Class of 99 by John Oreovicz. Covers the 1999 CART FedEx Championship Series in what would turn out to be a pivotal year in the CART/IRL split that severely damaged IndyCar.

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Originally posted by Veeper:

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Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Currently reading Theft of Fire, by Devon Eriksen.

If you're a fan of hard SciFi I highly recommend it.

This is a fantastic book.

Tks for the heads up! I love sci-fi but haven’t read good material for a number of years. Eriksen’s book changes that. It’s a great book, a real page turner. The concept is terrific but the character development is what makes it. Really looking forward to the next episode!

I’ve long been a fan of David Downing’s spy and “station” novels, but only recently discovered The Moscow Option which is an alternative history about World War II in which the Axis powers are more successful than in real life. The Germans take Moscow, Rommel takes Egypt and beyond, the Japanese win the battle of Midway, etc. Downing is an excellent author who really knows his history and can write a compelling story. Years ago I read many other alternative histories by people such as Turtledove, but this was the best.

And an excellent nonfiction book by Downing is Sealing Their Fate: The Twenty-two Days That Decided World War II that covers the period from 17 November through 8 December 1941 which he argues was a pivotal period for all of the major powers. Because it’s a full length book that covers a short period of time, it goes into much more detail about the battles as well as the negotiations between Japan and the US leading up to Pearl Harbor. According to the author, the US was firmly convinced that they would be going to war with Japan, but didn’t treat the realization with the seriousness it deserved; i.e., there was no reason to believe that Japan would pose a serious threat. As for Pearl Harbor, almost no one believed the Japanese would launch an attack there. As one example of something I’d never read before, it was decided to camouflage the aircraft in the Philippines, but there wasn’t enough green paint to do the job.

War Without Mercy: Liberty or Death in the American Revolution by Lender and Martin concentrated on the actions by the nonregular forces and how savage that warfare was. I found the book to be a little thin on content, but again an account I wasn’t familiar with.

Years ago I read War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War by John Dower; similar title but obviously a much different subject. As I recall, I was much more impressed with it than the former.

I just started Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity by Frank Dikötter that looks to be an excellent work.

Also just started Advanced Long Range Shooting: The Next Step in Precision Rifle Shooting by Ryan Cleckner, and which is a follow-up to his earlier Long Range Shooting Handbook: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting that I read some time ago. I have mixed feelings about the books, but they are definitely worth reading.

A couple of works by the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, including his essays Studies in Pessimism. Pessimistic indeed.

And I decided to reread Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land. I read it a long time ago and am surprised by what I didn’t recall about the book. I suspect I wasn’t too impressed with it at then, and am not sure I’ll finish it this time.

Silk Roads

I've been reading various WW2 and Vietnam biographies along with some cheesy men's adventure books to try and relax.

I read about 3/4 of Midnight Black from Mark Greaney and I just started his latest novel:
The Hard Line.

I just finished "Apple in China - The Capture of the World's Largest Company" by Patrick McGee. The book gives a good history of Apple and explores how they got taken by China. I did not know most of what's in this book, a real eyeopener for me. The way Apple grew is astounding but now it has some vulnerabilities that could bring it down.

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Originally posted by P250UA5:

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Originally posted by coyotedude:
About 3/4 way through Hail Mary, same author of The Martian. Yeah, sci-fi junkie here. It's a bit tedious but nonetheless fascinating how the duo works through problems as they arise.

I really enjoyed the book. Will probably read again before the movie hits theaters.

Started this back up on Friday, about 1/3 through it.

On the subject of our greatest current enemy, China, I’m working on Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity, i.e., how Mao Zedong and gang managed with Soviet and American* help to enslave millions. I was familiar with some of what is covered, but not in the detail—often very graphic—that this book provides. It’s a history that everyone in the Free World should be familiar with, but of course won’t be.

* Mostly clueless, but assistance nevertheless. JFK was evidently talked into the action against Cuba because the Republicans had accused Democrats such as Truman of “losing” China, and the Republicans were largely right.

I didn't follow the Alex Murdaugh saga, I knew he was convicted of killing his wife and son. "The Devil at His Elbow" was recommended to me and it was hard to put down. This book goes into the family history and the way things might still work in rural South Carolina. What a cast of characters, pick your favorite or the one you hate most. I liked the detail in this book, well written, easy to follow. He should have gotten the death penalty.

Fantastic book. The 300BO shell casings evidence - that they matched the shell casings shot off of the back porch of the home - is the most damning in my opinion. I never saw this mentioned anywhere else.

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Originally posted by UTsig:
I didn't follow the Alex Murdaugh saga, I knew he was convicted of killing his wife and son. "The Devil at His Elbow" was recommended to me and it was hard to put down. This book goes into the family history and the way things might still work in rural South Carolina. What a cast of characters, pick your favorite or the one you hate most. I liked the detail in this book, well written, easy to follow. He should have gotten the death penalty.

Just finished listening to Pillars of the Earth.

Also reading a non fiction book about the Salzburg exiles and their countrymen who settled in coastal Georgia in the 1730’s, of which I am descended.

Asimov and Nightfall,
It gave me nightmares jeez.

I got a few books that I had on my library wish list.

First I read "The Devil's Bible" by Steve Berry. it's the latest in the Cotton Malon series, it was just OK but still enjoyable. I like the tie in between history and modern intrigue.

Next up was the lates from John Sandford, "Revenge Prey". Another easy read, I like his style, his sense of humor. I'll keep following his different characters.

A young friend was asking me about books on water in the west and recommended "Where Does the Water Go - Life and Death Along the Colorado River". Title is a little dramatic, it's really about the author, David Owen, tracing the Colorado and how it's used. A much better read is "A River No More" by Philip Fradkin, more in depth. I bought my young friend several books on water and exploring the Colorado.

Wolves by DJ Molles

"Män som hatar kvinnor" trilogy again.

Good Old Steve Berry Just Read "BISHOPS PAWN".

Boy that opened my eyes up to HOOVER and the DEVIL.

I got a few books that I had on my library wish list.

First I read "The Devil's Bible" by Steve Berry. it's the latest in the Cotton Malon series, it was just OK but still enjoyable. I like the tie in between history and modern intrigue.

Next up was the lates from John Sandford, "Revenge Prey". Another easy read, I like his style, his sense of humor. I'll keep following his different characters.

A young friend was asking me about books on water in the west and recommended "Where Does the Water Go - Life and Death Along the Colorado River". Title is a little dramatic, it's really about the author, David Owen, tracing the Colorado and how it's used. A much better read is "A River No More" by Philip Fradkin, more in depth. I bought my young friend several books on water and exploring the Colorado.[/QUOTE]

East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Fascinating character development and theme.

The Camp of the Saints.

I found it very disturbing when I read it in the late 1970s. I find it even more disturbing now.