What's on your reading list?

Crazy4blues, I agree. DaVinci Code was a real letdown but taking a side trail, I read a The Templar Revelation, which while a bit heavy-handed, is a thought-provoking read (check the Amazon reviews for more).

Rhyno, in the same market vein, I would recommend "Fooled by Randomness" by Nassim Taleb (and if professionally interested in the subject and derivatives, his earlier "Dynamic Hedging" is among the best out there). I disliked Niederhoffer's "Education of a Speculator" so much that while I will normally read new books in the genre, I have avoided PS. In a less 'practical' vein, I heartily recommend "Reminiscences of a Stock Operator" by Edwin Lefevre. I make it a point to read it every year or so. I'm waiting on his "Sampson Rock" now.

For the several people who enjoy detective novels, two European detective writers (as hard-boiled but less flashy than Vachss) I like very much are Michael Dibdin and Ian Rankin.

For the next month or so, I have both of the above-mentioned Steingarten books and "1421: The Year China Discovered the World" waiting for me.

Crazy4blues,

You make a great points about Dan Brown's books. Angels and Demons and DaVinci Code seemed like they were created from the exact same template, just change the location and the names and the title. Even though they can get very over the top and are based on very shakey history, I still got sucked into them.

And the luscious female Italian physicist from Angels and Demons? You forget, she was a master yogi too! Heheh.

Gunbei: Yeah, I can see it now: The movie will star Harrison Ford and Angelina Jolie. I'm taking bets!

t_bone

the fact that you heartily recommend one of my all time faves, "stock operator", and equally deride neiderhoffer as i do (i finished PS, my review is on amazon, and it was none too kind!), well lets just say i'll be picking up Fooled by Randomness. thanks!

rhyno

Crazy4blues, I think Harrison Ford is too old, heheh!

I have an actor's face in my head for the upcoming DaVinci Code movie, but I can't think of his name. Rats! I think he's in his forties though, much closer to the Robert Langdon character.

Remember, he's gotta have the ability to engage in underwater mortal combat against an evil assassin in one of those dangerous Itlaian fountains!

I see Sophie Marceau for the part of Sophie Neveu in DaVinci Code and Maria Grazia Cucinotta as the 6 foot tall yogi master physicist in Angels and Demons! LOL

But you're right, Hollywood doesn't cast the best people for the parts, just ones that'll bring in the most dough.