BCF Book Club.

[WishayKillie]

Anybody here read many books?

I never used to do much reading but due to long traveling that I have to do and trying to break up the tedium and work during the night, I've started to read through a few books over the last few months.
I like a good military adventure (true life or fiction) and have a general interest in engineering and such like.

Last few books I've read were:

The Hockey Stick Illusion (A.W. Montford).
It chronicals the effort of Steve McIntyre as he tries to investigate the methodology behind one of the most iconic graphs behind Global Warming, the Hockey Stick.
Considering the complexity and amount of detail used to describe the statistical side of it I found it very easy to follow. I found it quite a bit of a page turner and very hard to put down. Think I finished it within a week or so.
I'd say if you are interested in global warming, sceptical or alarmist, then this book will almost certainly open your eyes.
10/10


Bloody Heroes (Damien Lewis)
excellent read on the British Special Forces (mainly SBS) at the very start of the Afgan War. It also interestingly gives a view from the side of a fighter that is part of the insurgency, good to see both sides of the coin.
Starting in the mountains of Afganistan I got to see the sheer indurance that these guys can put up with, then it all end with the 8 day battle at the Qala-I-Janghi Fort where that CIA agen was killed by the prisoners.
8/10


The Wind Farm Scam (John Etherington)
I always knew that Wind "Turbines" were woefully inefficient, considering that the wind doesnt blow all the time. Being an electrician who works with "small" (1.7MW) generation equipment I understand the importance of being able to provide a steady reliable output, something which fundamentally wind cannont.
So why are hundreds of these inefficient machines being erected with the whole hearted backing of enviromentalists, who would be chained to a tree or in a tunnel at the mere mention of a new motorway but yet back monsters that are hundreds of feet high, blight the landscape and destroy the local land. No to mention the amount of birds that they kill world wide (yet the RSPB backs them).
The answer as this book points out (along with the explanation of just how crap these things are) is billions of $'s of subsidies (up to 100%) given to fling them up. Add in the bending of planning regulation, hidden costs to me and you and the whole thing is a fucking scam.
It reads ok but there could have been so much more in here.
7.5/10


I'm currently reading The Rational Optimist (Matt Ridley)
So far quite an intensive read but I'm getting through it. Not something I would usually pick up but it did appeal to me as I'm of the same thinking that "dont worry, it'll work it's self out"


Books I'm planning to get:

"Power Hungry" and "When Will the lights go out" something that I think will follow on nicely from "The Wind Farm Scam".

"The Secret State" and "GCHQ" I like to read about how the countrys leadership and services perform during wars. Like a true life spy thriller I suppose.


Any books that you would recommend?
____________________
Current; 10' Aprilia Dorsoduro 750.
Previous; 05 Triumph Daytona 600, 08' Ducati 1098s.
"Needs a check-up, fae the neck up!"

[Carl_steveo]

I have far too many books, 2 bookshelves full, a wardrobe stacked full, and the rest hold the bed up. Ohh and theres a box or two on top of the wardrobe aswell lol. I don't look like much of a book reader lol. Can't really recommend any at the moment off the top of my head. A classic though is The Great Gatsby. Not my usual cup of tea but my GF is an English/Drama student and It was kicking about. Will have a butchers at my shelves and shit and post back mate.
____________________
Current: Honda Nsr 125
Live: Sunderland
Luke "cant be arsed to read your post, but suck my balls anyway."

[Clanger]

I am currently reading a book which was thrust upon me as a good read, and I was very reluctant as it is a very thick paperback. And it's fiction.

Anyway, I gave it a go, and I am currently half way through the final chapter!!! I've found it really good.

Its called Dark Fire, by CJ Sansom. It's set in 1500's Tudor times, London. It's very descriptive, uses many old terms, historic, describes London and London life in the times of the Tudor so well you can almost imagine being there. The English is contemporary, so you aren't falling over English which doesn't roll off the tongue (so to speak).

It's a thriller, sort of detective type, but is not overworked. Has kept my interest. I have been reading it before work, at work (during lunch) and every single evening (I honestly cannot remember a time when I have been so eager to find out what happens next in a book!)
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Tonka]

I love reading, but it depends on how I feel as to whether I can concentrate on something intellectual or go the more escapism route.

A book I enjoyed recently was The Other Hand by Chris Cleve. I'm now working my way through the Larsson trilogy before watching the DVD/films.

I will keep the details of the books you've read though, WK as my bro loves military books and I could do with broadening my choices a tad!

Carl_Steveo I used to keep all my paperback books, but these days I pass them on as a kind of karma thing. I never seemed to read them again as once I know what's happened I've no desire to re-read unless it's a reference style book.

I know I could sell them on, but I think giving recommended and enjoyed books is a much nicer thing to do!
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[yandy_yay]

i'm working my way through the Colin Forbes books in no particular order, currently reading Whirlpool.

i enjoyed the Dan brown books and will read those again sometime.
____________________
past bikes: (20 years ago) cg-125 (wriiten off), C-50 (thrashed n' finnaly scrapped), CZ-125 (nicked - never recovered, insurance payout was more than i paid for it !!!)
Current bikes: GN 125(now sold), Divvy 600s.

[Carl_steveo]

[MarJay]

"As Used On The Famous Nelson Mandela" by Mark Thomas

I read this a few years back and was reminded of it today when I saw the news story about the tazer.

Its a fantastic book about the 'ethical foreign policy' of previous governments and the arms industry in the UK. Its funny and informative. He explains how he sneaked into an arms fair and posed as a PR man for the arms industry. He stitches them up good and proper! He also discusses the export of arms to embargoed countries and the sale of torture equipment across the world and even in the UK.

I've made it sound a bit dry but Mark Thomas is an expert at making serious issues extremely funny!
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Louise]

Im not a book reader at all.
But when I was training for the Fire Service I was told to read the book called 'Red Watch' by Gordon, Honeycombe.

story of the London firemen who fought a fatal blaze at the Worsley Hotel, Maida Vale, London on December 13th 1974.
Its the one and only book I have read from start to finish.

[c_dug]

I always say this when one of these threads come up, but one of my favorite books of all time is Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.

It's partially based on true events in his life and partially fictional.




I had written out a long description of the story but it doesn't do it justice so here is what wiki says, Contains many spoilers!

[Jefr0]

Since having to commute (2 weeks ago) by train I started my first book. Charles Bronson.

https://www.inthenews.co.uk/photo/a-reissue-of-bronson-by-charles-bronson-$7021311$300.jpg

Bloody good and going to look for more on him, it's an interesting read.
____________________
Rides: Honda XR 125 ('03) Honda CBR 600F ('91), Ducati 916 Biposto ('95)

[TUG]

[GhostRider]

[Nai]

I like light science reading.

Richard Fortey - Earth

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512XBD3GDBL._SS500_.jpg

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earth-Intimate-History-Richard-Fortey/dp/0006551378

Brian Green - Fabric of the cosmos

https://www.penguin.com.au/jpg-large/9780141011110.jpg

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fabric-Cosmos-Texture-Reality-Penguin/dp/0141011114/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281135622&sr=1-1

Bill Bryson - History of nearly everything

https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BTXCDCQPL._SS500_.jpg

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/0552997048/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281135693&sr=1-1


Currently however reading Maths for Science by the Open University.

[c_dug]

Short history of nearly everything would definitely also be in my top 5.

I also read a book a while back about a Child who gets stuck on a lifeboat with a tiger, I can't remember the name though, I think it was called pi or something like that Was a very good (if slightly weird) read though!
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[WishayKillie]

[Hazylogic]

Wishay, I think you would appreciate The Cheviot, The Stag, and the Black, Black Oil by Johh McGrath. Although if you're like me, you'll just get pissed off at the injustice in the world!

[WishayKillie]

[hellkat]

I love reading, but I don't think I've proper sat down and read a book for at least 4 months now.

These days I have to read at arms length, or with my glasses perched at the end of my nose. I always end up falling asleep.

I went to visit some pagany naturisty witchy type mates a few months ago, and they gave me three boxes of books that were surplus to requirements but they couldn't bear to throw away.

I still haven't built my bookshelf so I can put the books away, so the books are still in three boxes in my living room "library corner" ... but there's all sorts of interesting things in there. I was gonna unpack them and just stack them up willy nilly all over the place, but I figured I ought to look a bit "tidier"

I just need a comfy chair for my library corner, and a table to put my coffee and my feet on...
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[hellkat]

[hellkat]

[Frost]

https://images.amazon.com/images/P/039921822X.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif

A ripping tail that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. This spellbinding tail has a feel of mystery to it not unlike a dan brown novel with the addition of freudian undertones. It was a little long for my tastes and seemed to lose its way around page 4, but towards the end it completely redeems itself with an unexpected plot twist. 9/10

[Paivi]

[Paivi]

Last week I finished Robert Harris's Lustrum, another excellent read.

https://www.waterstones.com/wat/images/nbd/l/978009/180/9780091801007.jpg

Rome, 63 BC. In a city on the brink of acquiring a vast empire, seven men are struggling for power. Cicero is consul, Caesar his ruthless young rival, Pompey the republic's greatest general, Crassus its richest man, Cato a political fanatic, Catilina a psychopath, and Clodius an ambitious playboy. The stories of these real historical figures - their alliances and betrayals, their cruelties and seductions, their brilliance and their crimes - are all interleaved to form this epic novel. Its narrator is Tiro, a slave who serves as confidential secretary to the wily, humane, complex Cicero. He knows all his master's secrets - a dangerous position to be in. From the discovery of a child's mutilated body, through judicial execution and a scandalous trial, to the brutal unleashing of the Roman mob, "Lustrum" is a study in the timeless enticements and horrors of power.
____________________
My other bike's a Monster...

[c_dug]

Is it sad to want to read something by Plato just so I can say I have?

I swear every smart (pompus) sounding person has "read the works of plato"
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Paivi]