Specifically NONfiction on this one. What's the title, author, and why did you pick it up in the first place? Also, why did you enjoy it? Would you recommend it to a friend, why or why not?
I realize Summer just started, so if you want to include Winter and Spring, that's cool!
2006-06-29 17:56:46 · 17 answers · asked by Happy Guesser 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Except for three folks that just didn't really get the question, these responses have blown me away! I can't pick. But I must, huh?! LOL Wow, I wish I could pick almost all of them, that's for sure. Okay, here's goes.
2006-07-03 02:15:10 · update #1
Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling. Outstanding on what was going through Abraham's mind when he went on the three day journey to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Kierkegaard's answer will astound you. I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to understand what faith is. It is, in my opinion, the greatest philosophical treatment (without watering it down) of faith in existence.
2006-06-29 18:59:48 · answer #1 · answered by lotherro 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well, besides the Bible probably it was The Battle For the Beginning - Creation, Evolution, and the Bible by John MacArthur. One part that I found really interesting was how he explained that when God created the animals and the plants and animals, He created them full grown so that if someone was transported back in time they would think that these things had all been around for quite some time. In the same way God must have created the stars with their light already reaching earth and that's why we can see stars that are millions of light years away.
Sure, I would recommend it to a friend and one of the reasons I picked it up was so that I could have some reasonable explanations to supply to all of the people who ask questions in the religion/spirituality section of Yahoo Answers.
Another thing I really liked about it was all of the interesting facts about complex systems in the animal kingdom like ants that keep aphids like cattle and whose actions are totally coordinated despite them being so tiny and not having any language that we are aware of.
2006-06-29 18:30:07 · answer #2 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best nonfiction book I've read this summer is DEAR MISS BREED: TRUE STORIES OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION DURING WORLD WAR II AND A LIBRARIAN WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE. It is by Joanne Oppenheim.
I chose this book because I have had an interest in the effect of world war ii on children and young adults for over eight years now. It started out as a simple research paper in the late nineties for one of my classes. But now, any time I see a book on that topic...I have to read it.
I also chose it in part because it is a story about how a librarian--one seemingly average citizen--was able to make a difference in the politically turbulent times in which she was living.
I enjoyed it because it followed the lives of Clara Breed's "children" from the bombing of Pearl Harbor through the end of the war. She was sending them books, candy, and small treats. The book abounds in primary sources. The book contains many of the letters these children wrote to their former librarian. The book also contains testimonies from the 1981 trials.
I would recommend it because it is well written and well documented.
2006-06-30 04:28:35 · answer #3 · answered by laney_po 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read Jaques Coustou's - Silent World
I'm a scuba diver so I thought it was fantastic, but I think most people would find it fairly interesting as a non-fiction read. It's all about his early experiences and discoveries about diving. It reads more like a private journal, so it's not very heavy going, and the details are very personal (he even discusses how several people he knew died, but also has some incredibly funny moments) so it's a bit like an adventure story, but is highly informative about the history of undersea exploration in the process. I would recommend it to anyone really.
2006-06-29 18:47:47 · answer #4 · answered by Ren 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read The Western Experience - Early Middle Ages in Europe from the year 850 to 1325. And Great Geological Controversies by A. Hallam.
2006-06-29 22:12:45 · answer #5 · answered by alsvalia_jackson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read the Fourth Queen. I think the author has a Taylor in her name, but i don't remember for sure. sorry. I picked it because it was set in the past, 1700's to be exact, and the little excerpt on the back was very interesting. I enjoyed it because the main character wasn't all buttered up -that is to say, perfect- like most others. she was believably real, because of her faults. It is not terribly suspenseful, but it is a very good read. I would definitely recommend it to a friend with the warning: it does have little bits of sex in it. but other than that, it was fabulous!
2006-06-29 19:22:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I have three actually (am in the process of reading the third)
1. Freakonomics by Levitt and Lubner... I read a lot of good reviews about the book and finally decided to buy it and check it out for myself. The book is interesting to say the least and brings out some nice correlations. Would recommend it to someone who likes correlation and regression analysis. Of course it may even turn a statisitcs hater to a stats lover!!
2. Genghiz Khan and the Making of The Modern World by Jack Rutherford. The Mongols have always fascinated me and this book is supposed to be one of the better ones when it comes to the Mongols. Lovely book.... you dont need to be a lover of history to enjoy this book. Simply fascinating!! Would recommend it to anyone who can read English!!
3. Glimpses Of World History by Jawaharlal Nehru: This is actually a series of letters written by Jawaharla Nehru (India's 1st Prime Minister) to his daughter Indira(who was also an Indian PM!!) and gives a lovely overview of world history.. The book is huge but engrossing. Ideal for Kids who have a passion for history....but anybody who enjoys history or for that matter stories will find this book enchanting!!
2006-06-29 19:14:04 · answer #7 · answered by TAR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Dungeons, Fire, & Swords", by John Robertson
book is about the history of the Knights Templars. Mr. Robertson initially was researching for his first book, "Born In Blood", which is about freemasons. Mr. Robertson discovered that the Knights Templar were intricately related to the freemasons. an extraordinary history that reads like a novel (I thought, anyway). Because of frequent moving as a child, I NEVER studied world history in high school. so I have been developing an affinity for world history in the past five to seven years. i also love the medival time period and the fantasy genre as well.
2006-06-29 18:46:11 · answer #8 · answered by nelent01 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shadowplay, by Claire Asquith. It explores the coded language of Catholicism embedded in Shakespeare's plays - a fascinating idea. It is definitely for the Shakespeare enthusiast, but it is well worth reading.
A couple of summers ago I read about five books by P.J. O'Rourke - all satirical political essays. I don't know when I have laughed so much. These are great reads - espcially if you are on the conservative side of the political equation.
2006-06-29 18:13:55 · answer #9 · answered by Shakespeare 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
American Theocracy by Kevin Philipps. Picked it up because I read his first book on why the Republicans would become the majority party in America.
I enjoyed it because it is a harrowing warning about mixing politics with religion. It says America is getting into deeper and deeper trouble.
2006-06-29 18:01:55 · answer #10 · answered by urbancoyote 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just picked up The Macho Paradox, it's about how society teaches men to degrade and abuse women and how men and women can stop the cycle. It is a lot heavier than what I usually pick up, but it is intriguing.
If you're crafty, Yarn Harlot and At Knit's End by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is funny.
2006-06-29 18:02:23 · answer #11 · answered by knitting wounded 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋