Which Books are you reading?

[Supreme]

If there was, I don't think I would be able to hold the book when reading - It's already pushing 2000 pages! It's basically OT, The Books of Apocryphia, then NT. Both OT and NT are KJV. I understand the Apocryphia is not considered part of the Bible? If so, why is it included here?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testament_apocrypha

Basically, they were book excluded from the Bible by the early church. It could have been for any number of reasons- they may have been written too late, may have featured exclusively Jesus' childhood (the Infancy Gospel of Thomas portrays Jesus as a mass murderer) or may have introduced heretical ideas (Judas is traditionally seen as Jesus' enemy, but in his gospel, he is made out to be Jesus' best friend).

Interesting stuff.

 

[غزالی]

My Favourite Writer is Nasim Hijaazi (Best Novelist on the islamic historical Events)..If you taste his books one time, No Other book will remain be attractive for you.His Novels are in urdu..
The below i am giving Mediafire link.You can download all of his novel directly from here.

http://www.mediafire.com/sher806

 

[Rafeeq]

The World of Jinn & Devils
by Dr. Umar Sulaiman

 

[JaffaCake]

I'm going to turn this thread all serious and add Bret 'Hitman' Hart's autobiography.
I have the sneaking suspicion that there aren't many "pro wrestling" fans here, though
I found the early chapters on his childhood to be touching, the tone throughout the rest of the book is more grim, many lost lives, broken relationships and betrayals.
Recommended if you've ever been curious about what it's like behind the scenes.

Trick or Treatment?: Alternative Medicine on Trial by Prof. Edzard Ernst and Dr. Simon Singh.
I initially bought this with the intention of giving it to a friend of mine who is an alternative therapist. Needless to say, I couldn't help myself and read it first :embarrass
Entertaining and informative, it covers the 4 most popular alternative therapies (Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Chiropractic Therapy and Herbal Medicine) and a page each on some others. The authors use data from clinical studies to assess the effectiveness of these therapies and describe the process in a very accessible way. It also includes some background on how and why we use such methods along with some interesting historical cases.

On Amazon this book has plenty of erudite 5 star reviews by doctors and petty, insulting 1 star reviews by alternative therapists. For me, that alone is a good enough reason to read it.

 

[crayon]

There used to be a similar thread, I tried doing a search, but didn't manage to find it.

I'm currently reading Kafka's "the Trial", which is quite intriguing so far. The edition I have also has an introduction by another author, which describes Kafka's character, and he seems like such an interesting person. I'll probably be checking out the rest of his books when I finish this one.

 

[Hugo]

Just finished a few books which you might like a look at:

Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson (ISBN 978-0-141-040080)- its is primarily about English but it does dip into other languages and shows how words and grammar are formed and changed over time. If you want to go a bit farther in linguistics for the laymen then this book is a good place to start.

The Jewish People - their History and Religion by Goldberg a and Rayner (ISBN 978-0140-15917) I found this book fascinating and written in an excellent and lucid style and as an aid to understanding the Bible, even for a Christians, was of immense value and the chapter on ethical dimensions would be of value to anyone no matter what their religion.

Islamic Imperialism - by Efraim Karsh (ISBN 978-0-300-12663-3) is a totally scholarly work and one can only wonder how he managed to say so much in such a lucid style in just 300 pages. If is fully referenced everywhere and begins Islamic history from the days in Medina right up to today. I can see that some Muslim might be put off by the title but that would be a mistake because to me there is a total honesty and even handedness about his presentation that is unmistakable and not to be missed.

 

[Hugo]

If there was, I don't think I would be able to hold the book when reading - It's already pushing 2000 pages! It's basically OT, The Books of Apocryphia, then NT. Both OT and NT are KJV. I understand the Apocryphia is not considered part of the Bible? If so, why is it included here?

Apocryphal writings were often used by the early church particularly as a kind of Biblical aid or commentary because they can help with understanding words and contexts. If you use Christian commentaries today they will often refer to an apocryphal book to help with an explanation.

I don't think anyone can read the Bible for hours on end and I don't think it was ever treated like that and most Christians will take a smallish passage and meditate or study it with the aid of commentaries either alone or in groups. Often this can take weeks - for example, I know of a local study group that have been meeting for a whole University term to look at Romans and so far have only got to half way through chapter 3!

 

[crayon]

I'm currently reading Kafka's "the Trial", which is quite intriguing so far. The edition I have also has an introduction by another author, which describes Kafka's character, and he seems like such an interesting person. I'll probably be checking out the rest of his books when I finish this one.

I gave up on that book. It was moving way too slowly for my likes.

I just finished reading "extremely loud and incredibly close"; brilliant book, I loved it. Now I'll be starting with "portrait of the artist as a young man" inshaAllah.

 

[Raaina]

At the moment, I am reading:

The Idea of Pakistan, by Stephen Philip Cohen

That sounds an interesting book. I might have to look into adding that one to my reading list.

Books i've just finished reading:

Twilight - By Stephenie Meyer :embarrass Yes, I know it's a teenage girl's book. But the girls made me read it and I needed something to do on my 10 hour flight! If you've not heard of Twilight, it's about a family of vampires who are "vegetarians" and so don't feed off people, but animals. They move into a small town and a girl falls in Love with one of them.

Books i've just started to read:

Three cups of tea - By Greg Mortenson

The Shock Doctrine - By Naomi Klein

 

[tango92]

anybody read the quran recently? just joking, im sure that goes without saying

the last book i read to completion was either harry potter 7 or naughts and crosses

i used to be a serious book nerd. until i discovered video games. thats when i really started learning!!!

 

[Eliphaz]

That sounds an interesting book. I might have to look into adding that one to my reading list.

Books i've just finished reading:

Twilight - By Stephenie Meyer :embarrass Yes, I know it's a teenage girl's book. But the girls made me read it and I needed something to do on my 10 hour flight! If you've not heard of Twilight, it's about a family of vampires who are "vegetarians" and so don't feed off people, but animals. They move into a small town and a girl falls in Love with one of them.

Books i've just started to read:

Three cups of tea - By Greg Mortenson

The Shock Doctrine - By Naomi Klein

Gah! Twilight strikes again. Actually I saw New Moon in the cinema and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although my sister categorically forbids me from reading the book as she it would be, quote 'cringy', for me to be reading it. Fiiine.

Yes, The Idea of Pakistan is a fascinating book and the only one I have found which is as comprehensive as this one. Take it with a pinch of salt - I know the name 'Cohen' will put a lot of people off unfortunately. It has even been recommended by professors at University of Karachi (or maybe Lahore). I actually need to get back to reading this book!

Three Cups of Tea and Shock Doctrine are probably in my top 10 books, they are both amazing reads in their own ways and I hope you enjoy them! Naomi Klein is a genius.

 

[glo]

Most recently I have read 'The Happiness Hypothesis' by Jonathan Haidt, a Jewish atheist who explores the meaning of old wisdoms in the light of modern scientific evidence.
I bought it for my husband last Christmas, and have finally managed to read it myself.

One review says this:

"An intellectual tour de force that weaves into one fabric wisdom that is ancient and modern, religious and scientific, Eastern and Western, liberal and conservative—all with the aim of pointing us to a more meaningful, moral, and satisfying life.”

http://www.happinesshypothesis.com/

 

[Hugo]

I was given a book as a Christmas present which dumbfounded me when I took off the wrappings - its was a comic book! I think they are called graphic novels but no matter, why would anyone give me a comic book? Well the book was "Logicomix" by Doxiadis and Papadimitriou (ISBN 9780747 597209) and costs about £16 so quite expensive for a comic (I know you not supposed to find out how much a present costs but in this case....)

The book was something of a revelation to me as it deals with logic and its roots and flaws. It mostly is a kind of Biography with the story hero is Bertram Russell and his monumental struggle to establish solid foundations for the whole of mathematics but as most of you will know he failed and his failure is explained in what is known as Russell's Paradox and hence shows that logic is essentially fatally flawed and cannot be fixed. (You might like to know Russell and Whitehead produced a book called Principia where it took over 360 pages and 10 years to prove 1+1 = 2 and the only way they got it published at all was to pay for it themselves!

Russell himself used to say he had only known one person to actually have read it. If you look at it, its very very hard going indeed even if you have a good idea what they are doing in logical thinking. Here are some short quotes from the comic book:

1. Logic is faulty and the fault cannot be fixed
2. They described their work about logic as "..without a sure footing it is merely a competent survey of hell"
3. Confusing reality with ones own mind map
4. The lost promise of certainty in rationality ... so we chop off the parts that could not fit through the grid protecting our intellectual lair
5. .. there is a fragile loneliness about every individual to human suffering and death ... the only alternative being redemption and compassion

Although it is a comic book reading it is not for the faint hearted. Just to whet you appetite here is the paradox in Russell's own words.

"does the set of all sets which do not contain themselves contain itself?" "If it does then it doesn't and if it does't it does"​

In boards like this one you will often see people talking about logic but if you want to get a grip on it and the difficulties that goes with it then this might be the place to start. But be aware if logic is flawed in mathematics it is doubly so everywhere else (see point 5 above)

 

[cat eyes]

i dont know how u all find the time to read coming to this forum so much:giggling:

 

[Danah]

i dont know how u all find the time to read coming to this forum so much:giggling:

^ sometimes I think the same lol, I find myself read some long articles here instead of grabbing a book and read it, which is good too since in both cases I am knowing something new.

Anyways, Currently I am reading a book about sects in Islam (Islam bila Madaheb) for Mustafa Al-Shak'3ah

 

[tw009]

I just started reading 'Dont Be Sad' by Aaidh ibn Abdullah Al-Qarni ...im loving it so far!

 

[Danah]

I just started reading 'Dont Be Sad' by Aaidh ibn Abdullah Al-Qarni ...im loving it so far!

^ wow!! that book is literally amazing, I am sure you will like it till the end

 

[CosmicPathos]

Gah! Twilight strikes again. Actually I saw New Moon in the cinema and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although my sister categorically forbids me from reading the book as she it would be, quote 'cringy', for me to be reading it. Fiiine.

Yes, The Idea of Pakistan is a fascinating book and the only one I have found which is as comprehensive as this one. Take it with a pinch of salt - I know the name 'Cohen' will put a lot of people off unfortunately. It has even been recommended by professors at University of Karachi (or maybe Lahore). I actually need to get back to reading this book!

Three Cups of Tea and Shock Doctrine are probably in my top 10 books, they are both amazing reads in their own ways and I hope you enjoy them! Naomi Klein is a genius.

Just curious, why are you interested in Pakistan's history? Are a Pakistani?

In any case, you should check out the articles and books by Dr. Ayesha Jalal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayesha_Jalal

By the way, I am currently reading Principles of Human Physiology. Soon I'll start Life in the Universe by Bennett.

 

[CosmicPathos]

^ wow!! that book is literally amazing, I am sure you will like it till the end

I bought the book from Makkah. I like it. Its very encouraging most of the times. But at some places I felt that it became too repetitive and some arguments led to more questions, maybe I was reading too much into and the author was talking to a laymen who would not get too technical, wallahu Aaalim. But may Allah bless the scholar.

 

[Raaina]

I was given a book as a Christmas present which dumbfounded me when I took off the wrappings - its was a comic book! I think they are called graphic novels but no matter, why would anyone give me a comic book? Well the book was "Logicomi" by Doxiadis and Papadimitriou (ISBN 9780747 597209) and costs about £16 so quite expensive for a comic (I know you not supposed to find out how much a present costs but in this case....)

The book was something of a revelation to me as it deals with logic and its roots and flaws. It mostly is a kind of Biography with the story hero is Bertram Russell and his monumental struggle to establish solid foundations for the whole of mathematics but as most of you will know he failed and his failure is explained in what is known as Russell's Paradox and hence shows that logic is essentially fatally flawed and cannot be fixed. (You might like to know Russell and Whitehead produced a book called Principia where it took over 360 pages and 10 years to prove 1+1 = 2 and the only way they got it published at all was to pay for it themselves!

Russell himself used to say he had only known one person to actually have read it. If you look at it, its very very hard going indeed even if you have a good idea what they are doing in logical thinking. Here are some short quotes from the comic book:

1. Logic is faulty and the fault cannot be fixed
2. They described their work about logic as "..without a sure footing it is merely a competent survey of hell"
3. Confusing reality with ones own mind map
4. The lost promise of certainty in rationality ... so we chop off the parts that could not fit through the grid protecting our intellectual lair
5. .. there is a fragile loneliness about every individual to human suffering and death ... the only alternative being redemption and compassion

Although it is a comic book reading it is not for the faint hearted. Just to whet you appetite here is the paradox in Russell's own words.

"does the set of all sets which do not contain themselves contain itself?" "If it does then it doesn't and if it does't it does"​

In boards like this one you will often see people talking about logic but if you want to get a grip on it and the difficulties that goes with it then this might be the place to start. But be aware if logic is flawed in mathematics it is doubly so everywhere else (see point 5 above)

That sounds a somewhat interesting and complicated comic book