BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Ooo... how about the new(ish) Major Taylor book? The one I found was here: http://www.amazon.com/Major-Taylor-Fastest-Bicycle-Rider/dp/1892495651/ref=pd_cp_b_1

The library has a copy in their new release section in Oakland.

I would totally be interested, but unless someone manages to add about 6 hours to every day, I doubt I could scrap together the time.

Illich's Energy and Equity would be a good choice, too.

I just added six hours to every day, starting next week.

I would recommend David Byrne's "Bicycle Diaries".

The Lost Cyclist could be good for the next one. lots of pittsburgh stuff. or One Less Car written by a former pittsburgher

i'd like to read anything by jane jacobs, if anyone has anything.

i have a ton of books, but mostly fiction, philosophy, and math. i haven't got any good bike/transportation books, but if anyone has been dying to read principia mathematica, matter and consciousness, or some p.g. wodehouse, i've probably got a book for you.

I am really

+1 bicycle diaries

+ 1 jane jacobs

+ 1 one less car (erok is famous in it)

And into the other suggestions too and also would like to read again and this time with other people: Asphalt Nation

I am really

+1 bicycle diaries

+ 1 jane jacobs

+ 1 one less car (erok is famous in it)

And into the other suggestions too and also would like to read again and this time with other people: Asphalt Nation

Like Brian, I have interest, but no time.

That said, "Heft on Wheels" by Mike Magnuson is a half-decent read. It's more of a "how cycling changed my life and helped me quit drinking/smoking/lose weight" retrospective than anything else, and it's not the deepest book I've ever read, but kinda fun.

Interesting.

What's the format for the club? Meet once a week? Twice a month? Talk about the books here?

My thought was to do once a month initially and when we get together for the first time make decisions about what fits for people and what makes most sense.

I think meeting in person to talk is best but the message board can be a good way for people to point out their favorite parts of the reading to people who can't make it.

Good background for things Pittsburghy:

"The Steps of Pittsburgh", by Bob Regan

"Pittsburgh Then and Now". There are apparently two editions of this, one from around 1990, one from around 2008. I recommend both, if you can find both.

If you're fairly new to 'Tahn, or weren't around 20-some (or 80-some) years ago, it's worth checking both these books out. Think "How we used to get around before cars took over" (for 80-some back) or "Where we've come from since bikes started gaining some foothold" (for 20-some back).

I like this idea but i am also with the +6 hours to each day camp.

As for Jane Jacobs, I have the Life and Death of Great American Cities but that book is BEASTLY.. I would suggest everyone just read one portion of it, like the section on Sidewalks, or whatever. Then we can all ride to where she used to live on the wooden street in Pgh (Erok showed us!)

also funny cuz i was considering starting a book club at my org too.

This sounds like a good winter activity. I'm having too much fun sweating my noogies off to read these days.

a really great book for a book club would be Wrestling with Moses: How Jane Jacobs Took On New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City

it's short, like about 200 pages, and is a really fun read, and not too in depth or heady.

Great idea! Definitely interested in participating.

I read "Traffic" within the past year, it's definitely worthwhile and probably fresh enough in my mind to discuss.

I definitely want to read "The Lost Cyclist" although I've got to seriously clear my plate, I have a bad habit of starting new books before I finish what I'm reading.

Same as salty... read traffic a bit ago.

Haven't read much else except More Stuff On My Cat. Though I have to slow the pace with that one, or else ill split my sides wide open.

Winter activity for sure.

What are the chances of Bike-pgh having a library

where members can take books out? This would be a total pain for you guys, but would be a great way to share books, touring maps, etc.

I'd be in for the winter. I read Traffic ages ago, but it is something I'd actually like to read again. I'd also love to participate in the discussion on that book.

What are the chances of Bike-pgh having a library

where members can take books out? This would be a total pain for you guys, but would be a great way to share books, touring maps, etc.

I have some stuff I'd be willing to donate to such an endeavor.

We tossed around the idea of having a borrowing library but decided at this point it wasn't an ideal use of our resources. But it might become one if there is a lot of interest.

If you have more time in the winter, just join for those months. If you want to just join us for one or two books, do that.

When my wife was a La Leche League leader many years ago, she was the keeper of the group's lending library, which was essentially a bunch of books and a clipboard in a milk crate. Very honor system. If you had a book you wanted to share, and wanted it back, you pasted an address label on the inside cover. You borrow a book, you just add your name and the book title to the clipboard.

I'm not saying you should do it, but I am saying there doesn't have to be much overhead involved, provided someone supplies the books.

we've tossed around the library idea too, but its a little complicated since some of our books were expensive and hard to get. I think it could work because we know most of the people who would take books, but its still more complicated than you can just take on right away. My ultimate dream is to have a library room and an actual librarian. PA Horticultural Society has one and its pretty awesome.

I'm already in another book club til next may, so I'm probably with the need+6hours/day crowd

but do keep us posted on what books yinz're reading?

If you're on Goodreads, Bike Pittsburgh has a new account so add us and recommend books that we can read in the future.

Did this ever happen?

I don't know, but this thread has given me plenty of material to consider.

It didn't but could. Does anyone want to read a book together?

The way this board gloms to controversy, it probably wouldn't

be too difficult to launch a spontaneous book club. The only challenge would be to find a book that the majority of people have read, then spew some controversial statement about it.

Half the people who have read it will launch into why they disagree, the other half will dispute them, and the rest of us will have had our curiosity piqued enough to go and read it ourselves - or Google it to understand enough to be able to follow along.

"...everyone knows Ishmael and Queequeg were lovers..."

@ALMKLM: [applause]

I don't know. I find it awfully hard to read and cycle at the same time. :p

Thanks folks, I'll be here all week...

Not that my smart mouthing is out of the way, I'd be interested in a book club.

If I might make a suggestion for something that might make for good flame wars....

Someone just sent me a link to this.

I've always maintained that Ishmael did it, and just cooked up that giant fish story as an excuse.

we could invite Daniel Quinn to give a talk.

The Devil in the White City is very readable, especially if you have any association with the City of Chicago. It combines a sociological assessment of the preparations for the Chicago Worlds Fair with a murder plot.

There's another great book out there with a subtitle I don't quite remember exactly. It's called The Great Escape: and then a subtitle about Nine Jews who escaped WWII and changed the world. I confess I listened to this on CD on a long trip, rather than reading it. But, it held my attention all the way through. Really interesting socio-historic look at some people you should/do know, and a social/geo-political look at life and culture in (primarily) eastern Europe in the 1930's and 1940's.