I am not sure how well this type of thread will be recieved, because I don't know the reading habits of others. Or for that matter if anybody besides a handful of people even read books anymore since there are so many ways to get information quicker. Regardless I thought I would start a thread where people can share reviews of books and even recommend books that they liked.

For the most part I just want to have people review books and share their thoughts but if the book creates more of a topic worthy of debate I will split it to create a new thread. For example I just ordered Bob Woodward's "State of Denial" which is causing a lot of water cooler political discussions so if that got heated I would move it to the political forum.

One book I just finished and really enjoyed was "The Partly Cloudy Patriot" by Sarah Vowell, it is a collection of history related essay's and short stories that are funny and informative. Sarah Vowell hosts a show on NPR and writes for the NY times, but is more known for her voicing of Violet in "The Incredibles" movie.

Well, I like to read on occasion, and lately I have been reading a lot of Michael Connelly's books. Nothing spectacular, but they're pretty smart and keep you reading.

"Scam-Proof Your Life" is an enjoyable book I'm reading at the moment:

http://www.amazon.com/Scam-Proof-Your-Life-Consumer-Headaches/dp/1402730411

It's just full of useful little tidbits. Most of it is stuff I know, but it's still been a good read.

You may want to consider getting the audio books for Sarah Vowell's work, BTW. She gives good voice.

For 2% of WTFDetroit, The Turning Point

For the other 98%, Green Eggs and Ham

For 2% of WTFDetroit, The Turning Point

For the other 98%, Green Eggs and Ham
\Which "Turning Point"?

The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality (http://www.amazon.com/Fabric-Cosmos-Texture-Reality-Vintage/dp/0375727205/sr=8-1/qid=1160569918/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7156541-9992035?ie=UTF8) by Brian Greene.

http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/0375727205.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

i haven't finished it yet, but it's a fun read. any book that incorporates quantum physics, a multidimensional universe, and plenty of Simpsons analogy is great by me :) it's high level stuff, much beyond anything i learned in high school physics, but he does a real good job of explaining concepts via tons of analogies.

you can actually check out a brief series they did on the book, which aired on PBS:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program.html

My favorite authors are Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. If you like suspense/mystery/slight horror, they're the way to go. I can't put they're stuff down.

I'd rank they're stuff similar to Michael Crichton, just more enjoyable.

if you're looking to improve your poker game, specifically texas hold 'em, there are already tons of books out there. one good beginner/intermediate book i would recommend is Phil Gordon's Little Green Book (http://www.amazon.com/Phil-Gordons-Little-Green-Book/dp/1416903674/sr=8-1/qid=1160662375/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7156541-9992035?ie=UTF8).

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1416903674.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

it's a relatively quick read and it's not too technical or complicated. however, it detailed enough that it should improve your poker game. there are lots of poker books out there that are heavy in theory and are probably for those who are already intermediate players. this book was pleasant to read and i did get lots of good tips from it. phil gordon is known as a poker teacher and he hosts celebrity poker on TV. the book describes how phil plays the game and you should always keep in mind there are many different styles to play hold 'em.


http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1880685337.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

a step up from that book, in terms of difficulty, is Dan Harrington's "Harrington on Hold 'Em" (http://www.amazon.com/Harrington-Expert-Strategy-Limit-Tournaments/dp/1880685337/sr=1-2/qid=1160662713/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-7156541-9992035?ie=UTF8&s=books), which focuses on no limit, texas hold 'em tournament play (as opposed to ring/cash games, where the blinds don't go up). it's a great book with tons of scenarios that he breaks down and explains why he would play them a particular way. he's a very accomplished poker player, so his advice is worth reading. it's definitely for players who are past the beginner stage and can really think through all the table scenarios he goes through. the book has a second volume, (http://www.amazon.com/Harrington-Expert-Strategy-Limit-Tournaments/dp/1880685353/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b/002-7156541-9992035?ie=UTF8) which i haven't completely gone through yet, that deals with end game and final table strategy.

like i said, there are tons of poker books out there by lots of very successful players. david sklansky and doyle brunson have some real popular ones, too.

has anyone read Mitch Albom's new book, For One More Day (http://www.amazon.com/One-More-Day-Mitch-Albom/dp/1401303277/sr=8-1/qid=1161188464/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7156541-9992035?ie=UTF8)?

http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/1401303277.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V62187932_.jpg

i haven't read it and i've only read one of Albom's books (the five people you meet in heaven...thought it was just ok). it always catches my eye when he's got a new book out, since he's a sportswriter from Detroit. earlier this month, Mitch was in town for a cross-promotion of the book at a local Starbucks (http://www.starbucks.com/retail/bookbreak.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1). there's a book reading group that will meet up at that Starbucks.

anyways, anyone read it? looks like it got decent reviews on Amazon.com, but most book reviews seem to be pretty positive there.

Obvious Stephen King
http://members.tripod.com/~charnelhouse/stand90.jpg
(it has to be the uncut version)


Less popular Stephen King
http://images.bestwebbuys.com/muze/books/16/0451196716.jpg

I'm in the midst of reading a couple good science books, both with subject matter that's pretty evident from the title:

A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder
http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Mess-Disorder-How-Cluttered-Fly/dp/0316114758/ref=sr_1_1/104-7960459-0904740?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191724041&sr=1-1

and:

The Quantum Zoo: A Tourist's Guide to the Never-Ending Universe
http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Zoo-Tourists-Never-Ending-Universe/dp/0309096227/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7960459-0904740?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191724111&sr=1-1

Thumbs up to both.

I'm reading a couple of interesting books right now. I can read them both at once because they're so different, there's no way I could lose track of them.

#1 "Slaughterhouse Five" by Kurt Vonnegut.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x147/dspiewak/41hmOVyCFxL_SS500_.jpg
This book is almost impossible to describe, but I'll try: it's the story of a hapless schlemiel who travels in time into different episodes of his life. He experiences his childhood, his experience as a World War II P.O.W., his education, his mental breakdown, a plane crash, old age, and being kidnapped by aliens, all in random order. It's a story about the looming fear of death, and it's surprisingly incredibly hilarious. I'm about 60% through this book. Four big huge stars.

#2 "Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life" by Dr. Stephen Hayes.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x147/dspiewak/519QRFXHD0L_SS500_.jpg
I've been interested in the recent development of a new branch of cognitive psychotherapy called ACT. It has some unusual features and I'm curious to see if it goes anywhere. However, I'm not a psychologist, and the theoretical underpinnings of ACT are damn near impossible for the layman to understand. So this is a kind of self-help book that the ACT psychologists put out that lays out their ideas in an easy-to-read manner. Haven't read enough to decide on this one yet.

Two things, first off, those poker books will without a doubt improve your game, if they don't, you can't read, or you're a WSOP multiple bracelet winner.

I just read "My Grandfather's Son" by Clarence Thomas, great book, highly recommend. Currently reading Black Rednecks and White Liberals by Thomas Sowell, which I'm enjoying.

Weird situation, long story... given a book called 'Lost Souls' by Poppy Z Brite. Anybody read it?

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/BOOK/BD018~The-Catcher-in-the-Rye-by-J-D-Salinger-Posters.jpg


For all the bookreports I plagerized and cheated on in high school, this is the only book I actually read...

^ And that's why you don't go to THE Michigan State University, bub.

I go to Oakland Univ...


I'd rather be a Golden Grizzly than a Spartan

OU started out as MSU-Oakland.

Y: The Last Man has been on my reading list lately. It's a story about a plague that wipes out every man on earth, except one. It's great stuff!

About half-way through this, a solid '7' for sports fans:

http://amzn.to/1xHTZvA

Got a new Johnny Cash biography for xmas. This will be the third one I've read. I've read about 5 books, total.

Johnny Cash, The Life

5 books, total, in your entire life?

For anything other than school, yeah. I don't find it enjoyable at all.

Anatomy of Violence was a good read... Flash Boys is next.

Anatomy of Violence was a good read... Flash Boys is next.

Flash Boys was pretty good... a lot of stuff I knew, as it turned out.

Underbelly Hoops, about the CBA, was fascinating... really worthwhile.

Been listening to Amy Poehler's book. Will let you know if I recommend it after I finish.