All Consuming : jayaprakash

Why I like people who have consumed "A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 17:43:21 GMT

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)

by George R.R. Martin

Got this book gifted to me by Mark Jareo when he was visiting. He was intrigued when he saw a Tolkien book on my desk and I told him that I read Eric Van Lustbader’s fantasy stuff Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time.

Mark introduced GRRM as one of the best fantasy writers around today. This was later supported by Mike when I talked to him a few months later. The book lay in my bag ofr a few days while I went on a reading spree and finished the 10 books that comprised the Wheel of time series at that time. When I turned my attention to this book, I was first turned off by the fact that it all sounded so ordinary. There were hints of fantastic things happening someplace, but the entire narrative centred around a household that although royal seemed to be very “ordinary”. I plodded on regardless and got engrossed in the story about the Stark family and their brood of Direwolves. GRRM’s uses first person story-telling technicques to give us an insight into all that goes on. I ended up buying the remaining two books that were available in India at that time and am eagerly waiting for “A Feast for Crows” to be available in bookshops in India. (Believe it or not! Books are much much cheaper in India!)

Why I recommend "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 13:10:35 GMT

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

by Steven D. Levitt

I have shied away from economics all of my life. I am not ashamed to say that I relaized that economics is not all Math and figures after reading this book. Something that had me go “hmmm” was the whole “incentive” idea. The fact that people behave the way they do because if the implicit incentives in behaving that way.

A good book on analyzing human behaviour using data. I should say that I agree with Maggie here that the common theme seemed to me the “Oh, you know what? You are wrong!” thing throughout the book. Especially the excerpts from the NY Times that glorify Levitt.

A story about "Introduction to Algorithms, Second Edition"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:58 GMT

Introduction to Algorithms, Second Edition

by Thomas H. Cormen

Just bought it and intend to read to get a clearer understadning of my work. Me coming from a non-technical educational background makes me want to learn more about the basics so that I do a good job!

A story about "Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics: An Applied Introduction (4th Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:57 GMT

Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics: An Applied Introduction (4th Edition)

by Ralph P. Grimaldi

Plan to read this to get a good grounding in the theory behind programming.

A story about "Bullfinch-Charlemagne"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:57 GMT

Bullfinch-Charlemagne

Part of the large book titled Bullfinch’s mythology

A story about "I, Robot"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:57 GMT

I, Robot

by ISAAC ASIMOV

One of my all-time favorite authors and one of his best books.

A story about "Robots and Empire"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:57 GMT

Robots and Empire

by Isaac Asimov

another from my favorite

A story about "Foundation (Foundation Novels (Paperback))"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:54 GMT

Foundation (Foundation Novels (Paperback))

by Isaac Asimov

another from my favorite author

A story about "Caves of Steel (Robot City (Paperback))"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:54 GMT

Caves of Steel (Robot City (Paperback))

by Isaac Asimov

one of the robot series, one of my favorites

A story about "The Arthashastra (Penguin classics) (Penguin classics) (Penguin classics) (Penguin classics)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:53 GMT

The Arthashastra (Penguin classics) (Penguin classics) (Penguin classics) (Penguin classics)

by Kautalya

It is said that the means to understand the future lies in understanding the past. Kautilya was a great tactician and it is going to be fun to understand how he thought the world went around…

A story about "Meditations (Modern Library Classics)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:53 GMT

Meditations (Modern Library Classics)

by MARCUS AURELIUS

As August keeps saying in English, August, it is fun to look at life through the eyes of a person who lived a life of physical pleasance and had a lot of time to ruminate on a lot of issues that would otherwise be dismissed by the people caught up in the humdrum of everyday life.

A story about "English August: Indian Story"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:53 GMT

English August: Indian Story

by Upamanyu Chatterjee

Its wonderful story about a modern Indian youth caught in the hinterland living out a life that he nevr thought he could. Very toungue-in-cheek look at the indian psyche.

A story about "Bullfinch-Fable"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:53 GMT

Bullfinch-Fable

I have always been fascinated by muythology, coming from a land steeped in lessons from myth and lore. I was looking around for a long time to find a source of Roman, Greek and Norse Mythology and this is it! Interesting read to be sure!

A story about "The Last Day of a Condemned Man (Hesperus Classics)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:52 GMT

The Last Day of a Condemned Man (Hesperus Classics)

by Victor Hugo

I picked this up from the bargains section at Odyssey. To tell you the truth I had never ever heard of this book before picking it up, but I would think that any book that advertises Victor Hugo as the author is worth reading. I now realize that the first 20 pages or so consist of introductions and prefaces to the first and second editions. Its been fun so far.

A story about "Yukon Ho!"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:52 GMT

Yukon Ho!

by Bill Watterson

I biuyght this book on impulse while waiting for my connection the Bangalore airport. It turned out to be a great read. Did I mention that Calvin & hobbes are my favorite cartoon characters?

A story about "The Ring of Five Dragons (The Pearl, Book 1)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:52 GMT

The Ring of Five Dragons (The Pearl, Book 1)

by Eric Van Lustbader

I keep browsing around the fantasy section of Oddyssey and chanced upon this book. It seemed interesting, now I find it unputdownable. It was so exciting, I rushed through a lot of the pages. I am now re-reading it to get a feel for the finer details.

A story about "Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:51 GMT

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

by Lynne Truss

This books appeals to me because I seem to belong to that class of people who cringe (albeit, only internally) at the gross grammatical errors that I see around me. Brilliantly written!

A story about "Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:51 GMT

Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons

by Bill Watterson

Another of those books i bought during interminable waits in airport lobbies.
And another of my favorite cartoon books.

A story about "Life of Pi"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:51 GMT

Life of Pi

by Yann Martel

A very good read. Flights of imagination that fails only in one place according to me, everyhting in the book except the carnivorous algae island seemed very plausible.

A story about "The Da Vinci Code"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:51 GMT

The Da Vinci Code

by Dan Brown

Almost at the end!
Its a queer mix of linguistics, architecture, etymology and trivia. Cool stuff!

A story about "The Veil of a Thousand Tears (The Pearl Saga, Book 2)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (jayaprakash) — Wed, 25 May 2005 06:24:50 GMT

The Veil of a Thousand Tears (The Pearl Saga, Book 2)

by Eric Van Lustbader

The sequel to the book i just finished, The ring of the five dragons. Its got me hooked and I could not hold out till I bought this one.