One Rec from different genres and field of studies

[Michael Seswatha Jordan]

My thread title is a bit ambiguous. Since reading ASOIAF, I've been strictly reading Fantasy. I have plenty more I want to get to but, I am thinking I'm needing a break in between series's, just starting to have a little Fantasy overload so to say. Before ASOIAF, I read thrillers and detective novels.

So what I want recs on is different fields of study and time period pieces. Like philosophy, Ancient Greek, Historical Lit, and so on and so on. I would just like to be more well read and maybe learn a thing or two.

So what im asking is a rec in each of these. One book that you could offer a layman that would expand my mind and maybe make me want to read more. So an example, if your well read in ancient Greek, give me your opinion on what book would be best to get the most out of Ancient Greek writings. Same with philosophy, Civil War, politics, whatever. I'm sure you guys can think of other genre's/field of studies. Just want to be better educated and more well rounded human being.

Any recs are welcome, and for any genre or field of study. Thank you before hand.

[Michael Seswatha Jordan]

Field of study, I mean histories of various country's, Ancient Greek, Roman, Chinese, Japanese, modern countries, poetry, Muslim philosophers, religion (don't want scripture of any sort. Don't wanna get into anything like Quantum Physics or anything though, masonry (Lärrê), archeology, wars, etc, etc...just if you are familiar with anything and well versed in it and would recommend one book to a layman to get the most outta that subject what would it be?

[Errant Bard]

So basically, you want to read history books and encyclopaedia? On the other hand when you talk of "ancient Greek", you mean a book to learn Ancient Greek so you could read authors from Greece like Aristophanes or Aeschylus in the original? I am sorry, I think I do not understand what you mean exactly, in the end.

[Jo498]

I think he means classical texts in translations, e.g. Sophocles Oedipus or Homer's Iliad (and similarly for other cultures/traditions).

[Michael Seswatha Jordan]

So basically, you want to read history books and encyclopaedia? On the other hand when you talk of "ancient Greek", you mean a book to learn Ancient Greek so you could read authors from Greece like Aristophanes or Aeschylus in the original? I am sorry, I think I do not understand what you mean exactly, in the end.

Why does everyone have to be a smartass? No I don't want an encyclopedia. I said if there is something your well read in some genre or field of study, what book would you recommend that encompasses that genre or field of study. I'm not looking to be a professor, just would like to touch on all things and not waste my time searching for something worth reading, when so many here seem to be well read in everything.

[Michael Seswatha Jordan]

I think he means classical texts in translations, e.g. Sophocles Oedipus or Homer's Iliad (and similarly for other cultures/traditions).

Yes, this is what I mean. Or if your an expert in say WWII, what book would you recommend, for that. Or anything really, whatever.

[maarsen]

Historical fiction always works for me when I finish a fantasy read and really do not want to visit another world for a bit. I have just finished Bernard Cornwell' Grail Quest series and his Saxon series before that. G.M.Fraser's Flashman series is also a great historical fiction read, and Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey books are just about the best around.

Sorry, but I could not resist being a smartass in your other link. Rex Chainbelt is a manufacturer of industrial drive chains, and I am weak, so weak, when it comes to puns.

[maarsen]

double double post.

[maarsen]

double post. AAArrgghhh

[Michael Seswatha Jordan]

Historical fiction always works for me when I finish a fantasy read and really do not want to visit another world for a bit. I have just finished Bernard Cornwell' Grail Quest series and his Saxon series before that. G.M.Fraser's Flashman series is also a great historical fiction read, and Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey books are just about the best around.

Sorry, but I could not resist being a smartass in your other link. Rex Chainbelt is a manufacturer of industrial drive chains, and I am weak, so weak, when it comes to puns.

No, I deserved that and Stubby gave me a hard time when I told him to "lick" that thread. Just teasing, no big deal. But, how from my description of what I'm asking for would anyone think I want to read an encyclopedia?

[Errant Bard]

No, I deserved that and Stubby gave me a hard time when I told him to "lick" that thread. Just teasing, no big deal. But, how from my description of what I'm asking for would anyone think I want to read an encyclopedia?

For me it's the general vibe given by juxtaposition of words like "one book", "encompass", and wide/vague categories like "multiple centuries worth of history"/"philosophy"/whatever.

I was not actually being a smartass, I was just trying to make sense of your request (on that note, can you tell yourself that I'm dumb, that even though your were extremely clear the first time, you need to be clearer still, and explain the sort of book you expect since it obviously cannot be encyclopaedia and the like? Maybe give an example? ETA: I mean, if The Iliad works for you for "Ancient greece", what I'll understand is that your "most of"/"encompass" don't mean much, what you want is one sample, not something where you learn about most of the "field of study".)

How do encyclopaedia/history books/random vulgarisation books not meet your original request, anyway? And what's bad with history books? you did not say.

[Weeping Sore]

Genre: Crime

Author: Jim Thompson (aka "Dimestore Dostoyevsky")

Novels: The Killer Inside Me, Population 1280, A Hell of a Woman

quote:

“You’ve got no time at all, but it seems like you’ve got forever. You’ve got nothing to do, but it seems like you’ve got everything.

You make coffee and smoke a few cigarettes: and the hands of the clock have gone crazy on you. They haven’t moved hardly, they’ve hardly budged out of the place you last saw them, but they’ve measured off a half? two-thirds? of your life. You’ve got forever, but that’s no time at all.

You’ve got forever; and somehow you can’t do much with it. You’ve got forever; and it’s a mile wide and an inch deep and full of alligators.

You go into the office and take a book or two from the shelves. You read a few lines, like your life depended on reading 'em right. But you know your life doesn't depend on anything that makes sense, and you wonder where in the hell you got the idea it did; and you begin to get sore.”

-Jim Thompson, The Killer Inside Me

[Michael Seswatha Jordan]

@Errant Bard, sorry, I took you the wrong way, and I'm sorry for that. I guess what I'm looking for is a bit hard to explain. Let me try again and see if it helps. Say your an expert/enthusiast of say, the American Civil War. If you was to offer some a book that would give them a good feel and would best entail all facets of the conflict, what would that book be? The same for anything else. We have a lot of diverse and well read people on this forum and figured I could use you guys as a way to make me more well read. That's all. And nothings wrong with history books if that would be what you would recommend. Sorry, for mistaking you, and you have my sincerest apology.