Thread: The 8 books Neil DeGrasse Tyson recommends smart people read.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I have a double major in International Affairs/Government and English Literature. I never had any of them on a required reading list.

fair 'nuff

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

having read none of them. I doubt anyone has read them.

I am happy to say I have read none of them and I doubt I will get bored enough to read any of them - of course I may end up stuck in a central african prison with only the bible for company and thus have to eat my words.

but still , the list sounds like a joke someone is playing on wankers

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I appear to have touched a nerve by not raving over these selections; no idea why.

No Davis, no nerve touched.
You can disparage, in your superior way, the list. No need to rave over any of the titles.
But when you say the list is pretentious, be prepared to have your own pretentiousness pointed out.

As the OP says, what would you replace and with what?

Originally Posted by Maanaam

No Davis, no nerve touched.
You can disparage, in your superior way, the list. No need to rave over any of the titles.
But when you say the list is pretentious, be prepared to have your own pretentiousness pointed out.

As the OP says, what would you replace and with what?

I never said the list was pretentious. I said it's the type of list pretentious undergraduates try to use to impress their dates. I don't care in the slightest what books this academic selects to put on his list. That's his choice. I read a tremendous amount and have, and have always had, a house full of books. Kindle really helped, as I was running out of space. I certainly have my favorites, many of them in fact, that I read over and over, but I would never attempt to impose my personal taste in literature on others.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

No Davis, no nerve touched.
You can disparage, in your superior way, the list. No need to rave over any of the titles.
But when you say the list is pretentious, be prepared to have your own pretentiousness pointed out.

As the OP says, what would you replace and with what?

All moot, actually.
Consider each source.

One could easily examine 20 said well known intellectuals and philosophers [take your pick] and their listing of required reading, which will certainly differ one from the next.
Perspectives and ideals will vary greatly, nor does any selection deem less or more worthy or valuable.....to whomever.

As it's all made up for us anyway - false worlds of scholarship and academe to be auto-cleansed of superior and almost always culturally-centric notions.

Alternatives might suggest a fashion of independent, critical, and questioning thought.
Make up your own diverse list. Might be more valuable than the pretense of invented convention......just because WE said so.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

I tried to read the Bible once. Shitty implausible plot and inconsistent character development.

The authors really nailed it with that ending though!

The Mel Gibson movie was good for anyone who doesn't have time for the book

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I never said the list was pretentious. I said it's the type of list pretentious undergraduates try to use to impress their dates.

I don't see the difference, in essence.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I would never attempt to impose my personal taste in literature on others.

Again, missing the point of the list.

BTW...where do you stack your MENSA Bulletins? Conspicuously or discreetly?

Originally Posted by Maanaam

I don't see the difference, in essence.



Again, missing the point of the list.

BTW...where do you stack your MENSA Bulletins? Conspicuously or discreetly?

I am not a member of MENSA.

Really???

Originally Posted by HuangLao

All moot, actually.
Consider each source.

One could easily examine 20 said well known intellectuals and philosophers [take your pick] and their listing of required reading, which will certainly differ one from the next.
Perspectives and ideals will vary greatly, nor does any selection deem less or more worthy or valuable.....to whomever.

As it's all made up for us anyway - false worlds of scholarship and academe to be auto-cleansed of superior and almost always culturally-centric notions.

Alternatives might suggest a fashion of independent, critical, and questioning thought.
Make up your own diverse list. Might be more valuable than the pretense of invented convention......just because WE said so.

Post of the page so far.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I am not a member of MENSA.

That might be to your advantage, Davis.
MENSA circles think too much of themselves.

Originally Posted by Neverna

Post of the page so far.

Missing the point.
The OP list NDGT's books and asks what would you suggest, replace, add.

Originally Posted by HuangLao

MENSA circles think too much of themselves.

I seriously doubt Lulu is MENSA material.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I appear to have touched a nerve by not raving over these selections; no idea why.

I do.



The bloke's a mentalist.


Get's himself all upset over nothing...... Be all a rantin' an a ravin'











Possibly can't read.

^ That's like a question about driving, "Would you say being reckless is dangerous?" and responding, "No because they don't mean the same thing."

Originally Posted by S Landreth

I don't. Just don’t think it was him.

One part of the book/s and his writings that continues to ring true for me was the statement/situation he made about leaving his enemies a route to escape.

You don’t want anyone fighting for their life.

Not only in war,………..it can be used in everyday situations.

Yep, not sure if it was him either.

Saw him speak a few months ago in Auckland. He was certainly very interesting and well worth the couple of hours.

Originally Posted by Luigi

The bloke's a mentalist.

Thanks. Glad to have impressed you. Not sure that I am, though.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

^ That's like a question about driving, "Would you say being reckless is dangerous?" and responding, "No because they don't mean the same thing."

Ummm. Considering you were saying superior and pretentious mean the same thing can you explain why you think that comment is relevant and/or humorous?

Originally Posted by Little Chuchok

Saw him speak a few months ago in Auckland.

Sun Tzu?

Originally Posted by DrB0b

I see you have issues about being considered dumb.

You're projecting, Bob.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

I guess you had a hard time at school.

Projecting, again.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Considering you were saying superior and pretentious mean the same thing

Ummm, no; I suggest you look up what a predicate adjective is. Who is the bloody foreigner?

Originally Posted by DrB0b

can you explain why you think that comment is relevant and/or humorous?

You really do have a problem with reading comprehension! I'm laughing at you and your silly statement about "superior" and "pretentious" not meaning the same thing and thus in your reasoning, being superior can not be being pretentious.

Originally Posted by HuangLao

That might be to your advantage, Davis.
MENSA circles think too much of themselves.

I never quite understood the interest in MENSA. It is nothing more than submitting the result from an authorized IQ test that proves your IQ is in the top 2% to join. So? My kid sister graduated Phi Beta Kappa from a very good university and is a member of MENSA; never did anything in her life of note. A high IQ is indicative of nothing other than a high IQ.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Missing the point.
The OP list NDGT's books and asks what would you suggest, replace, add.

Not missing "the point" at all. You could say anyone who hasn't followed your OP instructions to the letter is "off topic", but not missing "the point".

The OP includes a list of books that, allegedly, "smart people read". I have no intention of calling up tens of thousands of smart people to ask them if that is really the case. I'd be surprised if Neil DeGrasse Tyson, whoever he is, has done that either. Neil DeGrasse Tyson may be comfortable making such a wild claim but I am not, so I won't be tryng to convince others that I know what books "smart people" read. Carry on.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I never quite understood the interest in MENSA. It is nothing more than submitting the result from an authorized IQ test that proves your IQ is in the top 2% to join. So? My kid sister graduated Phi Beta Kappa from a very good university and is a member of MENSA; never did anything in her life of note. A high IQ is indicative of nothing other than a high IQ.

MENSA tests are somewhat old-fashioned and test a small area of intelligence. Multiple intelligences are where it's at nowadays. Apparrently.