Recommended Reads

[ninjaface]

How about this UB.. you send me the book, then I'll send it to someone else after I finish it.

[Heaven Can Wait]

Send it to me after,
Fuck, send it to everyone.

[Orgazmo]

Just type it out.

[DJ FC]

I allready made that offer. Ill read it then send it to someone else.

[Repugnant Abomination]

I don't understand why everyone is so eager to read this book. I'm sure it's good, but it's not going to be anything you haven't heard/thought/read before. It's just going to confirm and reinforce beliefs the majority of you already have. If you want to challenge yourself read something that's well written by an intelligent person (Ph.D in their field) that is the opposite of what you already believe, and see if it persuades you or strengthens your pre-existing conviction(s).

[ninjaface]

Originally Posted by Repugnant Abomination

I don't understand why everyone is so eager to read this book. I'm sure it's good, but it's not going to be anything you haven't heard/thought/read before. It's just going to confirm and reinforce beliefs the majority of you already have. If you want to challenge yourself read something that's well written by an intelligent person (Ph.D in their field) that is the opposite of what you already believe, and see if it persuades you or strengthens your pre-existing conviction(s).

Just because you said that I'm not gonna read any books for a whole month. Instead, I'm gonna watch American Gladiators.

[Ugly Bastard]

While it's sad you think someone needs a Ph.D in their field to be considered intelligent enough to speak on a subject, I can tell you that, as far as I know, Sam Harris is knocking on the door of a Ph.D in nueroscience and that his beliefs are the opposite of what you seem to adhere to.

Perhaps you might read this book if I sent it to you? When I made that initial offer, I was hoping you, above anyone else, would be the one to request it.

[Repugnant Abomination]

I think you've gotten the wrong impression. Obviously somebody can be intelligent without a Ph.D, I was, for the most part, covering my bases with that comment. Regardless, it certainly lends one credibility. I'm sure Mr. Harris is a very smart guy either way.

I've read Nietzsche, Foucault, Dawkins...I know what the arguments against faith and God are, and no offense to Mr. Harris, but I doubt he has much new to say that the other great thinkers I've mentioned have already said. That's not even the point though. My point is more and more people these days want to find a reason to not believe in God. That's fine. But at this point it's become one big circle jerk where they all read and think the same thing. As I stated earlier, if you want to challenge yourself and expand your horizons, read something you disagree with. Take on another point of view. If you're already athiest then why read something you already think you know?

[Beebs]

I've got a great book on religion that I saved from a class on the philosophy of religion. The book is called "Philosophy of Religion" : Selected Readings from the Oxford University Press.

If you are actually interested in it, im sure most of the essays are online somewhere. There is a shitton of great stuff in here, let me know what you are interested in and I can suggest something on it.

All the classic religious essays are in here, but some of the ones that you may or may not have heard of that you need to read are:
"Divine Omniscience and Voluntary Action" by Nelson Pike
"Evill Makes a Strong Case Against God's Existence" by David Hume
"Resurrection of the Person" by John Hicks
"Ethics Without Religion" by Kai Nelson
"Ethics and Natural Law" by Thomas Aquinas

[Repugnant Abomination]

I did a huge report on Thomas Aquinas for a philosophy class, smart guy, VERY pro God.

[Beebs]

Definatly somebody who doesnt fit alot of people on this sites view of people who believe in god, to paraphrase him "god is truth, so one should search for the truth"

[Ugly Bastard]

Originally Posted by Repugnant Abomination

But at this point it's become one big circle jerk where [athiests] all read and think the same thing.

Wow. Sound familiar? Anyway, ninja, send me your address already and the book is yours. If I don't get it soon I'll just send it to GW.

[Repugnant Abomination]

Of course it sounds familiar, thats the point. Youre doing the exact same thing that the religious people you cant stand are doing. Why doesnt the same thing apply to you? Instead of trying to force your beliefs on someone you should swap beliefs for a day and then talk about it. Really this whole thing has gotten blown out of proportion. I'm sure it's a good book and you just feel like sharing it.

[Ugly Bastard]

Book sent to George W. Bush. Enjoy.

[Cocktooth]

Let me shit in the box and send it to GW too...

[DJ FC]

if you really wanna send me shit via. UPS I'll PM you my address, this could make a good thread

[Beebs]

http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Streets-Ring-Struggle-Become/dp/0060542403


Atlas: From the Streets to the Ring: A Son's Struggle to Become a Man

Originally Posted by Publishers Weekly

Boxing trainer and ESPN commentator Atlas ruminates on fighting as a form of masculine psychotherapy, from his own youthful street brawling to his stints training a young Mike Tyson and heavyweight champ Michael Moorer. His theme is the male psyche's craving for paternal approval, evinced in his juvenile acting out against an emotionally distant dad and his ringside relationships with a succession of surrogate sons. With them, Atlas's mentoring toggles between fatherly tenderness ("I care about you. You're important to me") and tough-love harangues ("hit him in the fuckin' balls and become a fighter or you get on the next train and you get the fuck out of my life!"). He also becomes a spiritual guide to celebrity clients like Twyla Tharp, whom he lectures on the need to face one's fears, and Willem Dafoe, with whom he discusses the nature of truth. Atlas's exhaustively transcribed motivational sermons can be wearisome, and in his self-serving accounts of boxing industry intrigues he is always loyal and principled. But he and amanuensis Alson tell his story with plenty of atmospherics, Runyonesque characters and an illuminating focus on the boxer's internal battle. Photos. (May 9)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

I really liked this book, theres alot more in it that just boxing stories, although the boxing stories, especially with Micheal Moorer are great.
He manages to avoid trying to sound like a badass, although seems to brag a time or two.

His stories are great, from growing up on Staten Island, going to Rikers, getting his face sliced open (still has a prominant scar), training kids with Cus D'mato in Catskill and driving them down to the Bronx to fight, putting a guy in Mike Tyson's ear, having Sammy the Bull Gravano pay for his gym membership and lift weights with him for a year, training a ballerina to get her in shape, etc.
Not all the stories are tough guy stuff either, he seems to have a good grip on human pyschology.

On top of the book he is one of the real good guys for boxing, and probably the best sports commentator on the air, makes boxing understandable to people whove never watched a fight let alone put on gloves while still explaining every technical detail. He really understands and explains the mental aspect of fighting and how a fighter has to consciously make the decision to not look for a way out.

[DJ FC]

Originally Posted by Ugly Bastard

I'm not sure I've ever read a book so short and yet so powerful as Sam Harris' Letter to a Christian Nation.



This took me 90 minutes to read. There isn't a person out there I wouldn't recommend this book to. For the non-believers, Harris offers some nice ammunition to use next time you're stuck in a situation where you want to slam your head against a desk while trying to explain to a Christian why you find their beliefs so appauling. Christians (or really anyone with strong religious views) might benefit from seeing a window into some of the logical shortcomings and societal downfalls that stem from such strong, unprovable beliefs.

From page 67, "It is time that we admitted that faith is nothing more than the license religious people give one another to keep believing when reasons fail. While believing strongly, without evidence, is considered a mark of madness or stupidity in any other area of our lives, faith in God still holds immense prestige in our society."

I will personally ship my copy of this book to the first of you regulars to request it, provided a.) you will most certainly read it with an open mind and b.) you believe you will spend eternity in fire without faith in Jesus Christ. Just PM me your address and it will be shipped within hours.

Just finished the book, thanks UB.

GWB's review:

I didn't like the book very much. It's too short (a couple of magazine articles in length or so), uses Straw Man arguments too often, and doesn't give me anything I didn't know already (maybe just because I'm so damn smart already?). I was especially appalled by his "use" of statistics, made me nauseous, but someone who isn't interested in economics probably wouldn't mind too much.

Some of the book wasn't too bad. Essentially he attacks anti-evolutionists (is that a word?) pretty well, if you don't believe in some form of evolution you are either ignorant or a fucking moron basically.

And he spends about 20 pages or so paraphrasing The Problem of Evil , but in an unscientific way, with no references to academia.

But as promised to UB: if anyone else wants to read this lil diddy, pm me your address and I'll UPS it ASAP, so long as you promise to read it and send it on to the next sucker.

[Ugly Bastard]

If no one ends up wanting it, send it back. I'll PayPal you a couple bucks.

[SittinOnDubsWGW]

Pretty solid read. The first 30 pages or so were monotonous and I was REALLY hoping the entire book would not be of the same structure. I was extremely happy that the pace changed up. Read it in two nights at work while sitting at an "X." There were quite a few parts that had me literally laughing out loud, one in particular, probably the hardest I've ever laughed at reading ever.


Damn, I loved this book. It has some great travel ideas and some pretty humorous things to do locally as well. The majority of it focuses on travel and other adventures. A lot of it is common knowledge, but a lot of things you may not have known about as well as recommendations on good times/ways to do them.

Starting "The Reaper's Line" tomorrow.

[Mr. Blonde]

Hey guys, check out this awesome thread I found by DJ FC. It's old too! Over a year older than some other forums that deal with the same topic, but have dishonest, non-inclusive titles. Since it has thread seniority and all, and nobody gives a shit about Repug slowly becoming a religious apologist, we should revive it!

I'm halfway finished with American Gods by Neil Gaiman. The basic plot is that all gods (and other objects of human worship) are real as long as there is some dwindling belief in them. America, being the melting pot/salad bowl that it is, has a huge amount of gods because of all the immigrants over the past few centuries who "bring their gods with them", and, after belief in them dies, they lose their powers and influence and become normal people, tricking, seducing etc. to leech what little belief they can from humans to get by.

Anyways, there's another overarching plot that everything is leading up to, but it's a great read and fun to try to guess who the gods in question are before they are revealed to you through hints. Almost nobody straight out says "Hi, i'm ___________, the god of ______________" --- a lot of it you have to pick up through conversational nuance or inferences.

Fantastic book so far. First Gaiman book I've read, and I really like his writing style. I highly recommend it.


Oh, also, HBO is turning it into a series next year, so you know it's gotta be at least fairly good.

[thekremlin]

Originally Posted by Mr. Blonde

Oh, also, HBO is turning it into a series next year, so you know it's gotta be at least fairly good.

This is cool. When I was reading it, I thought "this is a book that badly wants to be a TV series". (As opposed to most books that want to be movies.)

[Mr. Blonde]

I'm dying to find out what kind of Native American motherfucker Shadow is and why everybody is on his nuts. I thus far have discovered he somehow controls weather and seems to be a reincarnation, which would explain his lack of memory except through residual dreams, but don't spoil anything for me -- i'll be done in a week.