# Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - October 2023 edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [September 28, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838 "2023-09-28T23:50:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/61 "2023-10-16T19:21:45Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > Someone upthread reminded me that _Robots Have No Tails_ by Henry Kuttner exists and I remembered liking it when I was 20ish. Since my copy literally has no binding anymore (all just loose pages in the cover) I picked it up on Kindle and started it this morning. _Robots have no Tails_ has no cover. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/62 "2023-10-16T22:19:48Z")
I picked up a stack of books from a couple of different thrift stores. So, now I have a choice to make for my next book. What would you pick? [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/X9021Dn.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/X9021Dn) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/63 "2023-10-16T22:32:58Z")
I read Magpie Murders last year. It’s a fun mystery, sort of in the style of Agatha Christie. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/64 "2023-10-16T22:49:47Z")
Either Sandford or Connelly. Two of my favorite authors. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/65 "2023-10-16T23:29:01Z")
I’m leaning toward the Sandford first. The Connelly book is one I’ve read before, but I couldn’t pass up the first edition hardcover for a couple of bucks. Also two of my favorites as well. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/66 "2023-10-17T14:32:07Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > _Robots have no Tails_ has no cover. Excuse me? Am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/67 "2023-10-17T14:33:06Z")
Blood Woork! One of my favorite Connolly books. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/68 "2023-10-17T14:53:15Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > Excuse me? Am I missing something? Only that you said that your copy no binding. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/69 "2023-10-17T18:39:50Z")
Here’s where y’all find out about my guilty pleasure: self-help books. I’m reading **Building a Non-Anxious Life** by Dr. John Delony. I heard him on the Minimalists podcast and he seemed insightful and compassionate. Turns out his own podcast is produced through Dave Ramsey. 😖 And the book’s forward is written by Ramsey himself. Delony himself seems all right. My jury’s out on the book so far. He hasn’t really said much of anything yet, except that he isn’t a fan of labeling people with a diagnosis, which may or may not be a red flag. He doesn’t seem unreasonable, but his approach is suspiciously folksy. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/70 "2023-10-17T20:00:37Z")
Glad you liked _Death and the Conjuror_! I got it from the library and just finished it. Enjoyed it. I do prefer the second book in the series, which I read first. dehsawnU eht flU, that’s me. With any luck there’ll be a third one out before too long. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/71 "2023-10-17T22:54:52Z")
That was me. Hope you enjoy it. Finished _Legends and Lattes_ by Travis Baldree, which was okay. Now I’m reading _Classic Monsters Unleashed_, edited by James Aquilone. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/72 "2023-10-17T23:06:39Z")
I did when I read it 30 odd years ago, let’s see how much of a curmudgeon I’ve become. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/73 "2023-10-17T23:25:03Z")
I’m a Stephenson fan, but caveat emptor. _FALL_ has some really really fascinating ideas (curated web, life after death) but as with most (not all) of his books there’s a 500 page book scrabbling to get out from under the 1200 page book. _Termination Shock_ is kind of the same, but has more momentum, and is a pretty decent stab at what we might have to do re: climate change. I’ve read Fall once (and skipped some). I’ve read Termination Shock twice, and it was worth it. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/74 "2023-10-17T23:53:30Z")
Recently finished: _Strip_ and _The Burglar_, by Thomas Perry _March Upcountry_, by David Weber and John Ringo Now reading: _March to the Sea_, by Weber and Ringo Up next: _March to the Stars_, by Weber and Ringo _Roman Blood_, by Steven Saylor Another thriller or two by Perry ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/75 "2023-10-18T01:24:03Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > I’m a Stephenson fan I am a fan of him also. But, I do have to be in the right mood for his kind of writing. Thanks for the info on these two Stephenson books. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/76 "2023-10-18T12:17:43Z")
If you do read _Termination Shock_ feel free to skim the Line of Actual Control segments. Just sayin. ---
**Author:** ![lawf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@lawf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawf)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/77 "2023-10-20T08:55:02Z")
Been reading [Weapons of Math Destruction](https://www.bartleby.com/lit/weapons-of-math-destruction) (full title is How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy) by Cathy O’Neil. It is a fantastic account of how big data and the algorithm/app approach are used to fracture the public sphere. It goes a step further than surveillance capitalism by focusing on the divisive use of Big Data. Published in 2016; been seven years, and we still don’t have many regulations to keep Big Data in check. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/78 "2023-10-20T17:43:12Z")
Added to my reading list. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/79 "2023-10-20T18:05:52Z")
Have just started Angus Deaton, Economics in America: An Immigrant Economist Explores the Land of Inequality. Beaton is a winner of the Economics Nobel prize (I know, it is not an actual Nobel prize), originally from Britain and immigrated to Princeton in 1983. As he puts it, “I try to be honest about our [economists] failings, our over enthusiasm for markets and for globalization, and our decidedly odd way of thinking about the ethics of what we are doing…The United States has become a darker society since I arrived in 1983. The hopes of the immigrant have been tempered by reality, but even more by the corruption of the American economy and its politics, a corruption that threatens our democracy…I have come to understand the extent to which state and federal government [sic] in the United States often work, not to protect ordinary people but to help rich predators make ordinary people poorer. Yet the system is far from entirely rigged, and it provides an immensely productive and good life to some, even if those some no longer include most of the population.” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838/80 "2023-10-20T18:14:55Z")
I’ve been reading this modern detective novel that was published in 2010 called _[Boulevard](https://www.amazon.com/Boulevard-Stephen-Jay-Schwartz-2010-08-03/dp/B01FJ1FAV8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=72W5MLWQSUGV&keywords=boulevard+schwartz&qid=1697825465&sprefix=boulevard+schwartz%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1)_ by Stephen Jay Schwartz. It’s part of the cache of books I had sent from the east coast. I’ve read it before but I can’t remember the outcome, so I’m riveted. It’s about a homicide cop in L.A. who is a sex addict chasing down a serial killer who is murdering people with him as an audience - but he can’t reveal his secret without ruining his and other people’s lives. It’s a great bathroom read as I don’t think there’s a chapter longer than about five pages - but it’s not horrible cliff-hanging garbage ala _Da Vinci Code_. Additional edit to add: why on earth would a mass paperback, that I paid $15 for ten years ago, be selling $50 on Amazon? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2023-edition/990838.md?page=5)