What Are You Reading

[martinsantos]

Yes. He shows Socrates as a philosopher who had a very authoritarian idea about how the perfect State would be. The democracy as the wrong way. And the teach this is the trully meaning about "to corromp the youthness" - Critias among the youth.

Does Stone agree with Aeschines that Socrates was sentenced
to death because he had educated Critias?:rip:

 

[Harp]

Yes. He shows Socrates as a philosopher who had a very authoritarian idea about how the perfect State would be. The democracy as the wrong way.

Will look at Stone. Enjoyed Frederick Copleston's inquiry as to same in his History opus.

But most intriguing about Socrates is his rejecting exile as trial avoidance.
And his inflammatory response. Plato adequately sums his position, of course, but still.... Stare decisis.

 

[martinsantos]

The version Stone give to Socrates' refusal to scape is very interesting and makes sense.

Socrates didn't agree with the democracy in Athens; to him, just those who really know something must do this. At his trial he was, in fact, offending the judges and really looking for the death penalty. To die would be the a coerent answer from Socrates about his own thoughts. He couldn't ask mercy from the judges if he always told people has no knowledge to do this. His death would demonstrate the unfair decision by a trial by people.

I think you will kike a lot Stone. And I'll try to find Copleston!

 

[Harp]

And I'll try to find Copleston!

...Copleston was a Jesuit and therefore ubiquitous [angel],
but should this Jebbie prove elusive, please PM and I'll forward his
Greece and Rome volume.

 

[Touchofevil]

Ross MacDonald's "Blue City" written in 1947 on an IPAD and the Big Kindle. It's not a "Lew Archer" story, but as usual, it is entertaining.

 

[Touchofevil]

I feel that I must apologize for the confusion possibly incurred by the first sentence of my earlier posting. To the best of my knowledge, Ross MacDonald did not write "Blue City" on an IPAD or the Big Kindle in 1947.

Deepest apologies,

Touchofevil!

 

[apba1166]

I read Jude first - it was my initiation into Hardy - and was so taken by his work that I immediately gathered whatever else of his I could. I have The Mayor of Casterbridge waiting for when I finish this one. He has to be one of the most jarring, intoxicating, fascinating authors I've had the pleasure to experience.

I always said, if I win the lottery--or even find a bag of cash on the road--I will sit in my backyard and just read Thomas Hardy novels. He writes Jude at the end, gets hammered for it. Stops writing in his mid050s for the rest of his life (except poetry). His notebooks/journals are amazing.

 

[apba1166]

The Hare with Amber Eyes by de Waal
De Kooning's Bicycle by Robert Long

 

[Harp]

He writes Jude at the end, gets hammered for it.

Your critique of Jude?

Read Tess?

 

[davidraphael]

Currently re-reading:
Cities of the Red Night by William Burroughs,
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Writing TV drama series by Pamela Douglas

 

[AmateisGal]

John Keegan's The Second World War.

 

[WH1]

John Keegan's The Second World War.

Excellent choice, Keegan is brilliant. His "Mask of Command" and "Face of Battle" are among the finest books written about leadership and warfare. He has the rare ability to make a potentially dry subject eminently readable. I have been reading his "Fields of Battle" for the last week or so, as able.

 

[AmateisGal]

Excellent choice, Keegan is brilliant. His "Mask of Command" and "Face of Battle" are among the finest books written about leadership and warfare. He has the rare ability to make a potentially dry subject eminently readable. I have been reading his "Fields of Battle" for the last week or so, as able.

I'm enjoying it so far and can't believe I haven't read it until now.

 

[Derek Cavin]

John Keegan's The Second World War
I'll have to check that out.

 

[Feraud]

Just finished a fascinating book about an early failed attempt to remove Hitler from leadership. The book is The Oster Conspiracy of 1938: The Unknown Story of the Military Plot to Kill Hitler and Avert World War II by Terry Parssinen. An interesting read on many levels.

I am starting Legs by William Kennedy.

 

[AmateisGal]

Just finished a fascinating book about an early failed attempt to remove Hitler from leadership. The book is The Oster Conspiracy of 1938: The Unknown Story of the Military Plot to Kill Hitler and Avert World War II by Terry Parssinen. An interesting read on many levels.

Oooh! This sounds fascinating!

 

[Feraud]

It was a fascinating read. The book's foundation was the rapidly growing unease among high ranked military men of the German Army as Hitler expressed his plans for expansion.
The unease spread from the military to civilan professions to the point where there was a definite and active plan to remove Hitler from power. This was before Hitler invades Poland and becomes the tyrant we all know and despise.
There were some amazingly prescient quotes from military leaders regarding the future war, it's outcome and legacy.

 

[rue]

About to finish 'Gracie: A Love Story' for the second time (the first time was at least ten years ago). I've been avoiding finishing it though because George talks about her death at the end.... so sad

 

[Harp]

The Ways of Syria; Stasis in Damascus Fouad Ajami
Review in essay of The View From Damascus by Itamar Rabinovich;
Foreign Affairs, May/June 2009

The distillation of an Israeli study of Syria.

 

[Samuell]

I am reading IT series book (Introduction to information technology)...Its really informative ...!