I do most of my reading on the web and sadly I just don't seem to find the time to sit down with a good book. Here are a few I have managed to thumb my way through over the last few years. I've toned down on the boring techie books to make me look a little more balanced.
A classic in the field and a must read for anyone into knowledge and IT.
This book inspired me to record and develop some of my ideas. The final step is to implement them and I'm still getting around to that! But hey, part of the joy is in putting the pieces of the jigsaw together.
Thanks to Mitnick I am much more aware of social engineering. Hackers don't always do it with code. Well placed phone calls with the required skerrics of information to validate the caller can reveal more info which in turn can be used to further the hack. Poor old cold callers don't stand a chance with me anymore :)
I read most of this online. If you are a developer or interested in programming then this is a must read. Every article is enlightening and written in a very friendly manner. Inspirational stuff for all the hackers out there.
This book was pitched at too deep a level for me to get that much of it. I would loved for it to give me a basic overview of the data and the relationships but unfortunately al lot of this seemed to be assumed knowledge and most of the chapters are papers based on what can be done with Wordnet.
What an amazing book. If you are ever in need of a little inspiration then this is the place to turn. It is a vast, sprawling collection of fantasic bit sized pieces of information and covers everything from art, and philosophy to religion science. I'm a great believer in serendipity when it come to expanding one's horizons and the Art of Looking Sideways will give you this and more. Someone should make a topic map of this book!
Guaranteed to make you a hit at the next dinner party... or maybe that should be trivia night.
I worked on the casualisation of work chapter when I worked at the Australia Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Teaching.
I found the Qur'an a very beautiful book to read. There is an emphasis on light, nature and the celestial heavens that makes it more mysically revealing than other religious works. The commentary by the very learned Abdullah Yusuf Ali was very informative and enriched the experience considerably. As an aside, one of my favourite excepts was his dicussion of the mystical symbolism contained within diamonds - the timeless brilliance and purity represents the light from Allah's lamp :)
The kernel of Christianity is based on Jesus' simple and basic teaching on love. Love your neighbour as your enemy. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Simple.
amazon.com | amazon.co.ukThis one is on the top of my list. It has it all: a story line that wills you to read further, a wonderful exposition of street life in Bombay and remarkable insights into the human condition. The real joy of this book comes from the knowledge that the insights have come from the author's real life experience born from the courage to interact with people from all walks of life. After reading this I am reticent to pick up another book because it will be very hard for anything to compare.
A classic and deservedly so. Modern culture resonates with so many ideas in this book. I'm a little ashamed that it took me so long to read it.
I was having a beer with my cousin Adrian one night and we were discussing architechture, landscape and roadways. He suggested that I read Leviathan for the low down on Sydney's dark history: the history of the early colony, revolution, plagues, poverty, aboriginal deaths and persecution, stories of immigrants, illegal gambling, green bans, property development, drug addiction, prostition, death etc. Birmingham has researched the material very well and presented it in a gutsy way that befits the dark side of Sydney and undercuts its seemingly superficial exterior.
Tim Winton has the crafty knack of being able to get under the skin of the various characters in his books. Rather than concentrating on the protagonist and dragging you through the novel with only their perspective he is able to provide relief by stepping into the shoes of the other characters, giving you a fresh insight. I get the feeling that there is a lot of Winton in the main character so this ability makes the book much more well rounded. Apart from this, The Riders is a gripping book that had me turning the pages till the end.
I read this just after The Riders and I must say that I was a little disappointed. The structure, content and feel was very similar to Winton's previous effort. I also wasn't as connected with the characters - they weren't as noble in my mind and this made the journey a little less compelling.
This is a dodgy title but the book isn't as bad as it sounds. How to be a Man taught me how to cook the perfect omlette, how to win a fight and how to land a plane. Too bad I've only mastered one of these three.
Required reading before a backpacking adventure through Africa.
A classic but not really on the top of my all time faves. The novel was incredibly evenly paced. Events just flow on by with the passage of time. This aspect is endearing as it adds a timeless aspect to the book that ties the people and their struggles to the land. It is in the end a book that inspires you to be truthful to yourself and your loved ones.
The Da Vinci Code got me back into reading again! Superbly crafted and immensley enjoyable. We all enjoy a little puzzle every now and then.