What do you read? Review Authors You Like!

Bill Pflanz said:

I have read Malcolm's Outliers book also. He also used data to show how when you were born can effect future success. A couple of examples:

- Most successful atheletes were born in the first few months since little league sports go by age and they are the oldest and usually bigger. With early success they get more and better coaching, time playing etc. which helps future success.

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The first few months of what?

Bill Pflanz said:

- Bill Gates and other early computer entrepreneurs were exactly the right age to benefit from the advances occurring in computers. Since they were on the cutting edge, their experiences opened doors to opportunities not necessarily available to those born later.

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Someone was bound to be"exactly the right age," no?

January, February, March

The best known of the IT entrepreneurs were all born within a year or two of each other.

Bill Pflanz

I read a lot of biographies, from athletes to inventors to the founding fathers. I also like the Dan Brown works and other books that make you at least question something with a foundation as strong as Catholicism. I will also read any Dean Koontz book. My interest with his books started in high school, when I learned he used to be an English teacher at my school (Little Known Facts About Dean Koontz).

Has anyone read Freakonomics and/or Superfreakonomics? I enjoyed them both, but preferred the latter.

Lincoln Childs and Douglas Preston have a series of books involving Agent Pendergast of the FBI.

The Cabinet of Curiosities
Still Life with Crows

Then 2-3 series of 3 books each with Agent Pendergast. Kind of a modern day Sherlock Holmes. Most of the novels tie in at the New York Museum of Natural History with characters who are interlaced from their individual books as well.

Extremely entertaining and hard to put down reads.

Hi Craig, I've read both Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics - both good reads. I'd tend to agree with you that the 2nd one is a little better.

For another interesting read, an older book is "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared Diamond. It looks at reasons why western European culture succeeded better than cultures from other parts of the globe. I read it shortly after it was published and haven't touched it for awile. It may be time to read it again.

I've also got one of Peter Drucker's later books sitting by the bed for re-reading - he definitely had an insight into business.

I recommend reading Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidences for Intelligent Design by Stephen C. Meyer

AndyN said:

Bill Bryson - I didn't see any other comments regarding this truely excellent and funny American writer. He lived in the UK for a number of years and has written what I believe are some of the most interesting and informative books.

Tom Clancy, for the technical accuracy (for the most part) of his enthralling stories. Robin Cook, just started with him and 'Marker' - couldn't put it down!

MIchael Palin, not just a Python. Douglas Adams for his books other than H2G2. A true loss of talent too. Azimov, Graham Greene, Kenneth Graham.

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I am currently sifting through a lot of old threads in order to reacquaint myself with the Cove, and what do you know... Since Andy wrote this post my daughter has spent three years at Durham University in the UK, and spent a fair bit of time in the Bill Bryson library there: As a result I have picked up some of his works and I have to tell you: They are excellent!

I started off with A short story of everything and am now reading The body. A guide for occupants. Both of them are very witty, well written and absolutely crammed with interesting fact. Highly recommended.

Claes Gefvenberg said:

I am currently sifting through a lot of old threads in order to reacquaint myself with the Cove, and what do you know... Since Andy wrote this post my daughter has spent three years at Durham University in the UK, and spent a fair bit of time in the Bill Bryson library there: As a result I have picked up some of his works and I have to tell you: They are excellent!

I started off with A short story of everything and am now reading The body. A guide for occupants. Both of them are very witty, well written and absolutely crammed with interesting fact. Highly recommended.

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Claes, it is great to see you back here! I always enjoyed reading your posts and "bantering" on here with you. I hope all is well!

Since Claes is a Scifi fan, I've become really hooked on Glynn Stewart as an author. He's kind of a pulp writer, churning out a book a month on multiple series but his characters really attract me.