Comments on: My Top 10 Favorite Books http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/ Serving up health and fitness insights (daily, of course) with a side of irreverence. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:03:41 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Jolly http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/#comment-486967 Jolly Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:49:38 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2243#comment-486967 Body By Science - Doug McGuff and John Little The Brain That Changes Itself - Norman Doidge Body By Science – Doug McGuff and John Little

The Brain That Changes Itself – Norman Doidge

]]> By: Maurice S. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/#comment-486897 Maurice S. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:12:07 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2243#comment-486897 Rand had some problematic issues with her philosophy, but Atlas Shrugged is closer to what's going on in the present than any single dystopian novel out there. Not easy reading, but worth it, in the end. It's completely wrong that it was anti-regulation that got us into this mess. It was BAD regulation, or ignoring of regulations. One of thousands of examples. There were politicians (I'm not getting into x vs. y party or individual, it doesn't matter for this discussion) who tried to get OTHER politicians to wake up to the problems of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The crooked politicians, literally weeks before the collapse of the markets, continued to say, in spite of knowing better, that there were NO PROBLEMS. There are hundreds of thousands of regulations out there. They didn't stop anything. Rand advocated for FREE MARKETS. We do NOT have free markets, and certainly, they are less free all the time. And that's mainly because of the unholy alliance of very big businesses and the Federal Govt, who conspire, via "laws", to suppress true competition. There is a saying that no one hates capitalism more than capitalists. Rand's books showed that, in a way. Atlas Shrugged shows how innovation and competition can be stifled, by greedy and TRULY selfish people (e.g. certain Senators, bought off for votes in Congress at 1 am this morning). Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead showed how fake altruism causes us immense harm, suppresses our freedom and impoverishes us. I'm sorry I'm going on so long about this, but I"m TIRED of seeing really stupid comments by know-nothings who either haven't read the books or don't get what they were about. Rand had some problematic issues with her philosophy, but Atlas Shrugged is closer to what’s going on in the present than any single dystopian novel out there. Not easy reading, but worth it, in the end.

It’s completely wrong that it was anti-regulation that got us into this mess. It was BAD regulation, or ignoring of regulations. One of thousands of examples. There were politicians (I’m not getting into x vs. y party or individual, it doesn’t matter for this discussion) who tried to get OTHER politicians to wake up to the problems of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The crooked politicians, literally weeks before the collapse of the markets, continued to say, in spite of knowing better, that there were NO PROBLEMS.

There are hundreds of thousands of regulations out there. They didn’t stop anything.

Rand advocated for FREE MARKETS. We do NOT have free markets, and certainly, they are less free all the time. And that’s mainly because of the unholy alliance of very big businesses and the Federal Govt, who conspire, via “laws”, to suppress true competition.

There is a saying that no one hates capitalism more than capitalists. Rand’s books showed that, in a way. Atlas Shrugged shows how innovation and competition can be stifled, by greedy and TRULY selfish people (e.g. certain Senators, bought off for votes in Congress at 1 am this morning).

Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead showed how fake altruism causes us immense harm, suppresses our freedom and impoverishes us. I’m sorry I’m going on so long about this, but I”m TIRED of seeing really stupid comments by know-nothings who either haven’t read the books or don’t get what they were about.

]]> By: Weekend Link Love | Mark's Daily Apple http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/#comment-387889 Weekend Link Love | Mark's Daily Apple Mon, 18 May 2009 21:06:14 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2243#comment-387889 [...] week I brought you my top 10 favorite books (5 of which are related to health and fitness). This week Zen Habits published a great post on 20 [...] [...] week I brought you my top 10 favorite books (5 of which are related to health and fitness). This week Zen Habits published a great post on 20 [...]

]]> By: The Best of December 2008 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/#comment-249993 The Best of December 2008 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:36:01 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2243#comment-249993 [...] My Top 10 Favorite Books - Dec. 16 [...] [...] My Top 10 Favorite Books – Dec. 16 [...]

]]> By: A Few Tips for a Great 2009 | Zen to Fitness http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/#comment-247515 A Few Tips for a Great 2009 | Zen to Fitness Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:44:53 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2243#comment-247515 [...] -Mark Sisson’s Top 10 Books is somewhere great to start [...] [...] -Mark Sisson’s Top 10 Books is somewhere great to start [...]

]]> By: ukelele http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/#comment-239512 ukelele Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:28:10 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2243#comment-239512 Other than that, though, great list. I'd add "Waiting for the Barbarians" by JM Coetzee. Freaking brilliant. Other than that, though, great list. I’d add “Waiting for the Barbarians” by JM Coetzee. Freaking brilliant.

]]> By: ukelele http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/#comment-239508 ukelele Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:26:07 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2243#comment-239508 I'm with kitfisk: What's with all the Ayn Rand love? She's just about the exact opposite of what we need at the moment. Egoistic, me-first, anti-regulation economics is what got us into this mess in the first place. What we need is large-scale investment in the common good (energy and transportation infrastructure, schools, universal health care, parks). Worshiping at the altar of free-market capitalism is as head-up-the-ass stupid as still being a diehard communist, especially right now. If you want to read about what really should be done in these desperate-looking times, try adding to your list "The Return of Depression Economics," by Paul Krugman, who has been so right-on in recent years that it's almost like he's clairvoyant. I’m with kitfisk: What’s with all the Ayn Rand love? She’s just about the exact opposite of what we need at the moment. Egoistic, me-first, anti-regulation economics is what got us into this mess in the first place. What we need is large-scale investment in the common good (energy and transportation infrastructure, schools, universal health care, parks). Worshiping at the altar of free-market capitalism is as head-up-the-ass stupid as still being a diehard communist, especially right now. If you want to read about what really should be done in these desperate-looking times, try adding to your list “The Return of Depression Economics,” by Paul Krugman, who has been so right-on in recent years that it’s almost like he’s clairvoyant.

]]> By: Scott Kustes - Modern Forager http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/#comment-235625 Scott Kustes - Modern Forager Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:01:59 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2243#comment-235625 Great list Mark. On my list is also On The Road and Atlas Shrugged. Also enjoyed the entire trilogy by Jared Diamond (The Third Chimpanzee; Guns, Germs, and Steel; and Collapse). Cheers Scott Kustes Modern Forager Great list Mark. On my list is also On The Road and Atlas Shrugged. Also enjoyed the entire trilogy by Jared Diamond (The Third Chimpanzee; Guns, Germs, and Steel; and Collapse).

Cheers
Scott Kustes
Modern Forager

]]> By: Mark Sisson http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/#comment-235236 Mark Sisson Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:18:41 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2243#comment-235236 Since we seem to be on a Seuss kick, what about "Oh, the Places you'll Go!"? Since we seem to be on a Seuss kick, what about “Oh, the Places you’ll Go!”?

]]> By: emergefit http://www.marksdailyapple.com/my-top-10-favorite-books/#comment-235221 emergefit Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:48:15 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2243#comment-235221 Okay, I have to pile on with two more; The Religions Of Man, by Huston Smith. Often used as a college text, 50 years after its' initial copyright, this remains the most relevant book on comparative religions ever written, and provides the reading with a profound understanding of why religion matters, even if you are not religious. And, Horton Hatches The Egg. All the important lessons in life are learned here. Cheers Mark! Okay, I have to pile on with two more; The Religions Of Man, by Huston Smith. Often used as a college text, 50 years after its’ initial copyright, this remains the most relevant book on comparative religions ever written, and provides the reading with a profound understanding of why religion matters, even if you are not religious.

And, Horton Hatches The Egg. All the important lessons in life are learned here. Cheers Mark!

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