This is my way of writing my list of recommended books, viewable to all. It will not go in postdate order, it will have unfinished posts, and it will have purely my opinions. The dates and times of my posts are as such for the purpose of organizing this "Non-blog" and are not the actual post times. No one is to blame for my thoughts but me. Please read and enjoy my thoughts but be patient with how this non-blog is written, organized, and perfected.
Thank you,
JCM
P.S. I can't tell you how exciting this is, because then I would look nerdy. Although, I did make a blog about books so I guess I am kinda a nerd. Oh, well.
"I am what I am." -Popeye
Saturday, April 21, 2012
The First Five
I have a list of books that I recommend everyone in the world should read that I think would benefit them as I have benefited. I feel a desire to share pearls of great price when I find them, that is why I made this list. As a disclaimer there are books or parts of books that might be seen as controversial but as no one can pass through this life on the green side of the fence in peace and ease so each of us needs to understand the thoughts of those around us, whether good or bad or ugly. To some ignorance is bliss but you can never give your opinion on a case you've never heard of. You can never say you are good if you do not know what is bad. My plead is that you read them with an open mind and try to understand why and what people believe, you might perfect your opinion or side with theirs. Either way, you should find something in these books that you will enjoy, if nothing else you will have a good quiet evening read.
Without further adieu, (in no particular order)
The Once and Future King-T.H. White
Illusions-Richard Bach
One-Richard Bach
Atlas Shrugged-Ayn Rand
The Last Lecture-Randy Pausch
Future posts will include new books.
JCM
"The Once and Future King" by T.H. White
Just about everyone knows the basics about King Arthur and just about everything we know comes from "The Once and Future King." From the Disney movie, "The Sword in the Stone", to "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", T.H. White gave the foundation. It is written in a relaxed, humorous way that only the British can do and, within the "First Five", would be the book that is directed the most at Entertainment. That being said, there are kernels of golden wisdom seeded into the story by Merlyn, Wizard and Tutor to Arthur. In his studies, Wart, Arthur's nickname as a boy, is introduced, via magic, to hundreds of species of animal to learn how each live and what each believe. As an example, one of my favorite parts is when Wart is learning the nonsense of war by observing a colony of ants(Ch. 13, Bk 1). Their political broadcasts were as follows:
"A. We are more numerous than they are, therefore we have a right to their mash.
B. They are more numerous than we are, therefore they are wickedly trying to steal our mash.
C. We are a mighty race and have a natural right to subjugate their puny one.
D. They are a mighty race and are unnaturally trying to subjugate our inoffensive one.
E. We must attack them in self-defense.
F. They are attacking us by defending themselves.
G. If we do not attack them today, they will attack us tomorrow.
H. In any case we are not attacking them at all. We are offering them incalculable benefits.”
"A. We are more numerous than they are, therefore we have a right to their mash.
B. They are more numerous than we are, therefore they are wickedly trying to steal our mash.
C. We are a mighty race and have a natural right to subjugate their puny one.
D. They are a mighty race and are unnaturally trying to subjugate our inoffensive one.
E. We must attack them in self-defense.
F. They are attacking us by defending themselves.
G. If we do not attack them today, they will attack us tomorrow.
H. In any case we are not attacking them at all. We are offering them incalculable benefits.”
Merlyn's magical insights into the animal kingdom give Wart, and the reader, powerful examples of real beliefs in the world around us. Entertaining and irrational as they are when pictured in the fictional setting of two ant colonies at war within a glass ant farm, the ideas White uses are real and have been used before. This is but one of the many different viewpoints that White uses to open Wart's eyes to the errors of traditional thinking and help him use his own mind. The goal of this book, as I find, is to help the reader think for himself and not just follow advice from anyone and everyone.
"What is the matter, Merlyn? Have I been doing something wrong?" Asked King Arthur. "If I have done something stupid, tell me."
"Tell you!" Merlyn exclaimed. "And what is going to happen when there is nobody to tell you? Are you never going to think for yourself?"
"The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch
Many college professors are given a chance to give a "last lecture" or in other words to imagine they would die in one month and this was their last chance to leave something behind. In Randy's case he really did have one month left to live and died soon after giving his lecture. The book is compiled from his actual speech but in my opinion is better than an actual lecture, and these are some reasons why: no "um"s or awkward pauses that you get in speeches, more information allowed than the 1 hour lecture took, and Randy seems much cooler in the book even though he admits being a nerd.
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"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand
~!Ideas under construction!~
This is the big one,
E.T.A.: Friday, April 27
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