All Consuming : napaxton

Why I recommend "No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam"

nobody@allconsuming.net (napaxton) — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 04:19:00 GMT

No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam

by Reza Aslan

Best, most readable introduction ot the historical development of Islam that I have read. His training in writing really shows, because he can describe theology as a story.

Why I gave up consuming "The Complete New Yorker: Eighty Years of the Nation's Greatest Magazine (Book & 8 DVD-ROMs)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (napaxton) — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 21:42:33 GMT

The Complete New Yorker: Eighty Years of the Nation's Greatest Magazine (Book & 8 DVD-ROMs)

It’s 80 years (and counting) of the New Yorker. it would take nearly that long to read. Heaven….

A story about "God's Secretaries"

nobody@allconsuming.net (napaxton) — Wed, 25 May 2005 03:28:44 GMT

God's Secretaries

by Adam Nicolson

quite an enjoyable read. his conclusions in the final chapter about the place of the KJV are a bit of an overstretch, I would say.

A story about "The Gates of the Alamo"

nobody@allconsuming.net (napaxton) — Wed, 25 May 2005 03:28:44 GMT

The Gates of the Alamo

by Stephen Harrigan

enjoyable, and it’s still by my bedside, but apprently not captivating enough to finish yet.

I’ll stick with Larry McMurtry, I guess.

(added)
I went back to reading it again recently when my non-fiction diet got rather high.

A story about "How to Be Alone: Essays"

nobody@allconsuming.net (napaxton) — Wed, 25 May 2005 03:28:43 GMT

How to Be Alone: Essays

by Jonathan Franzen

Brilliant. Treats his reader with utter respect and an entire lack of condescension.

A story about "Claudius the God: And His Wife Messalina"

nobody@allconsuming.net (napaxton) — Wed, 25 May 2005 03:28:43 GMT

Claudius the God: And His Wife Messalina

by Robert Graves

I loved its predecessor (I, Claudius) and am quite looking forward to it.

A story about "The Devil's Flu: The World's Deadliest Influenza Epidemic and the Scientific Hunt for the Virus That Caused It"

nobody@allconsuming.net (napaxton) — Wed, 25 May 2005 03:28:42 GMT

The Devil's Flu: The World's Deadliest Influenza Epidemic and the Scientific Hunt for the Virus That Caused It

by Pete Davies

For the dissertation.

A story about "Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith"

nobody@allconsuming.net (napaxton) — Wed, 25 May 2005 03:28:42 GMT

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

by Jon Krakauer

Krakauer’s a compelling writer, and he’s turned his talents to something harder to write about than his last two books (which were also great).
The Mormons intrigue me, mostly because they are heterodox Christians. I.e., they do not believe in the orthodox doctrines of the faith that one would generally subscribe to in order to be called “Christian.” They’re essentially theological gnostics, and Gnosticism was declard heretical in Christianity in the fourth century. Also, Mormon social structure fascinates me. They’re wonderfully anti-individualist and communitarian in a very particular way. And I’ve just been plain interested in the Mormons since doing a lot of research on them for a professor in college.

I’m sure the LDS hierarchy was none too happy about the book, but it seems fairly even handed to me. Krakauer’s generally pretty good about being fair to his subjects and trying to enter their worldview, even if he doesn’t “approve” of it.