dystopian economy

[Deleted]

I am reading Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut, about 2/3 of the way through.  It is about a future where machines take over many jobs.  The people who lose jobs to machines end up working for the government doing either military or infrastructure make work type jobs.  it is a bleak future because instead of people enjoying the benefits they react by losing faith in themselves because they have little of importance to do.  Machines do much if not all of the day to day work, they have no job to stimulate them.    The citizens are tested and categorized to find a place for them that suits their abilities for efficient running of society.  Some, with higher IQs are managers of the machines. 

The book was written in 1952, I think.  It predicts 42 inch tvs and huge computers run on countless vacuum tubes.  The people in the book have a higher standard of living, but little purpose.

I haven't fininshed it yet.  I like plots and sometimes miss hidden meaning or symbolism in books.  It is a different way then I think automation taking jobs would work out.  Still it is a good book.

How could computer automation work out in the future?  Any ideas?

[Deleted]

In a book we were reading today it suggested one of Ghandi's principles was basically, if you have a workforce mass that needs jobs, don't use technology. I haven't taken time yet to look it up and delve into it, but I marked it as something to do further reading on...

[Deleted]

Can you recommend some books to read?  I like books with plot and dont always get symbolism.  I just discover Kurt Vonnegut.  I got some Roberty Heinlein to read.  When I was in my 20's I could get books half off the original price so ended up reading a lot of classics.

By recommend I just mean, some of your favorites that a guy might also like.

thanks

[Deleted]

We love Vonnegut. Both my kids listed Bluebeard as their favorite book last year.

I read just about anything. I go though stages.

I'll think on the subject. We are listening to Bill Bryson A Walk in the Woods now. You might like that one.

mroped likes historical fiction if that is an interest he might advise...

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2015 21:09:53 GMT -5 oped said:

We love Vonnegut. Both my kids listed Bluebeard as their favorite book last year.

I read just about anything. I go though stages.

One of the nicest feelings in the world is to find a new author that  you love.   I am not sure I love Vonnegut that much but I like him.  I really liked Lord of the Rings then I listened to the Tolkien professor and learned of a lot I missed and loved it even more.  I probably should not read dystopian as it can worry me.  I loved all the Jane Austen books, and read many of the Anthony Trollope books that were similar.  Edith Wharton is depressing but i like her.  I like books that are about a different time or society.  I read a lot of those books in my 30's.  I used to read murder true stories if I had been off reading awile,  I havent read one of those in a long time.

Do you like cheesy books or popular type books.  James Bond books are really cheesy, but I read most of them.  I read a few of the detective type books , but havent in awhile.

What does you husband read, if that isnt personal.  I like his style.

[milee]

Sept 29, 2015 21:09:53 GMT -5 oped said:

 We are listening to Bill Bryson A Walk in the Woods now. You might like that one.

I like to read Bryson's books.  It still makes me giggle to think about his description of Australia - he repeatedly describes how EVERYTHING in the country is poisonous and/or trying to kill you.

[haapai]

Have you already plowed through Patrick F. McManus?  It's humor instead of sci fi but I used to love giving dad a volume each year and then encouraging him to read it aloud.  He'd laugh until he started crying and coughing.  We always knew that he'd be okay and eventually catch his breath but he sure scared the dogs. 

[Deleted]

This year so far I liked The Martian, Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Book Store, The Mathmatician's Shiva, The Good Girl, The Unexpected Mrs Polifax... I didn't really care for Nexus... That took me a long time to get through..

There is a book thread somewhere...

Husband just finished Rise of an Empire about G Khan he really liked.

[buystoys]

Robert Heinlein:

Time Enough for Love
Methuselah's Children
Stranger in a Strange Land
To Sail Beyond the Sunset
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls
Podkayne of Mars
Friday
The Rolling Stones
The Green Hills of Earth

Isaac Asimov:

any of his Robot series books

Piers Anthony:

Bio of a Space Tyrant series
Incarnations of Immortality series
Adept series

I would say these authors all include quite a bit of symbolism in their writing, but there is enough directly stated to make you think.  Heinlein and Anthony are both fairly well known for being very tongue-in-cheek in their writing styles.  One thing I really like about Heinlein is that he will have the same characters show up in various books.  Makes you feel as though you "know" them.  Most of these books aren't necessarily a world of robots, but they do have good plots.

[Deleted]

McManus is great!

I was a little bummed with Walk in the woods because he only reads the abridged and I wanted the full thing... One of the only times I really contemplated just getting the abridged. I like when Bryson reads his own stuff... And Pollen and Sedaris...

[Deleted]

Cheesy but funny are the first few One for the Money books by evonovich.

[Tennesseer]

"I like books that are about a different time or society."

Does that include world history like the Middle Ages?  I am a fan of the author Sharon Kay Penman.  She writes historical novels based upon the Middle Ages history of Wales, England and France, and the Holy Land and the Crusades.  All the main real-life characters are members of royal houses including Richard III, the Angevin king Henry II, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, along with their sons including Richard the Lionheart (and the beginning of the Plantagenet reign), Henry III, and the like.

Very informative books about that period of time in western Europe.

Here's a quick bio on Penman if you are interested.


Sharon Kay Penman

[milee]

Sept 29, 2015 21:24:28 GMT -5 oped said:

I was a little bummed with Walk in the woods because he only reads the abridged and I wanted the full thing...

Or you could, you know, actually READ it. Just sayin'.

BTW, Sedaris is one of the few authors I can't stand reading his own stuff. He's always been a favorite author of mine and I downloaded one of his audiobooks for a long drive and couldn't stomach it - he has the whiniest, most annoying voice ever. Not at all what I pictured and torturous to listen to.

[Tennesseer]

Sept 29, 2015 21:53:12 GMT -5 milee said:

Sept 29, 2015 21:24:28 GMT -5 oped said:

I was a little bummed with Walk in the woods because he only reads the abridged and I wanted the full thing...

Or you could, you know, actually READ it. Just sayin'.

BTW, Sedaris is one of the few authors I can't stand reading his own stuff. He's always been a favorite author of mine and I downloaded one of his audiobooks for a long drive and couldn't stomach it - he has the whiniest, most annoying voice ever. Not at all what I pictured and torturous to listen to.

He's funny but his sister is funnier.

[resolution]

I have always enjoyed Louis L'Amour books. They are mostly western but not your typical western novels.

[Deleted]

I'm not sure why it bothers you that I listen to things? Bryson reading his own work adds a lot to the experience actually. This reader not quite what he would do, but still good.

I read a lot. And I drive a lot, and garden a lot, and clean... Listening allows me to enjoy more books than if I were just reading the words with my eyes. And like I said, sometimes a reader makes the book, gasp, even better.

Right now I'm listening to AWalk in the Woods with the kids, Reading Mad River Road myself, listening to Wool myself, daughter and I just finished listening to animal house, and didn't pick a her and I next one yet, son is reading All you need is kill, daughter is still reading through Harry Potter, we are reading Secret Life of Bees together out loud, not counting the essays and current events and content stuff we read...

Sedaris is best reading to a live audience. He definitely draws from the crowd. Any time I read his stuff any more I 'read' it in his voice...

[dannylion]

Anything by Terry Pratchett.

[milee]

Sept 29, 2015 22:19:03 GMT -5 oped said:

I'm not sure why it bothers you that I listen to things?

It doesn't. I just find it weird that you describe listening to things as "reading" and find it fun to tease you about it.  

[Deleted]

Well then, far be it from me to ruin anyone's fun

[Deleted]

I like the idea of dystopian books and have read a few, but they are probably not the best for me.  I read Seveneves and liked it pretty much into the last section.  I didn't even bother reading that past the first ~20 pages.  It moved the story 5000 years into the future so none of the characters were there.  That book was about the moon torn apart and mankind having to move to space.

I think "player piano"  the book I am reading about machinery taking over jobs is interesting because machines are now actually taking over jobs.

[cktc]

Sept 29, 2015 21:16:40 GMT -5 @hickle said:

If you like Sci-Fi, Brandon Sanderson has some interesting world building. I'm 2/3 into the Mistborn series and quite enjoying it. ETA, it's dystopian, but more fantasy, so not quite the same sense of dread.

[Tennesseer]

Sept 29, 2015 22:16:16 GMT -5 resolution said:

I have always enjoyed Louis L'Amour books. They are mostly western but not your typical western novels.

I was never a fan of stories about the west so I never read any Louis L'Amour books. That is until I was reading the NYT sunday book review section one day and came across a review of L'Amour's book, Haunted Mesa. I decided to read it and it became one of my all-time favorite stories.

If you have not read Haunted Mesa, and stories about the Anasazi interest you, do read it. 

[Green Eyed Lady]

I read for relaxation, hickle, so most of what I read others would call "crap". I don't want to have to think too much when I read. I just like to zone out into a good story, so I can't be of any help in suggesting anything cerebral. I will, however, let you know that if the book you are reading makes you nervous, do not read "Cell" by Stephen King. First of all, it's jussssst barely possible enough to really happen and, secondly, it has a terrible ending.  So if you don't choose to pass it up on the first count, pass it up on the second!! 

[HoneyBBQ]

The WOOL series.

[The Captain]

Sept 29, 2015 21:01:20 GMT -5 @hickle said:

Can you recommend some books to read?  I like books with plot and dont always get symbolism.  I just discover Kurt Vonnegut.  I got some Roberty Heinlein to read.  When I was in my 20's I could get books half off the original price so ended up reading a lot of classics.

By recommend I just mean, some of your favorites that a guy might also like.

thanks

I think you underestimate yourself.  Symbolism is very much an individual thing.  The same story will mean different things to different people.

Asimov - I highly recommend the Foundation Series.  I think someone else already mentioned the I Robot series as well.

Heinlein - Friday and Stranger in a Strange Land - just go with me on these.

I wish I could say your library should have these, but mine doesn't.  We have a inter-library loan system which is pretty good, though.

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2015 10:04:42 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I read for relaxation, hickle, so most of what I read others would call "crap". I don't want to have to think too much when I read. I just like to zone out into a good story, so I can't be of any help in suggesting anything cerebral. I will, however, let you know that if the book you are reading makes you nervous, do not read "Cell" by Stephen King. First of all, it's jussssst barely possible enough to really happen and, secondly, it has a terrible ending.  So if you don't choose to pass it up on the first count, pass it up on the second!! 

I read a book by Edith Wharton once.  The main character of the book had it terrible the whole book,  in the end things start going her way and looking good for her, then she accidently overdoses on Laudinum and dies.

[Green Eyed Lady]

LOL!!! What an uplifting story!! I am going to immediately put it on my Do Not Read list!

[Tiny]

Sept 30, 2015 10:15:41 GMT -5 @hickle said:

Sept 30, 2015 10:04:42 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I read for relaxation, hickle, so most of what I read others would call "crap". I don't want to have to think too much when I read. I just like to zone out into a good story, so I can't be of any help in suggesting anything cerebral. I will, however, let you know that if the book you are reading makes you nervous, do not read "Cell" by Stephen King. First of all, it's jussssst barely possible enough to really happen and, secondly, it has a terrible ending.  So if you don't choose to pass it up on the first count, pass it up on the second!! 

I read a book by Edith Wharton once.  The main character of the book had it terrible the whole book,  in the end things start going her way and looking good for her, then she accidently overdoses on Laudinum and dies.

LOL!  I think that' s maybe the House of Mirth?       I've only read that one and the Age of Innocence and then a collection of her short stories.      Not exactly uplifting stories...

I don't always get the symbolism in books either... and sometimes I don't get the underlying relationships/stuff that's going on with characters.     I'm pretty much baffled by what exactly is going on in each and every Jane Austen book I've read. 

I tell you this - because I've discovered that there are lots of good sources on-line for helping a reader get thru these kinds of situations.     For Jane Austen - I found helpful charts that show how each person is connected to another and/or the list of names (sometimes extensive) that the person is called thru out the story.  I've also found helpful explanations of what's going on (with explaination of the cultrural and moral values of the time).       I personally still loathe Jane Austen and her books -- but atleast now I get WHY they are so popular. 

I've found helpful stuff on line for stories by Pearl Buck, Willa Cather, James Joyce, Herman Hesse, etc.   Made reading the books much more enjoyable and thought provoking.   

In the theme of "entertainment' reading I'm a big fan of Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files, and anything by

Neil Gaiman    (Neverwhere is a fun Fairy Tale for adults.   The Sandman graphic novels - while, um, graphic in a "horror" style, are also good).

[973beachbum]

Orson Scott Card.  While I did really enjoy Ender's game and the next couple in the series my fav by far was Treason.  It is really at it's core about one person's journey and how far they come and are willing to go.  I really loved the book. 

I did love Stranger in a Strange Land but The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is the book I think you should read of his.  It is everything you said plus political in a way.  Trust me you would like it.

PS Orson Scott Card is a Mormon.  Some of this works are more religion than fiction so I would check which book is which before reading them.  The ones I mentioned though are not religious books but are written to get you to think hard about how far we personally and as a "nation"/group would go.

[Tennesseer]

Sept 30, 2015 10:15:41 GMT -5 @hickle said:

Sept 30, 2015 10:04:42 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I read for relaxation, hickle, so most of what I read others would call "crap". I don't want to have to think too much when I read. I just like to zone out into a good story, so I can't be of any help in suggesting anything cerebral. I will, however, let you know that if the book you are reading makes you nervous, do not read "Cell" by Stephen King. First of all, it's jussssst barely possible enough to really happen and, secondly, it has a terrible ending.  So if you don't choose to pass it up on the first count, pass it up on the second!! 

I read a book by Edith Wharton once.  The main character of the book had it terrible the whole book,  in the end things start going her way and looking good for her, then she accidently overdoses on Laudinum and dies.

You probably then would not like Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. Way too depressing and full of irony.