Being Nixon by Evan Thomas.  A fairly objective look at a very unusual guy.  His paranoia was not altogether unsubstantiated.  But he became obsessed about his enemies and the liberal press to the point where it totally consumed him.  The sad thing is that early in his career, he was an effective statesman an a sympathetic person.  He really seemed to turn when he was elected in 1968.  He had such an "us vs. them" mentality and he couldn't see past it.  He was very wise about the world stage.  But he saw himself as a perpetual victim.  I'd give it an 8/10.

posted by Heretic

I might have to look into the Sanderson stuff just to see how he is as a writer with his own properties, since I'm only familiar with him due to him finishing off Wheel of Time after Robert Jordan died. Speaking of hilariously long fantasy, Wheel of Time is 14 books long (with a 15th book that came out midway through the series being set as a prequel to introduce what two major characters were doing before the first book started) with all of them being between 700-1100 pages.

Finished The Way of Kings last night. It was an incredible book. And luckily book 2 of the series, Words of Radiance, was delivered yesterday so I can keep going.

About a quarter into Words of Radiance and the story keeps on getting better.

The Outsider by Stephen King is a damn good book. Might be one of the best I've ever read. 

posted by friendfromlowry

The Outsider by Stephen King is a damn good book. Might be one of the best I've ever read. 

It's definitely on my list. 

I picked up a hardback copy of Dreamcatcher for two bucks the other day. 

I finished up Grant's Memoirs last week and started the Prize winning Ron Chernow's Grant right after. I'm about a 100 pages in the 900+ page book. It's great so far and fills in the gaps in his memoirs. I didn't know a lot about Grant's pre Civil War life, so it is pretty interesting to read his experience in the Mexican War as well as his other military encounters. Also, Grant's best man at his wedding was future Confederate general and fellow West Pointer James Longstreet. 

Roughly halfway through Words of Radiance. Heretic, you should definitely pick up this series if you like fantasy.

Also reading Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions. It started a little slow for me, but is pretty interesting overall.

Have been reading a bunch of crappy free Amazon monthly books, but currently reading The Dead Zone by Stephen King

posted by iclfan2

Have been reading a bunch of crappy free Amazon monthly books, but currently reading The Dead Zone by Stephen King

Kindle Unlimited or Prime Reading?

I read a decent zombie apocalypse series (Apocalypse Z) on Kindle Unlimited a while back.

How many books have you all read so far this year? I'm at 26 completed right now, 7 of those being ~1000 page behemoths.

posted by justincredible

Kindle Unlimited or Prime Reading?

I read a decent zombie apocalypse series (Apocalypse Z) on Kindle Unlimited a while back.

How many books have you all read so far this year? I'm at 26 completed right now, 7 of those being ~1000 page behemoths.

With Prime you get 1 free book a month from 6 that they pick out. They are usually decent but nothing great. I haven't signed up for any of their paid services other than Prime.

I've been way behind on my reading this year due to having a baby. Too tired at bed time when I usually read, and don't spend 3 hours at the pool on the weekends anymore. Probably have only read 10-15. I plan on reading a good amount when we go on a chill beach vacation in August. I can usually get into a series (like Jack Reacher) and read 6 or 7 in a row in a short period of time. I need to find another series like that or look for the newer ones of some of the old series I have read.

posted by justincredible

Roughly halfway through Words of Radiance. Heretic, you should definitely pick up this series if you like fantasy.

I might do that. Right now I'm mainly reading horror anthologies off Kindle Unlimited (some good, some okay, too much in the body horror and torture porn crap subgenres) and just ordered the latest Malazan Empire book (Deadhouse Landing), since I've read the other 19 books and 5 novellas, so I CAN'T STOP NOW!!!

Just finished All American by Steve Eubanks and am ready for my next one which is Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power by Robert Kaplan.

posted by justincredible

It's definitely on my list. 

I picked up a hardback copy of Dreamcatcher for two bucks the other day. 

Finished it last night. I loved the first half of it (intriguing murder mystery) but the second half takes a more eerie, supernatural twist that was kind of meh. 

posted by friendfromlowry

Finished it last night. I loved the first half of it (intriguing murder mystery) but the second half takes a more eerie, supernatural twist that was kind of meh. 

I like the supernatural stuff, so I am sure I will enjoy it. I just renewed audible for $5/month for 3 months. I'll probably get it with one of my cheap credits before cancelling until the next audible deal. Will Patton narrates the audio book and he's very good.

posted by justincredible

Roughly halfway through Words of Radiance. Heretic, you should definitely pick up this series if you like fantasy.

This is taking me a while to get through, but I've got about 150 pages left (1100 pages total) and shit is really starting to fall together. I wouldn't be terribly upset if the weather stays bad all day, it would give me an excuse to just sit around and finish the book when I get home.

Also started listening to Brain Rules - 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Pretty fascinating so far.

If you like history, this seems like a good deal (wonder if it is a pricing mistake?).  1776, Truman, and John Adams kindle books by David MCCullough for 99 cents.

https://slickdeals.net/f/11910475-american-history-e-book-box-set-kindle-edition-google-ebook-1

Just started the first book in the dark tower series. I'm about 40-50 pages and I'm finding it hard to follow at times. I've read it is amazing so I'll stick with it, most other books by now would get the kick to the curb.

posted by Commander of Awesome

Just started the first book in the dark tower series. I'm about 40-50 pages and I'm finding it hard to follow at times. I've read it is amazing so I'll stick with it, most other books by now would get the kick to the curb.

The Gunslinger is a good book, but it's the weakest of the series, IMO. Luckily it is also the shortest, by far. The second book, The Drawing of the Three, is much better.

As soon as I get a good handle on the new home renovations, and the end is in sight for these first rounds, will be cracking open TB12 by Tom Brady

posted by justincredible

The Gunslinger is a good book, but it's the weakest of the series, IMO. Luckily it is also the shortest, by far. The second book, The Drawing of the Three, is much better.

It's basically a collection of five not-so-short stories that he might have written before he ever got the idea to make it into a series of novels. Or at least the name recognition to make that concept a reality. Which leads to it not having the same cohesiveness of the following books.

posted by iclfan2

If you like history, this seems like a good deal (wonder if it is a pricing mistake?).  1776, Truman, and John Adams kindle books by David MCCullough for 99 cents.

https://slickdeals.net/f/11910475-american-history-e-book-box-set-kindle-edition-google-ebook-1

1776 is a great book. I've got Truman and John Adams on my bookshelf already or I'd probably bite.

posted by justincredible

This is taking me a while to get through, but I've got about 150 pages left (1100 pages total) and shit is really starting to fall together. I wouldn't be terribly upset if the weather stays bad all day, it would give me an excuse to just sit around and finish the book when I get home.

Also started listening to Brain Rules - 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Pretty fascinating so far.

Finished both of these recently. I have started a book called Edgedancer, which is a novella from the large fantasy series I'm reading. Once I finish it I'll start in on book three, Oathbringer.

Almost finished with Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert A Heinlein. I believe the book is targeted towards a younger audience, but it's been entertaining enough and I'm a big fan of his philosophy in general.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Saw the play last week. Wish I had read the book before seeing it.