Very based. I wasn't alive during the Vietnam wars but I can see why it was written in response to that.
The whole story is just tragedy after tragedy. State enforced homosexuality and getting in to a war over some misunderstood message. Losing fellows on the moon base during training... It's just a damn sad story well written.
I probably shouldn't recommend anything since I don't have time to participate, but Dune would be a good choice. It's interesting on both a political and philosophical level on top of being a great story in its own right. Plus, with the movie coming out, now seems a good time for it.
Hi everyone! I don't post here hardly ever, I'm more on the Reddit side of things (same username). But I'm trying to change that!
I did read along with the Starship Troopers, and now I've gotten my retired military father to read it, who has never read it (which is odd, because he's a huge fan of Stranger in a Strange Land, but whatever).
In any case I nominate "The Gulag Archipelago" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I've never read it before, and my nomination certainly has nothing to do with the fact that I just paid stupid money for a 1st edition hardcover.
I highly recommend "With the Old Breed" by Eugene Sledge. The book was in part adapted by the mini series "The Pacific". The book details Sledge's time in the marines from when he signed up, to the battle of Peleliu and the battle of Okinawa.
One of the things that struck me about the book was how genuine Sledge seemed to tell his story. He didn't exaggerate or try to make him and his buddies out to be heroes, he simply told his story how it was. I got the sense that he didn't really want to publish this story, but he felt an obligation to do so. Which makes it more impactful because there are plenty of moments in the book where he describes something truly horrid or insane and you believe him.
I've read a review of that book, said it was quite excellent. Peleliu was a literal nightmare for all concerned. Did the US Army learn from their many mistakes? A little bit :/ But repeated others over and over. (Mostly their overconfidence in neutralizing Japanese defenses with aerial and naval bombardment.)
Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? (wiki info) By PK Dick.
Made into the movie Bladerunner of course, but that only used about 1/3 of the novella's (short novel) content.
Some scenes in the movie were lifted verbatim from the book, it's that good! Other major themes were briefly mentioned, but play a larger role in the novella.
Haha, I just bought Moon is a Harsh Mistress yesterday. Although I probably won't vote for it, because I was going to read it at the same time as whatever comes from here.
Battlefield earth or Conan the barbarian the original collection of stories written by Robert e Howard. One is a classic work of science fiction with lovely world building and depth the other is Conan the barbarian something everyone should read because it is a pillar of high fantasy.
I've had "Democracy: the God that failed", by Hans-Hermann Hoppe, on my to-read list for a while now. It seems like the kind of book that would be of interest to those who are interested in KIA2's book club.
Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil
I've been rereading it and there's some very important things to take away from it as far as deference to authority, groupthink, and rationalizing terrible things. Maybe we could use it as a platform for talking about the brainwashing happening on the left.
Locke is very dry. In one of my Philosophy classes in college we had to part of the Two Treaties, something I really wanted to read at that time (I was majoring in Political Science), and really wanted to like Locke. I wanted to rip my eyes out, Besides if you want to get in to Social Contract Theory of Governance you should start off with either Plato's Apology of Socrates or Hobbes' The Leviathan both of which are considered the start of the idea of the Social Contract, Plato's kind of indirectly, Hobbes' directly.
Keeping with the military sci-fi, I'd suggest The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
Very based. I wasn't alive during the Vietnam wars but I can see why it was written in response to that.
The whole story is just tragedy after tragedy. State enforced homosexuality and getting in to a war over some misunderstood message. Losing fellows on the moon base during training... It's just a damn sad story well written.
Even if it's not the book club book read it.
Capitalism and Freedom. Time to start getting you faggots on the Milton Friedman train.
Good suggestion. I got into Friedman because I learned that he was Sowell’s mentor.
Since we're living in the cyberpunk dystopia I suggest Neuromancer by William Gibson.
I'm going to drag the runner up in from last time and recommend Plato's Apology.
I didn't even vote for it and I'm not even sure this time, but I haven't read Plato before and think it would be interesting.
I probably shouldn't recommend anything since I don't have time to participate, but Dune would be a good choice. It's interesting on both a political and philosophical level on top of being a great story in its own right. Plus, with the movie coming out, now seems a good time for it.
Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny (first in the Amber series)
Hi everyone! I don't post here hardly ever, I'm more on the Reddit side of things (same username). But I'm trying to change that!
I did read along with the Starship Troopers, and now I've gotten my retired military father to read it, who has never read it (which is odd, because he's a huge fan of Stranger in a Strange Land, but whatever).
In any case I nominate "The Gulag Archipelago" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I've never read it before, and my nomination certainly has nothing to do with the fact that I just paid stupid money for a 1st edition hardcover.
Thank you for your consideration!
I highly recommend "With the Old Breed" by Eugene Sledge. The book was in part adapted by the mini series "The Pacific". The book details Sledge's time in the marines from when he signed up, to the battle of Peleliu and the battle of Okinawa.
One of the things that struck me about the book was how genuine Sledge seemed to tell his story. He didn't exaggerate or try to make him and his buddies out to be heroes, he simply told his story how it was. I got the sense that he didn't really want to publish this story, but he felt an obligation to do so. Which makes it more impactful because there are plenty of moments in the book where he describes something truly horrid or insane and you believe him.
I read Sledge's book and Helmet For My Pillow back to back and the differences are quite stark.
The latter is a book about Marines at war, the former is a memoir of a young man going to war, surviving combat, and dealing with returning home.
I've read a review of that book, said it was quite excellent. Peleliu was a literal nightmare for all concerned. Did the US Army learn from their many mistakes? A little bit :/ But repeated others over and over. (Mostly their overconfidence in neutralizing Japanese defenses with aerial and naval bombardment.)
Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? (wiki info) By PK Dick.
Made into the movie Bladerunner of course, but that only used about 1/3 of the novella's (short novel) content.
Some scenes in the movie were lifted verbatim from the book, it's that good! Other major themes were briefly mentioned, but play a larger role in the novella.
Read It Here
that's a dense as fuck book, though really good. Not as dense as "A Scanner Darkly" but dense nontheless.
Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Heinlein or A Scanner Darkly by PKD.
Understand. Thanks!
Haha, I just bought Moon is a Harsh Mistress yesterday. Although I probably won't vote for it, because I was going to read it at the same time as whatever comes from here.
Makes sense. Heinlein is one of my all time favs so I usually suggest at least one of his each time
Battlefield earth or Conan the barbarian the original collection of stories written by Robert e Howard. One is a classic work of science fiction with lovely world building and depth the other is Conan the barbarian something everyone should read because it is a pillar of high fantasy.
If we going to another sci-fi, I would like to suggest The Time Machine by H G Wells.
Or Dunwich Horror by HP Lovecraft for a change of pace 🤓
A very entertaining and fascinating book, that made me understand a lot about history and what is important for well functioning societies: why nations fail -https://www.google.com/amp/s/revisesociology.com/2016/08/05/why-nations-fail-summary/amp/
I've had "Democracy: the God that failed", by Hans-Hermann Hoppe, on my to-read list for a while now. It seems like the kind of book that would be of interest to those who are interested in KIA2's book club.
The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History by Tom Woods
Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil
I've been rereading it and there's some very important things to take away from it as far as deference to authority, groupthink, and rationalizing terrible things. Maybe we could use it as a platform for talking about the brainwashing happening on the left.
Extremely long and long-winded, but Atlas Shrugged. The past 18 months have made me feel like a character in that book.
Dumbing Us Down: the Hidden Curriculum of Public Schooling by John Taylor Gatto
Legionnaire: Galaxy's Edge Book 1 great military sci-fi that perfectly parallels how our current "Republic" runs.
Hell the authors stick a literal AOC in the Madame Gillotine spin off.
I've been reading East of Eden and it's great. It gives me a sense of perspective and makes me feel like more of a man.
Harmony - Project Itoh.
The government controls you, it's for your health.
Locke is very dry. In one of my Philosophy classes in college we had to part of the Two Treaties, something I really wanted to read at that time (I was majoring in Political Science), and really wanted to like Locke. I wanted to rip my eyes out, Besides if you want to get in to Social Contract Theory of Governance you should start off with either Plato's Apology of Socrates or Hobbes' The Leviathan both of which are considered the start of the idea of the Social Contract, Plato's kind of indirectly, Hobbes' directly.