Any good book recommendation's?

M

mr wilks

Lifer
 Lancashire
My 1st choice of vacation is our own place in France where i always have something to do & never have time for reading or to get bored
As such ive managed to avoid sunbed holidays for last 3 years but got one looking in October & need some decent reading material .
Just myself & mrs w :) neither of us are into sightseeing & whilst she is happy lounging all day in the sun i can see the novelty wearing off pretty quick for me :cry:
I like a decent autobiography ( Lance Armstrong & Bob Geldof were both pretty good) & my favourite book of all time is "Endurance" but i've read it 3 times so happy to look into any suggestion's you folks have :thumbsup: .
 
I have just read Guy Martins biography..

Well worth a read..

Also read the Guvnor about Lenny Mclean and Morrisseys Autobiography earlier this year,both ok..
 
Best biographies, spanning very different people: Shunt (James Hunt), Eric Clapton's autobiography and Steve's Job's biography.

Best ever fiction: Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks (rather topical right now)
 
"Carrying the Fire" - Astronaut Michael Collins' autobiography.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carrying-Fire-An-Astronauts-Journeys/dp/0374531943

I've read pretty much every book written by or about the 24 guys who want to the moon, and this is probably the best. Eugene Cernan's book "The Last Man on the Moon" is very good too.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Man-Moon-Astronaut-Americas/dp/0312263511

Both can be picked up for about £3.00.

Of course, none of these will mean much if you're under 50, but if you lived through the moon landings you really should read one or two of the books written by the men who went there.
 
Agree, Guy Martin book is a good read and gives an insight into the man
Same can be said for the James Hunt biography by Gerald Donaldson
These guys are from a different gene pool!

Eddie Jordan book opened my eyes about the politics of F1 - he was a right risk taker and wheeler dealer

bit of a trend here! :D
 
On the bike theme the Ron Haslam autobiography is a good read,at the moment I am reading the Chris Walker autobiography ,again an interesting read .
 
Wish I could read a novel. This is my current reading material...want to borrow?
nagysa5y.jpg
 
The Big Show by Pierre Clostermann a french pilot who flies fighters for the RAF in World War 2. Absolutely brilliant. The books were re published in 2004 to include material censored before. They are out of print again now and commanding high prices but there's one on ebay at the moment currently at £6.99 with 1 day to go.

Amazon reviews:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Show-Pierre-Clostermann/product-reviews/0297846191/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
 
bladeowner said:
The Big Show by Pierre Clostermann a french pilot who flies fighters for the RAF in World War 2. Absolutely brilliant. The books were re published in 2004 to include material censored before. They are out of print again now and commanding high prices but there's one on ebay at the moment currently at £6.99 with 1 day to go.

Amazon reviews:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Show-Pierre-Clostermann/product-reviews/0297846191/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Click to expand...


Reviews sound good , i still have this book to finish first from last time i went :oops: http://www.thelostmen.com/ probably have to start from the beginning .
I do like a good read but never do it at home as always fizzing about doing other things .
 
If your at all into Engineering then I can highly recommend this book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0874744911/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Its not particularly long, but absolutely fascinating. The best book I have read this year easily :D
 
Oli T said:
If your at all into Engineering then I can highly recommend this book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0874744911/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Its not particularly long, but absolutely fascinating. The best book I have read this year easily :D
Click to expand...

Does that mean the only book you've read this year ? :D
 
I get through a fair few, just loved this one, covers aircraft engineering from the early days right up to the SR71. I know it's not every ones cup of tea :roll:
 
So many great books out there for just a few pounds.

In my "reading everything Apollo" phase I'm currently enjoying Pete Conrad's "Rocketman" book. Cost me about two quid.

Early on he's about 16 years old, desperate to learn to fly, but can't afford it. He's obsessed with mechanics and regularly strips down his Indian motorcycle for fun. One day he's working at his local airfield, cutting the grass and doing chores (this is around 1946). He's the only one there and an irate radio call comes in from a woman pilot who as just had to perform a deadstick landing because a plane out of the airfield hasn't been fixed properly. She refer to him as "broom boy".

Conrad hops on his motorcycle, rides a good few miles and meets the lady pilot. She takes one look at the motorcycle and insists that she's not riding back on it. Conrad looks at her and says "Don't worry Ma'am, I'll fix the plane for you". He gets his toolkit out, tells her that the choke is working fine (despite the fact that the 'proper' mechanic has advised her its faulty) and sorts out the throttle instead. Twenty minutes, job done.

He rides back to the airfield, she flies back and when he return she refers to him as "Mr Conrad", tells him the plane is flying better than ever, and offers him $10.00 as a gift. He refuses, so she asks if there's anything else she can do instead. He replies "Yes please Ma'am, can you teach me to fly?" The lady obliges and flight-obsessed Conrad takes the first steps to a career that would see him command Apollo 12 and be the third man to walk on the moon.
 
I do like stories of achievement that can very often stimulate motivation .
I am 46 & have no idea at all about the moon landing folks or what their lives entailed before ,during or after :(
 
Well many of the astronaut's stories are fascinating. Buzz Aldrin fared worse, hitting the alcohol big time. His most recent book "Magnificent Desolation" isn't that good though.

To me their stories catalogue mankind's greatest achievement, escaping planet earth to begin our destiny amongst the stars. I just hope I see humans on Mars before my time is up.
 
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