What Are You Reading Currently? [OFFICIAL THREAD]

[hasanhh]

@notme  lf you are doing an academic study of kufr thinking, its OK when you remember -as per Quran-  these are the writings of hezshatan following their own desires. Even when they pose questions just to show-off for themselves, "poets" live in self-delusion.

[Ahmed_516478]

About to finish Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard. I quite enjoyed it. I plan to read read some of his other works. 

But Abraham had faith and did not doubt; he believed the preposterous. If Abraham had doubted, then he would have done something else, something great and glorious, for how could Abraham do anything else but what is great and glorious! He would have gone to Mount Moriah, he would have split the firewood, lit the fire, drawn the knife. He would have cried out to God, "Reject not this sacrifice; it is not the best that I have, that I know very well, for what is an old man compared with the child of promise, but it is the best I can give you. Let Isaac never find this out so that he may take comfort in his youth.'' He would have thrust the knife into his own breast.19 He would have been admired in the world, and his name would never be forgotten; but it is one thing to be admired and another to become a guiding star that saves the anguished. 

[skylight2]

The Mystery of Prayer - The Ascension of the wayfarers and the prayer of the gnostics by Imam Ayatullah Ruhoallah Khomeini - w/ introduction and translation by Sayyid Amad H. Shah Naqavi. 

This is an amazingly beautiful book on the meaning of salat. Here is what I'd recommend for Shias who read this - skip the translator's introduction - it is quite technical and I think appears to be written for western scholar/philosophers who may or may not be Muslim. Also suggest skipping most of the the copious footnotes. The reason is that Imam Khomeini's actual work is not so complex and does not need that much exposition - the writing is clear and beautiful and comes through really well in this translation. I think any reasonably well educated (in deen) would not have any problem understanding and benefitting from what Imam Khomeini is saying in this wonderful book. 

 

[ali_fatheroforphans]

The Hereafter (Maad) by Ayatollah Dastaghaib Shirazi:

https://www.al-islam.org/the-hereafter-maad-ayatullah-dastaghaib-shirazi

Man and Universe by Allama Murtadha Mutahari

https://www.al-islam.org/man-and-universe-ayatullah-murtadha-mutahhari

[notme]

In addition to the possibly controversial one mentioned above, I'm also enjoying The Man in the High Castle. Had been meaning to read it for a while. The author is masterful with his use of speech pattern and tone to give insight into characters. It doesn't read like sci-fi, but it also doesn't belong to any other fiction category. Dystopian. 

[notme]

I just finished this one, right at the crossroads of two of my interests, astronomy and sustainability:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36236156-light-of-the-stars

It was an enjoyable read, but more speculation than information. I've read two other of this author's books. He's a good science communicator; it's easy for any interested layman to understand without being oversimplified to the point of becoming nonsense. 

[hasanhh]

2 hours ago, notme said:

I just finished this one, right at the crossroads of two of my interests, astronomy and sustainability:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36236156-light-of-the-stars

 G.R.B.s  uhty.

[notme]

5 minutes ago, hasanhh said:

 G.R.B.s  uhty.

Gamma Ray Bursts? Why? 

[hasanhh]

1 minute ago, notme said:

Gamma Ray Bursts? Why? 

Galaxy's have these and they are complete "life eradicators".

[notme]

3 hours ago, hasanhh said:

Galaxy's have these and they are complete "life eradicators".

Ah, that makes sense. The focus of the book is twofold: 1, the factors of the Drake equation and in particular the lifetime of advanced civilizations, and 2, adopting a planetary view of civilization, i. e. stop seeing humanity as damaging to nature and see it as part of nature. 

Edited July 9, 2018 by notme
Typo.

[Klanky]

Today I started "The Pakistan Paradox: Instability and Resilience" by Christophe Jaffrelot. I've had it lying around for a couple of years and it has finally made it's way to the top of the pile. I suspect I will not finish it but we'll see how it goes. I'd like to learn a little more about the place.

[hasanhh]

1 hour ago, Klanky said:

I started "The Pakistan Paradox: Instability and Resilience" by Christophe Jaffrelot

Thanks, Bro

l did a "Needs Look".

For a paragraphical pump, see: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2016-02-10/pakistan-paradox-instability-and-resilience 

For an analytical summary, see:  http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/southasia/2016/04/13/book-review-the-pakistan-paradox-instability-and-resilience-by-christophe-jaffrelot/

[Klanky]

7 hours ago, hasanhh said:

Thanks, Bro

l did a "Needs Look".

For a paragraphical pump, see: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2016-02-10/pakistan-paradox-instability-and-resilience 

For an analytical summary, see:  http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/southasia/2016/04/13/book-review-the-pakistan-paradox-instability-and-resilience-by-christophe-jaffrelot/

Thanks, those have increased my interest in reading this book

[ali_fatheroforphans]

Philosophical Instructions by Misbah Yazdi

It is hard to absorb, but I love philosophy.

[Klanky]

I have a degree in philosophy, somehow I passed even though I didn't understand a word. Such a waste of a good university opportunity!

[hasanhh]

"The Scientific Papers of the Honourable Henry Cavendish, F.R.S."

Edited by Sir Edward Thorpe

Cambridge University Press, 1921

lnteresting read. He really was a foundation stone for modern chemistry. Some of Cavendish's work on air (eudiometer, for example) was used by Joseph Priestly for his contributions to science, including the discovery of oxygen.  Cavendish, like his father, had an interest in thermometry and developed the mercury thermometer.

While not much biographical information is known, Cavendish was famous for his mydogynme [<--editorical comment].  He was known to dismiss female servants upon only seeing them. So it was quit a shock to the town when he save a woman from an attacking cow. He never changed his style of dress, so he was out-of-fashion during his life.

Glad l read it. Except for some dated 18th Century 'science' words, for a college grad it is easy to understand his writings.

Edited July 9, 2018 by hasanhh
spellin'

[ali_fatheroforphans]

34 minutes ago, Klanky said:

I have a degree in philosophy, somehow I passed even though I didn't understand a word. Such a waste of a good university opportunity!

Ooh maybe it's not for you. Have you tried learning Islamic Philosophy?

[Klanky]

2 minutes ago, ali_fatheroforphans said:

Ooh maybe it's not for you. Have you tried learning Islamic Philosophy?

No, I'm done with philosophy

It did have its benefits, it opens your mind a bit, forces you to think in ways you might not otherwise do. But a lot of it seemed like nonsense to me

Edited July 9, 2018 by Klanky

[Ashvazdanghe]

48 minutes ago, Klanky said:

No, I'm done with philosophy

Hi philosophy never end btw Henry Corbin understand shia Philosophy & mysticism better than other westerner philosophers because he was in direct contact with Ayatollah Tabatabayi (ra) that was the best shia Philsoph 

Edited July 9, 2018 by Ashvazdanghe

[Maha_13]

Finished a place for us by Fatima Farheen Mirza. Its a story about a Shia family 

[hasanhh]

lnteresting introductory article about modern oil. Has a couple of political observations. For more info see a bio.

https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/earth_to_power/2014/01/colorado-oilman-reflects-on-what-40.html 

Thomas A. Petrie has also had advisory roles.

[notme]

Just finished The Grey House, in translation of course. It's a story that takes you into the author's imaginary world and let's you out at the end confused a bit, and maybe sad that it's over, with a resolve to it read it again eventually. There are parts that are definitely unislamic - alcohol and sex - so I don't recommend for sensitive or young readers, but it's beautiful storytelling, meant to be taken slowly and just a little at a time. Recommend for adults who enjoy a good fairy tale. 

Now I'm working on Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries. It's a collection of lighthearted essays by Neil Degrasse Tyson. It's easy for the interested layman to understand, funny, and a nice follow up to the intensity of the previous reading. 

Edited July 28, 2018 by notme

[ali_fatheroforphans]

Lantern of the Path

[Haji 2003]

With the Arabs in tent and town.

1902.

Accounts of a Christian missionary in Jordan.

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.22654

I'll put up some interesting quotations in this post, as I come across them.

Quote

But I hope to see the time when I can tell them the story of the cross, and that I shall see them accepting the Saviour. It is pot impossible, when we remember what He has done in other countries, where savage kings have given in before the Gospel ; surely we need not despair about these Arab chiefs and their families.

 

[Hameedeh]

Just read A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury. With teachers notes and questions.

http://mrjost.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/8/8/12884680/a_sound_of_thunder_-_text.pdf

[notme]

@Hameedeh Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite authors. 

[Silas]

I read mostly history and philosophy

right now, I am reading "The Shia Revivial" by Vali Nasr

I've read a couple other books by Nasr, and they tend to be very good. Not sure if anyone else here is familiar with him

[Gaius I. Caesar]

"The Interpretation of Dreams" by Sigmund Freud and "What you should know about Politics but don't." by Jessamyn Conrad.

[hasanhh]

14 hours ago, notme said:

@Hameedeh Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite authors. 

We had Fahrenheit 451 in grade school.  l wonder how he'd re-write it now, with the lnternet, video games and all. He died in 2012. Too bad he didn't. The 60's era movie is the best film version.

"The Millie Moment" Note: in the 1966 movie the name is changed to "Linda" played by Julie Christie.

The "Millie Moment" when she is called and asked to interact/participate with her TV, is eerily similar to the Algorithms, Like-Track, profiling done by lnternet providers, Google, NSA and other busy-body peeping-Toms.

AhamduAllah, the segment is on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAFGUEUVweU --which you may have to type-in, no embedding allowed.

Movie: "Will You Come Play With US?"  Hasan: "And Be Self-Confirmed."

Edited August 24, 2018 by hasanhh

[LeftCoastMom]

Same ponderous tome from the Feds I was grousing to @Hameedeh about this morning. " Request for Consultation,etc. etc."...lol. They sent me my very own copy. Lucky, lucky me! 

[Ashvazdanghe]

2 hours ago, hasanhh said:

wonder how he'd re-write it now, with the lnternet, video games

Salam from my experience when these type of movies re-write , new writers just focus on action because of development of special  effeffects  they become so obsessed with this that they forgot original story & message of Original one

[Marbles]

On 8/23/2018 at 10:17 PM, Silas said:

right now, I am reading "The Shia Revivial" by Vali Nasr

The book is somewhat dated for 2018. 

Nasr is okay but in this book he has sensationalised the division between Shia ranks as though Qum and Najaf are two competing centres for sociopolitical power in the Shia world. Sure, he is writing for a clueless Western audience but it's not good when such political commentaries paint a skewed picture of reality.

Edited September 1, 2018 by Marbles

[hasanhh]

On ‎8‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 1:44 AM, LeftCoastMom said:

I was grousing to

Thanks for the new word. When l first read it l thought it meant 'calling', like this: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruffed_Grouse/sounds .

Kinda like a Tom-Tom communication.

l wasn't aware the word is also used for 'complaining'. 

Ahamduallah, Man has dictionaries.

Now what would l think if you wrote 'smoking'? l, myself, do not read smoke.

[Ibn Al-Ja'abi]

Currently on my desk:

• Arabian Sands, by Wilferd Thesiger (AKA Mubarak b. London). A British explorer who volunteered to do a survey of desert locusts in the Rub' al-Khali after WWII. He spent time with the Rashid and Bayt Kthir bedouins, this book is his travelogue of crossing the Rub' al-Khali (or Rimal) desert with them. About a third done this work, fascinating read about a corner of the world before globalization hit it.
• The Mongols and the Islamic World: From Conquest to Conversion, by Peter Jackson (no, not that one). Absolutely fascinating work, currently in the first chapter where he deals with the Muslim reactions to the Mongol expansions. I had no idea that Ibn Abi l-Hadid, Yaqut al-Hamawi, and Ibn al-Athir had all made some mention of the expansions. 
• Old Nubian Texts from Qasr Ibrim 1, by J. Martin Plumley & Gerald M. Browne. A collection of manuscripts from Qasr Ibrim in southern Egypt written in the Old Nubian language, I found out about this language a few months ago and have been trying to get resources on it. It seems to have been the ancestor of modern Nubian languages spoken along the Nile in southern Egypt and the northern Sudan (some now under danger from being replaced by Arabic). When the area converted to Christianity in late antiquity they started writing down Christian material, a lot of which seems to be local. It was due to texts and inscriptions like these that we, thankfully, have knowledge of this medieval language. The book gives the text typed up in the Nubian script, a translation, notes, and provides a facsimile of the original document. I think thirteen documents are covered in total.
• The Crucible of Islam, by G. W. Bowersock. This is a small book (two hundred or so pages) on the late antique context in which Islam emerged, covers important topics like religion in Arabia, South Arabia and Ethiopia, the city of Mecca, etc. It's a real page turner, I've finished about half of it. I'd recommend this to people to get an understanding of the pre-Islamic history of Arabia and the Middle East that was the milieu Islam came from and to become introduced to understand the thinking of academics regarding late antiquity and early Islam.
• Kitab al-Khaza'in, by al-Mawla Ahmad b. Mahdi al-Naraqi. This is light reading I come to every now and then, a collection of small stories, poetry, and jokes in Arabic and Farsi. It's a nice change to take a break from other readings and the school books I'll be having to go through starting next week ( ).

[hasanhh]

A Fun Read   ~7-8 minutes, just keep scrolling.

l remembered this from the national news.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/the_bridge_that_crossed_an_ocean