Storming Las Vegas: How a Cuban-Born, Soviet-Trained Commando Took Down the Strip to the Tune of Five World-Class Hotels, Three Armored Cars, and Millions of Dollars by John Huddy



I have not read this book, but I saw an interview with the author on TV. Just from what I heard, I recommend it. You can read an excerpt here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345487452&view=excerpt

4/14/2008 7:57:16 AM

Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping by Paco Underhill



It's very good.

4/16/2008 1:10:44 AM

bump by request

5/23/2009 10:07:39 PM

The Revolution: A Manifesto

5/23/2009 10:11:10 PM

Quote :

"Selected by the Times Literary Supplement as one of the "hundred most influential books since the war" How can we benefit from the promise of government while avoiding the threat it poses to individual freedom? In this classic book, Milton Friedman provides the definitive statement of his immensely influential economic philosophy—one in which competitive capitalism serves as both a device for achieving economic freedom and a necessary condition for political freedom. The result is an accessible text that has sold well over half a million copies in English, has been translated into eighteen languages, and shows every sign of becoming more and more influential as time goes on."

http://www.amazon.com/Capitalism-Freedom-Anniversary-Milton-Friedman/dp/0226264211/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243172767&sr=8-1

[Edited on May 24, 2009 at 9:47 AM. Reason : .]

5/24/2009 9:46:20 AM

Quote :

""sarijoul: my g/f's reading conscience of a liberal by paul krugman right now. sidenote: krugman will be at quail ridge books tomorrow night (tuesday) if anyone is interested""

i read the book i imagine this is based on, barry goldwater's conscience of a conservative. It was a very good read and inspiring. It really laid down what the fundamentals of conservative policy should be and highlighted what little purpose religious involvement in any of these principles.

Consumed by Benjamin Barber was a very good book as well. It illustrates the tools used to market products to us that we don't need and how capitalisim has evolved to an ethos that manufactures goods for those without needs rather than provide goods for those with needs. The reason being those with true needs don't have the money to pay for the goods.

Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith was another good, but very very very very long, read. I think more people should take the opportunity to read this book before preaching the benefits of the free market. Smith lays out ground work but also takes care to explain the needs for regulation, caps on industry sizes and progressive taxation.


i look forward to reading some of the other books in this thread.

5/24/2009 1:42:48 PM

Green Hell : How Environmentalists Plan to Ruin Your Life and What You Can Do to Stop Them by Steven Milloy

5/24/2009 10:38:23 PM

Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto by Mark Levin

Quote :

"1. LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, by Mark R. Levin Thursday, June 11, 2009"

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/bestseller/

I think this book has been #1 for something like 10 out of 11 weeks. Yet, this author hasn't been invited to come on any network morning programs to talk about his book.

6/11/2009 2:40:34 AM

that book was great

6/11/2009 3:04:01 AM

^^ That's dude's nasally voice drives me crazy. Also, if I were to read your anti-environmentalist *refrain from prejudgment and harsh language* book will it make me want to kick puppies or do they actually have something of value to contribute?

My recommendation:
Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America by Steven Waldman


It sets to dispel common historical myths about a few of our Founding Fathers as well as early America and their connection to faith/Christianity.

6/11/2009 7:52:28 AM

Quote :

"That's dude's nasally voice drives me crazy. Also, if I were to read your anti-environmentalist *refrain from prejudgment and harsh language* book will it make me want to kick puppies or do they actually have something of value to contribute?"

Actually saw this book at the store the other day. The author is awesome:

Quote :

"On September 14, 2001, three days after terrorist attacks destroyed the World Trade Center, Milloy wrote that the World Trade Center towers might have stood longer, preventing many casualties, had the use of asbestos fire-resistant lagging not been discontinued during the Towers' construction."

Quote :

"In April 1998 Milloy was part of the Global Climate Science Team (GCST), which was founded in part by ExxonMobil to work out a strategy to influence the media to "understand (recognize) uncertainties in climate science."[5] The Union of Concerned Scientists reported that Milloy helped develop the GCST action plan, which involved "invest[ing] millions of dollars to manufacture uncertainty on the issue of global warming."[5] In 2005, it was reported that non-profit organizations operating out of Milloy's home, and in some cases employing no staff, have received large payments from ExxonMobil during his tenure with Fox News.[6][3][5] A Fox News spokesperson stated that Milloy is "... affiliated with several not-for-profit groups that possibly may receive funding from Exxon, but he certainly does not receive funding directly from Exxon.""

Quote :

"Milloy has criticized research linking secondhand tobacco smoke to cancer, claiming that "the vast majority of studies reported no statistical association.""

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Milloy

Hey, it's Nick Naylor! I loved that book "Thank Your for Smoking"!

[Edited on June 11, 2009 at 10:37 AM. Reason : /]

6/11/2009 10:14:16 AM

didnt like "forecast"...its just hard to read on global warming to me...i have this constant "i'll wait 20 years and see what happens" mentality, "freakanomics" was pretty commonsensical, which i dont like. "money, greed, and god: why capitalism works" had a few decent parts...the problem i had with it, is it would have like 2 pages of decent material, then go into like proverbs and shit.

6/11/2009 1:10:30 PM

I, too, don't really care to read about just "global warming" but if some clown has a bee in their bonnet about the merits of environmental preservation as a whole then I am slightly curious to see what his possible reasons could be.

6/11/2009 3:09:30 PM

Quote :

"Also, if I were to read your anti-environmentalist *refrain from prejudgment and harsh language* book will it make me want to kick puppies or do they actually have something of value to contribute?"

HockeyRoman

I actually haven't read the book. I saw a discussion and Q&A with the author about it on C-SPAN, so I felt that I knew enough to recommend it--I don't have a lot of knowledge about the author.

I found these discussions with the author of Green Hell on YouTube--they may prove useful to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbpXQrroAcA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf-Dl_VnXNI

And maybe this is where we can find a little bit of common ground, HockeyRoman. Perhaps you don't think I care enough about the environment, but I really do--I live in it, too. I honestly don't think you give enough thought to the motives of some in the so-called environmental movement. Many just want to profit and/or they want to further their political goals of centralized governmental control, equal distribution of wealth, and less liberty for all.

PS: And, PinkandBlack, this thread is entitled "TSB Book Club," not "Troll the Shit out of hooksaw."

[Edited on June 11, 2009 at 9:14 PM. Reason : .]

6/11/2009 9:11:57 PM

Quote :

"PS: And, PinkandBlack, this thread is entitled "TSB Book Club," not "Troll the Shit out of hooksaw.""

I don't see how providing information on some hack "science expert" is a troll. I've actually thumbed through that book and it largely looks to be based on the belief in some monolithic conspiracy to undermine interests he has sympathy for. Fair enough, but I'll be critical of him if I see fit. You don't have to take critiques of your opinions so personally.

You want books, I got truckloads of 'em:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RNI20E

Quote :

"Steve Coll's Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 offers revealing details of the CIA's involvement in the evolution of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the years before the September 11 attacks. From the beginning, Coll shows how the CIA's on-again, off-again engagement with Afghanistan after the end of the Soviet war left officials at Langley with inadequate resources and intelligence to appreciate the emerging power of the Taliban. He also demonstrates how Afghanistan became a deadly playing field for international politics where Soviet, Pakistani, and U.S. agents armed and trained a succession of warring factions. At the same time, the book, though opinionated, is not solely a critique of the agency. Coll balances accounts of CIA failures with the success stories, like the capture of Mir Amal Kasi. Coll, managing editor for the Washington Post, covered Afghanistan from 1989 to 1992. He demonstrates unprecedented access to records of White House meetings and to formerly classified material, and his command of Saudi, Pakistani, and Afghani politics is impressive. He also provides a seeming insider's perspective on personalities like George Tenet, William Casey, and anti-terrorism czar, Richard Clarke ("who seemed to wield enormous power precisely because hardly anyone knew who he was or what exactly he did for a living")."

6/11/2009 9:54:06 PM

^ At least you posted a book--that's good.

Quote :

"I don't see how providing information on some hack 'science expert' is a troll. I've actually thumbed through that book and it largely looks to be based on the belief in some monolithic conspiracy to undermine interests he has sympathy for. Fair enough, but I'll be critical of him if I see fit. You don't have to take critiques of your opinions so personally."

Fine. And what type of "science expert" is Al Gore, who holds a BA in government? Just asking.

PS:

Gore-backed Hara sees profit from low-carbon economy

http://www.reuters.com/article/smallBusinessNews/idUSTRE5500S420090601

Gore also owns Current TV. Would you like it if Bush owned this type of media company? Just asking.

[Edited on June 11, 2009 at 10:26 PM. Reason : .]

6/11/2009 10:18:30 PM

Quote :

"And what type of "science expert" is Al Gore, who holds a BA in government? Just asking."

If you can find any post where I ever said anything about Al Gore, I'll give you an answer. Actually, I'll give you an answer now. He isn't. But nice try with the predictable attempt to trap me in your liberal strawman.

6/11/2009 10:23:55 PM

^ So, you disagree with Gore's positions then?

6/11/2009 10:27:50 PM

If I believe man-made climate change is real, how does that make me a believer in Al Gore as a "science expert"?

Maybe I just think he's a politician who made a slideshow that happens to put forth an exaggerated portrayal of something I (and many others) already believed in?

You want me to say "I believe in global warming b/c of Al Gore" soooooo bad don't you?

6/11/2009 10:32:05 PM

^ I'll post this, and then I'll leave it alone:

With the content of your post, you implied that Steven Milloy was a "science expert" (pejorative quotations) and that he may be motivated by profit. I simply applied your standard to that ubiquitous doomsday prophet Al Gore--but he doesn't hold up very well under scrutiny either, does he? Yet, Gore has been given countless high-level accolades by adoring left-leaning organizations.

In any event, I honestly believe that Gore, like Milloy, is motivated by ideology rather than profit--but another $100 million in net worth doesn't hurt, as is the case with Gore since he left public office. Now, back to our regularly scheduled posts.

6/11/2009 10:52:47 PM

Quote :

"I simply applied your standard to that ubiquitous doomsday prophet Al Gore--but he doesn't hold up very well under scrutiny either, does he?"

would you like a cookie?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Theory_of_Justice

Quote :

"In A Theory of Justice Rawls argues for a principled reconciliation of liberty and equality. Central to this effort is an account of the circumstances of justice (inspired by Hume), and a fair choice situation (closer in spirit to Kant) for parties facing such circumstances, and seeking principles of justice to guide their conduct. These parties face moderate scarcity, and they are neither naturally altruistic nor purely egoistic: they have ends they seek to advance, but desire to advance them through cooperation with others on mutually acceptable terms. Rawls offers a model of a fair choice situation (the original position with its veil of ignorance) within which parties would hypothetically choose mutually acceptable principles of justice. Under such constraints, Rawls believes that parties would find his favored principles of justice to be especially attractive, winning out over varied alternatives, including utilitarian and libertarian accounts."

[Edited on June 11, 2009 at 10:56 PM. Reason : .]

6/11/2009 10:55:44 PM

^ Wow, this is the second time I've recently seen PinkandBlack go out of his way to mention Rawls (he even made an entire thread just to mention that he considers him an influence and I can't even imagine his reason for quoting him in a discussion on the motivations of "scientific experts").

Why the sudden need to mention Rawls so much? My first guess was that Pinky was a Humanities/Social Science major of some kind that just wrapped a sophmore philosophy course this spring. But his profile says he's an alumnus and no one lies in their profiles. Maybe he's a 30 year old software engineer with a backlogged reading list?

I hope he fills me in on which it is. I think it will help me make better sweeping judgments of strangers in the future.

[Edited on June 11, 2009 at 11:35 PM. Reason : ``]

6/11/2009 11:30:45 PM

Quote :

"Wow, this is the second time I've recently seen PinkandBlack go out of his way to mention Rawls (he even made an entire thread just to mention that he considers him an influence and I can't even imagine his reason for quoting him in a discussion on the motivations of "scientific experts"). Why the sudden need to mention Rawls so much? My first guess was that Pinky was a Humanities/Social Science major of some kind that just wrapped a sophmore philosophy course this spring. But his profile says he's an alumnus and no one lies in their profiles. Maybe he's a 30 year old software engineer with a backlogged reading list? I hope he fills me in on which it is. I think it will help me make better sweeping judgments of strangers in the future."

I can't tell if you're sincere or not. You either share the admiration or this is going to turn into one of those "you CHASShole, you think you know so much but (posts FroshKiller rant)" things.

If you really want to know (and I know that you do), I was a grad student in History at a university in another state until this past semester until I left for the time being to pursue other opportunities that didn't involve 3 hour long sessions of discussing European Intellectual History. I had a particular interest in the history of liberal thought. I'll finish it someday, but right now I'm doing a bit of this and a bit of that (aka helping a friend w/ a startup company).

There's only like one other person in TSB that knows any of this about me.

Oh, and I wasn't quoting him. I was posting that as a book suggestion.

[Edited on June 11, 2009 at 11:45 PM. Reason : .]

6/11/2009 11:44:53 PM

Quote :

"PURSUE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES"

6/12/2009 12:49:18 AM

ahahahahaahahahahahaaaaaaa so says the former security guard who's lost his coveted TA position because he couldn't fucking control himself on the internet

6/12/2009 1:41:18 AM

PinkandBlack one-ups hooksaw just by rolling out of bed in the morning.

Go stroke your limp weiner to Fox News ya big dummy.

6/12/2009 1:46:44 AM

ok i cant find proof that he lost the position (i wasnt really posting then) but come on, do we really need to bring back out all your old shit?

remember when you tried to one-up TSB by bragging about how you could fuck like someone half your age?

6/12/2009 1:49:32 AM

^^ and ^ Incorrect on all counts.

Now I shall post this ugly dog pic because (1) it pleases me and (2) it is how I imagine that both your souls look:

6/12/2009 1:50:21 AM

i dont keep a dossier of old posts to nail people on stuff like you might but i do remember you bragging about that "im a sexy beast like someone half my age" shit at one point.

6/12/2009 1:54:13 AM

^ What if I did? Are you seriously bringing that into the "TSB Book Club" thread?

6/12/2009 1:57:24 AM

Isn't hooksaw the idiot that got fired for being such a shitty poster on the wolf web?

6/12/2009 1:57:38 AM

^ No, and. . .

Quote :

"this thread is entitled "TSB Book Club," not "Troll the Shit out of hooksaw.""

6/12/2009 2:00:29 AM

Quote :

"What if I did? Are you seriously bringing that into the "TSB Book Club" thread?"

its been brought

TWW SHOWDOWN AT MIDNIGHT TOMORROW, BRING YOUR KNIVES

[Edited on June 12, 2009 at 2:06 AM. Reason : /]

6/12/2009 2:05:39 AM

Just wow.

6/12/2009 2:09:03 AM

Very easy read.

7/12/2009 5:23:08 PM

I moved into a new place a few months ago, and I can't bring myself to pony up for cable on my own.

So a few months without cable, and I'm finally reading again. I gotta read and return all the books that have been lent to me first. Then, I can start my personal pile (many of which y'all recommended over Christmas, I believe).

I just finished up Before, which was crazy. It was kinda like Story of My Life, by Jay McInerney (the Bright Lights, Big City guy). Chick's just going crazy the whole time, and then things finally fall apart at the end but there's a tinge of hope for the future. For some reason, I'm always shocked by these conclusions because I never pick up on the fucked-up cues throughout the book. It's only at the end when I look back that I'm like, Oh yeah, this bitch was losing it... SML was hopeful, but Before really didn't have much going for it in the hope department, small chance things could go aight but also a small chance she could straight up die.

Now, I'm reading the Greatest Story Ever Sold--it's about about Bush and the media and how they tricked us into all this shit (purposefully and otherwise). I was about halfway through it before, which is about the point where I consider it read and start recommending it to people. I'm about 3/4 of the way through now, and I would not recommend it. It kinda rambles, and it just details at length almost every lie, deception, omission, etc...that occurred during the Bush administration, and as it turns out, these lies do not add up to the greatest story or even a good one. Bush's bullshit was not well-crafted...it's not deserving of a big, fancy format like a story or a book....it's more fit for a 100-page, single-spaced, bulleted list attached to a chain e-mail. Bush set his course, and when met with a hitch, he simply told any old lie and kept going...and "we" (at least half the country) fell for it...we fell for a string of obvious lies. My soul hurts.

7/14/2009 8:38:18 AM

I'm also going to finish reading Conscience of a Liberal (a book I was supposedly reading back in 2007, according to this thread). AHA

But before I finish it...I gotta wrap up The Kid Stays in the Picture, Robert Evans' take on Hollywood and his life. It's kickass.

7/14/2009 8:45:20 AM

bump

7/16/2010 6:28:39 AM

The Courage to Write by Ralph Keyes



I'm really enjoying this book. If you write or have considered writing, I highly recommend it.

I also want to read this:

One Nation Under Arrest: How Crazy Laws, Rogue Prosecutors, and Activist Judges Threaten Your Liberty by Paul Rosenzwieg



I just haven't had the chance. I'm reading about five other books right now.

7/16/2010 7:08:36 AM

Paul Berman's Terror and Liberalism and Pascal Bruckner's The Tyranny of Guilt: An Essay on Western Masochism

Must reads if the left is ever going to get serious about Islamism and start sticking up for the universality of their own liberal values.

7/16/2010 11:51:41 AM