Introduce Yourself: Recommend a book

[jsalbato@cnm.edu]

Start your reply with your name, what you prefer to be called, and then recommend a nerdy book that we should check out.

• This topic was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by jsalbato@cnm.edu.
• This topic was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by jsalbato@cnm.edu.

[jsalbato@cnm.edu]

I’m Jeff Salbato (your teacher), but I prefer Jeff. You only need to introduce yourself in one of these sub-topics, but, because I’m the supposed leader here, I’ll post in all of them…

Everyone should read Fromm’s Sane Society, Epictetus’ Encheiridion, Chomsky’s What Uncle Sam Really Wants, Milgram’s Obedience to Authority, Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, Holloway’s Godless Morality, …and hundreds of others…go read some books now!

(If you want a fuller list of book recommendations, click the “Propaganda” link in the header above and you’ll find a bunch of categorized lists of my favorite books.
Thanks, Jeff)

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by jsalbato@cnm.edu.

[Ryan Meade]

Hello, my name is Ryan and you guys can call me Ryan. I would recommend the book I’m currently working through, The Last Emperor of Mexico: The Dramatic Story of the Habsburg Archduke Who Created a Kingdom in the New World by Edward Shawcross. It covers the rise and fall of Maximillian I of Mexico who was a Habsburg Archduke, installed as Emperor of Mexico by Napoleon III of France to serve French interests in Mexico, all taking place during the backdrop of The Reform War and the Second French Intervention.

[jsalbato@cnm.edu]

Ryan,
That book gets raves, which is impressive for being such a nerdy subject. Reviews say the writing is compelling. Those years – the mid 1800s – were bizarre and cruel, as the nations of Europe simply carved up the world to gain control and resources. Sadly, I am not familiar with what is happening in Mexico at that time. Shame on me.
Jeff

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 6 days ago by jsalbato@cnm.edu.

[Rockwell Nodal]

Hello, I’m Rockwell and you guys can just call me Rockwell. Im very interested in history but I have been reading a lot of philosophy lately. The book that’s made the biggest impact on me recently has been Thus Spoke Zarathustra, but everyone’s heard of that. the historical text I’m reading is Germania by Tacitus (Which is also very well known).

[jsalbato@cnm.edu]

If anyone wants to start reading books like Nietzsche’s “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” I would recommend a few more friendly books first, like his “Beyond Good and Evil” or “Genealogy of Morals”. “Zarathustra” is written as a series of short, almost random aphorisms, and without seeing his broader motives, most of those aphorisms make little sense.

Or if you want an even friendlier starting point for these kinds of philosophy books, try a shortish novel like Turgenev’s “Father and Son” or Dostoevsky’s “Note from Underground”. And the next steps up would be something like Kierkegaard’s “Fear and Trembling” or Sartre’s “Existentialism is a Humanism”. After that, you’d be ready for Nietzsche.

[Vanessa Cervantes]

Hi everyone! My name is Vanessa, and I’m majoring in Criminal Justice. I’m excited for this class, I really wanted to major in Philosophy but was told the only career I could have with it is teaching and I could not teach. But I am looking forward to learning with everyone this semester.
As for a book recommendation… I have to be honest here. The only books I can confidently recommend lately are the Unicorn Diaries series because that’s what I’ve been reading to my daughter almost every night. So if anyone needs detailed knowledge about magical unicorn adventures, friendship lessons, and sparkle-powered problems, I’m your gal.

[Tatyana Quintana]

Hi everyone I would recommend A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck. It’s about a man named Soren who happens to die but wakes up in a certain kind of Hell that requires a trial for you to find your life book from the library of babble. In the book it’s not just your character, there’s other who have died and have the same goal. it can be a disturbing book in certain parts but I’m not going to say more about it because it would be better if you read the book!

[Amy Vaisa]

Hello Tatyana, thank you for sharing! That book sounds very interesting I am definitely going to check it out. I took western music appreciation a few semesters ago and your description of this book reminds of the opera L’Orfeo. Orfeo descends into hades to try and bring his dead wife back to the living world. It’s a beautiful opera if you ever get the chance to check it out and watch it on YouTube or read it.

[Marcos Andrade]

Hey Tatyana, sound like hell of a book. No pun intended. I think stories that may be disturbing or off putting are all the more important to read simply for the messages they hold. I will definitely be checking it out. I’m always a fan of a strange plot or a strange message.

[Alina Christensen]

I listened to a podcast-type video about the concept of Hell in different religions. It was interesting to compare them side by side. It was a youtube video called “How to Go to Hell in Every Religion (Detailed Instructions)” on a channel called Genetically Modified Skeptic. The video Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. He made a second video later covering Mormonism, Zoroastrianism, Old Norse Religions, Jainism, and Shinto Hells. Both videos were very informative about the different cultures ideas.

[Marcos Andrade]

Howdy, my name is Marcos. As far as a major, I’m just going with the flow. I’d love to recommend “The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab. The story follows Addie LaRue, a girl who makes a bargain with an ancient entity to live forever, and cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. It’s a beautiful story as you’re taken through her now immortal life starting in 1714 and leading into the modern era. All the while she is constantly pursued and antagonized by the being that has granted her wish, and casted her curse. You see Addies life ebb and flow as she lives through wars, revolutions, and depressions, all the while being a wraith among man.

[Eylisa Quintana]

Hi, My name is Eylisa and I would liked to be called Eylisa. I think a book that would be a great book would be “This is where it endeds”
I loved this book its about a school shotting and the perspective for 5 different people.

[Blanca]

If you love super dark, twisty psychological thrillers, you honestly need to read this.
The plot centers on this famous painter named Alicia who randomly shoots her husband five times in the face and then literally never speaks another word. She gets sent to this secure forensic psychiatric unit, and the main narrator is Theo, a criminal psychotherapist who becomes totally obsessed with getting her to talk and figuring out her motive.
What makes it so good is how deep it goes into trauma, defense mechanisms, and the actual clinical forensic side of psychology. Plus, it has a major unreliable narrator vibe, and the plot twist at the end completely blew my mind.

[Alina Christensen]

What’s the name of the book?

[jsalbato@cnm.edu]

Michaelides’ “The Silent Patient” is the book.

[Joshua Busick]

Hey guys,

My name is Josh. The book that I’d like to recommend to you all is called “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke. This book is super cool and definitely one of the weirdest fantasy books i’ve read. Its about this person roaming this infinite house with three stories. The bottom floor is an ocean where various types of sea life reside. The second is a floor with a labyrinth of rooms full of marble statues, and is periodically flooded by the oceans below. The third floor is misty and cloudy. The middle floor is where the two main characters of the book live (Piranesi and The Other).

The book is written like a journal of the very methodical and scientifically minded Piranesi and follows him unraveling the mystery of the house. The whole book kind of reminds me of Icarus so if you like that you might enjoy Piranesi. It is certainly a slow burn but it gets really good.

Also, The film studio, Laika (the producers of Coraline and Paranorman), announced that they are creating an adaptation of Piranesi in 2024. It likely won’t be coming out any time soon unfortunately, but good things usually take time.

Thank you for reading about my book recommendation. Im so excited to see what all of you have posted!

[Cat Atencio]

Hey! My name is Catalina, but I go by Cat. A book I recently read that made a big impact on me is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. This classic is far beyond its time, and I loved reading it. With themes that explore morality, social class, religion, female independence and much more, I declare it as one of my favorite novels.

[jsalbato@cnm.edu]

Cat,

Yes, good one.

A book I read recently is in that spirit. It is “The Other Bennet Sister” by Janet Hadlow. Think of a fun fan fiction book that actually wins awards for being a great novel in its own right. The idea of the book is to write the story of the “plain” sister that barely gets mentioned from Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”. She is determined to be herself in a culture that says a woman’s identity and survival depends on finding a wealthy husband.

And another great thing is that they just came out with phenomenal a miniseries based on the book. So when you finish the book you can watch it. It’s lovely.

[Jaidyn McColllum]

Hello everyone, my name is Jaidyn. I am a Psych major with plans to transfer into nursing. My most recent read was “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein. I would definitely recommend it if you wanna cry your heart out. It’s an interesting fiction read following a dog named Enzo and his perspective on life.

[Alina Christensen]

I saw the film of “Racing in the Rain”. I didn’t know it was a book.

[jsalbato@cnm.edu]

Thanks Jaidyn

“The Art of Racing in the Rain” just went on my book list. And I love it when I get to watch the movie right after I read the book. Woohoo!

I just recently got to do this with “Me Before You” and, as mentioned above, “The Other Bennet Sister”.

And the all time winner for great book and great movie combos is “Fight Club” hands down! And second place goes to “Ender’s Game”.

[joseph tenorio]

Hello all, my name is Joseph Tenorio. You can call me Joseph, Joe, or Joey. I’ve been called all of those throughout life. I’m not much of a reader but I’ve been reading through The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene. I recommend this book to anyone who asks me about it. I really enjoy it, but I enjoy self-improvement and building discipline and I know that’s not everyone’s thing.

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