We can all be rich men.

[farnham54]

Not in the monetary way, but in a far more important (and fulfilling) way.

I am talking about Intelligence; and in my mind adding 2 plus 2 and getting 4 every time is only scratching the surface of intelligence.

When we are young, we are told "don't touch hot things". But many do, being naturally driven to wonder. The ensuing tears, screaming, and pain teaches us to never touch hot things again (unless there is a vast sum of money invlolved--but again, this isn't about the Monetary wealth).

When we enter our teens, we lose the 'girl of our dreams'. When we recover, we realize that she wasn't ultimatley worth the heartache and anguish (usually). We take that further in life, realizing that not EVERYTHING is as big a deal as it seems.

You may realize what kind of wealth I am talking about: Experience. However, there is only one problem. We are only around for a finite period; by the time we gain enough experience to be wealthy in this sense, we die.

But, there are others who have come before us. And others who have written books about their experiences.

Currently I am reading through a book about General George Patton (a personal role model). While he died rather young, he still had his entire lifetime of experience written down. Basically, by reading a good biography (autobiographies are even better) we are gaining anywhere from 50 to 100 years of experience. Thats one helluva deal, if you ask me!

And so, we can all be rich men by "standing on the shoulders of giants" if I can borrow a phrase. Scientists use previous discoveries in the pursuit of new knowledge all the time. Why can't life?

And so to conclude, and to encourage a bit of discussion, has anyone read any (auto)biographies of people who you would recommend? So far, I can reccomend Ghandi, and Charles Atlas, and Patton so far though I'm not finished the book yet. Do chime in with experiences with these kinds of books.

Regards,

Craig

 

[Imahomer]

Although the exact name of the book eludes me at the moment, I read a biography on Abraham Lincoln that was excellent. I had to read it as an assignment some years ago for a management seminar I was attending. I found the book to be not only loaded with historical data (which I love), but aspects of leadership as well as personal information on Lincoln as well. All good stuff.

 

[Andykev]

Good Books of Great Leaders

I read the Lincoln book too, and one on Attilla the Hun...also the books by Steven COVEY ..all for a management class.

NO the good books I enjoy are by David McCullough, TRUMAN, and ADAMS..(JQ)

I have also browsed the books on Theodore Roosavelt, as well as some light reading on Franklin D. Roosavelt (where by the way, revisioists are claiming now that his policies actually deepened the depression and saddled us with huge debt).


Just my 2 cents wort.

 

[Sergei]

Winston Churchill to me has always been an inspiration by his wit, humour, courage and intellect. No one else has that "package" that his life contributed to such an important period of history. I recommend all his books.

-Sergei

 

[Renderking Fisk]

Right now I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m doing an article on George Orwell?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s 1984 for TIE and doing some background research on the author.

The latest print of 1984 has an introduction and Christopher Hitchens book ?¢‚Ǩ?ìWhy Orwell Matters?¢‚Ǩ? gives us a greater in-depth look at the man behind the myth. From what I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve read so far, he hated government and feared all extremes, Left and Right.

He?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s neither a darling of the Conservatives or the Communists. He was a man who had strict beliefs about moderation in Government.

 

[Michaelson]

I'm currently reading the biography of Teddy Roosevelt (out of order, of course ), and find his description of aging is one I'm in at the moment. I've seen enough of life that my length and level of joy/happiness, as well as depression/sadness seem to run concurrently....that is, they are both equally short lived anymore. Not sure if this is a good or a bad thing, but do find comfort that I'm not alone in this observation, and I'm making mine just over 100 years after TDR did. Regards. Michaelson

 

[Renderking Fisk]

Originally posted by Michaelson
I've seen enough of life that my length and level of joy/happiness, as well as depression/sadness seem to run concurrently....

If it makes you feel any better, Michaelson : You?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve been consistant in bringing joy/happiness to our lives as well as being generous and a vast well of wisdom.

Just wanted to say that?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ cause you never know when it might be too late.

 

[Michaelson]

Thank you, Render. That's most appreciated. Regards. Michaelson

 

[Novella]

I was going to start a thread about autobiographies, but came across this one and figured I might as well resurrect it instead of starting a new one.

I've recently discovered the wonderfulness that is autobiography. I've read Rudyard Kipling's "Something of Myself," Errol Flynn's "My Wicked, Wicked Ways," and just started Doris Lessing's, "Under My Skin." I've been loving all of these, and I'm curious if anyone would like to share some of their favorite autobiographies.

On a side note, I think my love for reading and writing online journals must have some sort of connection with my love for autobiographies.

 

[Paisley]

The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945 (Paperback) by Wladyslaw Szpilman.

It's actually a lot less heavy than most accounts of WWII survival. Szpilman has a buoyant personality and doesn't lose himself in bitterness.

 

[Jack Scorpion]

I'm definitely a big biography fan. I used to spend hours in college underground in the library reading biographies of great writers when I should have been preparing essays on their work. Dos Passos, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Hemingway, Lord Byron, etc.

I also enjoy biographies of (maybe) less educational value: Robert Mitchum (I've read 2), Jacques Tourneur, Jean Harlow. Various other showbiz personalities and conspirators.

One of the most fascinating people I've read about is Trotsky. If he ended up in power, his character would match Churchill's in its print on the world. That man engineered war, governments, socialisms and wrote art criticism, philosophy and who knows what else. Plus he was forced halfway around the world.

 

[Harp]

Stance

And so, we can all be rich men by "standing on the shoulders of giants" if I can borrow a phrase.
Craig

"Giants" are mere mortals; often possessing a mercurial intellect
and a morally bankrupt soul, and a temperment ill suited to welcoming
strangers to ascend toward the heart of their all too human condition.
This is not to advocate either a nihilist or solipsistic personal approach
to knowledge, or the insight gained through serious study. Merely
that giants are quite often intolerant of any who would dare stand upon
their shoulders and place added burden on their feet of clay.

 

[Novella]

I used to spend hours in college underground in the library reading biographies of great writers when I should have been preparing essays on their work...

I also enjoy biographies of (maybe) less educational value: ...

Naw, showbiz personalities/conspirators aren't less educational, they're fun. I like reading about their lives because I would never want to live their lives (for the most part). On a side note, the library is a terribly distracting place. It's like the internet - I go to research one subject and end up engrossed in something else. (library was usually the costume and film section) I know so little about Trotsky. He was a pig in Animal Farm? I'll have to read a biography one of these days!

Paisley, was The Pianist biography the inspiration for the movie "The Pianist"?

 

[Elaina]

I read everything I can get my hands on. I don't watch a lot of television, and I read for entertainment.

I've read biographies on all kinds of people. Recently I've read them as a companion to some conspiracy theory books I've picked up. Read one of Walter Sickert's art days to match Cromwell's Jack the ripper book, one of Lindbergh to match a kidnapping book, and one of Elvis (highly sensationalized, and I can't believe anything) to match an equally sensational Elvis lives on Venus book (pure entertainment I assure you.)

I don't read for the literary value. I read for fun, and some of the things I've read are far better then anything I could watch. Sometimes biographies are like that.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I read tons of biographies -- sometimes as background research for my own writing, and sometimes just for enjoyment. In the past year, for example, I've read bios of Oscar Levant, Dorothy Thompson, Groucho Marx, Louise Brooks, Leo Durocher, and Elijah Muhammad. Imagine that group at a dinner party.

 

[Novella]

I've read bios of Oscar Levant, Dorothy Thompson, Groucho Marx, Louise Brooks, Leo Durocher, and Elijah Muhammad. Imagine that group at a dinner party.

hahahaha It would be an interesting one!

 

[Paisley]

Paisley, was The Pianist biography the inspiration for the movie "The Pianist"?

I've never seen The Pianist. If it was, that would be a tough role to play, I think: someone with a buoyant personality in a concentration camp, who is passionate but not bitter, who seems ultimately forgiving but isn't saintly.