Airboy Needs Book Help

Nefaro · July 30, 2015, 09:25:22 AM

This probably isn't appropriate for hitting the most notable points in history, but it's an entertaining read featuring lesser known historical bits along the way:

The Mental Floss' History Of The world

If nothing else, get it for yourself for some less stuffy reading on interesting & odd stuff related to historical events & figures. Mental Floss also has a US history one I've not read yet, and some other similar ones (Big Hair to the Big Bang, etc).

Bison · July 30, 2015, 04:00:28 PM

Ray Bradbury most any of it to be honest, but you can never go wrong with Something Wicked This Way Comes.

MetalDog · July 30, 2015, 05:54:05 PM

I always knew I liked you, Bison! Bradbury ROCKS!!!

bayonetbrant · July 30, 2015, 06:23:21 PM

Cats Cradle is good, too.

Staggerwing · July 30, 2015, 06:58:35 PM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on July 30, 2015, 06:23:21 PM
Cats Cradle is good, too.

Yes. Yes it is. As is Sirens of Venus, though bleak.

However, for a first introduction into the mind of Kurt Vonnegut you cannot beat 'Welcome to the Monkey House'. It's all in there, in some form or other.

JasonPratt · July 31, 2015, 12:29:14 PM

Did I forget to check in with the Bro again last night to find that series?

Yes. Yes I did.

In my defense, their house is being worked on so they're not spending the night there at the moment. (Homonym trifecta, woo!)

To trick kids into reading more and better, though -- I mean generally -- you can always pick a movie or anime he'd like, then set the audio to non-English and turn on the subtitles. >:D

besilarius · August 01, 2015, 06:29:36 PM

Asked my son, who is now in his 30s, what he recalls.
He suggested a series by Gordon Dickson, The Dragon and the George. First book is natureally the best, but all were intelligent, entertaining and made you care about the main characters.
You may remember Dickson for his Dorsai stories.

Nefaro · August 02, 2015, 06:29:40 AM

Oh... I thought this was a recommendation for a book on history. Did I misunderstand?

bayonetbrant · August 02, 2015, 07:47:13 AM

Quote from: Nefaro on August 02, 2015, 06:29:40 AMDid I misunderstand?

Quote from: airboy on July 28, 2015, 06:27:26 PMI need book recommendations for English/History by US Authors suitable for a 16 year old who will be forced to read.

Nefaro · August 07, 2015, 08:15:49 PM

Soooo... saying "English" just means anything printed in English then?

That's pretty almost everything, then. No? :P

bayonetbrant · August 08, 2015, 07:07:46 AM

Quote from: Nefaro on August 07, 2015, 08:15:49 PM
Soooo... saying "English" just means anything printed in English then?

That's pretty almost everything, then. No? :P

he did add "by US authors" ;)

BanzaiCat · August 29, 2015, 07:15:17 PM

I'd recommend William Forstchen, especially his Lost Regiment series (which isn't exactly history, but methodology, engineering, problem-solving, and the like come out in spades, and it's a fascinating series not to mention action-packed and reads like some kind of massive epic).

He and Newt Gingrich did some interesting alt-history stuff, like 1945 and Gettysburg.

MetalDog · August 29, 2015, 08:50:32 PM

I read Forstchen's The Gamester Wars trilogy. Great generals are plucked out Earth's past and made to fight on distant planets with native troops. A syndicate of alien gamblers funds the venture and they wager on the outcome. Fairly sure they are out of print, but, it's an easy read and might excite a peripheral desire to learn about the history of Alexander, Napoleon, etc.

mirth · August 29, 2015, 09:00:44 PM

Quote from: Banzai_Cat on August 29, 2015, 07:15:17 PM
I'd recommend William Forstchen, especially his Lost Regiment series (which isn't exactly history, but methodology, engineering, problem-solving, and the like come out in spades, and it's a fascinating series not to mention action-packed and reads like some kind of massive epic).

He and Newt Gingrich did some interesting alt-history stuff, like 1945 and Gettysburg.

+1 Forstchen has done some interesting books. The early Lost Regiment books are quite good, though the series went on too long, imho.

I used to game with Forstchen when he live in Maine, 25-30 years ago. Interesting dude, though you couldn't trust him in a game of laser tag.

BanzaiCat · August 30, 2015, 07:43:30 PM

Quote from: MetalDog on August 29, 2015, 08:50:32 PM
I read Forstchen's The Gamester Wars trilogy. Great generals are plucked out Earth's past and made to fight on distant planets with native troops. A syndicate of alien gamblers funds the venture and they wager on the outcome. Fairly sure they are out of print, but, it's an easy read and might excite a peripheral desire to learn about the history of Alexander, Napoleon, etc.

I actually found this in a used bookstore today...it jumped out at me, kinda. I was just browsing a couple of shelves after getting a book for my daughter for school and there it was. Thanks for the recommend.