Could you please recommend me a good novel where I can learn a bit of factual history, science or something interesting ? Something like the novel Da Vinci code.
Or a good book inspired on true story.
Thanks.
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OT: The Good Book: What are you reading right now?
- Thread starter Runner77
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Or a good book inspired on true story.
Thanks.
Chili
What wind blew you hither?
- Jun 10, 2004
- 8,596
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If Leonardo da Vinci is of interest, this is one of the best biographies I have read.
Very well researched, written and illustrated. Such an interesting man, so far ahead of his time.
Kiss Under the Guy
Registered User
- Mar 21, 2022
- 591
- 645
The Pillars of the Earth - Wikipedia
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet is a classic and a good read for factual history. It's settled around 1000 BC, when they were building cathedrals in Britain. It's less of a thriller than Da Vinci code, but still a page turner and way more plausible. Don't read too much about it or you'll have the ending ruined by spoilers. The motivations of the bad guys are plausible, so it's way better than Da Vinci imo.
March Violets - Wikipedia
The Three-Body Problem (novel) - Wikipedia
- Jun 24, 2012
- 84,472
- 152,893
Frankenheimer
Sir, this is an Arber
Looks amazing. Curious to read. Sanitation is always on my mind when I watch period movies that portray beautiful princesses who probably stink to high heaven.
Just got my pre-order of this....starting this weekend!
VirginiaMtlExpat
Second most interesting man in the world.
I endorse the whole Kingsbridge series by Ken Follett. Pillars may be the best one though. Edit : also loved Column of Fire.The Pillars of the Earth - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet is a classic and a good read for factual history. It's settled around 1000 BC, when they were building cathedrals in Britain. It's less of a thriller than Da Vinci code, but still a page turner and way more plausible. Don't read too much about it or you'll have the ending ruined by spoilers. The motivations of the bad guys are plausible, so it's way better than Da Vinci imo.
March Viloets is a historocal detective novel by Phillip Kerr, in Nazi Germany. I have read another novel with the same protagonist and I liked the film noir atmosphere.March Violets - Wikipedia
If you're into Science Fiction, The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin is a good hard science book. The emotional intelligence of the characters baffled me (as it did in Da Vinci Code), but the book made me wonder in awe about the size of the universe and the nature of time. If you watched the Netflix show, they covered most of the first book and a part of the second (it's a trilogy). They just couldn't reproduce the astonishment I felt in the book when they talked about the actual three-body problem, and I feel the same will occur with the third book when they'll get there in the show.The Three-Body Problem (novel) - Wikipedia
angusyoung
Tiki-Taki time soon.
Had to check but it was 1980, a mini series starring that noted macho leading ladies man Richard Chamberlain.
Long time ago and don't really remember it well enough to say it was riveting, unlike Roots which was to this day and also compelling read.Having many languages in ones head can get cumbersome at times, especially when re-acclimatizing from one to another not continuously in use.
At least you got some formal education which must have aided where I relied solely on a few books and the mrs pushing me. Thought that being trapped there for far much longer than anticipated with the pandemic it would spur me on but feeling like a prisoner, had the opposite effect. Unlike when I first went to Greece with my Grecian fiancée to meet her family, learned PDQ that I needed to improve my Greek tremendously, which to be fair, is much easier to learn. I put in a massive amount of effort and by the time we were finished building our home and forming new collaboratives, my reading, writing and conversational ability was, as the locals say ''poli kala ''
Mata Ne.
Leto
Registered User
- Feb 16, 2023
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I've long accepted that we won't see the end of the series. The last two novels barely advanced the plot forward. I've read the series while in high school and here I am close to 15 years later with no new novel in sight. It's a shame, I'd like to complete my hardcover set.
- Jun 24, 2012
- 84,472
- 152,893
Several interesting ones in the replies to this thread:
Harry Kakalovich
Registered User
I finished reading Suzanne by Anais Barbeau-Lavalette (La Femme Qui Fuit is the French title). Pretty good book. I would recommend that one.
I'm about a third of the way through In the Upper Country by Kai Thomas. Seems pretty good. Historical fiction about the Underground Railroad in Ontario.
I'm about a third of the way through In the Upper Country by Kai Thomas. Seems pretty good. Historical fiction about the Underground Railroad in Ontario.
for those of you concerned wth your health ...great read...just finished
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca
Outlive by Peter Attia, MD, with Bill Gifford | Penguin Random House Canada
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A groundbreaking manifesto on living better and longer that challenges the conventional medical thinking on aging and reveals a new approach to preventing chronic disease and extending long-term health, from a visionary physician and leading longevity expert
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca
angusyoung
Tiki-Taki time soon.
Perhaps you might like this as well, up your alley? I Finally started to give it a go after receiving it last year at a dinner in his honor where everyone attending got a copy. Not my cup of tea and will donate it as the mrs ain't keen on it either, and to say he's an odd bird that is ultra mellow and a bit out there would be an apt description. This whole yoga scene and what not all seems a tad cultish in a way, great for some but not for me, no thank youfor those of you concerned wth your health ...great read...just finished
Outlive by Peter Attia, MD, with Bill Gifford | Penguin Random House Canada
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A groundbreaking manifesto on living better and longer that challenges the conventional medical thinking on aging and reveals a new approach to preventing chronic disease and extending long-term health, from a visionary physician and leading longevity expert
lol thx man. no, not up my alley. my wife is a yogi, so maybe her.Perhaps you might like this as well, up your alley? I Finally started to give it a go after receiving it last year at a dinner in his honor where everyone attending got a copy. Not my cup of tea and will donate it as the mrs ain't keen on it either, and to say he's an odd bird that is ultra mellow and a bit out there would be an apt description. This whole yoga scene and what not all seems a tad cultish in a way, great for some but not for me, no thank you
View attachment 877581
I'm more into the evidence-based, functional nutrition material...
my wife loves Pema Chodron
The Pema Chodron Foundation - The Buddhist Contemplative Tradition
Scintillating10
Registered User
angusyoung
Tiki-Taki time soon.
A yogi eh? how can you bear it?
Well we're both lifelong competitive athletes and her being a lifelong Shinto-Buddhist, some has rubbed off on me. Oddly though at times, she can be rather hypocritical.
lol good question. 2 hours a day of yoga and meditation. it keeps her chillA yogi eh? how can you bear it?
you and I are living parallel lives !
my wife is also a Buddhist while I am the athlete.
Aren't we all hypocrites?
VirginiaMtlExpat
Second most interesting man in the world.
Finishing GaiJin, by James Clavell. Same author as Shogun. I enjoyed Shogun much more, but this one is growing on me. As usual, on Audible, while driving, which I'm doing a lot of this summer as I drive from Chesapeake VA to Fredricksburg VA and back each week. I'm doing a summer faculty fellowship at a Navy base near Fredricksburg. This time, the action is in the 1860s, not 1600s.
I'm intrigued. I plan to work into my 80s, maybe longer, and certainly live into my 90s or even triple figures, while staying fit.for those of you concerned wth your health ...great read...just finished
Outlive by Peter Attia, MD, with Bill Gifford | Penguin Random House Canada
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A groundbreaking manifesto on living better and longer that challenges the conventional medical thinking on aging and reveals a new approach to preventing chronic disease and extending long-term health, from a visionary physician and leading longevity expert
Non Player Canadiens
Registered User
classic academic, never retiring
what do you teach?
VirginiaMtlExpat
Second most interesting man in the world.
Biomedical Engineering and Modeling & Simulation Engineering. Research in medical simulation, computer-assisted surgery, and geriatric fall injury mitigation. It's common to see profs keep going into their 70s and 80s. A colleague retired around 70 recently, and I found it shocking. I was thinking: "what the hell are you doing? You'll be bored!" On campus, we're kings (to some degree). At home, our wives boss us around.classic academic, never retiring
I'm also a late bloomer, so I appreciate it even more. So I want to savor it and keep going. Moreover, I have two startups that I'm incubating, which will also keep me busy.
Non Player Canadiens
Registered User
yeah i agree! it is. problem is, it's frustrating for young academics who want to break into this space, and start their own (tenure track) academic career, when no one is making room at the top.
that's what happened to me, so i was forced to leave academia. but I ended up in industry and i'm happy with how things have gone since then.
VirginiaMtlExpat
Second most interesting man in the world.
I am aware that I won the lottery, in that sense. Tenure is awesome. There's so many different directions in which I can pivot, with my toolbox, which is fun. The medical simulation part is particularly rich. There are a lot of clinical areas with absolutely nothing out there. Also, though the US is very competitive, it's cool that there are so many profs in the vast US landscape willing to work with a complete stranger, as long as they feel that I'm acting in good faith.
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angusyoung
Tiki-Taki time soon.
2 hours a day of yoga sure should take the edge off no doubt and make one zen, pliable too.lol good question. 2 hours a day of yoga and meditation. it keeps her chill
you and I are living parallel lives !
my wife is also a Buddhist while I am the athlete.
Aren't we all hypocrites?
Good to know what to expect where as I never know if I'm getting Scarlet O'Hara from '' Gone with the wind '' or a recently pissed off Bruce Banner.Keep going as long as you can, an uncle was performing surgery well into his 70's and teaching in his 80's. Unfortunately not all are happy endings as a professor friend of ours that had tenure was doing more than fine in his 80's when the university decided to abolish the department, and he was still getting some pretty good grants. Combine that with being recently widowed, ended him.
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