I loved the DC Quartet series.