[Paracelsus]

(11-19-2016 01:55 AM)Alsos Wrote:  

(11-18-2016 09:34 PM)stugatz Wrote:  

I'm a big fan of Dune, but maybe that just comes from my father.

Not a lot of mentions here for the Harry Potter series, surprising. (Other than the fact that they're predictable and not really that well written, maybe some people here could help me out on what's so particularly damaging about the books, as I haven't read them in a decade. All I've noticed is that the worst kinds of people read them - and over and over again, as adults.)

Wish fullfillment and Secret Kingery. Losers identifying with characters who start off as unloved outcasts like themselves, only to discover how special and important they really are, and eventually become popular, powerful, and the essential center of great things.

Because of the intervals at which the books were written/released, a fair number of the bluehair set grew up with them, from roughly age 10 to 17. Hook 'em while they're young, as the cigarette business knows. And while you're reading them you can fool yourself, by identifying with the characters, that you actually still have some potential, that you didn't hit your high point in high school, that notwithstanding the fact you're employed as a barista/waitress/retail drone, you are still that important person you have had it drummed into you that you always were.

Someone once pointed out the essential difference between Harry Potter and, say, Pug-Milamber from the Riftwar Saga: Pug has to work his ass off to become what he becomes. Only then, because of what he's become, is he able to save the world. Harry Potter doesn't. He's the Chosen One from birth, already capable as a fucking infant of withstanding death at the hands of the Big Bad. Most of the heavy lifting is done for him by others or by faux-Excalibur devices he's handed, one book after the next. All Harry really does is show up and (eventually) die, and even that doesn't stick. Par for the course when you are a narcissist.

The Matrix was similar, but was aimed at Generation X. See The Last Psychiatrist for the blackpill-laced details.

[LeoneVolpe]

The Beast1 Wrote:

I beg to differ. If you're looking for arguments against something these two books are gold for shutting down "true" believers.

Must not read books include:
The Hunger Games
Eat, Pray, Love
50 Shade of Grey

Agreed.

In the summer of 2012, I couldn't go anywhere without seeing females reading copies of "Fifty Shades of Grey." Seriously, bitches were on that book like stink on shit. I'll be the first to admit, I was morbidly curious to see what all the fuss was about. I decided to pick up a copy in the hope of being able to extract from it something useful I could put to work in my own seductions. At the time, I thought of it as a "reconnaissance mission" of sorts, a sneak peek inside the female mind and what it finds arousing. Something Sun Tzu might've approved of in the name of getting to "know your enemy."

Now I wasn't expecting much from the book yet somehow got even less. To say it was complete and utter tripe would be an insult to tripe. I couldn't even finish it.

I'd say more, but this meme pretty much says it all...

[attachment=34700]

Moral of the story: If you're a rich, handsome billionaire -- women (even virgins) will let you grab 'em by the pussy...and more!

[They Call Me Mister Tony]

The strangest thing is that there are even MORE book sequels to Fifty Shades of Grey, and a movie that's supposed to come out next year or something.

[Alsos]

(11-20-2016 04:25 AM)LeoneVolpe Wrote:  

... "Fifty Shades of Grey"...

Talked with my 72-year-old mother yesterday. She said she'd started reading it at the suggestion of a couple of her friends.

I told her I didn't want her hanging around with those girls anymore as they were plainly a bad influence on her.

To her credit, she thought it was poorly-written.

[Off The Reservation]

If you agree with a must not read but somehow find yourself curious, then at least make it a must not buy. Get a used copy so that the author does not profit any further.

Perfect examples cited here, Eat Pray, 50 Shades, etc.

[Hannibal]

(11-18-2016 07:25 PM)storm Wrote:  

Crime and punishment. The Great Gatsby. Pride and Prejudice. Walden. The Catcher in the Rye.

A good rule of thumb is if it on an 11th grade summer reading list: skip it.

Going to have to agree with you bigly on The Great Gatsby. I was assigned it in a college English course and frankly it was so fucking boring and uninspiring that I ended up having to SparkNotes the entire thing.

The Great Gatsby to print is like what shitty ass soap operas are to film. It's like watching female comedians or listening to people talk about a show with all this passion, then you actually watch it and you have no idea what all the hype was about (I'm looking at you, The Big Bang Theory, 30 rock, Two and a Half Men, and every other retarded halfbaked man-boy comedy that no one with functioning balls can relate to).

I simply could not give a fuck less about the characters, their interactions, or anything.

[SlickyBoy]

Very glad to see the distaste people have for anything with Kiyosaki's name on it, but also extremely puzzled to find out Roosh listed Rich Dad Poor Dad as one of the ten books that changed his life. Kiyosaki, as covered by John T Reed, is an abject scam.

Kiyosaki is at best a harmless con selling aspirational stories for a few bucks, at worst an influential nightmare irresponsibly pushing bad tax advice and trite sloganeering to unsuspecting people who trust his lies. Everything from his military record to his financial achievements to the Rich Dad himself is an utter lie.

Fortunately for Roosh, it sounded like he was only keyed into the passive income concept and hopefully didn't go down the road of actually following any of Kiyosaki's ill-founded investment ideas or tax write offs (for example, you can never write off health club memberships, as I recall him suggesting). Even then, there really is no such thing as "passive" income - especially not for a landlord, but boy does Kiyosaki make it all sound easy. There are much better personal finance books and sites out there, and if you're truly interested in real estate as a landlord, John Reed himself has excellent books on the subject backed by actual, verifiable experience.

Kiyosaki also happens to be the worst thing Donald J. Trump has ever done in his career and I will never understand why he thought it would be worthwhile to team up with him for a few bucks. I fear the level of exploitation by Kiyosaki will increase now that Trump is President-elect, but through forums like this perhaps the truth will get out further versus when his books first came to market.

As for other books mentioned in the thread:

Agreed on the Dune stories - never understood what the hell Spice was supposed to be.

Great Gatsby - didn't think it was that bad, but I was curious about that time period already.

Catcher in the Rye - even in 9th grade I thought the protagonist was a twerp. Didn't like him but the story involved a hooker and a pimp so kept reading.

Originally liked "Atlas Shrugged", but half way through got a bit put off. Though I think she's got much better essays and short stories worth checking out - see Ayn Rand "The New Left" for a good one where she compares the media coverage of Woodstock to the Apollo moon landing. She had the leftist media figured out decades ago.

Alas, Atlas Shrugged is too long, morally bankrupt, with leaden characters spouting pseudo-philosophical dialogue and utterly unrealistic plot devices - it's no wonder the movie wasn't so hot. The worst part is it seems the majority of young people who eagerly tear through the book and identify with the libertarian-ish concepts therein still wind up supporting Marxist ideals and candidates anyway - so what the hell happened to all that influence from Rand?

Saw the movie "The Road" and from what people say here, damn glad I never read the book.

Eat Pray Love - the only guy I know who liked this book was gay. Nuff said.

50 Shades - tried to read this for some opposition research but couldn't get past the first few pages. It reads like it was written by a 12 year old girl. A perverted one, but a girl nevertheless.

Other thoughts:

I would add one category of must-not-read books, and that is about 80% of all stock market "how-to" trading books. Since nearly all are fiction, it's appropriate to discuss them here. Virtually all of their "systems" are a complete joke. Some of the books about trader psychology are a lot better, as are bios about proven traders themselves. Anybody offering a technique without demonstrated results is just ripping you off.

Ditto for real estate guru books (Robert G. Allen, etc.), though since the 2008 crash sales of these have subsided considerably. John Reed is a notable exception in this field - he can back everything up with facts.

[Kurgan]

50 Shades of Grey without a doubt.

My friends in the BDSM community hate it because it doesn't accurately represent the lifestyle. It's like saying Jersey Shore accurately represents New Jersey.

[Severian]

Really shitty book by (((Yuval Harari))) claming, as the kikes always do, that we are all the same and bullshit.
(((Jewish))) propaganda.

[Genghis Khan]

Avoid anything by Brene Brown. For those of you who don't know, Brene Brown is the world's most renowned expert on vulnerability.

Before swallowing the red pill, I swallowed all of her books, including Daring Greatly. The premise of her books is that we should all be vulnerable and express how we really feel.

Yeah great. Except it doesn't work for men. Something she alludes to herself twice:
1. In Daring Greatly, she gets called out by a guy saying how convenient it is she only studies women and vulnerability, not men and vulnerability.
2. In Rising Strong, she mentions how uncomfortable she felt when her husband was vulnerable and honest --> not even the expert on vulnerability can escape her biology and feeling of disgust at a weak man.

The solipsism on her part is staggering. Her hand-waving argument is that women should do work (funny coincidence that Brown is a certified therapist) so they can be comfortable with a man showing weakness. 100% of women reading her book will ignore that bit and just focus on the parts that make them feel like they have a right to complain about everything and anything.

She also mentioned stoicism/CBT (but not by name), saying how it didn't work for her. I'm not sure stoicism is meant for women in the first place.

Great chick crack no doubt, but if you're a man stay away from Been Brown's nonsensical advice. I speak from personal experience, where I tried using her advice and it blew up catastrophically in my face with a girl.

I think Brown means well, especially as a self proclaimed former party girl trying to have a more peaceful life. But my impression is that women are eating this up for the wrong reasons (shifting blame on to others, venting and complaining) and her books will be used to further feminize men.

[armenia4ever]

50 Shades of Grey might be poorly written, but the appeal it has to the female segment of the population is absolutely staggering. This leads me to think that very popular books might be best avoided. However, to the contrary Harry Potter is well enough written and deserving of its insane popularity.

I do think 50 Shades is best avoided though.

[MajorStyles]

(12-31-2016 05:57 PM)armenia4ever Wrote:  

50 Shades of Grey might be poorly written, but the appeal it has to the female segment of the population is absolutely staggering. This leads me to think that very popular books might be best avoided. However, to the contrary Harry Potter is well enough written and deserving of its insane popularity.

I do think 50 Shades is best avoided though.

I read the first two chapters of that in an airport (I forget which city). I actually thought it was well written it terms of flow, sentence structure, etc. What I scoffed at was the equalist lie.

She meets this multi-millionaire and then negs him (infers that he is a homosexual with parental issues). Instead of kicking the bitch to the curb, he relentlessly pursues her. It's the classic feminist delusion - the idea the sexual strategies that work on women (such as a neg) should also work on men. Because equality and stuff like that...

The success of the book is a direct reflection of the level to which the modern Western woman has been indoctrinated with the equalist narrative. Also, it highlights their hypergamous nature (note how Mr. Grey is a billionaire, as opposed to a dishwasher at McDonald's). And it also highlights how, despite all their equalist posturing, they long to be dominated in a traditional, submissive dynamic.

I don't think it's worth reading, either. We already know this delusional feminist thinking, so it merely reinforces a redundant point.

[tapthatass]

50 shades of grey is an extremely good book.

You might not like that it's written from a female perspective or the kinky sex but this book is the spot-on definition of contemporary literature.

Perfectly written. Story narrated to their target audience EXACTLY how they wanted it. Kinky stuff and relationship drama is well-balanced. Every tiny detail is taken care of. I knew about this book before reading it so I tried to stay as rational as possible. And , I was hooked up and finished the three book series in a week.

This book, like most other contemporary ones are fiction.While reading fiction it's important to explore the richness of the world the author created and not focus on the 'why' or 'how' part. A story is meant to be enjoyed. There's no need to "critically analyze" and take the fun out of it. If you're that kind of person then you might love non fiction more than fiction.

Do not compare it with classical fictions. It's like comparing EDM with classical music. Doesn't make sense. Both need a different mindset to enjoy. It is better to adapt and get the best of both worlds rather than stick to a definite taste and ignore the other.

[Jones]

(01-04-2017 08:30 PM)tapthatass Wrote:  

50 shades of grey is an extremely good book.

You might not like that it's written from a female perspective or the kinky sex but this book is the spot-on definition of contemporary literature.

Perfectly written. Story narrated to their target audience EXACTLY how they wanted it. Kinky stuff and relationship drama is well-balanced. Every tiny detail is taken care of. I knew about this book before reading it so I tried to stay as rational as possible. And , I was hooked up and finished the three book series in a week.

This book, like most other contemporary ones are fiction.While reading fiction it's important to explore the richness of the world the author created and not focus on the 'why' or 'how' part. A story is meant to be enjoyed. There's no need to "critically analyze" and take the fun out of it. If you're that kind of person then you might love non fiction more than fiction.

Do not compare it with classical fictions. It's like comparing EDM with classical music. Doesn't make sense. Both need a different mindset to enjoy. It is better to adapt and get the best of both worlds rather than stick to a definite taste and ignore the other.

Like comparing Hollywood blockbuster action movies to old school film classics from the 1930s?

Like comparing pro wrestling to MMA?

I see your point in a way. It made a lot of money. It, like the twilight series, was spot on for its target audience.

That being said, I'll probably never have any interest in reading it.

As for worst book?

[Hoser]

Anything by Ayn Rand.

Not because her books are meritless, but because her ideas are now mainstream enough (in Alt-Right & Libertarian circles) that one no longer need read her proselytic fiction, filled with contempt for those less illuminated than she, to home in on the philosophies she espoused.

Frankly, reading the archives of ROK is more informative and relevant today (good job, ROK)

[WhatIsBestInLife]

(02-08-2016 08:34 PM)Paracelsus Wrote:  

The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman. See The Celestine Prophecy above for the basic format of bullshit parable purported as some sort of quasi-non-fiction. Practice mindfulness and live in the moment and take very literally the "Life is just a dream" part of the children's fable "Row, row, row your boat": I just saved you $20.00 and a few hours of reading.

I have to agree.

I really like the movie. I have seen it quite a few times. But the film tones down the book's New Age magic aspects almost entirely in favor of something more zen-like.

[rafaeld]

Art of Seduction by American author Robert Greene.

A 512-page exhaustively long pile of manure supposedly outlining how to "woo" women with reference to famous traditional seducers.

There are a couple of useful points such as keeping an air of mystery but apart from that almost all of it is flowery nonsense. I ploughed my way through to about page 200 hoping it would get better but it just kept getting worse and worse until I tossed it away in disgust.

Some choice quotes:

Quote:

Sadness of any sort is also seductive, particularly if it seems deep-rooted, even spiritual, rather than needy or pathetic—it makes people come to you.

Oh great I'll just sit here being morose that will make women want to come sit on my dick.

Quote:

Religion humanizes this universe, makes us feel important and loved. We are not animals governed by uncontrollable drives, animals that die for no apparent reason, but creatures made in the image of supreme being.

No Robert, I hate to break it to you mate but we are all still animals, women are subject to base urges just like men. If you want to fuck them you gotta leverage their horniness not appeal to their inner divine fucking being.

Quote:

if no resistances or obstacles face you, you must create them. No seduction can proceed without them.

Oh thank god, I thought it was too easy to get laid. I guess I'd better disfigure my own face and gain 100lb so I can play the game on hard mode. Thanks Robert!

His so-called "advice" is useless at best and actively harmful at worst, there is a supplicative beta undertone to the whole thing and the feminist influence is rife.

Any man who actually applies this advice today is doomed to remain a virgin forever. I'm surprised that Robert Greene ever managed to get laid at all considering he was even capable of writing this book.

-1/10 do not waste your time with this garbage.

[Nowak]

(02-08-2017 06:29 AM)rafaeld Wrote:  

Art of Seduction by American author Robert Greene.

A 512-page exhaustively long pile of manure supposedly outlining how to "woo" women with reference to famous traditional seducers.

There are a couple of useful points such as keeping an air of mystery but apart from that almost all of it is flowery nonsense. I ploughed my way through to about page 200 hoping it would get better but it just kept getting worse and worse until I tossed it away in disgust.

Some choice quotes:

Quote:

Sadness of any sort is also seductive, particularly if it seems deep-rooted, even spiritual, rather than needy or pathetic—it makes people come to you.

Oh great I'll just sit here being morose that will make women want to come sit on my dick.

Quote:

Religion humanizes this universe, makes us feel important and loved. We are not animals governed by uncontrollable drives, animals that die for no apparent reason, but creatures made in the image of supreme being.

No Robert, I hate to break it to you mate but we are all still animals, women are subject to base urges just like men. If you want to fuck them you gotta leverage their horniness not appeal to their inner divine fucking being.

Quote:

if no resistances or obstacles face you, you must create them. No seduction can proceed without them.

Oh thank god, I thought it was too easy to get laid. I guess I'd better disfigure my own face and gain 100lb so I can play the game on hard mode. Thanks Robert!

His so-called "advice" is useless at best and actively harmful at worst, there is a supplicative beta undertone to the whole thing and the feminist influence is rife.

Any man who actually applies this advice today is doomed to remain a virgin forever. I'm surprised that Robert Greene ever managed to get laid at all considering he was even capable of writing this book.

-1/10 do not waste your time with this garbage.

Greene has always been better at rhetoric ,not practical information for 2017.

[Nowak]

Anything having to do with alternative monetary systems or ''practical'' Austrian economic theory.

I read the Creature from Jekyll Island as well as Ron Paul's newsletters and his infamous End the Fed book. Theres a difference between libertarian nationalism/Christian libertarianism /ultra right politics/ and returning to failed economic policies that DID NOT LEAD TO HIGHER PURCHASING POWER OR LIVING STANDARDS LIKE THESE FRAUDS LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE.

Whether it be free Jacksonian banking or a commodity standard, economic larping gets one nowhere.

As much as the current world needs change, central banking needs to be looked at with reason and rationality why such systems came into place, especially Nelson Aldrich's tour of Europe and Canada.

[Chase]

(09-07-2016 09:17 AM)Germanicus Wrote:  

Oh god no. Atlas Shrugged is an utter pile of dog crap. Severely poorly written, poor characterization, poor plotting, severely ham-handed spouting of dogma, and utter shit pacing-- did it really take 1100 pages to say what it had to say?

I really tried this one. 20 hours of reading. Then switching to the audio book. But eventually I came to my senses and put it away. It is extremely boring, clumsy, long-winded, and off-putting. The woman has no sense of humor and can't write. Wasted time I'll never get back.

[KirklandLaundryDetergent]

"How to make friends and influence" is a book that should be properly named "how to be a pushover and eat crow unless you are a middle manager." That book really screwed me up as a teenager and I remember the white hot rage I felt reading "No More Mr. Nice Guy" as I learned Dale Carnegie's book turned me into a beta.

(02-08-2017 08:58 AM)Nowak Wrote:  

(02-08-2017 06:29 AM)rafaeld Wrote:  

Art of Seduction by American author Robert Greene.

A 512-page exhaustively long pile of manure supposedly outlining how to "woo" women with reference to famous traditional seducers.

There are a couple of useful points such as keeping an air of mystery but apart from that almost all of it is flowery nonsense. I ploughed my way through to about page 200 hoping it would get better but it just kept getting worse and worse until I tossed it away in disgust.

Some choice quotes:

Quote:

Sadness of any sort is also seductive, particularly if it seems deep-rooted, even spiritual, rather than needy or pathetic—it makes people come to you.

Oh great I'll just sit here being morose that will make women want to come sit on my dick.

Quote:

Religion humanizes this universe, makes us feel important and loved. We are not animals governed by uncontrollable drives, animals that die for no apparent reason, but creatures made in the image of supreme being.

No Robert, I hate to break it to you mate but we are all still animals, women are subject to base urges just like men. If you want to fuck them you gotta leverage their horniness not appeal to their inner divine fucking being.

Quote:

if no resistances or obstacles face you, you must create them. No seduction can proceed without them.

Oh thank god, I thought it was too easy to get laid. I guess I'd better disfigure my own face and gain 100lb so I can play the game on hard mode. Thanks Robert!

His so-called "advice" is useless at best and actively harmful at worst, there is a supplicative beta undertone to the whole thing and the feminist influence is rife.

Any man who actually applies this advice today is doomed to remain a virgin forever. I'm surprised that Robert Greene ever managed to get laid at all considering he was even capable of writing this book.

-1/10 do not waste your time with this garbage.

Greene has always been better at rhetoric ,not practical information for 2017.

Robert Greene is a queer author as the person was a complete failure in his life until his writing career yet his books are best sellers about topics that he never experienced in his life.

However, I will say that "Mastery" is legit and one of the better books I have read on the topic.

[Vaun]

Models: Mark Manson

I dont understand this book. It doesn't adequately explain its premise, in practical terms. It assumes men lie and are dishonest to women when we try to pick them up. I couldn't find any clear advice. I liked his most recent book about not giving a fuck, but this book was bunk.

[Kurgan]

40 More Years by Democratic strategist James Carvillle and Permanently Blue by Dylan Loewe. James still seems to think his strategies are still revelant in the 2000's and 2010s. It was also written when Obama won and the pundits were declaring a period of Democrats dominating the White House for a long time despite the fact they were winning most presidential elections since 1992 with ease.

[Alsos]

(02-08-2017 10:52 AM)Chase Wrote:  

(09-07-2016 09:17 AM)Germanicus Wrote:  

Oh god no. Atlas Shrugged is an utter pile of dog crap. Severely poorly written, poor characterization, poor plotting, severely ham-handed spouting of dogma, and utter shit pacing-- did it really take 1100 pages to say what it had to say?

I really tried this one. 20 hours of reading. Then switching to the audio book. But eventually I came to my senses and put it away. It is extremely boring, clumsy, long-winded, and off-putting. The woman has no sense of humor and can't write. Wasted time I'll never get back.

The first time I read it, I laughed out loud at the Taggart Tunnel scene.

I don't know if that means it actually has some humor in it, or if it means I'm an empathy-free sociopath. Hopefully both.

[Chris Brown]

How do such awful books get published?