Book recommendations for me.

[Delias]

I'm seeking recommendations on any non-fiction book concerning logic, rhetoric, Aristotelian philosophy, ethics and morality, and history, primarily roman or greek. I have decided to educate myself more thoroughly on these topics, so any recommendations would be appreciated.

P.S.- I have already read "You're Gay" by Your Mom, so don't bother recommending it.

[phantasm]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tpimXme0L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Mind-Missing-Science-Consciousness/dp/0195106466/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1292667831&sr=8-6)

[Blushy]

So, this isn't exactly a book on Logic, but if that's your alley, you should definitely read Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter.

[Valthissa]

Some authors to consider

Gibbons (Decline & fall is .99¢ on Kindle)
Pinker
Boorstin
Bryson

As I have posted before, Godel, Escher, & Bach is an almost perfect book so I second that recommendation. I can see two copies of it from where I sit (and also two copies of Lord of the Rings - evidence that I may be a geek)

Also, you did not mention China but I played a game many years ago called 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. I eventually got the book it was based on and while it is densely written, it was worth the effort to read.

For logic, if you haven't read Critique of Pure Reason, I'd do that, Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations is a serious undertaking to try and comprehend (and considered 'important' by my philosophy professor friend).

For something different in philosophy, you might look at G. K. Chesterton.

Have fun.

C/Valth

[waywardgs]

A Thousand Plateaus by Deleuze and Guattari. Also, much of Nietzsche, but he's hard to just start in on, so it's not a bad idea to read compilations of his work as well.

[Warriorbird]

(Apart from the aforementioned Decline and Fall) Read The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius. If you want a pretty much primary source on Roman history it's the shit.

Greek wise, in the lesser known texts, I like Between Troy and Homer by Joachim Latacz.

Reading A History of the Archaic Greek World by Hall followed by A History of the Classical Greek World by Rhodes would be a good broad stroke.

[Blushy]

Oh, yeah, you said Roman history, too.

Anything by Tacitus is a good primary source, as is the History of Ammianus Marcellinus.

[BriarFox]

Thucydides, Xenophon, Plutarch, Eusebius, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. Read the originals and you won't hate yourself.

[Warriorbird]

Y'know guys, we're pretty damn good at book recommendation.

[Latrinsorm]

I would definitely pick one topic to start if I were you. For instance, you can't seriously consider ethics and morality without reading Kant, and it can absolutely take you months to get through certain pages of Kant, let alone books.

I would also definitely try and get critical editions or ideally in contact with someone who is already well-educated in whatever topics you want to know more about. This feels kind of pointless to say on an ultra-niche message board, but there are probably ultra-niche message boards you could find for whichever topic.

[Warriorbird]

I think some of us can give more focused stuff if asked. I just assumed he was looking for a broad overview.

EDIT:

Added note... Romance of the Three Kingdoms is awesome. If you liked it I'd recommend the subtitled two part Asian (not English) edition of Red Cliff, directed by John Woo.

[Kuyuk]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BI6F3MRlL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

[4a6c1]

Aurelius...Meditations. It's right next to me in a pile. Tedious but interesting. I'll bump this thread with a proper list when I take my books out of their packing boxes.

[Delias]

I appreciate all the help, guys. The only roman history I've compiled is through Polybius and shows on natgeo and smithsonian TV, as well as various internet "sources". The point of all of this is that I have a ridiculous amount of free time at work, overnight, and realized I was spending so much of my time just waiting for time to pass. A waste of life, I call it, so I will use the time to better myself through books... so I plan to move away from fiction and into more non-fiction.

[4a6c1]

Admirable! After I do my homework at night I usually just jump on hulu and then fry my brain with modernities. :-/

I should probably do something like that. I think you learn more when you enjoy what you're learning.

[Delias]

Admirable! After I do my homework at night I usually just jump on hulu and then fry my brain with modernities. :-/

I should probably do something like that. I think you learn more when you enjoy what you're learning.

I was looking at some online courses at the local CC, to keep me occupied at work... but the selection is fairly dismal. Thus, I will take my education into my own hands, with no hope of a degree in anything but studying the things I desire to study, not phys-ed 1105 (which was apparently an online course required by the program). Uh, the end.

[phantasm]

Are you planning on purchasing these books?
Those topics are probably pretty well covered by most libraries.
There is also a possibility for social interaction with people that are doing the same thing as you.

[Kuyuk]

There is also a possibility for social interaction with people that are doing the same thing as you.

http://www.subvertednation.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/scared-little-girl.jpg

[Valthissa]

Are you planning on purchasing these books?
Those topics are probably pretty well covered by most libraries.
There is also a possibility for social interaction with people that are doing the same thing as you.

I assumed he would be using combination of the library and free online books.

I was lucky enough to grow up with a set Harvard Classics (and parents who insisted I read them). Your post sent me out to see what they sell for nowadays. It seems one can read all 51 of them online for free, indexed and searchable. A cloth covered set of will cost you about $175 on Ebay, including shipping.

C/Valth (whose family can be found at the library almost every Wednesday)

[Delias]

Are you planning on purchasing these books?
Those topics are probably pretty well covered by most libraries.
There is also a possibility for social interaction with people that are doing the same thing as you.

I live two blocks away from the library, and I like to take my son their for story time anyway. I own tons of books, but they are mostly fantasy and speculative fiction. I own a collected works of plato from 1942, not sure who the publisher was offhand, and some practical books on a variety of nerd topics, but I've not really dedicated myself to any particular field of study.

My buddy probably has all or at least most of the books on rome and greece that I could want... he studied ancient military history in school, which is why he currently works at Fry's electronics. He will surrender these books to me.

I don't own a kindle... I object to them over the content ownership rules.

[Drew]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEyFH-a-XoQ