Comments on: Who Gets Read

By: Kris Obertas

Kris Obertas — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:18:05 +0000

I didn’t return with more picks as I said I would so here they are…

found on Amazon this summer: Down River by John Hart – drew me in like a Pat Conroy (ditto on Lords of Discipline, book and film)

an old favorite: Word of Honor by Nelson DeMille

from the Arkansas author I mentioned in my earlier comment: Blood Trail by Michael Sullivan

Enjoy.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:36:09 +0000

Hey John,

I’d add “Lords of Discipline” by Pat Conroy to the list. I think your advice to read fiction in order to really exercise your mind is very true. And as marketers, it can certainly give us an edge into connecting with people (providing we’re reading good books)

I’ve just started Atlas Shrugged and too be honest, it hasn’t really gripped me yet. Of course, I’ll continue reading as I’m confident the time will come…

Have you read any Ayn Rand? I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on any of her books.

All the Best,
-Robert

John Carlton replies:

To be honest… while I’ve met some very intelligent Ayn Rand fans… her stuff bores me to tears.

Read 100 pages of her swill, then immediately read 100 pages of Hemingway. Or even Henry Miller.

She doesn’t hold up. Just my opinion. (Mostly, I object to the ham-handed way she tries to force-feed really suspect political/social/financial theory into your brain under the guise of a “real” storyline.)

“The Fountainhead” got the old bounce-off-two-walls-and-into-the-trash treatment from me.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:48:56 +0000

If you want trashy yet ridiculously exciting, I’m talking a (adopts voice-over man baritone) “breathlessly exciting adrenaline rush” – check out “Hunted Past Reason” by Richard Matheson.

Everyone mentions I Am Legend – but this is a real gem.

By: Mark A

Mark A — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:03:51 +0000

Just finished reading “Wild At Heart – Discovering the secrets of a man’s soul” by John Eldredge.

EXCELLENT read that had me underlining bits for later reference. For me, it’s a books I will re-read a couple times each year to remind me not to be “poser.” LOL.

All the best,

Mark

By: brent

brent — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:13:23 +0000

Great recommendations from everyone, my library is now
swamped with hold requests.

A great book for creative types is Free Play, by
Stephen Nachmanovitch. It is all about improvisation,
and packs an amazing amount of insight into a small
package.

A Reverence For Wood by Eric Sloane also has great insights
into how ingenious colonial types were in tool making and
use of materials. His books are always a treat, with lots of
drawings to illustrate the points.

Enjoy!

By: Rexanne

Rexanne — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:18:57 +0000

I’m an avid reader and will scour these pages for both fiction and business book recommendations. Thanks everyone!

I just read The Judas Strain by James Rollins while traveling – lovely bit of thrilling and interesting fluff, perfect for plane trips and veg time – in paperback.

Cool thread, John. I love hearing that avid readers don’t get senile … something to look forward to in my dotage anyway.

You almost succeed in making me not miss Gary H.

By: Chris D

Chris D — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:15:28 +0000

I’m reading The Prometheus Deception by Robert Ludlum right now. Diggin it. Can’t put it down for very long.

-C

By: Kevin Rogers

Kevin Rogers — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:02:26 +0000

BTW: My Dictionary of American Slang by Chapman arrived today… primo turn-on via “Kick-Ass Secrets” (nothing schlocky about it)… It’ll hold prominance alongside Glazier’s Word Menu.

By: Copywriting Kid

Copywriting Kid — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:19:49 +0000

“Mindless Eating” by Brian Warsink. Brilliant book – this guy did “A/B split tests” with foods.

By: Matt Gallant

Matt Gallant — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:09:06 +0000

I actually took your advice (and Kern’s) a couple months back and started reading some fiction again (after going fictionless for a decade).

My well-read friend hooked up me with Tom Robbins and “Jitterbug Perfume.” what a trip…

Tom rocks… his ability to condense 1 page into 1 smooth paragraph is simply amazing.

Enjoy the rest of the summer John!
Matt