The History Book Club discussion

hello all, my name is pete almquist. i live in the outerbanks of north carolina with my wife, three kids, a dog, two cats, 2 rats, a ferret and various fish and reptiles. most of these pets are my daughter's. i read pretty much all genres depending on the mood and what i read last. have always enjoyed historical subjects but especially enjoy reading about the american civil war and the old west. one of my favorite fictional series is the aubrey/maturin books by patrick o'brian.

thanks for the opportunity to join in.

Hi Pete,

Goodness you have quite a collection at home; only have one dog myself aside from the family. Funny you live in the outerbanks; my family is planning a trip there in a few weeks.

It must be a beautiful place to live when the weather cooperates; thought you were a Virginia native.

Glad to have you in the group.

Bentley

Please welcome Peter (not to be confused with pete) to the book club. Peter when you have an opportunity, please tell the group a little something about yourself.

Thanks.

Bentley

hi all,

thanks for the welcome. my daughter michelle isnt sure if she wants to be a vet or operate a zoo. outerbanks is cool pretty much any time of year. temps are moderate but there is always a breeze (sometimes a wind) all year cold or hot. that's one of the reasons why the wright brothers chose it for their first flights.

anyway, we lived in virginia a long time but i'm actually from colorado. living out west is probably where i got my interest for the old west. hope everybody's having a great evening. by the way, bently, whereabouts on the beach are you staying, if i may ask?

Hi Pete,

I think Oldesq was spot on with your daughter's interest in animals. Sounds like you live in a wonderful and interesting spot. Forgot about Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers.

Outer Banks, I know, includes a lot of areas; but was surprised. Guess I will bring along the warm clothing for all.

Bentley

BTW, Pete...responded to your question in email

Good Morning to Everyone! I'm Rick and I'm currently living in New Orleans. I retired from the service after 30+ years and decided to buy and renovate a house in the French Quarter. Hurricane Katrina extended the renovation schedule just a bit, but everything worked out well. I live about two blocks from Cafe Du Monde and I like to start my day with coffee and beignets, and reading a chapter, or two, of history. New Orleans is a real jewel for history buffs!!

Looking forward to meeting you all!!

Rick

Rick, you are quite fortunate too with your wonderful locale. Welcome to the group. Maybe we can have a History Book Club convention in New Orleans some time in the future and have all of the club meet up at the Cafe Du Monde.

It is making me want the cup of coffee that I have not had yet. Off to Starbucks...although that does not have the same ring as Cafe Du Monde.

Bentley

Hi,

I'm glad my request to join this group has been accepted. I'm Peter, 44 years old, living in Belgium. I've got a degree in (Ancient) History, and although I've never had a job to do with history, I have kept a lively interest in the subject, by reading books, watching television documentaries, visiting exhibitions etc. I have always been looking for some place to discuss history and I think I finally found that place. Although I studied ancient history my interests are now going mainly to the later time periods. I've got a special interest in 18th century France, with its culmination of the Ancien Régime and the French Revolution.

Hello Peter,

Glad you have joined the group. We have folks from around the world in this small group. You can make as much of the experience here as you have time for; you can follow and/or lead a discussion, there will always be a spotlighted book selected by the members; so hopefully there will be some place where you can discuss history or some aspect of it. Since I do not have a background in 18th century France; that might be an area you might like in the future to possibly lead a discussion. In the meantime, welcome.

Bentley

Welcome to the Group, Peter! Your interest in 18th century France may be extremely helpful to me as I learn more about the history of New Orleans.

Rick

Please welcome Simon from the UK to the group. Simon, when you get an opportunity please introduce yourself to the group.

Bentley

Hello, my name is Simon and I live in the UK. I am an accountant so I don't have as much time to read as I would like, but I do enjoy reading when I travel. I like all history but particularly political history. I recently completed Churchill's "A History of the English Speaking Peoples" which took ages but was very interesting.

Hello everyone, please welcome Richard to the group. Richard, when you have an opportunity, please introduce yourself to the THBC and tell us a little bit about yourself. We are glad to have you with us.

Bentley

Hi All,
I'm 52 years old, single, currently live in Philadelphia, have a BS in Mgmt Systems from the Univ. of AZ, recently done studies in Anthroposophy, Western mysteries and Quakerism.
I'm interested in nature, ecology, cooperative living, sustainability, and human relations.
I enjoy reading in many genres, including history, historical fiction, science, and sociology.

You have an interesting background Richard; what is anthroposophy? I am curious. Are you involved with higher learning in the Philadelphia area ? Some of your interests are certainly important at any time but maybe more so in this economy and with our energy limitations. Hope that I am understanding your areas of interest when I make these statements. We are glad to have you with us and I am sure you will add a great deal to the discussions.

Bentley

Welcome to the Group, Richard!

Welcome Miriam, glad to have you here.

Bentley

Welcome, Miriam!!

Hello all!

As mentioned above, I am currently a graduate student in Montreal (although not in history, oddly enough). I am originally from the US and am hoping to graduate this semester and move back to the States.

After reading through some of these posts, I guess I'd have to say I'm pretty new to history. I've (only) been reading history books for the past several years! My high school history teacher loaned me a few books including David McCullough's Truman, and I've been hooked ever since. I have read mostly American history in the past, but I am very interested in expanding my bookshelf. My family and friends all think I'm crazy, but I love it!

A friend recommended 카지노싸이트, and I was delighted to find the History Book Club. I have been looking for book lovers who share my interest for awhile now. I am very excited to be a part of this group. I'm sure I will learn a lot!

Miriam

Welcome, Miriam!!

Rick

Hello Miriam,

Your background is very similar to most of the goodreads members; glad to have you.

Also, welcome to Andy and Thomas. As moderators, we are happy to hear from all of our new members and are delighted with the varied backgrounds.

Andy and Thomas, please tell us a little about yourself when you get an opportunity.

Bentley

Welcome Megan, glad to have you with us.

Hello everyone, thanks for the welcome Oldesq! I've read over the other intros, so I'm ready now to do mine. I'm 52 years old, married, mother of four children (2 boys 2 girls). My oldest boy has a particullarly tenacious form of epilepsy; I'm at home fulltime taking care of him and his siblings. (I recommend the April 15, 2009 issue of Newsweek for more info on life with epilepsy.)

I've always been interested in history. I've focussed on English and American history but have stretched my horizons in recent years. When in college I majored in Computer 카지노싸이트 and minored in Mathematics; but I took History courses whenever my schedule allowed.

My youngest son has picked up interest in history from me. We'd pick a book and read a chapter at a time and then discuss it. It took us a year to go through Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, and about half that time for Wedgwood's The Thirty Year War. He's a freshman at college now, still reading history and taking history courses while he decides what to do with his life. Right now our "joint read" is Virgil's The Aeneid.

I looked over the book lists and note that there are alot of books on World War II. Good books. Are y'all interested in adding non-World-War II books to the list? I'm sure I can come up with about a dozen or two if y'all are interested :0).

Later

Diane
(I think I'd rather go by Diane in this Club if its OK).

Hello Diane and welcome,

We are interested in adding to the list if you have some suggestions. Please feel free to contact me with any of your receommendations.

Bentley

Welcome CJ; glad to have you as a new member of the group.

Bentley

Welcome Marion, please let us know a little about you. We are happy to have you as a member of the group.

Bentley

Hello everyone,

I am Marion and I am in biochemistry. I enjoy lots of outdoor activities and traveling. I love reading anything I can get my hands on especially history. However, there rarely seems to be anyone I can discuss the history books I read with so I am very excited to be apart of the group.

I am married and we have two Boston Terriers and one Beagle mix dogs at home that keep our Nanday Conure company when we are working.

I recently got the kindle and I love it.

Marion

Hi Marion,

We have members in our group from around the world and from all over the US. Very glad to have you with us.

I have a wonderful dog too (a GSP) who I could not be without so I can understand your love for animals. Does your Nanday Conure have a large vocabulary? I have heard frequently that they do.

I loved my kindle when I first got it too; it is a great way to travel and not have to carry many separate books.

You will find that there are at the very least two moderators who will respond to you whenever you post and a friendly group membership.

Bentley

Hello everyone,

My name is Joe, and I am currently working as a contractor in the IT field as a Systems Administrator for the military. My interest in history has, I guess, been a counter-balance to my work in the technology field.

I have been interested in reading about United States history, but most particularly US Presidential history, for quite some time now. A few years back I picked up Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, "Team of Rivals" and have been hooked ever since. The examination of Abraham Lincoln's decisions, and how he made those decisions, exemplifies one of the most challenging and successful Presidential administrations in our nation's history. The study of challenges society faces in dealing with problems and how people are able to manipulate change successfully, I find, is a fascinating one.

Using this fascination, I hopefully I will be able to beneficially contribute to this group, and learn from it.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Friday,
Joe

Hello Joe,

Welcome, you should be a great addition to the group.

Bentley

Hi CJ; very happy to have you join the group. Oldesq and I as co-moderators are delighted with the interest in The History Book Club. Glad to have you here.

Southern California sounds like a great place to be. Always had a warm spot for California as a state.

Hope you enjoy the group.

Bentley

Oldesq wrote: "Joe,

It is amazing to me how many people who pursue fields far from history enjoy the excitement that delving into the past brings. I too thoroughly enjoyed Team of Rivals. Oldesq"

Well, looking back on things now, I almost wish I majored in history, but I found it much easier to play with computers then to read books and write term papers. But I have always been interested in history, especially watching the History channel, specials on PBS, or Ken Burns like documentary's.

Joe wrote: "Oldesq wrote: "Joe,

It is amazing to me how many people who pursue fields far from history enjoy the excitement that delving into the past brings. I too thoroughly enjoyed Team of Rivals. Oldesq..."

Ken Burns has already been one of my favorites and I love PBS.

Please welcome Kate as the newest member of The History Book Club. Kate when you get an opportunity, please tell us a bit about yourself.

Kate, thank you for posting something about yourself. How did the major of American history and technology fit together; I see one as focusing on the past and the other on the future (smile); or was your major a study of the history of technological advancements. It sounds very interesting in either case.

I am also a fan of presidential history; glad to have you.

Bentley

Please welcome Elizabeth to the group. Elizabeth is from the midwestern United States. When you get an opportunity Elizabeth, please tell us a bit about yourself.

We look forward to your joining the discussion on our next book.

Bentley

Please welcome Billy to the group. Billy is a sophomore in high school but is a serious student of history. He is an avid reader and his particular interests within the field are Ancient Greece/Rome, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment; and he has already taken some AP courses.

Billy when you get a chance; please introduce yourself to the group.

Welcome and we look forward to your joining any of the discussions.

Bentley

Hello, all.

I am Elizabeth. I really am from the midwestern United States since I grew up in Minnesota and currently live in Illinois. I am 35 and married to a wonderful husband. We have two great kids, an 8-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl.

I love to read a wide variety of things. It was only as an adult that I discovered I liked reading non-fiction. However, I still enjoy lots of fiction so it is hard to squeeze it all in. I look forward to reading and discussing solid history books with a group.

I am blessed to be a stay-at-home mother, however I am still very busy with church activities, Cub Scouts, piano lessons, and (of course) reading. I am well educated, having a PhD in Computer 카지노싸이트 from Brigham Young University.

Thank you for allowing me to join!

It is our pleasure to have you join us Elizabeth. Welcome.

Hello everybody,

I'm Billy. A 16-year old sophomore in high school, I thoroughly enjoy reading about history and am very excited to have the chance to talk to others about the subject.

In my opinion the individual characters in history are most interesting, and the thinkers tend to be the best. I cried while reading Socrates's death (which is really ruining the point of the dialogue, but I couldn't help it), and stuff from Voltaire and Jefferson have been great.

Thanks for the invite, and may everyone's reading be engaging and enlightening.

Welcome Billy, we are glad to have you; you must be our youngest member. I hope you enjoy the books and the discussions.

Bentley

Thanks for the welcomes! I'm looking forward to reading and discussing something with what looks like a nice group of people. Such discussions are usually more interesting when a variety of backgrounds are represented in the group. Everyone has a new perspective to share.

Please welcome Leslie to the group. Leslie, please introduce yourself to the group when you get an opportunity.

Welcome.

Bentley

Well, hello group and thanks for the warm welcome, Oldesq. I tend to babble on unless the subject is myself whereupon I feel ridiculously shy.
I wanted to join your group because the group bookshelf had so many books that I want to read, some for years, some I've just discovered through 카지노싸이트. I don't know any readers in real life with whom to discuss what I've read. (I live in a small petro-chemical town in the deep south where no one reads even so much as a comic book.)
I've been to the library this morning to secure my copy of Dawn to Decadence in case I can't find my own copy soon. I prefer to have my own copy so I can write in the margins. Naughty reader, I know.

Leslie,

I know what you mean about needed your own copy of Dawn to Decadence. Normally, I do not write in books, but Dawn to Decadence seems to require it. I just started this week and find myself noting questions, words to look up, thoughts to ponder.... Definitely a book to own if possible.

Elizabeth, I know exactly what you mean. I also like my Iphone for looking up words in the dictionary superfast and using the BrainLantern for quick images of whatever I might want an image of, like a map or unheard of object in antiquity. I used to have to carry around an atlas and dictionary.(I know, super-nerd).

Hello Elizabeth, you are so right...Dawn to Decadence is quite rich with "thoughts to ponder", etc. I am finding it to a great "thinking book".

Bentley

Leslie,

Glad you found your way here to say hello. As I said before, we are glad to have you in the group. We do not consider you a super nerd at all; since a lot of us are in the same boat with our love of the iphone, its apps, etc.

It is terrific that you have your copy already. Oldesq and I look forward to everyone's posts.

Bentley

Welcome Angie, we are very glad to have you as our newest member.

Bentley