This week I'm reading "Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization" by Nicholson Baker. It is NOT a fun book to read as it outrages and enrages me equally. Essentially it is the REAL story , day by day of how circumstances led up to WWII. If you are a history buff (I grew up with TWO teachers for parents) this is a must read. I expect it is beyond most readers unless you search for and value new information about American history and the course of Civilization . If you are a fan of Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn's "Peoples History of the United States" or Michael Moore you will probably find much value here. I'm not a person who reads 'lightly'. Even my escapist choices tend to be'hard' fiction. I like first novels, hard science fiction, forensic mysteries, Stephen King for escape. The rest of the time I read what my wife calls 'dry and heavy' books. Guess it's in my nature as I tend to research and dig the same way in music. I've worked in the biz since 1971 in record stores ('71-'98), as a musician ('59-present), teacher ('75-present), collector ('53-present...yeah, really! Still have my first record, though I have divested the LARGEST collection back in '93...almost 200,000 pieces!), mixer/producer (10 different projects over last 20 years), booking agent (last 10 years), music teacher (almost all my life it seems), writer (on again-off again...off right now)...oh. can I stop boring myself now? This looks like a good place to start posting CD rips of some of the great vinyl i DO have these days. I have lots of neat old 78s and 45s and a wide reanging collection of interesting and significant Americana and unique pieces that I find due to my long tail of knowledge. Unlike many searching on the web for music, I know what I want (mostly to replace records I used to have on MP3 or physical copies where i can find them) and what to avoid. SOoo, let's see if i can do some transfers and get them up before it starts getting too cold up here in NY.

Hello Duncan! The Baker book sounds great; I am much more interested in checking it out after reading your take on it. I've been intrigued by Baker for a few years but actually haven't had a chance to read anything by him yet. I did recently pick up The Mezzanine used, and probably will give it a go soon. Your vinyl collection of Americana also sounds great - i do hope you'll get a chance to post some of that. And i look forward to hearing your insights on music, from a life that seems to have been dedicated to it.

Just got Eat, Pray, Love from the library

this was the summer reading program for cornell students. i'm kinda just starting it even though it was supposed to be read by the start of school.... ya. I guess im not really a huge historic reading sort of person. however.... is a good read

Just finished "The Constant Gardener".. it was beautiful.. and so very different from the movie. I saw the movie a couple of years ago and don't remember it like the book at all.. But that's a good thing really. Hate it when you've seen the movie first and then through the entire read you see the actors and the movie in your head :) I think I'm gonna read The Kite Runner next..

should be wrapping up Omega soon. Which is perfect, because I just rec'd my order for this: It discuss VERY early African Americans, from the 1600s, pre-slavery, which is where my lineage come from! I'm a 20-30th generation American descended from Angola. The progenitor of my last name was born in the states in 1620, in Virginia, a black indentured servant. Pretty neat, eh? There are 2 books that look really interesting and researched, both by Tim Hashaw (I've ordered both). But, if you want to learn up on the Malungu, here's a great read from the same arthor: http://www.eclectica.org/v5n3/hashaw.html Obviously, from the picture thread, you may be saying.... Huh? yep. He married white, and over the generations, most of us got whiter and whiter. But yeah, it's fascinating stuff!

Just finished The Last Lecture. The last two chapters made me cry :cry: Got some great advice from the book; I hope Randy Pausch's family is doing well Reading this now:

The Last Lecture is amazing. The day after he died I felt compelled to watch the lecture again. He was a remarkable man and I hope his children are inspired by him. Just finished this good ole Southern gothic tale -

Finished Love is a Mix Tape...loved how music can bring two people together and Sheffield's writing was superb. Made me wish I was born earlier instead of being born IN the 90's haha Is it also a coincidence that I happened to be reading this book when the mixtape forum just started at the same time?! :shock: Vinylsociety forum is watching me... Anyway, I'm reading a lot more these days...I'm going to start this tomorrow:

been bad about updating this, and my own blog....

Ah, that one looked really good, TB - is it out in paperback yet? Let us know how it is! Just finished this this afternoon: It was pretty awesome. I loved this guys books when i was a kid, and i was always sort of aware that he also wrote stories/novels not aimed at children, but i never got around to checking any out until now. Definitely recommended - it's light reading, but not exactly brain candy, either, if that makes sense.

You guys are too smart for me!!! Damn impressive reading lists you guys put up.....

:) i just love how, even though this is a music site, we manage to keep this books thread going pretty strongly. always interesting stuff to be found here.