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Books I've recently acquired... 4
- Thread starter vooter
- Start date
I'm reading "The Hunt for Red October" novel by Tom Clancy (see
Since I'm reading the Italian version of the book, many doubts and questions raise about technical translation (mainly due - I believe - to the fact that the novel and the relevant translation date back to the middle of the 80's, when many words related to Electronics and Computers had not come into common use yet...).
About this matter, please take also a look at thread408-161877 within this site... ;-)
Live Long and Prosper, 'NGL
Since I'm reading the Italian version of the book, many doubts and questions raise about technical translation (mainly due - I believe - to the fact that the novel and the relevant translation date back to the middle of the 80's, when many words related to Electronics and Computers had not come into common use yet...).
About this matter, please take also a look at thread408-161877 within this site... ;-)
Live Long and Prosper, 'NGL
My current reading material is "One Forteenth Of An Elephant" by Ian Denys Peek. It is one man's story of his time as a PoW building the Burma Railway during WW2. The intervening sixty years have neither dulled his memory nor tempered his feelings. His account is captivating.
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I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...
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I recently re-read a book that I had read in high school called "Under the Red Sea Sun" by Cmdr Daniel Elsworth. A true account of a retired US Navy salvage expert called back to service after we were attacked at Pearl Harbor, but not sent to Pearl because of his age. Sent instead to a captured Italian naval base in Eritrea it is an interesting story of making do with what was on hand. The Italians had attempted to sabotage the base and sank several dry docks and ships at strategic points to deny the use to the allies.
His story would be of interest to any engineer, as some of the things that he did were quite inventive. One example I remember was that the Italians had figured that without motors the machine tools would be worthless, but they made the mistake of smashing the shaft end of some motors (I pictured old U-frame types with cast iron frames) and the opposite ends of others so that he could reassemble complete motors from the results and operate the machine shop.
He gets a little whiny about the bureaucracy that he had to deal with, but war is hell.
I especially enjoyed re-reading it after having had more than 30 years of engineering experience, picking up on a lot of things that made no sense to me as a high school student.
I recommend it.
rmw
PS: and by the way, I am still looking for a copy of another book that I read about the same time in high school called "Escape or die". It was a collection of stories about people who had had a variety of escape adventures during WWII.
His story would be of interest to any engineer, as some of the things that he did were quite inventive. One example I remember was that the Italians had figured that without motors the machine tools would be worthless, but they made the mistake of smashing the shaft end of some motors (I pictured old U-frame types with cast iron frames) and the opposite ends of others so that he could reassemble complete motors from the results and operate the machine shop.
He gets a little whiny about the bureaucracy that he had to deal with, but war is hell.
I especially enjoyed re-reading it after having had more than 30 years of engineering experience, picking up on a lot of things that made no sense to me as a high school student.
I recommend it.
rmw
PS: and by the way, I am still looking for a copy of another book that I read about the same time in high school called "Escape or die". It was a collection of stories about people who had had a variety of escape adventures during WWII.
rmw,
try this link.
I always search for book using this page.
Enjoy!
try this link.
I always search for book using this page.
Enjoy!
Gearguru,
Thanks for the link. Neither of the books shown were what I am looking for. The book I am seeking would have to have been published prior to the 1960's and it was in hardback. I doubt it ever made it any farther than that.
I'll keep checking back with this site from time to time to see if it shows up. I did find a copy of the "Under the Red Sea Sun" to buy and did.
rmw
Thanks for the link. Neither of the books shown were what I am looking for. The book I am seeking would have to have been published prior to the 1960's and it was in hardback. I doubt it ever made it any farther than that.
I'll keep checking back with this site from time to time to see if it shows up. I did find a copy of the "Under the Red Sea Sun" to buy and did.
rmw
rmw,
I have an autographed copy of this book, which I have read several times. I had the pleasure of meeting several people who were there.
You might like to checkout this site.
I have an autographed copy of this book, which I have read several times. I had the pleasure of meeting several people who were there.
You might like to checkout this site.
unclesyd,
So I butchered his name and rank a little. I didn't realize he had made Admiral.
I enjoyed the website and read quite a few of his letters from the period.
Now that I know that there is a biography I am going to try to get my hands on a copy.
What a remarkable man. Good reading for any engineer who has any "hands on experience". I enjoyed the book as a 16 year old, and again as a 56 year old (about the age I was when I read it again.) I think some of the 'can do' attitude I saw in his example mentored me for my professional career.
Thanks for the link.
rmw
So I butchered his name and rank a little. I didn't realize he had made Admiral.
I enjoyed the website and read quite a few of his letters from the period.
Now that I know that there is a biography I am going to try to get my hands on a copy.
What a remarkable man. Good reading for any engineer who has any "hands on experience". I enjoyed the book as a 16 year old, and again as a 56 year old (about the age I was when I read it again.) I think some of the 'can do' attitude I saw in his example mentored me for my professional career.
Thanks for the link.
rmw
Here is another of the Naval Offices who came from the same era, Samuel B. "Swede" Momsen. The people that I mentioned above also worked or were acquainted with Swede.
This is the era that produced the majority of the leader ship for WWII and forced a lot of them excel in their fields.
Again one of the aforementioned acquaintances was working on book about people who like Ellsberg and Momsen had excelled in their field during this period. Unfortunately he was killed in a car accident while traveling to interview one of his characters.
A pretty good bio.
There are two interesting books listed at the end of the bio.
The history of the two submarines, Squalus and Sculpin, involved in these books is very interesting.
This is the era that produced the majority of the leader ship for WWII and forced a lot of them excel in their fields.
Again one of the aforementioned acquaintances was working on book about people who like Ellsberg and Momsen had excelled in their field during this period. Unfortunately he was killed in a car accident while traveling to interview one of his characters.
A pretty good bio.
There are two interesting books listed at the end of the bio.
The history of the two submarines, Squalus and Sculpin, involved in these books is very interesting.
I haven't clicked into the links yet, but I seem to remember Momsen in regards to deep sea breathing apparatus. I seem to remember Ellsberg mentioning Momsen in his book.
I have read a lot of books about men from that generation and I don't know, but I think they lost the mold they used to make that breed.
On the other hand, do you think the old geezers in about 60 years will be saying the same thing about Bill Gates, Steve Jobs. What pioneers working with those early stage computers, etc?
Another book that I recently read that I highly recommend, and that has characters that I don't think we will ever duplicate again is a book called "Blind Man's Bluff" by (I'll have to think-but anyone can Google that title and find out.)
What the main character spook (John Craven) was said to have done in that book with respect to finding the USS Scorpion and predicting what ultimately proved out to be the real cause of her loss was phenomenal to me.
I don't believe we are breeding that breed of cat these days.
Craven wrote his own book by the way, called "The Silent War" but he wouldn't admit to some of the exploits attributed to him in "Blind Mans Bluff."
If you are interested in espionage, submarines and intelligence stuff, don't start the book until you have time to read it through. A friend of mine's wife told me he was reading it even in the bathtub.
Now I'll go check your links Unclesyd.
rmw
I have read a lot of books about men from that generation and I don't know, but I think they lost the mold they used to make that breed.
On the other hand, do you think the old geezers in about 60 years will be saying the same thing about Bill Gates, Steve Jobs. What pioneers working with those early stage computers, etc?
Another book that I recently read that I highly recommend, and that has characters that I don't think we will ever duplicate again is a book called "Blind Man's Bluff" by (I'll have to think-but anyone can Google that title and find out.)
What the main character spook (John Craven) was said to have done in that book with respect to finding the USS Scorpion and predicting what ultimately proved out to be the real cause of her loss was phenomenal to me.
I don't believe we are breeding that breed of cat these days.
Craven wrote his own book by the way, called "The Silent War" but he wouldn't admit to some of the exploits attributed to him in "Blind Mans Bluff."
If you are interested in espionage, submarines and intelligence stuff, don't start the book until you have time to read it through. A friend of mine's wife told me he was reading it even in the bathtub.
Now I'll go check your links Unclesyd.
rmw
Alan Judd, "The Quest for C: Mansfield Cumming and the Founding of the Secret Service".
I've just read this, after buying it about 5 years ago...
Fairly heavy going in places.
And that's SIS as in MI6, by the way.
During WWI (around about 1915ish), his son was killed and he was injured in a road accident (car hit a tree).
Mansfield Cumming was trapped and cut off his own leg with a pocket knife to go to the aid of his son.
They don't make 'em like that any more...
I've just read this, after buying it about 5 years ago...
Fairly heavy going in places.
And that's SIS as in MI6, by the way.
During WWI (around about 1915ish), his son was killed and he was injured in a road accident (car hit a tree).
Mansfield Cumming was trapped and cut off his own leg with a pocket knife to go to the aid of his son.
They don't make 'em like that any more...
I'm currently reading all I can on the works and life of Norman Corwin. He is/was the dean of radio writers. Get your hands on the manuscript or tape of:
On a Note of Triumph.
This was broadcast at the German surrender in WWII.
It was a stunning summary of who the Nazis were and what we learned during the war. It was prophetic in many ways.
(Tape avail from Radio Spirits, a radio tape outlet in the Schiller Park, Chicago area. Ask for the set called "War Time Radio." Manuscript from Amazon.com)
On a Note of Triumph.
This was broadcast at the German surrender in WWII.
It was a stunning summary of who the Nazis were and what we learned during the war. It was prophetic in many ways.
(Tape avail from Radio Spirits, a radio tape outlet in the Schiller Park, Chicago area. Ask for the set called "War Time Radio." Manuscript from Amazon.com)
DaveVikingPE
Structural
I just read "1984" for the first time.
I also have acquired via inter-library loan "Einflussfelder elastischer Platten."
I also have acquired via inter-library loan "Einflussfelder elastischer Platten."
1984 is the scariest book I have ever read. It disturbed me for a week. Better thing was that I didn't read it before 1984.
Two books I recently read are The Alchemist and The Secret. I opine that the first one is excellent.
Dave,
Animal Farm is less scarier and condensed, sarcastic version of 1984 (by George Orwell himself).
Two books I recently read are The Alchemist and The Secret. I opine that the first one is excellent.
Dave,
Animal Farm is less scarier and condensed, sarcastic version of 1984 (by George Orwell himself).
DaveVikingPE
Structural
I read "Animal Farm" in high school. I found it to be more of a user's manual on what to watch out for whenever someone aspires to be a revolutionary leader. I liked "1984"; it's really well-plotted, equally well-established characters, and has about as close to perfect and ending as I've ever read. I haven't seen any of the filmed versions, though I've read a lot of negative criticism, especially about the film released in 1984. After reading the book, I think that John Hurt as Winston Smith was perfect casting and likewise Richard Burton as O'Brien. Reading the latter part of the book, I could hear Richard Burton's voice coming off the pages.
I also liked "1984" because there weren't any plot holes. For example, Winston Smith doesn't know about the great big world out there or much of anything else because it's his job not to really know about much else and thus he, intelligently, gets himself in trouble - because he's being watched. He's also an athiest because there is no reason to believe in God or anything but the Party. "Brave New World," on the other hand, is full of plot holes (Huxley sort of admits this in the preface to the edition I have): Books are available to the Savage, especially Shakespeare and the Bible; there is exposure to other people, sexual freedom is kind of the law, etc., etc. - that is, there's ample opportunity for an individual, one outside of the caste system (and obviously a virile, potent, turgid "Alpha") to learn about right and wrong on his own - and yet the Savage goes off to some shack to mope until he decides the best thing to do is kill himself. Shoot, a character with as much brains as he had should've been exploiting his position and get into running things instead of feeling sorry for himself. Contrast this to Winston Smith who believes in his heart of hearts that there is no God because, how could there be? The only truth out there is what the Party says is truth. Also, Winston Smith did not take care of himself physically (why?) as the opportunity for exercise, other than elicit sexual liasons and the obligatory cursory callesthenics broadcast on the telescreen, didn't present itself. Why exercise when there's gin to drink...?
But I digress... Next on my list is a book I got from Vulcraft on bar joists...
I also liked "1984" because there weren't any plot holes. For example, Winston Smith doesn't know about the great big world out there or much of anything else because it's his job not to really know about much else and thus he, intelligently, gets himself in trouble - because he's being watched. He's also an athiest because there is no reason to believe in God or anything but the Party. "Brave New World," on the other hand, is full of plot holes (Huxley sort of admits this in the preface to the edition I have): Books are available to the Savage, especially Shakespeare and the Bible; there is exposure to other people, sexual freedom is kind of the law, etc., etc. - that is, there's ample opportunity for an individual, one outside of the caste system (and obviously a virile, potent, turgid "Alpha") to learn about right and wrong on his own - and yet the Savage goes off to some shack to mope until he decides the best thing to do is kill himself. Shoot, a character with as much brains as he had should've been exploiting his position and get into running things instead of feeling sorry for himself. Contrast this to Winston Smith who believes in his heart of hearts that there is no God because, how could there be? The only truth out there is what the Party says is truth. Also, Winston Smith did not take care of himself physically (why?) as the opportunity for exercise, other than elicit sexual liasons and the obligatory cursory callesthenics broadcast on the telescreen, didn't present itself. Why exercise when there's gin to drink...?
But I digress... Next on my list is a book I got from Vulcraft on bar joists...
And, talking about books, films and a vision of possible future world... what about "Farenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury?
Ciao, 'NGL
Ciao, 'NGL
And this very weekend I purchased
"Colossus
The secrets of Bletchley Park's code-breaking computers"
by Jack Copeland et al.
A compendium describing the developement of Colossus during WWII.
Includes a short description by Tony Sale of the rebuilding of Colossus at Bletchley Park for the exhibition.
"Colossus
The secrets of Bletchley Park's code-breaking computers"
by Jack Copeland et al.
A compendium describing the developement of Colossus during WWII.
Includes a short description by Tony Sale of the rebuilding of Colossus at Bletchley Park for the exhibition.
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