Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:54 am
Desert Father: In the Desert with Saint Anthony by James Cowan. The author goes to the desert mountains of Egypt to see how St. Anthony lived in solitude in the desert caves 1600 years ago. Along the way he encounters an anchorite from Australia who was once a professor of philosophy for 40 years and now has become an Egyptian monk living in solitude himself. The author has a really great style and way with words and descriptions. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to get inside the head of a man searching for peace of mind. Halfway done, can't wait to see where his journey ends.
This is the actual anchorite from the book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXf_7Tt0-c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag6WE__82Q8
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Fat Freddy Metal, Movies, Beer
Number of posts : 37954 Age : 54
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:13 am
My next book was going to be Stephen King's "Cell," till I went to return some books to the library today and found this on the "New Releases" shelf:
I have loved the "Hitchhiker's Guide" series since I was in high school, so I'm stoked for this one. I didn't even know it was out in the U.S. yet. Of course the idea of someone other than the late Douglas Adams writing a "Hitchhiker's" book has been controversial amongst fans, but supposedly this new guy was hand picked to continue the saga by Douglas' widow (based on some notes/ideas Douglas had written down before his death), that's quite an endorsement I'd say. Hope he pulls it off.
Looking forward to crackin' it open soon!
_________________ "If you're a false, don't entry, because you'll be burned and died!"
manny mini boss
Number of posts : 21101 Age : 54
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:30 am
Started reading
X Ray by Ray Davies
Required Fields Metal is my Life
Number of posts : 28649 Age : 39
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:09 am
Last Words by George Carlin with Tony Hendra.
nevermore Metal is my Life
Number of posts : 26657 Age : 55
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:07 pm
I'm trying to finish Moby Dick by Herman Melville.
ryanmetalman Metal graduate
Number of posts : 274 Age : 47
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:12 pm
I started "The Prodigal God" by Timothy Keller
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:23 pm
nevermore wrote:
I'm trying to finish Moby Dick by Herman Melville.
"Heather Duke underlined a lot of things in this copy of Moby Dick, but I believe the word ‘Eskimo’, underlined all by itself, is the key to understanding Heathers pain. On the surface, Heather Duke was the vivacious young lady we all knew her to be, but her soul was in Antarctica! …We'll all miss Sherwood’s little Eskimo. Let’s just hope she's rubbing noses with Jesus!"
XYZ Card-carrying Van Halen Freak
Number of posts : 2600 Age : 35
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:29 pm
Since this thread has been bumped again, I must say that I have finally finished Cobb (you know, that book i started 5 months ago). It should be noted that I didn't read much outside of my school text.
Overall, great book. Picked up on a lot of baseball knowledge and strategy. Without a doubt, Ty Cobb was/is the greatest baseball player ever.
I'm currently reading a biography of Miles Davis.
GrandNational Metal is in my blood
Number of posts : 3830 Age : 44
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:06 pm
XYZ wrote:
Without a doubt, Ty Cobb was/is the greatest baseball player ever.
No way man, it's Babe Ruth. Besides his ridiculous hitting statistics, some of which dwarfs Cobb's, bet you didn't know he also had 107 Complete Games pitched, 94 victories and a 2.28 career ERA as a pitcher before he became a hitter. Now that's greatness my friend, the complete baseball player if there ever was one.
I am currently reading the Ascetical Discourses by Isaiah of Scetis
Dave the Boss Metal is in my blood
Number of posts : 2690 Age : 33
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:13 pm
Will be rereading Lovecraft's The Shadow out of Time later today.
XYZ Card-carrying Van Halen Freak
Number of posts : 2600 Age : 35
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Wed Dec 30, 2009 2:38 am
GrandNational wrote:
XYZ wrote:
Without a doubt, Ty Cobb was/is the greatest baseball player ever.
No way man, it's Babe Ruth. Besides his ridiculous hitting statistics, some of which dwarfs Cobb's, bet you didn't know he also had 107 Complete Games pitched, 94 victories and a 2.28 career ERA as a pitcher before he became a hitter. Now that's greatness my friend, the complete baseball player if there ever was one.
First of all, I knew Ruth was a great pitcher before he was traded to the Yanks. Don't think I'm a young whipper snapper who doesn't know baseball. Secondly, the only statistics that Ruth "dwarfs" Cobb in is home runs and strikeouts. Cobb was never trying for home runs, and when he did, he hit five in a two game stretch (he stopped trying after that). Cobb had 4200 hits compared to Ruth's 2800. Cobb had almost 900 stolen bases; Ruth had like, 50 at the most. Ruth only had 300 or more so RBI's than Cobb, and Ruth was a power hitter. Cobb also was a much smarter base runner overall as well.
In other words, you're wrong.
James B. Scurvy Skalliwag
Number of posts : 12851 Age : 60
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Wed Dec 30, 2009 2:43 am
I am reading "House Atreides" done by Frank Herbert's kid and some other dude. Gonna grab the other "prequels" to the Dune saga one by one. I guess there is a "ending" done by them as well?
_________________
GrandNational Metal is in my blood
Number of posts : 3830 Age : 44
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:55 am
XYZ wrote:
GrandNational wrote:
XYZ wrote:
Without a doubt, Ty Cobb was/is the greatest baseball player ever.
No way man, it's Babe Ruth. Besides his ridiculous hitting statistics, some of which dwarfs Cobb's, bet you didn't know he also had 107 Complete Games pitched, 94 victories and a 2.28 career ERA as a pitcher before he became a hitter. Now that's greatness my friend, the complete baseball player if there ever was one.
First of all, I knew Ruth was a great pitcher before he was traded to the Yanks. Don't think I'm a young whipper snapper who doesn't know baseball. Secondly, the only statistics that Ruth "dwarfs" Cobb in is home runs and strikeouts. Cobb was never trying for home runs, and when he did, he hit five in a two game stretch (he stopped trying after that). Cobb had 4200 hits compared to Ruth's 2800. Cobb had almost 900 stolen bases; Ruth had like, 50 at the most. Ruth only had 300 or more so RBI's than Cobb, and Ruth was a power hitter. Cobb also was a much smarter base runner overall as well.
In other words, you're wrong.
Cobb, 5 innings pitched in his career. Ruth, 1,200+ innings pitched. Imagine if Ruth had put his 5-6 years of his pitching career into hitting full time. Overall, he would be considered a way more rounded athlete than Cobb. Remember, Ruth was not made for speed, but he actually stole 120+ bases, not the 50 you think. Look it up. Also, Cobb played in 24 or so full years of hitting, versus barely 18 for Ruth. In other words, Cobb had the luxury to collect more hits with way more plate appearances. Also, Ruth had over 800+ more walks than Cobb, which means he was way more patient than Cobb, although he had about 3,000 less plate appearances and scored just about the same amount of runs, which is insane if you really think about it (kinda defeats your argument about the total hits for both). Plus the man had 107 career complete games in like 5 years. Tom Glavine had 56 CG's in 22 years(!) and he's headed for the HoF. Do the math, Ruth owned Cobb hands down.
In other words, you're wrong.
XYZ Card-carrying Van Halen Freak
Number of posts : 2600 Age : 35
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:31 am
GrandNational wrote:
XYZ wrote:
GrandNational wrote:
XYZ wrote:
Without a doubt, Ty Cobb was/is the greatest baseball player ever.
No way man, it's Babe Ruth. Besides his ridiculous hitting statistics, some of which dwarfs Cobb's, bet you didn't know he also had 107 Complete Games pitched, 94 victories and a 2.28 career ERA as a pitcher before he became a hitter. Now that's greatness my friend, the complete baseball player if there ever was one.
First of all, I knew Ruth was a great pitcher before he was traded to the Yanks. Don't think I'm a young whipper snapper who doesn't know baseball. Secondly, the only statistics that Ruth "dwarfs" Cobb in is home runs and strikeouts. Cobb was never trying for home runs, and when he did, he hit five in a two game stretch (he stopped trying after that). Cobb had 4200 hits compared to Ruth's 2800. Cobb had almost 900 stolen bases; Ruth had like, 50 at the most. Ruth only had 300 or more so RBI's than Cobb, and Ruth was a power hitter. Cobb also was a much smarter base runner overall as well.
In other words, you're wrong.
Cobb, 5 innings pitched in his career. Ruth, 1,200+ innings pitched. Imagine if Ruth had put his 5-6 years of his pitching career into hitting full time. Overall, he would be considered a way more rounded athlete than Cobb. Remember, Ruth was not made for speed, but he actually stole 120+ bases, not the 50 you think. Look it up. Also, Cobb played in 24 or so full years of hitting, versus barely 18 for Ruth. In other words, Cobb had the luxury to collect more hits with way more plate appearances. Also, Ruth had over 800+ more walks than Cobb, which means he was way more patient than Cobb, although he had about 3,000 less plate appearances and scored just about the same amount of runs, which is insane if you really think about it (kinda defeats your argument about the total hits for both). Plus the man had 107 career complete games in like 5 years. Tom Glavine had 56 CG's in 22 years(!) and he's headed for the HoF. Do the math, Ruth owned Cobb hands down.
In other words, you're wrong.
Uhhhhhh, no.
Of course Ruth had more walks than Cobb. You take the bat out of Ruth's hands and you have seemingly won the battle with Ruth. If you walk Cobb, he'll be on third in no time. Saying Ruth is more patient than Cobb is crazy talk. Ruth had 1306 strikeouts in 8327 at-bats (6.5 at-bats between strikeouts). Cobb had 357 strikeouts in 11429 at-bats (32 at-bats between strikeouts). Granted, hitter strikeout stats weren't kept until 1913, eight years into Cobb's career; however, the evidence is there to suggest that Cobb was not as free-swinging as Ruth. As you said, look it up.
Granted, Ruth's .342 career average (career high of .393) is very good for a power hitter (McGwire only hit .267, I believe), but Cobb's career average of .367, career high of .420 (three seasons were over .400), all but one year (rookie year) hitting over .300, twelve batting titles, all done over a 23 year career is insane. And remember Ruth did a lot of his damage on great Yankee teams that were loaded with plenty of hall-of-famers. Cobb played on the Tigers with a cheap owner and not many guys who went to Cooperstown. There were a few (Sam Crawford, the most notable), but as many as "Murder's Row" had.
This is fun. I am impressed by your baseball knowledge, GrandNational.
One last thing, you mentioned Cobb had a longer career than Ruth which allowed him to have some better stats than Ruth. Well, Ruth did tend to let himself go a bit at the end; something of his own doing. Cobb stayed in shape most of his career
manny mini boss
Number of posts : 21101 Age : 54
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:54 am
What a cool site, metal, books and baseball !
GrandNational Metal is in my blood
Number of posts : 3830 Age : 44
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Thu Dec 31, 2009 6:59 am
manny wrote:
What a cool site, metal, books and baseball !
All personal favorite subjects!
GrandNational Metal is in my blood
Number of posts : 3830 Age : 44
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:22 am
XYZ wrote:
This is fun. I am impressed by your baseball knowledge, GrandNational.
I was and still am impressed with Ruth's pitching stats. His ability to master this position gives him I think a slightly higher edge and puts him in a different league as a player. It would be better to compare Cobb to Honus Wagner, although Wagner started to play in pre-1900 years and his stats might have been different if he started to play in 1906 like Cobb rather than 1897, and again he played maybe 5 years less than Cobb. I love talking about baseball.
I think the next book I'm going to read is The Cult of the Saints by St. John Chrysostom
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:59 am
The Distant Echo by Val McDermid
crazzycat Metal novice
Number of posts : 5 Age : 38
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:55 am
just started I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max
the sentinel Metal is Forever
Number of posts : 9428 Age : 50
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:59 am
Choke by Chuck Pahlianuk.
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:22 am
Fat Freddy Metal, Movies, Beer
Number of posts : 37954 Age : 54
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:47 am
I'm a little behind on my Stephen King stuff so this is the first novel of his that I've read in a while.
Started it over the weekend and I'm already half way thru it. The opening chapter was PHENOMENALLY cool, it just sucked me right in from the git-go. This would make a kick-ass movie! (Eli Roth of "Hostel" fame was going to film it at one point, though I hear he's moved on and it's now going to be a four-hour TV mini series instead...since the majority of the previous TV adaptations of Kings's stuff -- THE STAND and IT excepted -- were pretty lame, that means it'll probably suck )
_________________ "If you're a false, don't entry, because you'll be burned and died!"
scottmitchell74 Jada Pinkett Smith's Cabana Boy
Number of posts : 9052 Age : 50
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:28 pm
Malcolm Gladwell - Outliers
Quote :
I love talking about baseball.
What say ye a sports trivia thread?
Fat Freddy Metal, Movies, Beer
Number of posts : 37954 Age : 54
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:39 pm
Finished King's "CELL" and loved it.
Moving on to...
_________________ "If you're a false, don't entry, because you'll be burned and died!"
scottmitchell74 Jada Pinkett Smith's Cabana Boy
Number of posts : 9052 Age : 50
Subject: Re: What book are you currently reading? Thu Jan 14, 2010 12:12 am