I don’t make lists of books to read. The problem with lists is that you lose them. But I do have a mental pile that I have to work through somewhere along the line. I usually don’t just dump things on top of the pile in chronological order. The pile does have different levels, based on how urgently I think I need to read particular things. This year’s been particularly bad for getting things off the pile and onto the “Been-there-done-that” pile. But there is the summer to look forward to…
Three recent books have definitely (definitively?) entered the reading pile - right near the top too:
1. The new Tolkien book, Children of Hurin. I’ve read LOTR around 20 times since Matthew K. Barton (where are you, Matthew K. Barton?) introduced me to Tolkien in fifth grade. This likely makes me a dork - but what can I say? I’ve found something new in the book every time I’ve read it, a new approach to the book at every new stage of my life. (No, I don’t speak Quenya. Sindarin may be, not Quenya.)
2. This new biography of Joseph Schumpeter, of creative destruction fame.
3. Professor El-Gamal’s book on Islamic finance. He’s always a provocative thinker.
I’m now going to go back to reading about the felony-murder rule, which is interesting only when you’re not being tested on it. I do have a lot of venting to do somewhere along the line about Professor Yunus pulling out of politics. Venting, however, will be depressing (though necessary) exercise - and one that will take more time than I have right now.
NB: Always feel free to leave suggestions for the reading pile in the comments!
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May 7, 2007 at 8:31 am
Asif
Shamsir,
I’d like to thank you for pointing out what promises to be a very interesting biography of Schumpeter. It feels weird to know that someone else shares my rather eclectic interests. As for your reading pile, I recommend Richard Eaton’s “The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier” (available online) to everyone I meet nowadays. Fascinating read, compulsory if you’re Bangladeshi, Muslim or not.
May 7, 2007 at 10:29 am
Anthony
If you’re into philosophical polemics mixed with kick arse action-adventure involving witches, armoured bears and a very evil woman called Anne Coulter mixed with quantum physics of multiple universe then I’d recommend Philip Pullman’s His Dark Material Trilogy. It’s set to come out in a theatre near you with Daniel Craig playing a major character, but I sincerely doubt the screen version will be quite as subversively cool as the books.
May 7, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Shamshir
Asif, Anthony - thanks for the recommendations!
Asif - Bengal Frontier - i’ve read it already, and a fascinating read it is… BTW, our Jajabor has actually presented academic papers on the book, and he’s got some very interesting things to say about it. I’m going to keep goading to him to blog more about the history of Islam n Bengal…
Anthony - been meaning to read Phillip Pullman’s stuff for a while. It’s in the reading pile. I might just pull it somewhere near the top this summer based on your strong recommendation!
May 7, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Asif
Shamsir,
I’d be highly interested in reading what jajabor has to say on it! glad to find so many people who have read the book.
May 7, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Anthony
I’d also be very keen to hear Jajabor on Eaton’s book.
May 30, 2007 at 2:11 am
talam
Dune by Frank Herbert I think has a place up there near the top.
I assume you’ve read Chomsky, if not (and even if yes), I highly recommend his interviews/debates on youtube for some educational procrastination.
November 24, 2007 at 8:10 am
Another one for the reading pile « Addafication
[...] 24, 2007 in History by shamshir Another one for the reading pile: Orlando Figes‘ The Whisperer’s: Private Life in Stalin’s Russia. NYTimes has a [...]