What book(s) are you reading now?

[Caladan]

Thanks, ill check it out.I have never herd of vedic culture.

Its the civilization of India basically, or the Indo-Aryan speaking culture of South Asia. it brings the two sides of an ongoing archaeological, historical, linguistic, etc. debate. one side brings the argument that the civilization of India began with the arrival of outsiders from Central Asia and the other side of the debate claims that Indian civilization has native origins.

 

[Songbird]

Its the civilization of India basically, or the Indo-Aryan speaking culture of South Asia. it brings the two sides of an ongoing archaeological, historical, linguistic, etc. debate. one side brings the argument that the civilization of India began with the arrival of outsiders from Central Asia and the other side of the debate claims that Indian civilization has native origins.

Does the book take one side of the debate? How about you personally? (A bit off-topic, but I'm curious.)

 

[Caladan]

Does the book take one side of the debate? How about you personally? (A bit off-topic, but I'm curious.)

The book tries to trace both sides of the debate and bring the arguments of the two opposing views.
traditionally the first argument (immigration from Central Asia) has longer roots and goes a couple of centuries back, it is largely based in western scholarship, the other side is relatively newer and is characterized by plenty of Indian scholars trying to take back the fate of interpreting the history of their own country. however, the writer tells us that it is also not accurate to look at it in this kind of dichotomy because there are western scholar who hold the view that Vedic civilization has indigenous origins and Indian scholars who hold the view that there was an immigration from Central Asia.
personally I bought this book in order to become more familiar on a topic which I have found fascinating for a long time.

 

[Rakhel]

I am currently not reading any book, however, I did just finish What Rough Beast by Harry Squires.
It is a fictional story written in first person through the eyes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He tells a tale of what happened to him and Harry Houdini in London when sex, lust and greed became rampant and it was up to Doyle and Houdini to save the day and pretty much the world.

 

[Songbird]

The book tries to trace both sides of the debate and bring the arguments of the two opposing views.
traditionally the first argument (immigration from Central Asia) has longer roots and goes a couple of centuries back, it is largely based in western scholarship, the other side is relatively newer and is characterized by plenty of Indian scholars trying to take back the fate of interpreting the history of their own country. however, the writer tells us that it is also not accurate to look at it in this kind of dichotomy because there are western scholar who hold the view that Vedic civilization has indigenous origins and Indian scholars who hold the view that there was an immigration from Central Asia.
personally I bought this book in order to become more familiar on a topic which I have found fascinating for a long time.

It is pretty fascinating. I may check out the book. The branch of Indo-Iranian Aryans who formed Zoroastrianism is fascinating to me too.

 

[Caladan]

It is pretty fascinating. I may check out the book. The branch of Indo-Iranian Aryans who formed Zoroastrianism is fascinating to me too.

Vedic religion and Zoroastrian religion do seem to share a common proto religion with several similar themes. I also find it incredibly fascinating.

 

[rageoftyrael]

lol, i love this place. it's where i can go and find people even more nerdy than me.

 

[Nepenthe]

Reading Fireflies, Honey and Silk. Nice, breezy easy reading on the history of human's utilizing insects.

Just finished a bunch of Graeber: Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology, Toward and Anthropological Theory of Value, and Debt: The First 5,000 Years. Absolutely amazing dissections of capitalism from an anthropological perspective.

Oh, and this. It's pretty awesome:
Amazon.com: Arcane (9781468067521): Nathan Shumate, Anthony J. Rapino: Books


There's a Kindle ed. too. I see big things for some of these authors!

 

[Panda]

Just finished "Enders Game" wow just wow.

 

[9Westy9]

"Does God believe in atheists" John Blanchard. Interesting book so far. Not sure I agree with him though

"The price of Altruism" Oren Harman. Seems pretty good so far.. Mostly about life stories rather than science or philosophy but it includes elements of both. Looking forward to the conclusions

 

[Caladan]

Just finished "Enders Game" wow just wow.

Heard plenty of reviews about it through the years, but never got to read it.

 

[Revoltingest]

British Iron-Workers & Tool-Makers; Industrial Biography

Looks to be one rip'n good yarn!

 

[Panda]

Heard plenty of reviews about it through the years, but never got to read it.

I would highly recommend it.

 

[Rakhel]

I am reading The Shiksa Syndrome by Laurie Graff
It is about a Jewish woman pretending to be a shiksa(non-Jewish girl) trying to land a Jewish husband.
That description alone should tell you it's a comedy

 

[SageTree]

In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is offered the job of a lifetime: analysis and conservation of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, which has been rescued from Serb shelling during the Bosnian war. Priceless and beautiful, the book is one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images. When Hanna, a caustic loner with a passion for her work, discovers a series of tiny artifacts in its ancient binding—an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—she begins to unlock the book’s mysteries. The reader is ushered into an exquisitely detailed and atmospheric past, tracing the book’s journey from its salvation back to its creation.

In Bosnia during World War II, a Muslim risks his life to protect it from the Nazis. In the hedonistic salons of fin-de-siècle Vienna, the book becomes a pawn in the struggle against the city’s rising anti-Semitism. In inquisition-era Venice, a Catholic priest saves it from burning. In Barcelona in 1492, the scribe who wrote the text sees his family destroyed by the agonies of enforced exile. And in Seville in 1480, the reason for the Haggadah’s extraordinary illuminations is finally disclosed. Hanna’s investigation unexpectedly plunges her into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics. Her experiences will test her belief in herself and the man she has come to love.

Inspired by a true story, People of the Book is at once a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity, an ambitious, electrifying work by an acclaimed and beloved author.

Wikipedia-People of the Book

 

[Random]

The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy.

 

[Apex]

Reading two books right now:

Why God Won't Go Away-Alister Mcgrath: So far a pretty good book. Very clear and easy to understand.

Templar One-Tony Gonzales: Books: Based on the Eve online universe.

 

[shanedawson]

Just finished reading War and Peace for the second or third time.

Started Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native.

 

[kai]

Dennis Hopper: The Wild Ride of a Hollywood Rebel, by Peter L Winkler

 

[Panda]

Reading "The Eye of The World"