Books

[Jayrannasaurus]

Bill Bryson's "A Short History of nearly Everything" is an absolute must.

Lately it's philosophy and more philosophy.

Currently busy with:

The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces - Joseph Campbell
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M. Pirsig

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Started Suffer The Children an old John Saul book last night - got his entire bibliography on ebook

[CaajScot]

I am a book worm. Now that I am retired I will have more time to read. Some of my favourite authors are Greisham,Higgins,Ludlam and Lee Childs. My son bought me a book collection last year sometime, 3 books in one called WW2 Legends: D-Day,Citizen Soldiers,Wild Blue. If you have seen the show 'Band of Brothers' then you will know the author, Stephen E. Ambrose. I never seen the show 'Band of Brothers' and my son kept telling me to watch it. After reading the 3 books I watched it. The books are a brilliant read, especially D-Day.   

[king nothing]

Oct 11, 2014 14:19:58 GMT CaajScot said:

I am a book worm. Now that I am retired I will have more time to read. Some of my favourite authors are Greisham,Higgins,Ludlam and Lee Childs. My son bought me a book collection last year sometime, 3 books in one called WW2 Legends: D-Day,Citizen Soldiers,Wild Blue. If you have seen the show 'Band of Brothers' then you will know the author, Stephen E. Ambrose. I never seen the show 'Band of Brothers' and my son kept telling me to watch it. After reading the 3 books I watched it. The books are a brilliant read, especially D-Day.   

Cheers bud will check them out. Band of brothers was epic.

[CaajScot]

Oct 11, 2014 14:29:50 GMT king nothing said:

Oct 11, 2014 14:19:58 GMT CaajScot said:

I am a book worm. Now that I am retired I will have more time to read. Some of my favourite authors are Greisham,Higgins,Ludlam and Lee Childs. My son bought me a book collection last year sometime, 3 books in one called WW2 Legends: D-Day,Citizen Soldiers,Wild Blue. If you have seen the show 'Band of Brothers' then you will know the author, Stephen E. Ambrose. I never seen the show 'Band of Brothers' and my son kept telling me to watch it. After reading the 3 books I watched it. The books are a brilliant read, especially D-Day.   

Cheers bud will check them out. Band of brothers was epic.

I am sure you will enjoy the read when you get them.

[CaajScot]

Just noticed the photos I put in from my Photo Bucket went blank, don't know why? Must have done something wrong when pasting. Here is a link with all of his books. Just scroll down the page to Works.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_E._Ambrose

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Ambrose was once famous for his work on the Cold War. There was a time when he was regarded as the cutting edge of researched history. But then he was defrocked as a serious historian because he had plagiarised his books. His reputation never recovered and those books are no longer taken seriously. He shifted direction to writing oral histories about the Second World War. I understand several members of 'Band of Brothers' wrote their own accounts after the Ambrose account because they were not entirely happy with his depiction. He also began a battlefield tourism company which took many people to the European battlefields which placed him in a higher public profile in his latter days. All the same I have read all his books, he was a good writer; pity about his cheating. 

[CaajScot]

Oct 12, 2014 10:04:02 GMT _ said:

Ambrose was once famous for his work on the Cold War. There was a time when he was regarded as the cutting edge of researched history. But then he was defrocked as a serious historian because he had plagiarised his books. His reputation never recovered and those books are no longer taken seriously. He shifted direction to writing oral histories about the Second World War. I understand several members of 'Band of Brothers' wrote their own accounts after the Ambrose account because they were not entirely happy with his depiction. He also began a battlefield tourism company which took many people to the European battlefields which placed him in a higher public profile in his latter days. All the same I have read all his books, he was a good writer; pity about his cheating. 

Thats true with a lot of authors. I have read a few of Erich Anton Paul von Däniken books. In the book  Chariots of the Gods?, Däniken wrote ' that a non-rusting iron pillar in Delhi, India, was evidence of extraterrestrial influence. In a later Playboy interview, when told that the column showed some signs of rust and its method of construction was well understood, Däniken said that since writing the book he had learned of investigations reaching other conclusions, and no longer considered the pillar to be a mystery.' In his book The Gold of the Gods, Däniken wrote ' of being guided through artificial tunnels in a cave under Ecuador, Cueva de los Tayos, containing gold, strange statues and a library with metal tablets, which he considered to be evidence of ancient space visitors. The man who he said showed him these tunnels, Juan Moricz, told Der Spiegel that Däniken's descriptions came from a long conversation and that the photos in the book had been "fiddled". Däniken told Playboy that although he had seen the library and other places he had described, he had fabricated some of the events to add interest to his book. Later in 1978 he said that he had never been in the cave pictured in his book but in a "side entrance", and that he had fabricated the whole descent into the cave. A geologist examined the area and found no cave systems. Däniken also wrote about a collection of gold objects held by local priest Father Crespi, who had special permission from the Vatican to do archeological research. But an archeologist reported to Der Spiegel that, while there were some gold pieces, many were just local imitations for tourists, and that Crespi has difficulty distinguishing brass from gold.

I will still read any book by Däniken but maybe with a little grin on my face at the same time. 

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Oct 12, 2014 11:23:19 GMT CaajScot said:

Oct 12, 2014 10:04:02 GMT _ said:

Ambrose was once famous for his work on the Cold War. There was a time when he was regarded as the cutting edge of researched history. But then he was defrocked as a serious historian because he had plagiarised his books. His reputation never recovered and those books are no longer taken seriously. He shifted direction to writing oral histories about the Second World War. I understand several members of 'Band of Brothers' wrote their own accounts after the Ambrose account because they were not entirely happy with his depiction. He also began a battlefield tourism company which took many people to the European battlefields which placed him in a higher public profile in his latter days. All the same I have read all his books, he was a good writer; pity about his cheating. 

Thats true with a lot of authors. I have read a few of Erich Anton Paul von Däniken books. In the book  Chariots of the Gods?, Däniken wrote ' that a non-rusting iron pillar in Delhi, India, was evidence of extraterrestrial influence. In a later Playboy interview, when told that the column showed some signs of rust and its method of construction was well understood, Däniken said that since writing the book he had learned of investigations reaching other conclusions, and no longer considered the pillar to be a mystery.' In his book The Gold of the Gods, Däniken wrote ' of being guided through artificial tunnels in a cave under Ecuador, Cueva de los Tayos, containing gold, strange statues and a library with metal tablets, which he considered to be evidence of ancient space visitors. The man who he said showed him these tunnels, Juan Moricz, told Der Spiegel that Däniken's descriptions came from a long conversation and that the photos in the book had been "fiddled". Däniken told Playboy that although he had seen the library and other places he had described, he had fabricated some of the events to add interest to his book. Later in 1978 he said that he had never been in the cave pictured in his book but in a "side entrance", and that he had fabricated the whole descent into the cave. A geologist examined the area and found no cave systems. Däniken also wrote about a collection of gold objects held by local priest Father Crespi, who had special permission from the Vatican to do archeological research. But an archeologist reported to Der Spiegel that, while there were some gold pieces, many were just local imitations for tourists, and that Crespi has difficulty distinguishing brass from gold.

I will still read any book by Däniken but maybe with a little grin on my face at the same time. 

While that's true of many writers, the impact in academia can have serious consequences. When a student's work is plagiarised by their professor they are pretty much in an invidious position. Ambrose lost his university status once he was outed.

[CaajScot]

Oct 13, 2014 11:34:15 GMT 1 Stretford End Phil said:



'While that's true of many writers, the impact in academia can have serious consequences. When a student's work is plagiarised by their professor they are pretty much in an invidious position. Ambrose lost his university status once he was outed.'


I know that plagiarism is considered as academic dishonesty and a breach of journalistic ethic's and can constitute copyright infringement. As me being an old man of 65 who only got as far as high school many years ago I do wonder sometimes that the book's I have read over the years and even today that are non fiction, is the author being honest in he/she's writing and research? I tend to keep an open mind on things now when reading non fiction after finding out about Däniken and you pointing out about Ambrose which I never knew that one. But I would imagine I might be a bit like you, enjoy the read and wonder if this person is adding 'sugar' to the story. It must be hard on student's now days sitting in a classroom and listening to what is being said by their professor and believe what he is saying. You sound like a more intelligent guy than me and I love discussing topics like this. Do you think there is any author, past or present, is not cheating in what they write? I do read a lot of WW11 books and do like the films 'The Longest Day' and 'The Battle of the Bulge' as they actually happened. But I will say to myself when watching certain bits "That's not what I read in book's?" But film producers will add a little bit of 'sugar' in the film(s) to make it more appetising to see. My son told me to watch the film 'Saving Private Ryan'. He said it was a brilliant film. I did watch it in the end but me being an ex-army man I told my son that some of the action(s) in that film was not possible and explained one of them. I will have to read the book 'Saving Private Ryan' by Max Allan Collin's I do believe. 

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I read Ambrose's 'Rise to Globalism' for university which was highly regarded by scholars. In the late 1990s historians found factual errors in his Second World War books and then the truths about plagiarism emerged. Ambrose openly lied about his work on Eisenhower and also made strange claims that were later proven untrue. He then embellished his claims through his many ventures which has meant his legacy remains a target. I use his books to explain to students the difference between good and bad work - Ambrose wrote well which disguised his fraud.

Film and TV are awkward issues when it comes to books. Depicting the content of a book on the screen is always a problem. The original book was only an interpretation of the facts and the screen production is yet another interpretation. For example Band of Brothers represents an interpretation of Easy Company but that unit's performance is generally held to have been below par set against the other parachute companies in the division. The first forty minutes of 'Saving Private Ryan' are acknowledged by veterans and writers as incredibly realistic but then the story descends into fiction and bizarre fantasy. The latest travesty to history is The Monuments Men, which was dire even without the research inaccuracies.

[CaajScot]

Oct 13, 2014 14:27:53 GMT _ said:

I read Ambrose's 'Rise to Globalism' for university which was highly regarded by scholars. In the late 1990s historians found factual errors in his Second World War books and then the truths about plagiarism emerged. Ambrose openly lied about his work on Eisenhower and also made strange claims that were later proven untrue. He then embellished his claims through his many ventures which has meant his legacy remains a target. I use his books to explain to students the difference between good and bad work - Ambrose wrote well which disguised his fraud.

Film and TV are awkward issues when it comes to books. Depicting the content of a book on the screen is always a problem. The original book was only an interpretation of the facts and the screen production is yet another interpretation. For example Band of Brothers represents an interpretation of Easy Company but that unit's performance is generally held to have been below par set against the other parachute companies in the division. The first forty minutes of 'Saving Private Ryan' are acknowledged by veterans and writers as incredibly realistic but then the story descends into fiction and bizarre fantasy. The latest travesty to history is The Monuments Men, which was dire even without the research inaccuracies.

Never seen the film The Monuments Men. Have not read the book either but checked and it was by Robert M Esden. I will have to look out for the book first and read, and maybe see the film. 

I have read all Danish-born Børge Willy Redsted Pedersen books (pen name Sven Hassel) who wrote novels set during World War II. The series of the books began with The Legion of the Damned, Wheels of Terror and penned 14 more books after that with the characters of himself (Sven), Stege, Pluto, Porta, Tiny (Little John), Legionnaire and the Old Man. Reading them books he wrote I got the impression that was him and actually happened. The books are gruesome to read but had a bit of humour in them with the exploits of Porta & Tiny. Pedersen (aka Hassel) served (what was recorded) with the German 2nd Panzer Division stationed at Eisenach and in 1939 was a tank driver during the invasion of Poland. At the time when I was reading them my thoughts were he must have had a good memory to remember all that and there must be some fiction in the books. I still enjoyed reading the books then found out a few years later that,

 The controversial Danish writer Erik Haaest has been disputing Hassel's claims for many years. Haaest writes that Sven Hassel is actually Børge Villy Redsted Pedersen (which was true until Hassel changed his name to Arbing in 1965). According to Haaest, the author never served on the Eastern front but spent the majority of World War II in occupied Denmark and his knowledge of warfare comes second-hand from Danish Waffen-SS veterans whom he met after the end of the war. Haaest claims that during the war period, Pedersen/Hassel was in fact a member of the HIPO Corps or Hilfspolizei, an auxiliary Danish police force created by the Gestapo, consisting of collaborators.

Haaest discovered that in 1945 after the liberation Pedersen aka Hassel was arrested in Denmark and in 1947 tried and sentenced for collaboration with the Germans (Retsopgøret) and that therefore Pedersen/Hassel's claim that he spent the post war years in various POW camps are not true.

Haaest also alleges that Pedersen/Hassel's first novel was ghostwritten and when it became a success, he employed his wife to write the rest of his books.

  
Like I said, now days I keep an open mind on books. It's sad really that you cannot pick a book up (non fiction) now and believe what you read. Films & Plays are an awkward situation like you said. Depicting scenes from books is awkward. I have read the book The Dirty Dozen by E.M.Nathanson. One of the parts in the film The Dirty Dozen, Lee Marvin was in the compound training them. One guy was halfway climbing up a rope in the compound to a platform above and froze and would not move. Lee Marvin then shot the rope from under him. The guy then scampered up the rope to the platform above. In the book it was a side of a cliff. 

I like the way you are teaching your students. I have a good friend in America who left the armed services two years ago after many years active service. He went back to University and got his degrees and is now doing what you are doing, teaching students on a variety of subjects at University. A few times he has got in touch with me asking about certain questions about Scotland and its history as he was working on a next project for them for discussion. He knows I live in Scotland and will give him the best reply I can what I may know.   

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Joyland - Stephen King

[CaajScot]

Anybody like western novels then read Edge by George.G.Gilman. I have read a load of them (fiction). Can be a bit gruesome reading them but it makes you think how the wild west was. Edge is a loner and when the Clint Eastwood western's like 'A Fistfull of Dollar's', 'A Few Dollar's more' and 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly' etc were released I always visualised Edge. Eastwood in the films was the man with no name and Edge is a drifter and used his services for money.

[Jayrannasaurus]

Breezing through Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

Absolutely incredible piece of literature.

Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four next.