On Reading…
I’ve been listening to about 10 hours of audio books a week for the past few months. It sounds like a lot, but with an hour commute each way to work, they have been just what I needed to hear to stay sane. It’s great really. I’ve never been a reader because I’ve always found something that I’d rather do…but sitting in traffic isn’t one of those things.
Here is a quick rundown of my recent favorites:
Ender’s Game: About a super gifted kid who is drafted to defeat an alien race. The majority of the story is about his training and the burden he must bear.
Speaker for the Dead: The sequel to Ender’s Game and, according to the afterward, the story the author really wanted to tell. It deals with a very dysfunctional family that is charged with the task of understanding a new, more primitive alien race.
Freakonomics: I consider this a book of unintended consequences and interesting studies in behavior. Learn about principles of economy that don’t involve money. Somewhat similar books I’ve read are Predictably Irrational, which I thought was weak in comparison and The Tipping Point, which I recommend.
Einstein: I’m not usually one for biographies, but he was an interesting guy. As an added bonus, you might start to understand his science upon reading. I also read Steve Martin’s biography, Born Standing Up, but only recommend it to either big fans or those trying to get into the entertainment industry.
Ace on the River: A good way to become a better poker player without studying odds and specific situations.
And finally, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: An outrageous and funny trip through the universe. Don’t bother with the movie. If audio books are your thing, try and get the version narrated by British comedian Steven Fry.
Tagged as books, favorites, novels + Categorized as Entertainment