What are you reading now?

[Peter]

I read somewhere: "As we shall
see, the concept of time has no meaning before the beginning of the
universe. This was first pointed out by St. Augustine. When asked:
'What did God do before he created the universe?' Augustine
didn't reply: 'He was preparing Hell for people who asked such
questions.' Instead, he said that time was a property of the
universe that God created, and that time did not exist before the
beginning of the universe."

This view exactly matches current mainstream thinking about cosmological stuff. His was indeed a powerful intellect. I understand he had a dissolute youth.

He did indeed and what is astonishing (aside from his intellect as you point out) is the frankness with which he deals with his sexual temptations - the Victorians must have had a real problem with him!

[Enrique]

I read somewhere: "As we shall
see, the concept of time has no meaning before the beginning of the
universe. This was first pointed out by St. Augustine. When asked:
'What did God do before he created the universe?' Augustine
didn't reply: 'He was preparing Hell for people who asked such
questions.' Instead, he said that time was a property of the
universe that God created, and that time did not exist before the
beginning of the universe."

This view exactly matches current mainstream thinking about cosmological stuff. His was indeed a powerful intellect. I understand he had a dissolute youth.

[Peter]

The Confessions of Saint Augustine - remarkably modern in its psychological insights.

[Sorrano]

That does sound like an interesting read!

[Megan]

Plots & Parallel Powers.

I have just read an unusual and good novel on the Gunpowder Plot. by Robert Neville.
I think the thing I noticed about it was how well written it is and I guess you would call it a literary kind of novel.
There are some actual and fictional characters in it. I liked an old wizard that he invents called Vasco. What I would say is that as a novel it does look at the plot from a deeper an even an inside way, which I found very unusual. A rare and interesting read.


http://www.amazon.com/Plots-Parallel.../dp/B00CS3BMQ8

[Preston]

Interesting you say that about the Wells novel, which I never got round to reading. Do tell me what your view is when you've finished it.
It is sounds similar to the last novel that Aldous Huxley wrote when he was dying in 1962, called Island, which is about making a perfect community based on drug use and meditation.
Contrasting it with Brave New World and the Wells novel that you are reading, its really concerned with the difference between imposing rules to bring about some perfect society, or as against a more libertarian approach .

Megan, I wanted to get back to you even though I have not finished reading the book. I just do not find fascination in reading, as of now. Anyway, the story deals with issues like being brain-washed by societies laws and so-called morals, pain, lack of belief in the human species, and don't really know any other ones right now.

To my mind, the main character, Prendick, who is the protagonist, in the end becomes so terrified by his own species (human beings) that he leaves society and lives in pretty much complete isolation. He continues to live because he hopes that there is something greater – like omnipotence. I love how the story makes human beings the “bad guys”, not to mention, to the point that Prendick ends up living in complete isolation because of it. The point is that human beings do not care for the welfare of their fellow human beings to the point that is needed, and in doing so human beings, who feel the same things as the ones making them suffer, are in serious pain.

Another major point is that human beings only seem to be good because of society's “moral values” but are in fact animals themselves – in a strange and hard to explain way. We think, we talk, etc. but there is something deeply wrong with us, imo.

I really like how Prendick goes to live in solitude (and finds comfort in it, to mention) – I feel like I am getting that way too. There is just too much pain and madness in this world – I find it all very strange.

All in all, I relate to the things in this book very much. I like more of the philosophy of the book than the actual reading. But, Wells makes some great points and raises some great questions.

[Peter]

Wagner - 'Mein Leben' - interesting if not totally reliable.

[Enrique]

Enjoyable it is, indeed! Thanks for the link.

[Quijote]

Brave New World is a perfect description of our present society. I remember the savage knowing Shakespeare by heart when nobody else in that world knew about him, that they were anesthetized by a pill which made them think they were happy, when they had the strongest reason to be unhappy in a State that was everything while they were nothing but mechanical toys obeying rules and satisfying needs artificially created by others.

Further to your post, Enrique, and my subsequent post (#200 on this thread) about advertising, I offer you this link (from The Guardian newspaper) that pretty much sums up the vacuousness of advertising ("satisfying needs artificially created by others"). Please do click on the "play" button on the article's video for a full dose of bulls**t. Enjoy!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/fa...smell-disaster

[Enrique]

I have the 1860 edition of Schindler's book, edited by Donald W.MacArdle and translated by Constance S. Jolly (London, 1966). It seems obvious that MacArdle worked on the German text and then the result was translated into English, and not the other way around. So, it means that the editor didn't have full command of the English language, even though his name sounds Scottish. Perfectly possible, but has someone info on him, his native country and the like? I find it difficult to find out.

EDIT: I learn from the German wikipedia that he was born in the US, lived and worked there. So he worked on the translation.

[Sorrano]

The 1875 edition is one that I happened across in a sale where a library was discarding old books. I am not sure where that can be obtained. Off the top of my head I do not recall the title, but it's more of an autobiography; written by Moscheles about the various composers that he met during his lifetime. As far as I can tell, my copy was printed in 1875, so it's a bit of a keepsake.

[Quijote]

OK, I see now. I've got the Schindler (the third edition, without Moscheles' preface), but I never saw before the Moscheles edition, so I'll copy paste that to my hard drive, thanks!
In the meantime, where can I get hold of the 1875 Moscheles biography? That would be certainly of interest!

[Sorrano]

Here it is, Sorrano :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/THE-LIFE-OF-...9971952&sr=1-4

That is the Schindler, edited by Moscheles. Check the inside (click on the picture of the book) and you can read the editor's notes. It is the same book that I linked you to on Gutenberg.

[Quijote]

Here it is, Sorrano :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/THE-LIFE-OF-...9971952&sr=1-4

[Sorrano]

That seems to be Schindler's biography, Sorrano. I've got the Schindler, I really would like the Moscheles.

Can you link me to the book on Amazon? All I can find is the Schindler that is edited by Moscheles. They are listed together as authors, but Moscheles is the editor. The name of the book is "The Life of Beethoven" and is in two volumes.

Incidentally, I do have an 1875 edition of his (Moscheles) own biography, in which he talks about Beethoven along with other contemporary composers.