Recommended read for anyone interested in the unpopular theory of linguistic relativity. The book's written for the layperson, so don't let lack of linguistic background stop you. He's not presenting anything new, more giving the history of the theory and synthesizing the various arguments. He brings up some relatively recent scientific research that comes out heavily in favor of one side of the argument (namely that languages do affect how people perceive things). Cool book; if nothing else, I highly rec the first third of it, which deals with the Homeric color debate (fun times).
What Are You Reading 2014 - Page 45
Forum Index > Media & Entertainment |
babylon
8765 Posts
Recommended read for anyone interested in the unpopular theory of linguistic relativity. The book's written for the layperson, so don't let lack of linguistic background stop you. He's not presenting anything new, more giving the history of the theory and synthesizing the various arguments. He brings up some relatively recent scientific research that comes out heavily in favor of one side of the argument (namely that languages do affect how people perceive things). Cool book; if nothing else, I highly rec the first third of it, which deals with the Homeric color debate (fun times). | ||
Nyxisto
Germany6287 Posts
The first two big parts of the book were a little slow for my taste, but at the end the book really picked up and the last 200 pages were pretty incredible!. Going to read Words of Radiance now, I hope it stays as good as the way of kings ended. | ||
WindWolf
Sweden11767 Posts
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corumjhaelen
France6884 Posts
A selection of philosophical texts written by Marx, big thing missing as far as I'm aware is Misery of philosophy. Excellent read, good footnotes, it's really interesting to see how Marx's thinking evolved, and Engels sometimes dubious influence. Best writing probably was intro to the critic of political economy, Marx's here is so far some most clichés you can have about his thought... Footnotes were quite nice albeit they seemed a bit too pro-Marx sometimes. Started : A story of the first international. Interesting so far, I'm guessing Léonard ain't that keen on Marx though^^ I need to find something else to read, so if someone wants to choose for me among Plato's Laws, Woolf's The Waves, Flaubert's Temptation of Saint Anthony, Radiguet's Le diable au corps, or starting The World as Will and Representation :p | ||
farvacola
United States18768 Posts
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corumjhaelen
France6884 Posts
On June 27 2014 02:49 farvacola wrote: I'm sure you can guess as to my recommendation :D I'd say drop everything and go buy Gravity's Rainbow :p | ||
babylon
8765 Posts
On June 27 2014 01:28 WindWolf wrote: Finally finished Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb. Despite having some "meh" opinions on the how towards the end, it was still a very very awesome book. A good way to round of Liveship Traders and Rainwild Chronicles So I basically haven't read anything that doesn't have to do with the Fool and Fitz, 'cause I heard that Hobb's books outside of those two characters are much worse ... how do you think her Rainwild and Soldier Son books are compared to the Fitz books + Liveship trilogy? | ||
WindWolf
Sweden11767 Posts
On June 27 2014 08:01 babylon wrote: So I basically haven't read anything that doesn't have to do with the Fool and Fitz, 'cause I heard that Hobb's books outside of those two characters are much worse ... how do you think her Rainwild and Soldier Son books are compared to the Fitz books + Liveship trilogy? I've only read Liveship and Rainwild from Hobb. I liked Liveship, but Rainwild gets even more awesome if you have read Liveship first. From the beginning to end, what happens in Rainwilds does have some sort of relationship to the event that happened in Liveship. | ||
icystorage
Jollibee19343 Posts
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lungic
Sweden123 Posts
On June 27 2014 08:01 babylon wrote: So I basically haven't read anything that doesn't have to do with the Fool and Fitz, 'cause I heard that Hobb's books outside of those two characters are much worse ... how do you think her Rainwild and Soldier Son books are compared to the Fitz books + Liveship trilogy? I've read the first book in the Soldier son trilogy, and it was really sluggish to get through. I liked the assassins series when I read them some 10 years ago. Not particularly bad, only too much emphasis on how people felt and dancing and stuff. But, then again, I could not stand Fools Errand either, mostly for the same reason. I've had the second book of Soldier son on my shelf for the last four years or so, but I've not gotten to read it yet. | ||
bookwyrm
United States722 Posts
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Nyxisto
Germany6287 Posts
What made it difficult for me at times was all the stuff that was going on in the village and really didn't contribute a lot to the story. At times I had to really force myself through the tons of dialogue about Liza,Grushenka, the 3000 rubels and whatever was going on there. Also I don't really like how in your face the characters represent different ideologies. The book basically screams "that's the religious one!, that's the atheist!, that's the hedonist!" I would have enjoyed a little more plot and not so much direct philosophical discussion, at points the book didn't really feel like fiction anymore. | ||
Wesso
Netherlands1245 Posts
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lungic
Sweden123 Posts
Must say I was very entertained. I can understand why the're considered to be classics. Books were well written, down to a point, and no nonsense sci-fi. Neither book felt out of date, and for one book written in the 50ths that speaks to it's quality. Can't even say either was better than the other, I would recommend both to anyone into space Sci-Fi (Gateway) and dystopian post apocalypse (Triffids). | ||
Lucumo
6850 Posts
Currently reading: | ||
corumjhaelen
France6884 Posts
Virginia Woolf is amazing. The Waves is the third book written by her I'm reading, and it's the one I like the least so far. But it's still very very good. I love her prose, nothing seems forced in her writing. The questioning hits pretty close too. Glad I have more time to read again, as I'm on holidays | ||
MtlGuitarist97
United States1539 Posts
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Sbrubbles
Brazil5763 Posts
Just finishing reading. It's a 650 page history of international commerce, from pepper and silk flowing through Alexandria in the early 1000s to the second wave of globalization in the modern world. It's really interesting in that it mostly avoids being eurocentric, explaining a lot of the exchanges between the islamic/SEA/China regions. Also, it's not a difficult read for non-economists. Edit: I'll admit a lot of the fun of this book for me comes from the fact that I've been playing too much EU4 | ||
IgnE
United States7681 Posts
On July 04 2014 07:30 Sbrubbles wrote: Just finishing reading. It's a 650 page history of international commerce, from pepper and silk flowing through Alexandria in the early 1000s to the second wave of globalization in the modern world. It's really interesting in that it mostly avoids being eurocentric, explaining a lot of the exchanges between the islamic/SEA/China regions. Also, it's not a difficult read for non-economists. Edit: I'll admit a lot of the fun of this book for me comes from the fact that I've been playing too much EU4 If you like that you should check out: | ||
IVOeu
107 Posts
Absolutely love it so far, the first few chapters were really intriguing. The book has a lot of comical moments, and there's some draw dropping scenes. Highly recommend it to everyone. | ||
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