Your favourite non-fiction & non-sartorial books!

[All over the world]

Since we have a thread for sartorial books I realised that there wasn't one about other non fiction books, okay, I'll start:

- The Prince, Machiavelli (The Italian Mafia probably uses this book as a bible as do many politicians.)

- Die Kunst des Stilvollen Verarmens, (How to get poor in style) von Schönburg

- A Complete Guide to Heraldry, Fox Davies (Looking at someone's arms can tell you a lot about their origins if you only know how to read arms!)

- The Gentlemen's Clubs of London, Lejeune & Lewis (A lovely book about London's Gentlemen's Clubs.)

[All over the world]

Hmm, no replies...

So I take it you all watch TV after work then?

[stultus77]

The Nature of Alexander by Mary Renault: less a biography than a character potrait shrouded in an admiration-tinged haze, and as such in complete contrast with the incisive and and balanced Alexander biographies by Robin Lane Fox, but as with Renault's historical novels her vision is utterly convincing and captures those qualities of Alexander (or perhaps merely his cult) that have fascintated the world for over 2,000 years.

The Campaigns of Napoleon by David Chandler: the definitive book on the Naploeonic Wars...in volume if nothing else.

John Keats: The Making of a Poet by Aileen Ward: Not the most excruciatingly detailed biography of Keats, but Ward has a lovely style and conveys Junket's magic and warmth perfectly.

Friday Night Lights by I Can't Remember: one of my rare reading excursions into the recent past; written with sensitivity and has an almost elegaic feel throughout.

Caesar by Adrian Goldsworthy: Not only an insightful analysis of the man and his motives, but provides an unprecedentedly clear picture of the socio-political forces that shaped the late Roman Republic.

The Iliad by Homer: My favorite non-fiction book bar none. Wait, what do you mean it didn't happen? Of course it did, all of it, and just as the blind bard sang it...

[Berwick]

Wisden.
The Golf-book of East Lothian
Nansen - Farthest North

[Manself]

How happy I am to see East Lothian mentioned on the Lounge! Are you a resident, or a visiting golfer?

[Berwick]

I was born and raised in North Berwick, as was my father before me. My family includes a number of professional golfers from the old days, and I was a member of Tantallon for a number of years. I live in England now, but go back to visit my parents regularly.

Unfortunately the Golf-book is a recent facsimile. If you see an original for sale in good condition for less than 2000 GBP, please let me know!

[Manself]

Berwick,

Not exactly a steal but...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Golf-Book-East- ... 894&sr=1-6

I too am an East Lothian migrant, currently living in London, but with a strong desire to get home one day.

[Berwick]

Thanks for the heads-up, but I am aware of these copies. The 660GBP one is in poor condition, missing a couple of pages including the signature of the author. The two from Sportspages at about 1500 GBP are the second, small paper edition. The one at 5900 GBP is the real deal, but vastly overpriced. The search continues.

[cathach]

You I always thought the East Lothian question referred to the workings of the British constitution, how glad I am to see it is used for more esoteric pursuits, here's my contribution to the field:

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Searc ... prevpage=1

[Berwick]

Thanks, but I do regularly trawl the Abe site. I think my best bet will be a specialist sporting memorabilia auction.

I think you are confusing East Lothian with Midlothian. The so-called Midlothian question was named because it was first raised by Tam Dalyell who represented that seat at Westminster.

[Jack Albans]

Love this thread; detest "The Prince" I'm afraid. I recall when the thread first came up I hung back to see where it would head - probably because of the appearance of "The Prince." Reminds me of anything Ayn Rand-ish being suggested...

It's just so-o-o-o hard for me to put out there stuff I really like because I don't own it all, and need to re-acquire, having had to leave things behind in various countries for various reasons over a long time.

I DO still have a copy of "The Art Of Living" by Andre Maurois. It isn't philosophically nor technically the peak of writing perfection, but it does have something. French, of course, but translated into English.

There was once a coffee-table, modified version of Herbert O. Yardley's "The Education of a Poker Player" but this seems to have disappeared altogether. My my but what a great book it was though.

One particular favourite, began at around $50 (for the original ed.,) when I first looked it up on the web. It is now $500 plus and shows no signs of going backwards any time soon. An American book. Has to do with race horses.

Another, again by a French gentleman, is at least still back down closer to the Earth in asking price. I never see it referred to by all those modern geniuses of cooking...

What can I say. This thread scares me.



JA

[castiglione]

Some of my lifelong companions. Werner Jaeger, Paideia.
Jamer Roger Frazer, The golden Bough
Fustel de Coulanges. La cité antique
A.D. Nock. Conversion
And since this is a club about elegant living you may check Ortega, The Revolt of the Masses.
Basic stuff, more to follow if you insist.

[Berwick]

I eventually managed to get a copy of the large paper version of "The Golf Book of East Lothian" at a recent auction. Happily for much less than the £5,940 wanted by the firm selling one on Amazon!