In reply to Slyp_Dawg:
Probably should have mentioned I read and loved all of Douglas Adams' stuff. I've got a Hitchhiker's Guide tattoo started already.
In reply to Slyp_Dawg:
Probably should have mentioned I read and loved all of Douglas Adams' stuff. I've got a Hitchhiker's Guide tattoo started already.
"Into Thin Air" by John Krakauer. The true story of the Everest climb which killed a bunch of people
Smashwords.com is another interesting source. It's all self-published stuff by unknowns. Most of it is trash, but there are some remarkably good writers out there.
Lessee....
Asimov and Bradbury are my favorites from the old school, and I'm developing a great appreciation for Charles Stross's combination of modern tech and good scifi. Not commonly available though.
I grew up reading all the Harry Harrison and Ben Bova I could find - I can't believe anyone else has heard of the Stainless Steel Rat!
Interesting thread, I keep eying the kindle but have yet to decide if I need it more than the $140...
Anybody read Chuck Palahniuk? I thought he was going to be really good, but most of his books read like screenplays that haven't been fleshed out yet. Interesting ideas, not so good writing.
Everybody loves Dexter on TV. Are the books upon which the show is based any good?
PubBurgers wrote: Picked up Slaughterhouse Five in paper form today. For some reason I have a real hard time finding Vonnegut books in stores. Even the second hand store I bought Slaughterhouse in only had that one in stock.
he is almost impossible to find in acual stores, Books a million generally has about two books of his, barnes and noble has none generally, I've had more luck at old timey independent bookstores than chains when searching for vonnegut, but amazon is your best bet for the money.
In reply to corytate:
My local library has lots of Vonnegut.
slightly OT but i really enjoyed Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About The Bike".
and since the OP says he's poor, let me recommend "The Millionaire Next Door" as well as Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace"
In reply to AngryCorvair:
I liked Lance's book back when I wasn't convinced of his drug use. Now I can't stomach him.
"The Millionaire Next Door" is a good read, but keep in mind that it mainly refers to an older generation. I doubt the old guard's method is a good blueprint to become wealthy now.
Luke wrote: Folk on here got me hooked on Neal Stephenson. Snow Crash and Zodiac are my favorites of his.
Check out Cryptonomicron - excellent read and very intellectual with some adventure in there for fun. After Crypto he went a little...esoteric. I'd only suggest reading his trilogy and Anathem if you're a hardcore fan. Otherwise you won't enjoy them. Snow Crash and Zodiac were some of his most fun, light hearted works.
Curmudgeon wrote: 'Lucifer's Hammer' by Niven and Pournelle is a good book, too.
One of the BEST apocalyptic sci-fi I've EVER read. I don't say that lightly either. Excellent, excellent book.
Scott wrote: Anybody read Chuck Palahniuk? I thought he was going to be really good, but most of his books read like screenplays that haven't been fleshed out yet. Interesting ideas, not so good writing.
Read most all of his stuff. I really liked it all up until about Haunted. Fight Club came later in his career but before that was Invisible Monsters, Survivor and maybe one other I'm forgetting. Survivor was hilarious in a dark, dark way. I read Rant recently and really liked that to. He seemed to capture some of the old magic. Pygmy got horrid reviews. Snuff wasn't up to par imo.
loosecannon wrote: "Into Thin Air" by John Krakauer. The true story of the Everest climb which killed a bunch of people
Great book. I never read the one he wrote about the kid who killed himself so elaborately in Alaska. Krakauer is in the news for taking down that philanthropist who made up a story about being held captive in Afghanistan. That author is a tenacious one.
Some of my suggestions?
John Scalzi - Old Man's war is a good start. Then read something funny he did like Agent To The Stars. He's a great and humorous author in the vein of Heinlein.
John Steakley - He wrote one good book and it's a monster. Armor. One of the best "Bug War" books ever written from the standpoint of a grunt on the ground.
Now two history books you should all read:
The People's History Of the U.S by Howard Zinn.
Lies My Teacher Taught Me by James Loewen.
If you feel like crying yourself to sleep at night read:
If you like travellogues read anything by Martin J. Trooust or the King and Master of the Genre - Bill Bryson. Both are hilarious. If you like science read "A Short History Of Everything" by Bryson. You'll learn something and laugh like hell.
Christopher Buckley wrote "Thank You For Smoking." Another hilarious political read would be "Boomsday". The gov't proposes paying old people to commit suicide so as to lower social and healthcare payments as they get old. Another darkly humorous book.
I'll stop here. 
I didn't see where anyone mentioned Arthur C. Clarke. He has a very large body of Sci Fi work. I'll never forget two concepts that were used in some of his works. First, the "space elevator", i.e. the creation of an elevator into space which would allow man to go into space without using rockets to overcome earths' gravitaitonal pull. Second, having the ability to strap on wings and fly in an arena at a distance from the earth that had a very low gravitational pull. Not only could you fly but you could do it over any terrain you chose because it could be projected as a hologram for you.
Xceler8x wrote: * The People's History Of the U.S by Howard Zinn.
This is one I have loaned out to friends many times. Good stuff. I bought the other one on your list - haven't read it yet.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: This is one I have loaned out to friends many times. Good stuff. I bought the other one on your list - haven't read it yet.
If you liked Zinn's book you'll love Loewen's. They parrot each other but Loewen talks more about the myths that are taught as truth and how it effects our society to have this misinformation spread. I took Zinn's book as being a factual retelling of stories from the common man's angle.
I just picked up Zinn's book at the library. Looks like some nice light reading.
Scott wrote: In reply to AngryCorvair: "The Millionaire Next Door" is a good read, but keep in mind that it mainly refers to an older generation. I doubt the old guard's method is a good blueprint to become wealthy now.
[threadjack]
it's not intended to be a blueprint to become wealthy now. it's simply the presentation of observations of the lifestyle choices made (consistently) by people who possess wealth above a particular threshold, most of whom have attained that level of wealth not by inheritance but through first-generation effort.
regardless of age, education, or career path, i think you'd be hard-pressed to say that mimicking these lifestyle choices will make you less wealthy.
for a sample size of one, i'll tell you that it's working for me. 
[/threadjack]
In reply to AngryCorvair:
I agree completely. I think it provides a solid path to financial security.
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