Abominable by Dan Simmons is a good read - 2/3rds setup, a lot to get through but similar to The Terror, which he wrote before this, it gets better as you go. Lots of mountineering, all about Everest and the 20s expedition logistics, but a few nod/wink liberties taken with technology and convenient equipment being 'invented' that stops it being a truly great read.
Another great episode. Several new books added to my list.
I would love to hear in volume 3. “Coffee Table” or photo books. I imagine between watches, adventure and general photography you must have a collection worth sharing.
Great episode, as more a reader than a movie enjoyer I love hearing these.
I read The Secret History a few months ago per your mention James, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Compelling and truly well written. One small correction though, in the book the college is called Hampden, and it's fairly obviously a fictional version of the actual Bennington college which is a real institution in Vermont.
Your mention of The Road brought back mixed feelings of when I read it- by a long shot the most depressing and truly scary book I've ever read. It portrays the horror of extinction more graphically than anything else I've read.
If The Road is too much for anyone (it nearly was for me), I highly recommend Blood Meridian by McCarthy as well- his writing is a whole level above almost any other modern author I've read.
And of course I can't NOT mention Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, as my favorite book of all time, and the one that has most profoundly influenced my own life.
Another recommendation for a absolute TGN-book (in my eyes) is: „The bright edge of the world“ written by the alaskan author Eowyn Ivey. I first red “the snow child” a even better book.
Jason, even if science fiction isn’t your thing, I’d recommend giving Ted Chiang’s “The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling” from his recent short story collection “Exhalation” a try.
As James said, his stories are more like parables – in this case, a reflection on how writing as a technology shifted the way we filter memory and truth, and how upcoming technologies might do the same. As a linguist, I found it thought-provoking in a meta kind of way. Maybe you’d find it interesting as a writer?
Great episode, guys! And thanks for the book recommendations!
I'd be totally down for a TGN Discord or forum. I think it would provide for a more contiguous place for listeners to interact and chat, as compared to dropping comments for the weekly episodes.
On the topic of books, if anyone's a fan of Band of Brothers (the show), Stephen Ambrose's eponymous book is also a great read. :)
And as it so happens, HBO recently did a podcast for the show's 20th anniversary (I know, right?), which can be found here: https://www.hbo.com/band-of-brothers/podcast (or, y'know, wherever you get your podcasts. We had a great time listening to it as we rewatched the show last month.
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead. The fictional life of a female aviator who flew through Prohibition, WW II, Alaska, and around the world. Definitely a TGN kind of epic.
The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin. Spaghetti Western; desert Nevada; newly completed railroad; high Sierra; mystical/unexplainable. Really engrossing. Would make an incredible movie in the right hands.
Ishi in Two Worlds by Theodora Kroeber. A story of genocide and survival and a life after. The events took place where I now live (and hike and fish), so there is a bit of extra resonance for me. This is another “book report” read, but it’s a good one, especially if you are oriented towards adventuring in the outdoors…
For the people in the US check to see if your local library supports Hoopla. It is an app for iOS and Android. There will probably be a monthly limit on borrows but what I like about it is there are no limits on the downloads so you don't need to wait for someone to return a book before you are able to check it out. There are everything from comics to graphic novels, books and audiobooks. Even movies and TV. It is a great way to get reading material for free. Not everything is there but it does rotate selections so it isn't always the same. My local library also supports ways to get books on Kindle but I haven't gone down that route yet. There are a couple of other apps and programs that they may support as well but I think Hoopla is the best. Definitely worth a check.
Really love the Dog Stars. The River and The Guide are equally good.
Operation Mincemeat was a fascinating read and a great WWII story!
Another one that is quite good is The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb. Really gripping story of sabotaging a plant in Norway that produces heavy water.
An interesting recent audiobook listen is Malcolm Gladwell's The Bomber Mafia. It is a look into how bombing as a tactic in war (especially daylight bombing) came about in WWII with the advent of the airplane.
My kids use hoopla a lot on their tablets and really enjoy the experience. I think there is another app called Overdrive that is linked to the library. I could be wrong on that.
I personally do not read a ton on books been when I do I read stuff that I am either very likely to read again or use as a reference guide. As such I will buy most of what I read in physical form. It is great to have a bookshelf full of stuff I enjoy and/or know I will go back to.
The bomber Mafia was great and there's a podcast for that one too 🙂 I use OverDrive from my local library and can get most of these books for free if I'm willing to wait a few weeks
You have my respect and support for the introduction to this episode. Thank you.
The Dog Stars is set in my community (I think the airport referred to in the book is 5 miles or so from my home-it certainly was in my mind's eye when reading the book). It was shockingly entertaining in the sense of recognizing the geography within the plot and also thinking about the reality of being in this place under dystopian and post-present-society circumstances. I highly recommend this book and offer continuing thanks for great content.
I think you guys struck the right tone in the opening part; if I want news and analysis on world events, I know where to find it. Sometimes its nice to just listen to two guys chat about watches, cars, diving, or books for an hour or so.
I like the current format of the open comments. Nothing against Discord, but TBH I probably wouldn't do anything with it. I signed up for Andy and Felix at OT, but never log in.
I liked the books. Some I had read, and others are now in my queue.
James - I read The Secret History based on your last recommendation. Very good, but also *very* dark. It really sticks with you even when you put it down.
I really liked Slow Horses; I think it does fit with Le Carre; many of his books also focused on the seedy or less glamorous views of the spy game, and less on the flash and sex appeal. Definitely not Fleming (not that there is anything wrong with him).
I have not read Operation Mincemeat, but I have read several of Macintyre's other books. He is a great combination of a historian and storyteller.
Stories of Your Life and Dog Stars are now on my Kindle list.
Daniel, I was going to make a similar comment on the forum/Discord idea. I personally feel that the comments here are a great way to connect with listeners and hosts alike and another channel would increase the noise.
Endurance – if you liked the book wait until you see the movie! No, it is not a new release for 2022, it was filmed in 2016 – no wait, make that 1916! Actually, the documentary was released in 2000, but one of the amazing things is the quality photography done in 1916 during that journey and how well documented it is. I had the pleasure of seeing it when released on a large screen, but seeing firsthand photos of what actually happened is rather breathtaking. Thap photographer was dedicated! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264578/ Looking forward to the mincemeat movie - that could be quite a fun film.
Abominable by Dan Simmons is a good read - 2/3rds setup, a lot to get through but similar to The Terror, which he wrote before this, it gets better as you go. Lots of mountineering, all about Everest and the 20s expedition logistics, but a few nod/wink liberties taken with technology and convenient equipment being 'invented' that stops it being a truly great read.
25% into The Secret History Ou la la ;)
Another great episode. Several new books added to my list.
I would love to hear in volume 3. “Coffee Table” or photo books. I imagine between watches, adventure and general photography you must have a collection worth sharing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/climate/endurance-wreck-found-shackleton.html
Endurance has been found!
You mentioned it Jason and now it’s found: the wreck of Shakletons Endurance was found on Saturday.
Great episode, as more a reader than a movie enjoyer I love hearing these.
I read The Secret History a few months ago per your mention James, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Compelling and truly well written. One small correction though, in the book the college is called Hampden, and it's fairly obviously a fictional version of the actual Bennington college which is a real institution in Vermont.
Your mention of The Road brought back mixed feelings of when I read it- by a long shot the most depressing and truly scary book I've ever read. It portrays the horror of extinction more graphically than anything else I've read.
If The Road is too much for anyone (it nearly was for me), I highly recommend Blood Meridian by McCarthy as well- his writing is a whole level above almost any other modern author I've read.
And of course I can't NOT mention Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, as my favorite book of all time, and the one that has most profoundly influenced my own life.
Thank you For the recommendation of Peter Hellers book Jason. I already bought it (in German obviously).
Another recommendation for a absolute TGN-book (in my eyes) is: „The bright edge of the world“ written by the alaskan author Eowyn Ivey. I first red “the snow child” a even better book.
Jason, even if science fiction isn’t your thing, I’d recommend giving Ted Chiang’s “The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling” from his recent short story collection “Exhalation” a try.
As James said, his stories are more like parables – in this case, a reflection on how writing as a technology shifted the way we filter memory and truth, and how upcoming technologies might do the same. As a linguist, I found it thought-provoking in a meta kind of way. Maybe you’d find it interesting as a writer?
Also, all the upvotes for a TGN discord 👍🏼
Great episode, guys! And thanks for the book recommendations!
I'd be totally down for a TGN Discord or forum. I think it would provide for a more contiguous place for listeners to interact and chat, as compared to dropping comments for the weekly episodes.
On the topic of books, if anyone's a fan of Band of Brothers (the show), Stephen Ambrose's eponymous book is also a great read. :)
And as it so happens, HBO recently did a podcast for the show's 20th anniversary (I know, right?), which can be found here: https://www.hbo.com/band-of-brothers/podcast (or, y'know, wherever you get your podcasts. We had a great time listening to it as we rewatched the show last month.
Three great books I read recently:
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead. The fictional life of a female aviator who flew through Prohibition, WW II, Alaska, and around the world. Definitely a TGN kind of epic.
The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin. Spaghetti Western; desert Nevada; newly completed railroad; high Sierra; mystical/unexplainable. Really engrossing. Would make an incredible movie in the right hands.
Ishi in Two Worlds by Theodora Kroeber. A story of genocide and survival and a life after. The events took place where I now live (and hike and fish), so there is a bit of extra resonance for me. This is another “book report” read, but it’s a good one, especially if you are oriented towards adventuring in the outdoors…
For the people in the US check to see if your local library supports Hoopla. It is an app for iOS and Android. There will probably be a monthly limit on borrows but what I like about it is there are no limits on the downloads so you don't need to wait for someone to return a book before you are able to check it out. There are everything from comics to graphic novels, books and audiobooks. Even movies and TV. It is a great way to get reading material for free. Not everything is there but it does rotate selections so it isn't always the same. My local library also supports ways to get books on Kindle but I haven't gone down that route yet. There are a couple of other apps and programs that they may support as well but I think Hoopla is the best. Definitely worth a check.
Really love the Dog Stars. The River and The Guide are equally good.
Operation Mincemeat was a fascinating read and a great WWII story!
Another one that is quite good is The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb. Really gripping story of sabotaging a plant in Norway that produces heavy water.
An interesting recent audiobook listen is Malcolm Gladwell's The Bomber Mafia. It is a look into how bombing as a tactic in war (especially daylight bombing) came about in WWII with the advent of the airplane.
My kids use hoopla a lot on their tablets and really enjoy the experience. I think there is another app called Overdrive that is linked to the library. I could be wrong on that.
I personally do not read a ton on books been when I do I read stuff that I am either very likely to read again or use as a reference guide. As such I will buy most of what I read in physical form. It is great to have a bookshelf full of stuff I enjoy and/or know I will go back to.
The bomber Mafia was great and there's a podcast for that one too 🙂 I use OverDrive from my local library and can get most of these books for free if I'm willing to wait a few weeks
You have my respect and support for the introduction to this episode. Thank you.
The Dog Stars is set in my community (I think the airport referred to in the book is 5 miles or so from my home-it certainly was in my mind's eye when reading the book). It was shockingly entertaining in the sense of recognizing the geography within the plot and also thinking about the reality of being in this place under dystopian and post-present-society circumstances. I highly recommend this book and offer continuing thanks for great content.
I think you guys struck the right tone in the opening part; if I want news and analysis on world events, I know where to find it. Sometimes its nice to just listen to two guys chat about watches, cars, diving, or books for an hour or so.
I like the current format of the open comments. Nothing against Discord, but TBH I probably wouldn't do anything with it. I signed up for Andy and Felix at OT, but never log in.
I liked the books. Some I had read, and others are now in my queue.
James - I read The Secret History based on your last recommendation. Very good, but also *very* dark. It really sticks with you even when you put it down.
I really liked Slow Horses; I think it does fit with Le Carre; many of his books also focused on the seedy or less glamorous views of the spy game, and less on the flash and sex appeal. Definitely not Fleming (not that there is anything wrong with him).
I have not read Operation Mincemeat, but I have read several of Macintyre's other books. He is a great combination of a historian and storyteller.
Stories of Your Life and Dog Stars are now on my Kindle list.
Daniel, I was going to make a similar comment on the forum/Discord idea. I personally feel that the comments here are a great way to connect with listeners and hosts alike and another channel would increase the noise.
Endurance – if you liked the book wait until you see the movie! No, it is not a new release for 2022, it was filmed in 2016 – no wait, make that 1916! Actually, the documentary was released in 2000, but one of the amazing things is the quality photography done in 1916 during that journey and how well documented it is. I had the pleasure of seeing it when released on a large screen, but seeing firsthand photos of what actually happened is rather breathtaking. Thap photographer was dedicated! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264578/ Looking forward to the mincemeat movie - that could be quite a fun film.
I’ve been resisting downloading and joining any discord group - however if there was a TGN one, that might just get me to download a new app