Conquer Club

Simple Genius -- David Baldacci. Story of a murder in a little town/think tank for geniuses in math and science. Mixes crime drama with touching on some of the concepts the members are dealing with.

The Sum of All Fears Tom Clancy. Once again, combines the suspense with well-researched looks into the workings of diplomacy, espionage, terrorism, submarine warfare, and the physics and engineering involved in making a nuclear device.

The Long Walk - By Stephen King

One of my favorite books. It is set in modern day America but in this world they have a event that is bigger than the superbowl every year called "The Long Walk" where teenage boys sign up to see who can walk the longest without stopping. The kicker is, everyone who stops, gets shot and killed. The winner is the kid who can walk the longest without stopping and he is the only kid that lives through the whole deal. Most of the kids sign up because the winner is basically promised to live a life where all of his worldly dreams are taken care of, as well as supernatural things can be taken care of, such as, if a parent is dying of cancer and you win, then you can cure their cancer. The book goes through the minds of one of the kids and the mental struggles he faces as he walks for days.

Freakonomics - By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

The book is a collection of economic articles applying economic theory to diverse subjects not usually covered by "traditional" economists. One example of the authors' use of economic theory involves demonstrating the existence of cheating among sumo wrestlers. In a sumo tournament, all wrestlers in the top division compete in 15 matches and face demotion if they do not win at least eight of them. The sumo community is very close-knit, and the wrestlers at the top levels tend to know each other well. The authors looked at the final match, and considered the case of a wrestler with seven wins, seven losses, and one fight to go, fighting against an 8-6 wrestler. Statistically, the 7-7 wrestler should have a slightly below even chance, since the 8-6 wrestler is slightly better. However, the 7-7 wrestler actually wins around 80% of the time. Levitt uses this statistic and other data gleaned from sumo wrestling matches, along with the effect that allegations of corruption have on match results, to conclude that those who already have 8 wins collude with those who are 7-7 and let them win, since they have already secured their position for the following tournament.

sebastian faulks - engleby and human traces

two fucking awesome books about the human mind, sanity and so on

we need to talk about kevin

that book's just pure class, no two ways about it

or for some comedy: tom sharpe - porterhouse blue, riotous assembly, the throwback and wilt

damn funny

I Hope they Serve Beer In Hell by Tucker Max

Hollywood made a movie based on this book, and it was quite funny, though not as funny as the book. A highly recommended one for anyone who enjoys reading about a chauvanistic player and his friends' exploits. It's sure to make you laugh out loud.

[serious Army of GOD]

48 Laws of Power. I really liked it. Good historical anecdotes and how to be a complete dick to people.



[/serious Army of GOD]

1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

The Jungle - It tells the story of how callous and uncaring capitalism can be and Yes I've read it.

rockfist wrote:1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

Army of GOD wrote:[serious Army of GOD]

48 Laws of Power. I really liked it. Good historical anecdotes and how to be a complete dick to people.



[/serious Army of GOD]

[serious BBS]

I've just checked out the 48 rules on wikipedia. In a nutshell, it's about how to be a dickhead to people and also succeed in life, amirite?

[/serious BBS]

Army of GOD wrote:

rockfist wrote:1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

Perhaps he meant Communism, or totalitarianism with a socialist guise?

BigBallinStalin wrote:

Army of GOD wrote:[serious Army of GOD]

48 Laws of Power. I really liked it. Good historical anecdotes and how to be a complete dick to people.



[/serious Army of GOD]

[serious BBS]

I've just checked out the 48 rules on wikipedia. In a nutshell, it's about how to be a dickhead to people and also succeed in life, amirite?

[/serious BBS]

Pretty much. You won't gain any friends, but you'll have people eating out of your hand.

BigBallinStalin wrote:

Army of GOD wrote:

rockfist wrote:1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

Perhaps he meant Communism,

or totalitarianism with a socialist guise?

*thumbs up*

Army of GOD wrote:

BigBallinStalin wrote:

Army of GOD wrote:

rockfist wrote:1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

Perhaps he meant Communism,

or totalitarianism with a socialist guise?

*thumbs up*

You're out of fashion. Everything bad is now supposed to be socialism. (with liberalism a close second) It has nothing at all to do with textbook definitions!

L M S wrote:The Fountainhead.

Cause I said so.

A fine book, and a fine movie as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc7oZ9yWqO4

You can also basically have this book read to you via youtube. I'm all linked out. It gets much deeper and more specific than money masters

I suggest you read Heart of Darkness It's this great book where Charley Sheen is on a secret mission in Vietnam where he travels to the jungles of Cambodia to kill Marlyn Brando.... wait a second....

rockfist wrote:1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

I tend to think that 1984 could also be applicable to capitalism. It's just a matter of perspective.

rockfist wrote:The Jungle - It tells the story of how callous and uncaring capitalism can be and Yes I've read it.

I read this as "The Jungle Book" and I was thinking...what the hell?

Woodruff wrote:

rockfist wrote:1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

I tend to think that 1984 could also be applicable to capitalism. It's just a matter of perspective.

I think it's more a matter of reality (something you clearly can't conceptualize). 1984 is much more applicable to socialism than capitalism. Big Brother was the government and not a corporation.

ViperOverLord wrote:

Woodruff wrote:

rockfist wrote:1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

I tend to think that 1984 could also be applicable to capitalism. It's just a matter of perspective.

I think it's more a matter of reality (something you clearly can't conceptualize). 1984 is much more applicable to socialism than capitalism. Big Brother was the government and not a corporation.

That's like saying it's more applicable to dogs than cats. It doesn't mean it has anything to do with it and it had nothing to do with why it was written.

1984 is about totalitarianism. It's what happens when you put all of your hope and faith into one guy, then that one guy gains too much power and forces you to live the way he wants you to live because his life is so much more enjoyable when you do what he says.

It's like Soviet Russia. It isn't socialism/communism...it's a dictatorship with a mask. If you think it has anything to do with socialism/communism then you don't know socialism/communism.

Army of GOD wrote:

ViperOverLord wrote:

Woodruff wrote:

rockfist wrote:1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

I tend to think that 1984 could also be applicable to capitalism. It's just a matter of perspective.

I think it's more a matter of reality (something you clearly can't conceptualize). 1984 is much more applicable to socialism than capitalism. Big Brother was the government and not a corporation.

That's like saying it's more applicable to dogs than cats. It doesn't mean it has anything to do with it and it had nothing to do with why it was written.

1984 is about totalitarianism. It's what happens when you put all of your hope and faith into one guy, then that one guy gains too much power and forces you to live the way he wants you to live because his life is so much more enjoyable when you do what he says.

It's like Soviet Russia. It isn't socialism/communism...it's a dictatorship with a mask. If you think it has anything to do with socialism/communism then you don't know socialism/communism.

Totalitarianism is the main theme of 1984, but socialism was the manipulative tool they used just like in Soviet Russia. I think the book speaks to Obama's rule very much. They set up 'ministries' and sought to control dialogue. Also although people were supposed to believe in the concept of democracy, they were manipulated into believing that only the ruling party had the power to keep order. It was very much the subversive socialistic democracy that Obama runs.

This book is NOT a book based in capitalism or the dangers thereof. The Party operates under the guise of socialistic values to in order to accomplish their designs and not to create a utopia that many people want. That is a warning about the dangers of socialism.

Woodruff wrote:

rockfist wrote:1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

I tend to think that 1984 could also be applicable to capitalism. It's just a matter of perspective.

rockfist wrote:The Jungle - It tells the story of how callous and uncaring capitalism can be and Yes I've read it.

I read this as "The Jungle Book" and I was thinking...what the hell?

No way is that on capitalism. I am only saying capitalism did not apply in 1984. You can use your imagination to change your perspective if you like, but if you do that, why even read the book?

Army of GOD wrote:

ViperOverLord wrote:

Woodruff wrote:

rockfist wrote:1984 - It tells the story of how soul crushingly awful socialism can be.

I tend to think that 1984 could also be applicable to capitalism. It's just a matter of perspective.

I think it's more a matter of reality (something you clearly can't conceptualize). 1984 is much more applicable to socialism than capitalism. Big Brother was the government and not a corporation.

That's like saying it's more applicable to dogs than cats. It doesn't mean it has anything to do with it and it had nothing to do with why it was written.

1984 is about totalitarianism. It's what happens when you put all of your hope and faith into one guy, then that one guy gains too much power and forces you to live the way he wants you to live because his life is so much more enjoyable when you do what he says.

It's like Soviet Russia. It isn't socialism/communism...it's a dictatorship with a mask. If you think it has anything to do with socialism/communism then you don't know socialism/communism.

AOG! After kicking all that knowledge, without mentioning Oligarichal Collectivism?

I did Goldstein a disservice =(

yeah whatever.... you guy's ignore my post but you know it was funny.

Army of GOD wrote:I did Goldstein a disservice =(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZG3Pwnrfcc

for you too saxi

The Bison King wrote:I suggest you read Heart of Darkness It's this great book where Charley Sheen is on a secret mission in Vietnam where he travels to the jungles of Cambodia to kill Marlyn Brando.... wait a second....

That sounds like a movie I saw with Charlie Sheen about Aliens and global warming in central American Jungles. It was actually pretty good.