New Reading Group

Submitted by HannahBarbarian on Mon, 05/21/2007 - 9:26pm.

HannahBarbarian

Posts: 23
Joined: 2007-04-09

What kinds of things would y'all like to see in a new reading group? Before some of us were talking about setting up discussion groups on the forums, etc. and I'd really like to be involved in that.

Also, I think one of the drawbacks is the price of books, particularly harder to find ones and ones from small publishers. Maybe we could talk about that later? I know there are sites that offer books for legal download (old public domain stuff with expired copyright or creative commons works.)

So, let's talk, eh?

Mon, 05/21/2007 - 10:31pm

mynweb

Posts: 490
Joined: 2006-10-31

books books books

well the main thing i'd like to see is everyone actually read the book! so far that hasn't happened...

i guess it depends on the purpose of the reading group. Is it practical, to gain a certain kind of knowledge, or simply reading for enjoyment?

On the more practical side, a lot of people have reccomended John Taylor Gotto to me, who wrote a bunch of books about problems with and alternatives to the mainstream educational system. I would be interested in that.

I don't get to read much fiction, but one genre i like is sci-fi -- not the kind for 12 yr old boys, but sci-fi that uses the medium to ask philosophical questions about humanity. Authors like Octavia Butler and Ursula K LeGuin and Philip K Dick. Also I like comix and graphic novels. And anything by Neil Gaiman.

One solution to the financial issue would be to start with zines which can easily be copied, though that definately limits what the reading material can be. Misled Youth has a little $, and we'd be willing to buy books for people as long as they got read. And you can find anything on amazon.com.

--sarah

Wed, 05/23/2007 - 7:52pm

HannahBarbarian

Posts: 23
Joined: 2007-04-09

It really depends on what

It really depends on what people want to read, maybe if we talked about that then people would be more likely to actually read them?

I've actually never heard of John Taylor Gotto, but I would be very interested in that as well. Maybe one of his books should be our first one?

I'd personally like to do more practical, non-fiction books at first, but that's just my preference.

Wed, 05/23/2007 - 9:12pm

SWAMI

Posts: 66
Joined: 2007-01-25

honestly....

i like the idea but i think we're planning a bit too much right now. we should really focus on one thing at a time.

Fri, 05/25/2007 - 12:52pm

nick

Posts: 13
Joined: 2007-01-28

go for it!

I've never read any John Taylor Gotto either. Actually, it's been a long long time since I read anything that wasn't an art-book or a graphic novel - it's ironic that I designed something that says "fuck war, let's read" and meanwhile I haven't read much lately, but oh well. I agree with matt that we are very busy now, but only a small group of the local kids are involved with the heavy stuff (the workshop today, the space, the events, the screenprinting). it would be interesting to see if a reading group started amongst the people who lived elsewhere or weren't as swamped with stuff.

basically, I think if you start reading a book and write about it on the forums, others will probably join in. I might if I find the time... but me and brendan are working a lot and I'm starting to get back into making art (finally!) so I'm not going to promise anything.

we still owe you some distro stuff, by the way. our patches keep coming out messed up, so we don't really have enough to send you anything substantial. we're making more and more every week though...

Mon, 05/28/2007 - 11:20pm

kid_prototype

Posts: 126
Joined: 2006-12-17

yeah, go for it

i'm busy too but i can fit a book into my life. And misled youth can buy a few copies of a book for those who are down to read it...

another kind of book i would be interested in is something about writing, especially in combination with some kind of writing circle that could take place both online and in person. I came across a book called "Spunk and Bite: A Writer's Guide to Punchier, More Engaging Language and Style" that sounds cool. And i have other writing books lying around too.

Mon, 05/28/2007 - 11:55pm

HannahBarbarian

Posts: 23
Joined: 2007-04-09

It's fine

Nick: Something came up and we're reprinting all the zines right now- which will hopefully be done soon- if John, DFF's main writer, gets off his arse and gets them reformatted like he wants to do. I hate working with him sometimes! We have a ton of good interviews though. I made some patches for the distro as well but the stencil was terrible- I think for round two I'm gonna try my hand at a really crude version of screenprinting.

Anyway, let's go with the John Taylor Gotto idea for our first book. I'd like to read Dumbing Us Down: the Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling or The Underground History of American Education. Let's go for it!

Tue, 05/29/2007 - 4:14pm

kid_prototype

Posts: 126
Joined: 2006-12-17

gatto books

ok, so those books sound good, only problem is, for some reason they're incredibly expensive on amazon -- well dumbing us down is only available in hardcover for $18 something -- but the history of education one is like 50 bucks! I don't know why, it seems like there are very few copies so they jacked up the price. here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/104-6264417-3003945?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=john+taylor+gatto&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

i'm not saying it's a bad choice, only that we shoudl find the books for cheaper...

Thu, 05/31/2007 - 12:03pm

HannahBarbarian

Posts: 23
Joined: 2007-04-09

Gatto

Try using Froogle, Google's shopping thing. I've seen Dumbing Us Down for like $6. History Of Education is on Gatto's site for $35, but unfortunately I haven't seen it for much cheaper anyway.

I agree though that History Of Education would be one of the best books we could read, from what I've heard anyway.

Tue, 05/29/2007 - 6:16pm

mRg (not verified)

Posts: 29
Joined:

gotto

the underground history of american education would be one of the greatest non-fiction books we could read...for ourselves but especially as an organization discussing alternatives and why alternatives to standard U.S. public school. seriously, it will blow your hair back.

however, it is hard to find these days...why?...hmmm...AND it is really thick, but, totally worth it.

Fri, 06/01/2007 - 3:31pm

kid_prototype

Posts: 126
Joined: 2006-12-17

found it!

i found a free online version of "underground history" -- http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/index.htm

i mean, real books are nicer, but you can't beat the price, right? hope this works for people...

also, for local ppl, there are two copies in the ny public library both due back on june 11th

--sarah

Tue, 06/05/2007 - 6:57pm

CeCeDe

Posts: 49
Joined: 2007-04-18

is that the book?

is that what we're reading for the reading group? just cause then we should definitely start.

Tue, 06/05/2007 - 7:51pm

kid_prototype

Posts: 126
Joined: 2006-12-17

yup

that's it. we can even skim it over a little before we officially start to make sure we wanna read the whole thing...

other reading group ppl...where are you?

Wed, 06/06/2007 - 9:48pm

HannahBarbarian

Posts: 23
Joined: 2007-04-09

mhm.

I'm here. If we're gonna start, we should go for it now. Any objections?

Sun, 06/10/2007 - 10:23pm

xcriteria

Posts: 92
Joined: 2006-12-04

Let's do it... I've been

Let's do it... I've been interested in that book for a long time and I'll participate. Should we start with a particular chapter, or what?

Mon, 06/11/2007 - 5:02pm

kid_prototype

Posts: 126
Joined: 2006-12-17

so maybe we can read the 1st 5 sections of chapter 1 by the end of this week? Though i gotta say, i've been looking through the chapter and i don't like the way the author is so nostalgic for the "old days" and how he seems to think whipping kids in school is a good idea. we'll see...

Mon, 06/11/2007 - 10:28pm

HannahBarbarian

Posts: 23
Joined: 2007-04-09

Well

If anything it should be interesting. I'm still on the prologue.

Mon, 06/11/2007 - 10:42pm

kid_prototype

Posts: 126
Joined: 2006-12-17

yeah, i guess i skipped the

yeah, i guess i skipped the prologue, that's why i'm a little confused about where the book is going.i'll go back and read it...