Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bookrecommendation

Good etymology book?

helixportland — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:29:32 -0800

My friend recently mentioned that he'd like to have a good (American English) etymology book. Can anyone suggest a good one? It can be simple and short or long and detailed, but I'd prefer to err on the side of long and detailed.

Harry Dresden, Repairman Jack, Felix Castor, then?

robocop is bleeding — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:38:27 -0800

I'm looking for some book recommendations: Urban fantasy stories featuring investigators vs the supernatural. I've already read all of Butcher's Dresden Files, Wilson's Repairman Jack, and Carey's Felix Castor series. I'd like to continue to read books about lone investigator/private eyes combating the supernatural in an urban fantasy setting, but after a bit of experimentation, I keep on stumbling upon series that either devolve into softcore porn or are not very well written, or both (so Anita Blake is right out).

So where do I go from here? Spring is finally springing and I'd like some light, entertaining reading.

Extra-points for Kindle content.

A book on the history and interpretation of copyright law

cyphill — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:19:22 -0800

Could somebody please recommend a book on the history and interpretation of copyright law in the United States? I'm looking for something that isn't simply legalize (although if it delves into it a bit that's fine) and does not focus on piracy.

A Book About Killing Before Guns

Bobby Bittman — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:46:36 -0800

Book-Recommendation-Filter: I want a book that tells me all about how medieval warfare used to be waged. I don't want to know about specific battles. I don't want to know about history. I want to know all the different ways people came up with to kill each other and knock down castles made of stone.

Suggestions?

Pondering Mycological Mysteries in the North Woods--book recommendations?

RedEmma — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:23:33 -0800

What field guide for mushrooms should I get? I've got the local Fascinating Fungi of the North Woods, but it's limited. So it's between the big Mushrooms Demystified, which I looked over long ago and liked... or the Peterson's Guide for my region. Or something else? What would you recommend for a hobbyist mycologist who isn't afraid of reading things I don't understand (yet)?

Books in the vein of Adam Curtis?

Sticherbeast — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 23:21:35 -0800

I've been on a (scary and depressing) kick of the Adam Curtis documentaries (Century of the Self, The Power of Nightmares). What non-fiction books does MeFi recommend in a similar vein? Anything tying in psychoanalysis, propaganda, focus groups, politics, mass manipulation, and whatever else that will make me lose sleep is more than welcome. Bonus points go to books having a similarly ominous, overwhelming, "fact me 'till I fart" sort of feel, if that makes any sense.

Recommend "end of the world" fiction.

cmonkey — Mon, 13 Dec 2004 22:20:04 -0800

I would like recommendations for "end of the world" fiction books. I'm a huge fan of "last man on earth"/"total destruction of humanity" fiction books like Earth Abides, On The Beach and The Postman. Stories like I Am Legend also really appeal to me.

What other books along those lines can I pick up?