I decided to rent the The Count of Monte Cristo from Blockbuster, with the intent of discovering hollywoods interpretation of the book I just finished. About 30 minutes into the film, I abruptly turned it off after discovering the only relation it shared with the book was the title. I found it truly disgusting how they destroyed the magnificence of Dumas' work with such an apparent ease. Its appaling. It would have been better for them to not make the film at all.
As a side note, Catch 22 is indeed hilarious.
As a side note, Catch 22 is indeed hilarious.
Don't read for fun, go party with non science types. It's better for your career too YMMV.
BTW You'll surely be needing eye glasses by Senior year if you do read in your spare moments.
Remember as you are starting to think clearly now, Engineering is a vocation not an education. If I had to do it over probably best thing to do while in college is trying out for a parts in school plays esp Shakespeare.
BTW You'll surely be needing eye glasses by Senior year if you do read in your spare moments.
Remember as you are starting to think clearly now, Engineering is a vocation not an education. If I had to do it over probably best thing to do while in college is trying out for a parts in school plays esp Shakespeare.
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Bah, urban myth. My eyes have even survived computer screens. I'm 40 and still no signs of reading fatigue.
Drifting OT, I've collected books, mostly engineering, for decades. I finally had a local carpenter/cabinetmaker build me some custom bookshelves. They're great and I'd do it again instantly, but we also learned some things about bookshelves for the fussy (me). You want a very smooth finish so you can get the books in and out without wearing the corners. You want to attach bookshelves to the walls with completely flush hardware. A lower lip in front has pros and cons. I'd either avoid it, or put an angle on the inside edge so you don't catch books coming out. Some of your shelves should either be adjustable (rabbet in metal bars for tab supports) or some sections should be way oversize to accommodate deep and tall books.
As far as books themselves, dealers and collectors place a premium on 1st editions. For fiction I can understand that. For technical books I prefer 2nd or 3rd editions where many mistakes are often corrected. OTOH, later editions of long printed books, say Terman's electronic texts (wonderful) will have valuable sections removed. Know what you're buying. Every year when I go on vacation I stop at various used book stores. Going east, Bequaert Old Books is a spectacular resource for both technical and every other catagory. If you get as far as Maine, Wikhegan Old Books in Northeast Harbor always has some really desirable volumes, albeit at a price. I rarely leave without something wonderful, and my wallet a lot lighter. Don't forget local library sales as well, especially in college towns. We have a huge one not too far away- Tompkins Counry, biggest I've ever seen.
edit- I'm giving away all my secrets today, but if you can find this place, you'll never leave- Old Number Six Book Depot. Every category, collectible, technical and reasonable prices.
As far as books themselves, dealers and collectors place a premium on 1st editions. For fiction I can understand that. For technical books I prefer 2nd or 3rd editions where many mistakes are often corrected. OTOH, later editions of long printed books, say Terman's electronic texts (wonderful) will have valuable sections removed. Know what you're buying. Every year when I go on vacation I stop at various used book stores. Going east, Bequaert Old Books is a spectacular resource for both technical and every other catagory. If you get as far as Maine, Wikhegan Old Books in Northeast Harbor always has some really desirable volumes, albeit at a price. I rarely leave without something wonderful, and my wallet a lot lighter. Don't forget local library sales as well, especially in college towns. We have a huge one not too far away- Tompkins Counry, biggest I've ever seen.
edit- I'm giving away all my secrets today, but if you can find this place, you'll never leave- Old Number Six Book Depot. Every category, collectible, technical and reasonable prices.
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Is it? focusing at close objects for long periods of time is not good for the eyes. Consult a doctor, maybe they are perpetuating this idea. Besides you missed the crux of the point I'm trying to make. You can still be a total nerd without glasses too.
There are lists of important books of Literature. You will notice many lists overlap with certain novels, that would be a good place to start. Also authors you already admire will cite their own influences as well.
100 Years, 100 Novels, One List : NPR
The 100 Best English-Language Novels of the 20th Century — Infoplease.com
My eye specialist told me an interesting thing last week; I was asking him how good intraoccular lense implants actally are. He says for normal activities, the range of focal range needed is 3 dioptres. A human eye in 'good condition' is capable of a focus range of 30 dioptres.
I didn't say it was, but it doesn't translate to "surely you'll need glasses if you overdo it". Guess it depends, all I can say is that I haven't ruined my eyes yet. And you can be an avid reader and still have time for a social life, hey, even for a love life ... especially if you don't work that much and study even less.
Anyway since 25 I don't read that much, run out of good books.
Answering 2 post in one, yeah I think she's also talented.
When I was in grad school, about 90% of the candidates were mixed in one dorm* -- didn't matter whether you were at the Argonne National Lab, Mideast Languages, or in the sociology department -- a wonderful experiment -- everyone played bridge, smoked cigarettes and drank beer all night. You'll be w engineering types the rest of your life, so "gather the rosebuds while ye may".
I can think of frustrated engineer/architect movies: "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dreamhouse" and "Falling Down", engineering gone awry in "Space Odyssey 2001".
* I think the law and med schools housed folks separately.
Hehehe As you will see from my handle and tag line It is one of my favourites, but I wasn't sure whether it fit in with the OP's requirements
. Certainly was very hard going when I first read it over twenty years ago, I struggled. I read it again about three years ago and it made a lot more sense with another 20 years or so under my belt I saw a special on Thursday night and some of the stuff that hasn't been realised yet they were saying should be happening in the next 10 - 20 years (namely man machine interface, imbedding of chips in peoples brains etc)....
Another science fiction I really enjoyed was Sundiver by David Brin.
Tony.
You're obviously not really a reader then. Some of us have read the Cornflakes packet.
w
War: in no particular order, just looking around the room.
The Naked and the Dead - Mailer
The Cruel Sea - Monsarrat
The 13th Valley - del Veccio
The Good Shepherd - Forester
Chickenhawk - Mason
From Here to Eternity - Jones
King Rat - Clavell
For Whom the Bell Tolls - Hemmingway
The Caine Mutiny - Wouk
Schindlers List - Keneally
Well, now that you mention it... It is true that I have to read an X number of pages everyday - even if it's Internet crap. Otherwise I start feeling unwell. It soothes my mind. I have often wondered where that need comes from. Is it in the genes? I don't have the urge for knowledge anymore but I must still read something. Curious.
Appearently your use of the word "Classic" is much different than the Classic use of the term. The problem with modern prose is that much of it is light weight, superficial, and lacks the time-tested enduring value that actually defines what a classic is. If you wish to waste your time on modern literature, with it's automatic built-in obsolesence, that is of course, your choice. However there are so many real "Classics" that are not only "not" turgid, but in many ways clearly define us, even today.
Best Regards,
TerryO
Then read Kafka. Classic books are timeless, that's why they are called "Classic". Of course language changes over time but human soul doesn't. Most modern junk, if not all, would be forgotten in 10-20 years.
better yet, read Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripedes -- learn how to deal with a po'd wife!
Read a novel last week by Ken Follet called "The Pillars of the Earth" - set in the 11th-12th centuries it is an interesting morality play wrapped around the construction of a medieval cathedral, with a focus on the then rapid evolution of construction technology. Almost 1000 pages but it goes by pretty quickly and I found it quite enjoyable. Beyond that my list of must reads:
The Man in the Iron Mask
Last of the Mohicans
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Fountainhead
Atlas Shrugged
Les Miserables
Crime and Punishment
The Hobbit
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
1984
The Man in the Iron Mask
Last of the Mohicans
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Fountainhead
Atlas Shrugged
Les Miserables
Crime and Punishment
The Hobbit
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
1984
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