The obligatory “Pat Schroeder condescends exquisitely to conservatives” post
posted at 11:11 am on August 22, 2007 by Allahpundit
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We did a drive-by on this last night in the quote of the day but I guess it warrants a full post. HA’s resident best-selling author is understandably annoyed at this:
“The Karl Roves of the world have built a generation that just wants a couple slogans: ‘No, don’t raise my taxes, no new taxes,’” Pat Schroeder, president of the American Association of Publishers, said in a recent interview. “It’s pretty hard to write a book saying, ‘No new taxes, no new taxes, no new taxes’ on every page.”…
She said liberals tend to be policy wonks who “can’t say anything in less than paragraphs. We really want the whole picture, want to peel the onion.”
Really? That love affair with the paragraph doesn’t seem to have hurt “Bush knew” or “No war for oil.” Here are the crosstabs. The breakdown:
Surprising to see history so high and sci fi so low. Fully 57% have read five books or less; included in that percentage, I regret to say, is the big A. I read all day long online and catch up with magazines when I can, but I’ve always preferred to read books at long stretches and long stretches simply aren’t available anymore. Offhand, I can recall starting three books since January and finishing two: Steyn’s “America Alone” and, of course, Hitchens’s atheist polemic. I took a run at “Mere Christianity” on the advice of two friends but gave up in exasperation about halfway through. Exit question, and be honest: How many have you read this year?
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I have to say, my advice to liberals is to keep reading because they are going to have to be pretty darn smart if you want to convince me that my taxes are too low, illegal aliens are too few, affirmative action too meek, national defense too strong and federal spending too limited.
Good luck with that.
Zetterson on August 22, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Hats off again to Allahpundit for reminding flaming liberals like Patty S. that conservatives do read. One book that I read years ago really fired up my “reading energy.” This book, written by philosopher J.P. Moreland (Ph.D University of Southern California) is a MUST-READ for everybody!!! It is really good stuff.
ColtsFan on August 22, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Delighted to find another Lee Child fan.
YES! That would be GREAT! I am already planning to copy and save this entire fantastic thread in order to look up titles I am just now learning about.
RushBaby on August 22, 2007 at 12:58 PM
You could ask Bush. He’s read them.
/moonbat
saint kansas on August 22, 2007 at 1:01 PM
Probably three to four dozen. I’m like someone else who commented. I read constantly and voraciously. I have three books that I’m currently reading. I watch TV only in short spurts.
Books on CD and Books on iPod count, but they read too slowly. You’re limited to the vocal inflections of the reader. A book in hand is a comfort. My wife reads even more than I do, and she multitasks by watching TV and cooking, etc.
AP, Mere Christianity is Red Meat reading. I never recommend anyone read that alone. It’s a study group kind of book.
If you’re interested in looking at Christianity from the perspective of a good journalist, take a look at What’s so Amazing about Grace by Phillip Yancey. Highly recommended read.
Tennman on August 22, 2007 at 1:01 PM
Hey – did you notice that the guy is English? I’ve always been in awe of his ability to write such a quintessentially American character so well.
I’ve always wanted to see him interviewed to figure out how he pulls it off. I can usually spot a British writer in the first couple of pages no matter how he tries to hide it. I’ve never caught Child using a single sentence that didn’t sound authentic. He’s pretty amazing.
Oh – and Jack Reacher could kick Jack Bauer’s and Chuck Norris’s asses – at the same time – and not break a sweat.
Professor Blather on August 22, 2007 at 1:02 PM
Well, I’d have to guess, but probably > 100 this year alone. I own > 850 books (maybe 50ish unread so far), and I like to re-read favorites. I also get recommendations from friends and co-workers.
Breakdown by percentages.
95% Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror (I love Pratchett, David Weber, Simon R. Green, David Eddings; Goodkind and Modesitt if I have the time for a more complex read…).
3% non-fiction… work-related, political, historical focus.
2% religious, philosophical, etc. mostly recommendations.
I can fill a 8′ X 12′ wall with books top to bottom, and still have some overflow. Although the top shelf of my home-made bookshelves collapsed last week so I have to re-build and re-sort here at some point.
gekkobear on August 22, 2007 at 1:07 PM
Not that many. Unlike our Liberal overlords who have endless time to excercise their massive intellects, I have a job, bought a house this past Spring, and am currently 2.5 weeks away from getting married, so time isn’t all that easy to come by. Probably about 4 or 5.
crazy_legs on August 22, 2007 at 1:08 PM
Excellent point.
I think I have mentioned this in the past that knowledgeable, well-informed people like Michelle Malkin, Bryan, and Allah
(their introductory summaries are concise, very relevant, and yet both writers tie everything together with a practical punch consisting of an Exit Question)
really need to have a “Recommended Books List” for conservatives just like this conservative scholar does here on the right-hand side close to the top.
If Allah, MM, and Bryan decide to have a “Recommended Reading” book list, then more conservatives will be equipped and armed with fundamental conservative principles on logic, economics (You mean, passing minimum wage laws actually hurts the economy?), morality, etc.
Just a suggestion.
ColtsFan on August 22, 2007 at 1:08 PM
I’m always skeptical about the accuracy of these telephone polls.
A lot of people like me don’t have a wireline phone and perform their voice communications exclusively with wireless phones.
Also, in the case where people do have wireline phones, up to 30% have unlisted numbers in some States.
I would say maybe 50% of people are unavailable for telephone polls. I wonder which 50%.
jaime on August 22, 2007 at 1:09 PM
I’m working my way through a 2 volume “History of Christianity” during my morning quiet time. As for fiction (specifically science fiction) I don’t think Pat Schroeder can count that high.
jeffshultz on August 22, 2007 at 1:09 PM
Since , as a conservative, my literary skills are non existent, thought I’d relate a definition from Amrose Bierce that succinctly describes Schroeder and others.
” Politician -An eel in the fundamental mud upon which the superstructure of organized society is reared. When he/she wriggles he/she mistakes the agitation of his/her tail for the trembling of the edifice. As compared with a statesman, he/she suffers the disadvantage of being alive.” Oh, I added the feminine pronouns and such.
MNDavenotPC on August 22, 2007 at 1:13 PM
Allah,
1.) what book or books would you recommend me, a Christian theist, to read?
2.) what was the reason for the exasperation that led you to give up reading it halfway through? Was C.S. Lewis being unfair or not charitable?
ColtsFan on August 22, 2007 at 1:14 PM
Lee Child has a blog: http://www.leechild.com/blog.html
and a quick google search turned up a bunch of links. As popular as he is, there’s bound to be an interview.
yep.
I’ll bet you would love Vince Flynn, too!
RushBaby on August 22, 2007 at 1:15 PM
Let’s see…the highlights were:
- 1001 Things to Do…If You Dare, by Ben Malisow
- Good to Great, by Jim Collins
The rest were about 8 sci-fi books by various authors.
Also, add in the obligatory ‘way too much reading on the internet’ disclaimer. This was a slow reading year so far, since I used to average about one book a week.
I’ve been meaning to ask someone ‘in the biz’ about this…what’s up with using spell check as a substitute for real editing these days? Nothing ruins my enjoyment of a book more than getting yanked out of the story by a their/there/they’re mistake or some other gradeschool-level error that anyone with the stones to call themselves an author shouldn’t make. It sounds to me, based on your description, that you take it seriously…but a lot of your fellow editors are asleep at the switch.
Perhaps that’s one reason I haven’t been reading as much lately…it’s not as much fun.
James on August 22, 2007 at 1:16 PM
Oh, and my librarian daughter reads much much more than I do. In my defense, she works in a library and knows what all the good books are. :) She has a long commute and listens to books whilst driving, as well. I don’t like that as much.
I also read more than one book at a time: I have a couple by the bed, one in the loo, one in the car for when I have to wait in line, etc. I do not watch TV at all.
My parents were readers, my sibs are readers (even the loser ones), and my kids are readers. I hope that continues through the next generation.
Bob's Kid on August 22, 2007 at 1:16 PM
About one a week on average. I read everytime I take a bus but when I’m at home the internet can be a distraction. .
aengus on August 22, 2007 at 1:18 PM
About 20. But half of those were part of a Lee Child marathon. Average of 1 a month, usually.
Jim Treacher on August 22, 2007 at 1:20 PM
I’ll add a fervent “amen!” to that. Drives me crazy. I find myself marking up books, even if they’ve come from the library. :)
Bob's Kid on August 22, 2007 at 1:20 PM
Another! Woo Hoo!
RushBaby on August 22, 2007 at 1:21 PM
Oh, hey, other Lee Child fans. Yeah, I read them all as quickly as I could get my hands on them. If I could have read 2 at once, I would have.
Next up is Happy Endings by Jim Norton. I get the feeling you guys might not like that one…
Jim Treacher on August 22, 2007 at 1:22 PM
This is all just the latest attempt by a Lib to “finally and forever demonstrate” that conservatives are somehow “not normal,” or that conservatism is a mental defficancy. Remember that study a couple of years back that children who cried grew up to be repressed, angry, conservatives and the ones who were “self-sufficiant” grew up to be outgoing, introspective (and of course attractive) libs? Then it turned out that it was done in Berkley, CA (not exactly a hotbed of conservatism) and there was a ton of other things wrong with the study?
This is just the latest version of that. “Stupid” people are conservatives, “smart” people are libs. Pay no attention to those figures behind the curtain. Don’t let facts get in the way of a good agenda.
crazy_legs on August 22, 2007 at 1:23 PM
I used to type and editebooks before and I never used spellcheck because its insufficient. You have to read through the text and then get someone else to read through it.
aengus on August 22, 2007 at 1:23 PM
Is it just me, or is this thread starting to read like the transcript from one of the Geico Caveman’s sessions with his analyst?
CyberCipher on August 22, 2007 at 1:24 PM
Scroll down to the end of this excellent article by VDH for a list of titles he recommends. I confess I have not read a single one of them, but certainly want to tackle a few soon.
Why Study War?Military history teaches us about honor, sacrifice, and the inevitability of conflict.
IrishEi on August 22, 2007 at 1:25 PM
I forgot to answer the exit question.
Mexifornia and Carnage and Culture, Victor Davis Hanson
Force of Reason, Oriana Fallaci
The Rise and Fall of The Third Reich, William L. Shirer (a re-read; that one always takes a while)
Unconquerable Nation: Knowing Our Enemy, Strengthening Ourselves, Brian Michael Jenkins
Various Classics (I’m trying to remedy my poor primary and secondary education)
baldilocks on August 22, 2007 at 1:25 PM
4 – all technical.
I am half way through “The Forgotten Man” right now.
Harpoon on August 22, 2007 at 1:26 PM
Great minds think alike! :-)
baldilocks on August 22, 2007 at 1:26 PM
I’ve read at least 20 books not counting all the kiddie books I read to my kids (although I did read The Hobbit to them this summer and they loved that) The split is probably 50/50 for fiction and non-fiction. My favorite author this year has definitely been Ted Dekker for fiction books.
I just started Mere Christianity and am about 4 chapters in so we’ll see if I can do better than Allah and actually finish it!
jdog on August 22, 2007 at 1:26 PM
12th man:
Did you read “La Quita Montana” is Spanish or English?
I read “Colon y la Inquisicion” in Spanish. It was a short book of about 135 pages. I don’t know if it is available in English.
TruthToBeTold on August 22, 2007 at 1:27 PM
Excellent point.
I’d also point out that I think liberals would be much, much more likely to inflate the number of books they’d actually read.
Sort of like that recent poll on men and women reporting their number of sex partners – men lied upwards and women lied in the other direction.
Professor Blather on August 22, 2007 at 1:31 PM
If I can throw out a couple of titles I do find myself reading time and time again, both by Robert Heinlein:
Starship Troopers
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Reading these early in life really shaped my eventual political views.
coyoterex on August 22, 2007 at 1:32 PM
This year…? Probably 14-15.
Malkin-1
O’Reilly-1
Steyn-1
S. King-2 (The Talisman, again)
Emmet Fox- Sermon on the Mount – (AP read this one about Christianity, easy read)
Clancy
Coulter (1/2 so far)
Michener- Hawaii
T.S. Eliot ( I struggle w/poetry)
couple photo books
Mega Shift –
I cant seem to remember a couple others I got from the library…scary, cause they were pretty good. My memory is actually quite good, it just doesn’t last very long.
And I’m reading the bible, front to back ( first time ever)
I’m using Zondervans, some movies and the internet for historical time-lines, its fascinating. 2 months and I’m still in Exodus…
shooter on August 22, 2007 at 1:32 PM
But such minor factual errors don’t change the larger narrative, you wingnut nutter nutwing. (Just in case John Cole is watching, wink wink.)
Jim Treacher on August 22, 2007 at 1:35 PM
I’m in for the HA /MM Book club. Great Idea.
shooter on August 22, 2007 at 1:39 PM
Spot on assesment of Koontz, Prof. Blather. (Tick Tock Man is simply called “TickTock”, which is the nick-name of the antagonist.)
I just finished Tick Tock. Although I like my fiction a bit more “reality based” I actually enjoyed most of that book. I think part of my enjoyment stemmed from a dream I had about a week before reading it about a talking dog.
“Velocity” was decent; though I would only recomend it to fans of Koontz/the genre. “Odd Thomas” was fantastick and I’m just working my way back to “Twilight Eyes”.
12thman on August 22, 2007 at 1:39 PM
Yep, Liberals sure love those paragraphs…
At least, I assume “Bush Lied Ponies Died” counts as a paragraph.
Lehosh on August 22, 2007 at 1:44 PM
I can’t get into Koontz. Any Dan Simmons fans?
Jim Treacher on August 22, 2007 at 1:46 PM
FEELING EXCLUDED…
Allahpundit on August 22, 2007 at 1:46 PM
I can’t get into Koontz. Any Dan Simmons fans?
Jim Treacher on August 22, 2007 at 1:46 PM
Read “A Winter Haunting” and “Darwin’s Blade” earlier this year, and “Illium” and “Olympos” last year. Good stuff.
Slublog on August 22, 2007 at 1:49 PM
*Sigh*
First part obviously a quote. Sure, there’s a preview button but you can’t make me use it!
Slublog on August 22, 2007 at 1:50 PM
Oh, and books I’ve read…
The Sagas of Icelanders, Penguin Books
The Rage and the Pride, Oriana Fallaci
Infidel, Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Caramelo, Sandra Cisneros
Reservation Blues, Sherman Alexi
and a collection of short pieces by Ayn Rand.
Lehosh on August 22, 2007 at 1:50 PM
Spanish first and then English. The Spanish version was given to me somewhat as a joke by a native Spanish speaker who claims my conversational skills are evaporating as I am learning Tagalog.
I know this question was directed to AP but ColtsFan you should check out “The Fifth Mountain,” too. It will change the way you view stories of the bible.
12thman on August 22, 2007 at 1:57 PM
I read Hard Freeze, Hard Case, and Hard As Nails last year. They were good, for the genre.
jaime on August 22, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Thank you.
Who is the author of THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN. Do you have an Amazon.com link?
ColtsFan on August 22, 2007 at 2:03 PM
Yeah, I liked those so much I re-read them all in a row recently. Kind of highlighted the flaws, back to back so quickly. But still solid stuff. I think he got the crime bug out of his system, because he said he’s done with Joe Kurtz. I’ve got The Terror on the to-read pile…
Jim Treacher on August 22, 2007 at 2:07 PM
Ha ha, conservatives!
Jim Treacher on August 22, 2007 at 2:08 PM
Do we have to sell all our books to second hand book stores now? I feel funny having read all of them when I wasn’t supposed to, know what I mean?
MNDavenotPC on August 22, 2007 at 2:10 PM
Don’t: I’ve got a big goose egg, unless you include travel guides. I’ve read so many online articles, though, that they’d probably fit into a dozen or two books just this year. And I’ve read my share of academic articles. And way too much Wikipedia. When I get an actual book, I tend to go through those “long stretches,” too, to the detriment of all other activities. My career, my friends, and the web are more important. Though not necessarily in that order….
calbear on August 22, 2007 at 2:15 PM
The author is Paulo Coehlo; here’s an Amazon link.
This is not a prove/disprove the existence of God type of book. Rather, it brings to life the stories of Elijah in such a fashion that it expanded the way I thought of all stories of the Bible… and how they relate to my life.
12thman on August 22, 2007 at 2:16 PM
Why are some of you “defending” yourselves by listing books you’ve read? Who cares what Pat says.
AteMyFoot on August 22, 2007 at 2:16 PM
And you’re more than welcome. ;-)
12thman on August 22, 2007 at 2:17 PM
Not defending ourselves so much as just pointing out what we like to read. I enjoy seeing what others have read – gives me more to put on my must-read list.
Slublog on August 22, 2007 at 2:18 PM
Actually, my goose egg gets me thinking: The “Among those who had read at least one book” proviso is important. Perhaps the second question that should be asked is what percentage of liberals/conservatives haven’t read a book at all in the past year. Of course, we needn’t be too concerned: nine versus eight might very well be a statistically insignificant difference. In other words, it may be likely that conservatives read more after all. Just not you or I, AP.
calbear on August 22, 2007 at 2:21 PM
I’m going to guess that most people here really don’t care too much what Pat says. We were merely answering the Exit Question and sharing some books we’ve enjoyed recently.
Call me old school but I believe there are few gifts greater than a good book.
12thman on August 22, 2007 at 2:22 PM
I was looking forward to reading Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Isn’t that the one that just says “No new taxes, no new taxes, no new taxes” on every page?
Where’s the Bioshock open thread? And I’d like a standing thread about all things zombie.
Let’s begin the conversation.
saint kansas on August 22, 2007 at 2:22 PM
Finished:
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
America Alone by Mark Stein
Unholy Alliance by David Horowitz
Red Harvest by Dashell Hammett
Feast for Crows by George RR Martin
Stonewall Brigade by James I. Robertson
Reading:
Shadow Party by David Horowitz
PIG to Islam by Robert Spencer
Now they Call Me Infidel by Nonie Darwish
Force of Reason by Oriana Fallaci
Churchill by Roy Jenkins
How the Scots Invented the Modern World by Arthur Herman
In the Cue:
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey by Allison Weir
History of Scotland by ???
Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions About the World’s Fastest Growing Faith by Roberts Spencer
That’s all I remember…there could be more, for all I know! Or the Internet has impeded my efforts. I do have a really bad habit of juggling…I think it stems from having been an English major???
Miss_Anthrope on August 22, 2007 at 2:26 PM
Seems to me as if we’re just considerate enough to respond to the question posed by AP…
Miss_Anthrope on August 22, 2007 at 2:28 PM
Even if it was a “disprove the existence of God type of book”, I would still pick it up and read. My library contains tons of books by skeptics, atheists, etc
My knowledge and understanding of the life of Elijah is weak. So I am sure I could use this book. I will make a note to get your book. It might be awhile before reading…
But thanks for the tip
ColtsFan on August 22, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Whoops!
Miss_Anthrope on August 22, 2007 at 2:29 PM
That’s where I got my screen name.
jaime on August 22, 2007 at 2:30 PM
Since I’m typically reading several books at one time, it’s difficult to ascertain exactly how many books I’ve read so far this year. Of course, the little ones kind of get in the way of my normal book devouring ways. However, and this is purely an estimate based on my track record the last few years, I’m going to say 30-35.
What can I say? It’s been a slow year.
Physics Geek on August 22, 2007 at 2:32 PM
Still have not read that one yet. Rereading the series though, and while I hate how he treats his characters, the writing is stangely addicting.
coyoterex on August 22, 2007 at 2:32 PM
In the past year or two I’ve read
The War of Ideas: Jihadism against Democracy
Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East 1776 to Present
While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within
Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America
Infidel
Knowing the Enemy: Jihadist Ideology and the War on Terror
The West’s Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations?
The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
Londonistan
Inside the Jihad: My Life With Al Qaeda: A Spy’s Story
The Politically Incorrect Guide(tm) to Islam (and the Crusades)
Why I am Not a Muslim
America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It
The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World’s Most Intolerant Religion
The First Commandment
A World Undone
Al Qeada Reader
and I’m a computer programmer , but I’ll leave out all the computer books.
VinceP1974 on August 22, 2007 at 2:35 PM
Sorry for discussing authors I enjoy. Never mind, guys.
Jim Treacher on August 22, 2007 at 2:41 PM
Yup,
Fiction:
Hunger by Knut Hamson
Thirst For Love by Yuiko Mishima
Down All The Days by Christy Brown
Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan
Coming Up For Air by George Orwell
The Runaway Soul by Harold Brodkey
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
A Season in Hell and A Drunken Boat by Arthur Rimbaud (if you can’t find the translation by Louise Varese better not get it at all but New Directions Paperbacks should have it)
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
The Inheritors by William Golding
The Dark by John McGahern
The Crock of Gold by James Stephens
Leaving Las Vegas by John O’ Brien
Non-fiction:
Prepared For the Worst by Christopher Hitchens
Rise of the Vulcans by James Mann
Culture and Carnage by Victor Davis Hanson
Broadway Babies Say Goodnight by Mark Steyn
Six Days of War by Michael B. Oren
Hitler and Churchill by Andrew Roberts
Inside The Whale and Other Essays by George Orwell
The Best of Myles by Flann O’ Brien
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
Imaginary Homelands by Salman Rushdie
In Search of Respect by Phillippe Bourgois
Monster by Sanyika Shakur
Poetry by any of the following:
Philip Larkin
Primo Levi
Siegfried Sassoon
Rudyard Kipling
W.H. Auden
Patrick Kavanagh
Sylvia Plath
Drama:
America Buffalo by David Mamet
Period of Adjustment by Tennesse Williams
The Quare Fellow by Brendan Behan
Top Girls by Caryl Churchill
Playland by Athol Fugard
Blasted by Sarah Kane
The Homecoming by Harold Pinter
The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’ Casey
King Lear/The Tempest/Henry IV Part One by Shakespeare
The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster
aengus on August 22, 2007 at 2:41 PM
Oh, yeah…I have the Walid Shobat (???) book in the hopper too. Too many books, too little time…
Oooh, I could change my name to Arya…I dig her. I think the 5th book is due out soon!
I went from hating Jaime to thinking he was okay…I was glad to see him become a stand-up guy. Again, I think it’s the English major thing – I get invested in my characters.
For example, I read War & Peace on my return from Russia…the only decent character was Prince Andre, who died ~1200 pages into a 1400-page book. I put it down & refused to read any more once the only person with whom I could identify died. Couldn’t do it, and never finished it. It’s the principle of the matter! ;)
Miss_Anthrope on August 22, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Let me look at my bookshelf tonight…check back tomorrow if you can!
Miss_Anthrope on August 22, 2007 at 2:52 PM
I’m mostly ready tech manuals, how to’s and the web.
liquidflorian on August 22, 2007 at 2:59 PM
I just watched all 10 espisodes of Band of Brothers for the first time these last few days. Amazing. Especially the episodes set in Bastogne.
aengus on August 22, 2007 at 3:04 PM
I loved Band of Brothers…History Channel ran them in order last month. WOW.
Miss_Anthrope on August 22, 2007 at 3:08 PM
If liberals are so literate, why are their posts filled with bad grammar and misspellings? Apparently peeling the onion leads to deranged performances like the one Tucker Carlson witnessed.
clghitis on August 22, 2007 at 3:08 PM
So far, Arya is my favorite character in these books. I have no idea when Martin is going to finish the next one, but it wasn’t at the bookstore two weeks ago.
Yep. I’m not sure what it is that makes these books so compelling. The prose is certainly better than a lot of the popular fiction out there today, but also you get a feeling of realism as opposed to the standard good v. evil. I can’t put my finger on it, either. Strange indeed.
jaime on August 22, 2007 at 3:09 PM
About 55 Books as a parent with kids:
15 kids’ classics (verne/twain/lewis/etc)
35 kids’ throw-away, mostly fantasy
5 for me: history/bio
also a Bible book every week or two
G. Charles on August 22, 2007 at 3:15 PM
and lots of blogs
G. Charles on August 22, 2007 at 3:16 PM
Another Lee Child/Vince Flynn fan as well as a fan of Lincoln Child/Douglas Preston and Jim Butcher among others. I would venture to say that I have probably read more books in the past five years than Pat Schroeder has read in her lifetime. I conservatively estimate that I’ve read 200 books this year. This year’s list has included:
Bruce Bawer
Mark Steyn
David McCullough
Robert Spencer (2)
David Horowitz
C.S. Lewis (Screwtape Letters, read Mere Christianity years ago)
The above authors
Jane Austen
Charles Dickens
Oswald Chambers
Neal Stephenson and many, many others
damececily on August 22, 2007 at 3:17 PM
“Exit question, and be honest: How many have you read this year?”
One more than the person above me. And they were in the original Portuguese.
Apeking on August 22, 2007 at 3:25 PM
Oh how could I have forgotten about them! A super writing duo. I might have to stop visiting this thread or my temptation to pick up fiction again might be too much to resist!
RushBaby on August 22, 2007 at 3:27 PM
“It’s pretty hard to write a book saying, ‘No new taxes, no new taxes, no new taxes’ on every page.” says the Honorable Ms. Schroeder.
Actually it’s pretty simple. Make that the title.
Cheers,
DuffBeer on August 22, 2007 at 3:35 PM
Does reading the Tivo guide count?
right2bright on August 22, 2007 at 3:40 PM
I read 3 or 4 books a week, split about evenly between fiction and non-fiction. Fiction tends to include Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn and the like. Non-fiction is split between religious, history, biographies, and current politics.
Recent reads:
- Bush’s War: Media Bias and Justifications for War in a Terrorist Age by Jim A. Kuypers
- Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
- The Chronicles of Amber I and II – by Roger Zelazny (hard to find but worth it if you like scifi/fantasy)
- My American Journey by Colin Powell
Seriously, the idea of a HA book club is pretty interesting, given how many of us are enthusiastic readers. I’m thinking of getting Novak’s new book, anybody read it yet?
Laura on August 22, 2007 at 3:48 PM
Actually I read the complete works (every one) of Somerset Maugham writings (not plays). Rain being my favorite short story, and Hour before Dawn was an interesting novel.
That would be about 14 novels and dozens of dozens of short stories (his best).
right2bright on August 22, 2007 at 3:51 PM
I read every day, usually fiction, but some non-fiction. How many I read in a year depends on how long the books are! I just finished Harry Potter and am about to begin another book. I probably read books at the rate of 12-15 a year.
reine.de.tout on August 22, 2007 at 3:53 PM
I’ve read two or three dozen books this year in all genres, but in English only (no Esperanto or Mandarin). I remember when this silly woman represented Colorado in Congress. I seem to recall that she once started to cry on the floor of the House over something. This chickenhead makes Charlie Rangel sound like Pericles.
Travis Bickle on August 22, 2007 at 3:55 PM
URGE TO KILL–RISING…
/Homer
If you are willing to read C.S. Lewis, I suggest his Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength.
The Christian outlook is there, but it’s all in the context of a very compelling sci-fi plot. Judging by all of your UFO and ‘freaky-deaky’ posts, I think you’d enjoy those books.
PaisleyCow on August 22, 2007 at 3:59 PM
Dude, reading this THREAD counts as a book!
Seriously though, I read all day when I’m not playing with excel or power point. FT, WSJ, Bloomberg, blogs, magazines, a few other papers… full on books… depends on my schedule and needs at work. Some weeks I have to get through 5-10 books (let’s hear it for new projects in different industries), but I usually read or re-read 1 to two books a week. Business, management, leadership, history, politics, sci-fi, a bit of modern fiction (traders, guns, and money is hilarious beyond belief, but could be hard slogging for anyone who doesn’t read the WSJ and FT for fun), wine, food… How Doctors Think is an excellent book.
So er, my number is lots, despite being hampered by only reading books for
libertarianuberalles on August 22, 2007 at 4:01 PM
Let’s review what I’ve read recently (author first):
St. Augustine City of God
Richard Pipes The Russian Revolution
Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre
Wallace Stegner Collected Stories
Bram Stoker Dracula
James Burnham Suicide of the West
Misha Glenny The Balkans
Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People
Various authors Early Christian Writings (Penguin Classics)
I’m reading Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina right now. The above books, which isn’t an inclusive list by the way, were read over the last two months.
Yeah, liberals read more than I do. I read more than ten liberals combined.
jaleach on August 22, 2007 at 4:07 PM
A good test would be to see if liberals actually know who Pericles was. I’m doubting most of them do.
jaleach on August 22, 2007 at 4:09 PM
Agreed on all counts. All of the Agent Pendergast books are extraordinary (and extraordinarily weird).
I haven’t been as impressed with either authors’ solo efforts though. The fact that I’m having trouble even remembering them – something in an amusement park? – suggests I wasn’t too impressed. But when they write together, they’re pure magic. Pendergast is a brilliant character.
I’ll second that. I could tell stories about how absorbed I got in the Amber books … and I’m really not much into the genre. I can remember picking up the first one by accident as a college freshman and just sitting out in the quad all day long – skipping class – reading them. It’s not often you read something that original.
Saddest part is I now own the second volume – but not the first. So I’ve read the second half a half dozen times, but haven’t read the first since the 80s. I’d kill to find a copy.
Professor Blather on August 22, 2007 at 4:09 PM
Classical Spanish Theater mostly, Plays by Cervantes de Vega etc (I just finished my Masters) and some folklore books (can’t get enough) and going against the studies trend some Sci-Fi. In all I read about 12 books or so.
Rob Taylor on August 22, 2007 at 4:11 PM
Somebody send this comments thread to Schroeder please.
It sort of speaks for itself.
For fun, include a link to DU. Let HER compare the literary knowledge (and literary value) of the commentary.
Professor Blather on August 22, 2007 at 4:13 PM
I read Great Expectations recently and liked it a lot. I’m eyeing my copy of Our Mutual Friend as my next Dickens novel, but I gotta get through Anna Karenina first.
Oh, I also recently finished Carl Bernstein’s biography of Hillary Clinton, A Woman in Charge. One thing you gotta say about old Carl if this book is any indication–he’s never met a Republican he likes.
jaleach on August 22, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Prof, no need to kill, you can get them on ebay for less than $10 including shipping. That auction ends in 2 hours but there are others.
Laura on August 22, 2007 at 4:17 PM
I worked with Pat Schroeder in Colorado years ago. She was the epitome of the beltway politico. Take Pat Schroeder add beltway and she never once looked back at Colorado and the people who put her there
400lb Gorilla on August 22, 2007 at 4:45 PM
I go through withdrawals if I don’t read every day! In addition to plenty of online reading and reading for work, I have probably read about 20 books so far this year. Couple of classics, couple of non-fiction biographies (I include The Truth About Mohammed in this category), a couple of non-fiction histories. The rest are lumped into fiction / mystery / thriller. I have plenty of liberal friends and relatives (I know, I know, I’m working on them!) and none of them read a fraction as much. They don’t even read enough current events to know what they are talking about half the time, and the only news they get is from the MSM. *sigh* I would just love to see the breakdown on what types of books are read by what types of people. You know they have the data — they should share it! (Except it would probably totally screw up their “liberals are smarter than conservatives” meme.)
lan astaslem on August 22, 2007 at 4:47 PM
Oh and I read more books in a week than Pat reads in a year. Bet she hasn’t even bought the new Harry Potter, Einstein, China Road, Sabotage, Looming Tower, Prayers for the Assassin, Imperial Grunts, America Alone…
She us just another effete elitist pseudo intellectual
400lb Gorilla on August 22, 2007 at 4:49 PM
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