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Post by chelseeyuh on Apr 5, 2010 23:14:09 GMT -5
As exciting as it is to have Dan recognize your project, I think you should hold off from saying "Dan Brown Approved." SPOTM is about the community. While Dan did create the community, it shouldn't be centered around him. You don't need his approval for a project to be good, and you shouldn't give newer members the impression that we need Dan to support everything we do in order for it to work. Just mah 2 cents... I still think it's a good idea, but.. yeah.. >_>
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Post by jmejia1187 on Apr 6, 2010 16:13:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the input Chelsea. And your right, I was totally using Dan to draw people towards the Book Club. So here is our compromise. I will keep Dan's video in the first post, BUT, I will change the title of the thread so it is not centered around Dan. Thanks
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RabbitWho
Star
Rebecca - How 'bout we all put or real names somewhere in our signatures or titles? [SKB:]
Posts: 808
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Post by RabbitWho on Apr 6, 2010 16:18:40 GMT -5
Good idea, all the projects are Dan Brown approved If we jump on it every time he mentions one he might stop mentioning them, which would be a pity because it helps bring more people into the community.
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Post by Vorime on Apr 6, 2010 18:45:43 GMT -5
Guns, Germs and Steel is highly recommended.
Just decided to read All Quiet on the Western Front, was a -fantastic- book. Definitely deserves its place in the "classics" category.
I think both of these books would work towards the goal of understanding and eliminating world suck.
EDIT: Also, anything by Carl Sagan is great.
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Post by colombo15 on Apr 6, 2010 19:01:51 GMT -5
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Post by jmejia1187 on Apr 6, 2010 19:48:19 GMT -5
Very interesting recommendations!
I will add them to the list later tonight, mainly since I need to take my gf to lower manhattan.
I will be on later tonight.
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ItsCarterYo
Moon
[AWD:09080302]
Otters rock...
Posts: 285
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Post by ItsCarterYo on Apr 6, 2010 21:01:46 GMT -5
I'm sure this was asked but im to lazy to read all the posts.. why isnt will grayson will grayson recommended?
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Post by chelseeyuh on Apr 6, 2010 21:10:07 GMT -5
I second Will Grayson, Will Grayson, because.. well, I'm buying it soon and I'll probably be reading it anyway, and might as well discuss it.
So, this was probably already discussed, and I just got into this thread late, but how are the books being discussed? In a thread? On Skype? YouTube videos?
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Post by jmejia1187 on Apr 6, 2010 23:07:57 GMT -5
I second Will Grayson, Will Grayson, because.. well, I'm buying it soon and I'll probably be reading it anyway, and might as well discuss it. So, this was probably already discussed, and I just got into this thread late, but how are the books being discussed? In a thread? On Skype? YouTube videos? I have a few ideas, but we will see. It is mainly up to the community organizer to see how he will run the discussion, but I was thinking 3 ways: 1. With a thread here on SPOTM. One of the executive members will post a video discussing something about the book (like, hey I just got the book and finished chapter one and...), in a thread. From their you can respond in text on the thread. 2. Youtube! You can respond to the original video, or anyone else's video. These responses will be added to the thread by an executive member of the book club. 3. Twitter: @spotmbook. You can twitter quotes or quick ideas from the book. I manage the twitter and can add those tweets to the thread as need be. Twitter is important because then you can participate in discussions, even while on the go. I know I read mostly while on the train (NYC transit). Anyway, there may be other ways to participate. More information will be revealed between the 15th and the 1st of May. So stay tuned. I am still working on the executives (President, Vice President, and Community Organizer), and going over everyones role and position. But thanks Chelsea, for asking. The short answer, a SPOTM thread will be the main way we discuss the book, but youtube will also be used, as well as twitter as a way to build community. We may also have one of those #(abbreviation of book here), for people who want to respond to the book without "@spotmbook". Thanks for asking. This is something I will put on the agenda to discuss with the executive board.
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Post by Joey on Apr 6, 2010 23:10:47 GMT -5
So who are your executives?
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Post by jmejia1187 on Apr 6, 2010 23:28:51 GMT -5
So who are your executives? I know you submitted and application for President. The exec's will receive confirmation of who they are this weekend. People are still submitting applications and I want it to be fair. But, if no one else applies for your position, then the position is yours Also, if anyone wants to talk about what the positions entail, you can always skype me @jmejia1 Or contact me on any of the messenger applications available to the left of this message, (scoobly-doo <-- Bad Joke). Also the link to apply is here (<-- click)
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Post by Benyamin on Apr 7, 2010 23:19:47 GMT -5
EGO by Ayn Rand
Good author and great book about independence and freedom
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Post by Speckley on Apr 7, 2010 23:38:47 GMT -5
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evets
Meteorite
Posts: 42
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Post by evets on Apr 8, 2010 10:24:24 GMT -5
OMG A BOOK CLUB! <3 ^_^ I am SO in. I even have a great book suggestion: The Abolition of Man, by C.S. Lewis. (link: www.amazon.com/Abolition-Man-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652942)I think this book would be a fantastic one for us to read together and discuss, since its topic is VERY relevant to the discussions going on over in the debate section of the forums right now. Although it is written by a Christian author (C.S. Lewis) it is not an argument for christianity or even theism. (though it could be used in support of theism) no, the angle of this book is discussion on several topics such as: subjectivism, whether we should teach morality in schools, and the idea of a "universal ethics". The book is very short (81 pages without appendix) and very readable, but packed with mind-bending ideas that will stretch the thinking of anyone who picks it up. According to wikipedia, National Review ranked the book #7 in its 100 Best Non-Fiction Books of the 20th Century list.[3] The Intercollegiate Studies Institute ranked the book as the second best book of the 20th century.[4] So, I think it would be a great book to discuss, especially for us since it is so very relevant to things we are already discussing.
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Post by jmejia1187 on Apr 8, 2010 10:57:52 GMT -5
cool evets I will add it to the list later today
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Post by jmejia1187 on Apr 8, 2010 15:23:21 GMT -5
EGO by Ayn Rand Good author and great book about independence and freedom Did you mean Anthem? I cannot find Ego anywhere.
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Post by chelseeyuh on Apr 8, 2010 15:45:25 GMT -5
I second Will Grayson, Will Grayson, because.. well, I'm buying it soon and I'll probably be reading it anyway, and might as well discuss it. So, this was probably already discussed, and I just got into this thread late, but how are the books being discussed? In a thread? On Skype? YouTube videos? I have a few ideas, but we will see. It is mainly up to the community organizer to see how he will run the discussion, but I was thinking 3 ways: 1. With a thread here on SPOTM. One of the executive members will post a video discussing something about the book (like, hey I just got the book and finished chapter one and...), in a thread. From their you can respond in text on the thread. 2. Youtube! You can respond to the original video, or anyone else's video. These responses will be added to the thread by an executive member of the book club. 3. Twitter: @spotmbook. You can twitter quotes or quick ideas from the book. I manage the twitter and can add those tweets to the thread as need be. Twitter is important because then you can participate in discussions, even while on the go. I know I read mostly while on the train (NYC transit). Anyway, there may be other ways to participate. More information will be revealed between the 15th and the 1st of May. So stay tuned. I am still working on the executives (President, Vice President, and Community Organizer), and going over everyones role and position. But thanks Chelsea, for asking. The short answer, a SPOTM thread will be the main way we discuss the book, but youtube will also be used, as well as twitter as a way to build community. We may also have one of those #(abbreviation of book here), for people who want to respond to the book without "@spotmbook". Thanks for asking. This is something I will put on the agenda to discuss with the executive board. Here are my thoughts: 1.) A thread might get cumbersome, seeing as how over time there will be a lot of books, and people will probably not look at the thread as much as time goes on because it has become too long and they think they won't be able to keep up. 2.) I think YouTube videos would take too much time. The point of a book club is to share your ideas about a book, get feedback, and discuss. I think it would be really difficult to do this with more than 2 people through YouTube because you would have to watch everyone's videos and respond to all of these different ideas. And each person would probably be making more than 1 video, as their ideas would change as the discussion went further. 3.) Twitter is very limiting. You can't really express your feelings about something a few hundred pages long in only 140 characters. I'm not trying to shoot down your ideas; I'm just trying to help you come up with the most effective way of discussing. I think you need something where you can have a fluid discussion. That's why I would like to suggest having Skype calls to discuss the book. It's instant and simple. But there would be drawbacks to this: For people in different time zones, finding a time when everyone can meet may be a challenge. Also, if someone is unable to make a meeting, they miss out on everything. Maybe you could combine some of the ideas. Like, have a Skype call about the book, then summarize what was said in either a video or in a thread, then people can think it over and post their final thoughts on the book.
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Post by Rob on Apr 8, 2010 15:47:27 GMT -5
I honestly don't see why not we can't use all 4 of the methods (jmejia's 3 + Skype) to do this. I think each of them has aspects that solves the problems with the other.
In any case, once the exec board is chosen, I'm sure there'll be an intense discussion about this.
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Post by jmejia1187 on Apr 8, 2010 15:51:24 GMT -5
Well we were thinking one thread per book. So every month there would be a new thread! This should keep everything fresh
Twitter would be for quick quotes or ideas. And anyone can @spotmbook, so it is a good way to get a snapshot of what people like...
And youtube is just to put a face... If you are excited enough, you will make a video.
I think combined, this makes for a great discussion, although the central area would be the thread.
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Post by jmejia1187 on Apr 8, 2010 15:55:03 GMT -5
And Real is right. We will be discussing this, and a great many other things in our first executive board meeting.
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