captainzib
captainzib Reader
10/26/08 4:45 p.m.

So I've been working 3rd shift lately and will be doin so for another week at least. It involves babysitting an engine while we do durability testing on it with an engine dyno, and needless to say, it's really boring.

I picked up "The Art of Racing in the Rain" and read it in 6 hours with 2 hours left to kill one night.

What are some books you guys would recommend?

thatsnowinnebago
thatsnowinnebago GRM+ Memberand Reader
10/26/08 5:37 p.m.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/favorite-books/4169/page1/

DirtyBird222
DirtyBird222 HalfDork
10/26/08 5:44 p.m.

The prince and the discourses. Machiavelli, pretty interesting.

ManofFewWords
ManofFewWords New Reader
10/26/08 6:02 p.m.

"The Happiest Man in the World" by Alec Wilkinson. The life story of Poppa Neutrino, who, among other things sailed a raft made out of garbage across the Atlantic. Grassroots types will love this book. i guarantee it.

Osterkraut
Osterkraut Reader
10/26/08 9:07 p.m.
DirtyBird222 wrote: The prince and the discourses. Machiavelli, pretty interesting.

Don't read his personal letters, though! Let's just say he has an...encounter... with an ugly, ugly, ugly whore.

Duende
Duende New Reader
10/26/08 10:38 p.m.

Pick up something by John Ringo or Pohl.

ReverendDexter
ReverendDexter Reader
10/26/08 11:11 p.m.

What type of books are you looking to read?

If it's time you have to kill, I couldn't suggest anything better than Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series. 12+ books, 500-1200 pages per.

maroon92
maroon92 SuperDork
10/27/08 12:40 a.m.

I tend to read Formula 1 driver biographies. stuff by Christopher Hilton is generally well written, but dense, so it will take longer to get through.

curtis73
curtis73 GRM+ Memberand Reader
10/27/08 12:45 a.m.

Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by Milliken.

Its a little bit of light reading - 860 pages of engineering textbook :)

Xceler8x
Xceler8x GRM+ Memberand Reader
10/27/08 7:38 a.m.

Peter Egan released a collection of his editorials for Cycle World that was great. Two volumes I think.

Brock Yates wrote his side of the story about all the Cannonball Runs. Another really good read.

If you're into Apocalypse fiction you should check Hammer Of God. It's what happens to the Earth after a comet strike.

Armor, by John Steakley, is incredible sci-fi. John basically admitted that if Heinlein had been able to write action he wouldn't have needed to write Armor. Think of it as the war parts of Starship Troopers that Bob skipped over.

If you like Fantasy I'd have to suggest Rider On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony.

If you like Fantasy/Comedy check out Hogfather by Terry Pratchett.

akamcfly
akamcfly New Reader
10/27/08 8:08 a.m.
ReverendDexter wrote: What type of books are you looking to read? If it's time you have to kill, I couldn't suggest anything better than Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series. 12+ books, 500-1200 pages per.

Bummer about Robert Jordan, eh?

Wifey LOVES his books

akamcfly
akamcfly New Reader
10/27/08 8:14 a.m.
Xceler8x wrote: Peter Egan released a collection of his editorials for Cycle World that was great. Two volumes I think.

He also released two volumes of "Side Glances" from Road and Track Magazine. I have the double issue, hardcover version which I still pick up and re-read from time to time....

Kurt Bilinski's (sp?) Kimini book is a really really good read. It's only available directly from the publisher here, but the transaction is painless and the book is a bargain.

JohnGalt
JohnGalt New Reader
10/27/08 10:17 a.m.

If you have some time on your hands i would recomend Atlas Shrugged.

Mental
Mental SuperDork
10/27/08 11:07 a.m.

Back in the early 90's a guy Bob Judd, who would later go on to write for a "lesser" car mag wrote a short series of books about a professional racer named Forrest Evers. Not as factual as they could be, but the lauguage he uses to describe the races was just great.

Amazon Link

Chuck Palinuik novels are pretty addictive as well, short chapters, great plot developments and good twisted endings.

other Amazon Link

captainzib
captainzib Reader
10/30/08 1:35 p.m.

Picked up Atlas Shrugged, I am Legend, The Devil in the White City, and The Mask of Sanity. Finished The Devil in the White City yesterday and will move on to the other three and then look for somethin else I hope.

Though hopefully I'll stop working third shift. I forgot that I actually enjoy reading when it's not school related, unfortunately I like doing other things a lot more and don't have enough time to read like this.

poopshovel
poopshovel Dork
10/30/08 1:43 p.m.

As mentioned in the favorite books thread, I really really love Vonnegut. "Cat's Cradle" is my fave, and (IMO)a good primer for the rest of his work. "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater" is another great one. Very easy reads, even when sleep deprived. "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole is another favorite.

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