7 books you will psyche on and should totally read: What Youth
Ha ha the literary critic who doesn't bother to read the book!
Sometimes you just know.
On a bit of a roll at the moment with holiday vibes providing some more time and space.
Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller - some interesting insight into one of the best musicians I believe of the last 20 years, pretty simply written but worth a look just for the anecdotes of who this bloke has crossed paths with during his life and the Kurt Cobain section was interesting. He also genuinely shares his gratitude for how music has allowed him to live his dream. P
Eddie Jaku - The Happiest Man on Earth. Please read this book. A remarkable story of a beautiful human and a reminder of love, humanity and friendships weaved against the backdrop of atrocity after atrocity. A stark reminder to be happy and have love in your heart. A book I am so grateful to have been gifted and one I will recommend to many.
I am also re-reading one of the key books from my childhood, The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. Love this book so much.
Have a look for 'A Pirate Of Exquisite Mind' by Diana and Michael Preston
The life of William Dampier - Explorer, Naturalist and Bucaneer
Amazing what this guy did and where he went , first person to circumnavigate the world multiple times, landed in WA 80years before Cook .
Total Hellman
Another one I just finished 'the Ghost & The Bounty Hunter' by Adam Courtenay (Bryce Courtenay,s son)
About William Buckley an escaped convict who lived with the Aboriginals of the Kulin nation around Geelong circa 1800 and John Batman who came to establish Melbourne circa 1835, very interesting.
I concur on the Dampier book mike. A great read.
I especially loved the 17th century advice for treatment of constipation which involved the use of a well oiled spoon.
Have you read any Simon Winchester?
I have just finished reading "Mans Search For Meaning" by Victor Frankl.
I am sure its been mentioned here but it was an astonishing read and highly recommended
I was taken by this in particular:
"After a while I proceeded to another
question, this time addressing myself to the
whole group. The question was whether an
ape which was being used to develop
poliomyelitis serum, and for this reason
punctured again and again, would ever be able
to grasp the meaning of its suffering.
Unanimously, the group replied that of
course it would not; with its limited
intelligence, it could not enter into the world
of man, i.e., the only world in which the
meaning of its suffering would be
understandable. Then I pushed forward
with the following question: "And what
about man? Are you sure that the human
world is a terminal point? in the evolution of the cosmos? Is it not
conceivable that there is still another
dimension, a world beyond man's world; a
world in which the question of an ultimate
meaning of human suffering would find an
answer?"
it's an epic book
Great recommendation mickseq.
Victor Frankl. Extraordinary book.
I’m going to reread my copy
blindboy wrote:I just finished The Dawn Of Everything, so a few comments. First, it is a good read for anyone with an interest in prehistory or pre-european American cultures. It summarises decades of research that provide a more detailed and nuanced view than previously available to non-specialists. Second, it is not an unbiased interpretation of this material. As an activist for anarchist causes Graeber is clearly looking for evidence to support the view that humans, even in large numbers, do not need top down governance to live.
Got it for Xmas BB. Looking forward to it, but first had to finish an excellent book called ‘Qanon, and on..’ by Van Badham. I’ll write up a review in the books section.
Blowin’s dismissal of a book he knows nothing about is highly insightful…. of Blowin.
Top down governance works, exactly, nowhere.
Really interested in it as a counterpoint to ‘Sapiens’, which I thought was fantastic at the time (it was) but this argues a whole other stream. Counter arguments to the existing hegemony isn’t a big attraction for some.
Graeber’s book ‘Bullshit jobs’ was just one of the best books I have read in a long time. He died last year, most unfortunate. A man who could look through the extant bullshit of our times with a clear eye.
"Bullshit jobs" let me guess a list of made up jobs in the government and businesses that mean absolutely nothing and how to qualify for these bullshit jobs?
Sounds like a great way to earn a lot more money than any tradie or pizza shop owner on footy night.
Heres one im about to read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, ive been sent it by a tidy friend who recommended me this, he only recommends tidy books with great depth.So looking forward to reading it.
You'll love it. It's a great book.
etarip wrote:Great recommendation mickseq.
Victor Frankl. Extraordinary book.I’m going to reread my copy
are usually very pleased with the recommendations on here, my copy just turned up at the door (less than 24 hours after I ordered it no less).
Will have to finsih "Belonging" by Owen Eastwood first, a recommended read for anyone working with or leading other humans in teams.
I Just finished 'Out of the Forest' - the story of Geoffrey Peel Smith. Described on the cover as 'The true story of a recluse'. Some may be familiar with the story - it featured as an episode on Australian Story (ABC) sometime last year. An incredible story. Mostly how he survived the decade long self-imposed battering in the hills of Goonengerry, and to come out of that and slowly rebuild health and a meaningful connection with society. I wonder if any swellnetters in the Byron region may have encountered this man, probably wandering the roadside, drunk in a park, or sleeping on the beach. Anyway, it's a worthy read.
GreenJam wrote:I Just finished 'Out of the Forest' - the story of Geoffrey Peel Smith. Described on the cover as 'The true story of a recluse'. Some may be familiar with the story - it featured as an episode on Australian Story (ABC) sometime last year. An incredible story. Mostly how he survived the decade long self-imposed battering in the hills of Goonengerry, and to come out of that and slowly rebuild health and a meaningful connection with society. I wonder if any swellnetters in the Byron region may have encountered this man, probably wandering the roadside, drunk in a park, or sleeping on the beach. Anyway, it's a worthy read.
This sounds interesting, I’m going to check it out. Thanks
Tried to read Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Reminded me of trying to read The Sound And The Fury by William Faulkner. Or of trying to drink some expensive bottle of wine that i was told was amazing, but it just is too much to be very drinkable, ya know? Had to work too hard to read those. Some of my faves are Animal Farm by George Orwell, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Man In The Grey Flannel Suit by Sloane Wilson, any short story by Shirley Jackson, any short story by Jack London, Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson (for giggles), On The Road by Jack Kerouac.... Anything at all by John Steinbeck...... too many to mention em all.
Almost finished 'The Snowy' by Siobhan McHugh, originally published 1989, but reprinted for a 70th anniversary edition.
'The Snowy' is the Snowy Mountains Scheme, of course, first kicked off in 1949. Different times is an understatement; the sweep and scale of the Scheme will never, ever be replicated. It only got over the line by canny manouvering from scheme architect Nelson Lemmons who billed it as a national security project so the next incoming government couldn't scupper it - which they most surely would have.
In fact, Frank Packer's Daily Telegraph took regular potshots at the public money being wasted, should have been privatised or shut down etc etc so take heart that generations come and go but some things never change.
The book was written by an Irishwoman, which at first seems odd, yet as so much of the Scheme speaks to (or for) Australia's post-war changes, it helps to have someone culturally detached at the helm. Much to be said about our racial makeup, cultural flotsam, and the nature of work in post-war Australia.
Sounds good. I must read that.
The Snowy Mountain Scheme was an ecological disaster. Destroyed the Snowy, Murray and the Murrumbidgee rivers. Damaged the whole Murrumbidgee area.
For an account of the mountains before the rivers were dammed, Kiandra To Kosciusko by Klaus Hueneke is a great read.
Flog.
Constance- Were you born in Australia? I get the vibe that you were not.
Constance B Gibson wrote:Hahahahahahaha. "Were you born here"!?
Can any one dickhead get any more fucken obvious*?
*Rhetorical question.
Simple question requiring no more than a yes or no answer. Were you born in Australia or not? Whether you were or not means nothing to me. I’ve just got a suspicion about things which might explain your character.
It’s because there’s a definite subset of immigrants-of all persuasions- who retain a chip on their shoulder due to an inferiority complex they develop from not feeling to be entirely a part of the community they move to.
I suspect you might be suffering from this syndrome.
I don’t care particularly as everyone has circumstances which shape their personality one way or another and for better or for worse. Not judging you on this either way. You are who you are. I have a tendency to look for patterns in everything and this situation is something which seems to recur too often to be coincidental. There’s a basic explanation behind it.
From the UK but legendary. Plenty of this going around in 'modern' Aus.
I’ll take that as a yes that you moved to Australia after being born elsewhere. No one is teasing you about it. No need to bristle! It does explain quite a lot.
You were just a scared little boy who didn’t feel like you belonged.
Flollo…..you’re bristling too. Like I said,not all immigrants carrying the burden of the resentment but some do.
Plenty of expat surfers in Indo who resent the Indonesians. The same can be said of some people who’ve moved to Australia. It’s a psychological outcome and I don’t think it’s even based on anything said or done by the respective natives in any country.
You get the same result a certain percentage of times when any people contain feelings within themselves that they aren’t 100% included in community. It’s not too unusual for in laws to feel this way at a large gathering of blood relatives. Same deal.
Constance B Gibson wrote:Just have a squiz at the Indigenous thread, Flollo.
Same old, same old.
But we're getting there DESPITE some.
Wait…you think this is about me?
Yeah, nah.
We are trying to understand the chip on your shoulder.
There’s been a few screaming instances , such as when you went on the one man crusade to show that the Oz rock scene of the 80’s was built around people from the UK.
No one , and I mean no one , gives a fuck about that stuff except a British expat with a chip on their shoulder. You kept posting examples but no one replied because no one would everthink to care except a little boy who felt he didn’t fit in amongst a nation of Australians. There’s been many examples.
Hey …maybe I’m wrong ? Maybe there’s another reason you carry resentment so proudly?
DudeSweetDudeSweet wrote:Flollo…..you’re bristling too. Like I said,not all immigrants carrying the burden of the resentment but some do.
Plenty of expat surfers in Indo who resent the Indonesians. The same can be said of some people who’ve moved to Australia. It’s a psychological outcome and I don’t think it’s even based on anything said or done by the respective natives in any country.You get the same result a certain percentage of times when any people contain feelings within themselves that they aren’t 100% included in community. It’s not too unusual for in laws to feel this way at a large gathering of blood relatives. Same deal.
This is true, I know people like this. Some very old, lived here for 40-50 years.
That’s another classic giveaway.
The old “Hey …you’re not a real Australian either! “
Yeah,nah. Come on mate. Being two dimensional doesn’t help your cause.
flollo wrote:DudeSweetDudeSweet wrote:Flollo…..you’re bristling too. Like I said,not all immigrants carrying the burden of the resentment but some do.
Plenty of expat surfers in Indo who resent the Indonesians. The same can be said of some people who’ve moved to Australia. It’s a psychological outcome and I don’t think it’s even based on anything said or done by the respective natives in any country.You get the same result a certain percentage of times when any people contain feelings within themselves that they aren’t 100% included in community. It’s not too unusual for in laws to feel this way at a large gathering of blood relatives. Same deal.
This is true, I know people like this. Some very old, lived here for 40-50 years.
For sure. Often they aren’t even consciously aware of the resentment themselves and will often frame it as a dislike of “bogans” or some other euphemistic code word to disguise their intimidation/ despise of anyone who is overtly culturally Australian.
Be sure to mention how parochially dedicated you are to certain types of Aussie beer. Another bit of overcompensating you can’t resist.
"Overtly culturally Australian." What the fuck does this even mean? For reals??
It doesn’t take too much nouse to understand this concept. You might understand if you ask someone smarter than yourself. Ask the chick behind the bar. Or anyone else .
Yes mate.
I even typed that slowly so you could keep up.
Anyway….you run along and get that kids serve nuggets and chips. Don’t drink too many fire engines or you’ll wet your big boy pants again.
GreenJam wrote:I Just finished 'Out of the Forest' - the story of Geoffrey Peel Smith. Described on the cover as 'The true story of a recluse'. Some may be familiar with the story - it featured as an episode on Australian Story (ABC) sometime last year. An incredible story. Mostly how he survived the decade long self-imposed battering in the hills of Goonengerry, and to come out of that and slowly rebuild health and a meaningful connection with society. I wonder if any swellnetters in the Byron region may have encountered this man, probably wandering the roadside, drunk in a park, or sleeping on the beach. Anyway, it's a worthy read.
Thanks for recommending this greenjam, finished it a few weeks ago.
Couldn’t help myself from feeling very sorry for him for the life he endured when he was a kid. No one should have to go through that. It was pretty moving and emotional in some parts.
I know people make their own choices when they are adults but in situations like that you can’t blame them.
Anyway stoked to see how he ended up.
DudeSweetDudeSweet wrote:Constance B Gibson wrote:Just have a squiz at the Indigenous thread, Flollo.
Same old, same old.
But we're getting there DESPITE some.
Wait…you think this is about me?
Yeah, nah.
We are trying to understand the chip on your shoulder.
There’s been a few screaming instances , such as when you went on the one man crusade to show that the Oz rock scene of the 80’s was built around people from the UK.
No one , and I mean no one , gives a fuck about that stuff except a British expat with a chip on their shoulder. You kept posting examples but no one replied because no one would everthink to care except a little boy who felt he didn’t fit in amongst a nation of Australians. There’s been many examples.
Hey …maybe I’m wrong ? Maybe there’s another reason you carry resentment so proudly?
You being a creepy stalker again Blowin? Fuck you're a weirdo. There should be a registry for bottom dwellers like you.
Wilhelm Scream wrote:https://www.laweekly.com/kid-congo-powers-shares-angeleno-punk-history-b...
Fun read that, interesting time. Cheers.
That’s wet my appetite. I’m looking for a new book.
Constance B Gibson wrote:Does he even fool himself these days?
Constance, he has disappeared into ever-tightening circles of braggadocio, regurgitation, self-affirmation and the absolute necessity of ‘always-rightism’.
A person more dedicated to closing his mind I have not met. An idiot’s idiot.
batfink wrote:Constance B Gibson wrote:Does he even fool himself these days?
Constance, he has disappeared into ever-tightening circles of braggadocio, regurgitation, self-affirmation and the absolute necessity of ‘always-rightism’.
A person more dedicated to closing his mind I have not met. An idiot’s idiot.
Any truth to the rumour that CSR are seeking mining rights to the granular mineral deposits accumulated in your big ol’ vagina Batfink?
Cormac McCarthy's latest comes out tomorrow, sounds good too.
It’s getting good reviews. 16 years since his last!
While waiting for McCarthy's latest I picked up the latest Quarterly Essay, this one called 'Uncivil Wars: How Contempt Is Corroding Democracy' by Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens. Regular listeners to The Minefield will know what's in store, this is largely a written version of the recent live podcast they did.
That podcast and this book - or at least an abridged version of it - should be required reading for anyone who wants to weigh into public debate. Much as The Gruen Transfer peers behind the curtain of advertising, offering a neutral yet insightful view of the dark art of marketing, so too do Aly and Stephens impartially dissect the nature of public debate, why it seems so treacherous and how to rescue it.
Yeah, I really enjoyed that essay./
Finally got around to reading Batavia (Peter Fitz). What an incredible story, from an incredible time, in an incredible part of the world.
Just finished Tim Baker's book Patting the Shark.
Very courageous writing and moving inspiring real life story. Grew up reading his stories in Tracks and SL, and a number of his books. We just did an Australia trip with family partly inspired by his book Safari. Well worth read. Hope you are still doing great if reading this Tim.
What I love about reading is that I stumbled on this thread and didn't realise that it started over 6 years ago, all timeless recommendations.
Life and Fate-Vasily Grossman
100 years of solitude- Gabriel Garcia Marques
Breath- Tim Winton
The Invisible Man- HG Wells
Pilgrim- Tim Findlay
Wilhelm Scream wrote:https://jacobin.com/2022/12/c-wright-mills-the-power-elite-wealth-inequa...
Interesting read....
#wsfingeronthepulse
#totsrad
#davidgraeberbooktickboom
This could be a good read for Oz music lovers.
https://apple.news/ATdyzG5NKTTyEsDromeUZEg
seeds wrote:This could be a good read for Oz music lovers.
https://apple.news/ATdyzG5NKTTyEsDromeUZEg
Cheers Seeds, that is another one to put on the list.
seeds wrote:This could be a good read for Oz music lovers.
https://apple.news/ATdyzG5NKTTyEsDromeUZEg
ordered! Cheers seeds.
Here's a list that gladdens. What Youth and "7 books you will psyche on and should totally read."
http://www.whatyouth.com/2014/02/14/radical-class-2/?id=16859
I often bemoan the fact that good writing is a dying art. It ain't necessarily true but it sometimes feels that way. The yoof, it always seemed to me, could buy a Canikon for a couple hunge, flood the 'net with images, and call 'emselves artists - easy! But unlike photography there's no shortcut to good writing: no autofocus, no colour correcting software - it's hard fucken work. And the first step toward it is to read lots and lots of great writers. So yeah, glad to see the yoof - What Yoof! - spruiking seven good books. Bit limited in scope and style but a good list nonetheless.