Monday, July 04, 2005
This ain't Oprah's Book Club
During a slow summer and an even slower hockey season without NHL games, there's usually good time to get some reading done.
Many of the other author's in the hockey blogosphere have been waxing about what they read and what kind of literary thrills crank their mental chains.
Unlike an old wise crank like Tom Benjamin or a frosh newsie editor like James Mirtle, I am not that 'well-read'...Which will probably surprise nobody who frequents Hockey Rants. The types of books one reads usually give you an idea of the type of person you are dealing with.
I have a voracious appetite for reading, but I tend to read a lot of stuff on the internet. It's hard for me to sit down and read a book with dead silence...I'd rather read online articles and essays while listening to the latest songs on WinAmp. If you ever thought I had ADD, you are probably not too far off of the mark ;) . I usually read a lot about Central-European history, World War II history, baseball, politics (until I start feeling queasy) and more hockey than is healthy.
On the other hand, I do have to spend some time reading...unfortunately, it's all Finance and Economics as I take part-time classes.
1) How many books do I own?
About 30+ textbooks of various business/accounting/financial subjects plus some of my old Computer Systems Tech textbooks. I own about 30 or so other books...I also collect certain issues of The Hockey News and various hockey annuals published ever summer.
2) Most recent purchases?
The Hockey News Top 50 Draft Prospects issue...and that was quite awhile ago...other than my last course textbook. I prefer to take books out from the library (Vancouver has a great huge public library downtown) than buy them.
3) Currently Reading
"Fundamentals of Corporate Finance - Fifth Edition"
My final exam is this Saturday...it's not like I WANT to read this stuff.
4) Books that I enjoyed the most?
The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber - I still need to do my review on this book, but it sounds like a few fellow bloggers need to pick up this gem of a hook. The book has some hockey in it (The robber played goaltender for Hungarian team UTE), but it's really entertaining and more about the wacky characters and events in post-Communist Hungary more than just hockey.
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game - This look at the Oakland Athletics organization is a great book that changed the way many people look at the game and business of baseball. It's also one of the most misunderstood books and one of the most polarizing books in the baseball realm. It's hilarious to read some of the comments of people who have never actually read the book, yet claim the book is some sort of 'evil' (Joe Morgan, I'm talkin bout you!)
(PS: Moneyball is not about 'On Base Percentage', despite the fact many seem to think it is).
Total Hockey - Second Edition - My stepfather gave me this 6 pound almanac and it's packed full of so much information that it takes many sittings to digest all of the content...player stats, essays, etc... I love reading about the history of hockey and some of the great characters I never had a chance to watch (like Gump Worsley). If you want to buy one book about hockey, this is one of the best purchases you can make. It also makes a good weapon should you ever want to throw something at Kerry Fraser.
5) What do I plan to read next?
Being the nutrition/exercise freak that I am, I want to take a full gander at Fast Food Nation. I need another 1,000,000 reasons to never eat at McDonalds again (not that I need even one).
Many of the other author's in the hockey blogosphere have been waxing about what they read and what kind of literary thrills crank their mental chains.
Unlike an old wise crank like Tom Benjamin or a frosh newsie editor like James Mirtle, I am not that 'well-read'...Which will probably surprise nobody who frequents Hockey Rants. The types of books one reads usually give you an idea of the type of person you are dealing with.
I have a voracious appetite for reading, but I tend to read a lot of stuff on the internet. It's hard for me to sit down and read a book with dead silence...I'd rather read online articles and essays while listening to the latest songs on WinAmp. If you ever thought I had ADD, you are probably not too far off of the mark ;) . I usually read a lot about Central-European history, World War II history, baseball, politics (until I start feeling queasy) and more hockey than is healthy.
On the other hand, I do have to spend some time reading...unfortunately, it's all Finance and Economics as I take part-time classes.
1) How many books do I own?
About 30+ textbooks of various business/accounting/financial subjects plus some of my old Computer Systems Tech textbooks. I own about 30 or so other books...I also collect certain issues of The Hockey News and various hockey annuals published ever summer.
2) Most recent purchases?
The Hockey News Top 50 Draft Prospects issue...and that was quite awhile ago...other than my last course textbook. I prefer to take books out from the library (Vancouver has a great huge public library downtown) than buy them.
3) Currently Reading
"Fundamentals of Corporate Finance - Fifth Edition"
My final exam is this Saturday...it's not like I WANT to read this stuff.
4) Books that I enjoyed the most?
The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber - I still need to do my review on this book, but it sounds like a few fellow bloggers need to pick up this gem of a hook. The book has some hockey in it (The robber played goaltender for Hungarian team UTE), but it's really entertaining and more about the wacky characters and events in post-Communist Hungary more than just hockey.
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game - This look at the Oakland Athletics organization is a great book that changed the way many people look at the game and business of baseball. It's also one of the most misunderstood books and one of the most polarizing books in the baseball realm. It's hilarious to read some of the comments of people who have never actually read the book, yet claim the book is some sort of 'evil' (Joe Morgan, I'm talkin bout you!)
(PS: Moneyball is not about 'On Base Percentage', despite the fact many seem to think it is).
Total Hockey - Second Edition - My stepfather gave me this 6 pound almanac and it's packed full of so much information that it takes many sittings to digest all of the content...player stats, essays, etc... I love reading about the history of hockey and some of the great characters I never had a chance to watch (like Gump Worsley). If you want to buy one book about hockey, this is one of the best purchases you can make. It also makes a good weapon should you ever want to throw something at Kerry Fraser.
5) What do I plan to read next?
Being the nutrition/exercise freak that I am, I want to take a full gander at Fast Food Nation. I need another 1,000,000 reasons to never eat at McDonalds again (not that I need even one).
