At the moment I'm reading the German version of the article "How Will Capitalism End?" by Wolfgang Streeck.
The English version can be downloaded as pdf-file from the webpage of the Max Planck Institute For The Study Of Societies:
http://www.mpifg.de/pu/mpifg_ja/NLR_87_2014_Streeck.pdf

The German version can be also downloaded as pdf-file:
Teil 1: http://www.mpifg.de/aktuelles/forschung%5Cdiskussion%5Cdoks%5C15-03-22_Streeck_Blaetter_orig.pdf
Teil 2: http://www.mpifg.de/aktuelles/forschung%5Cdiskussion%5Cdoks%5C15-04-01_Streeck_Blaetter_orig.pdf
Edit:
The German-version doesn't contain any graphs in contrast to the English-version.

I'm currently reading The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter. So far is good.

This looks like a nice thread which could use some more activity!

I'm currently reading Jo Walton's Necessity, the third volume of her impossible-to-categorize hybrid science fiction/fantasy series (it's got the Greek gods and near-sentient "automatons" from the future). Only just started in on it, so can't say much about this volume yet, but it's an interesting series - even if it doesn't hold a candle next to her scarily plausible Farthing/Ha'penny/Half a Crown alternate histories, nor to her "appeal to every old time SF-geek at once" Among Others.

Currently reading "Ancillary Justice" by Ann Leckie. Everyone says this is the best thing since sliced Dune so I had to give it a try. I'm about halfway through and not totally convinced yet. The main character's constant confusion with gender terms is downright annoying.

I wish I could say that it's nothing alike, but honestly, I can't - all I remember from those two books were what a letdown they were compared to the Hyperion cantos. Might have to go leaf through them later today to see if I can remember how Simmons handled the gods, and how that compares...

Ooh, lucky you. The Diamond Age is my favorite Stephenson, but The Baroque Cycle comes immediately after. First time Stephenson managed to write an actual ending, which was a huge bonus. *g*

I've heard that before, that it throws people off their reading quite a bit. Such a shame. I personally found it to be a mildly entertaining gimmick for a chapter or two, and was able to just ignore it in the flow of the reading after that. For me, the books were good - nice perspective, interesting plot - but not spectacularly so. Worthy of their Hugo-win, but only barely, and iirc my third place pick for that year.

Happy birthday to mcleodone the kitty! in honor of tha birthday,

I highly recommend these two books:

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks

I'll echo this recommendation. The book really packs a wallop. The sequel - Children of God - is nothing to sneeze at, either.

If you've read them, drealmer7, what did you think of how the rest of the series by John Twelve Hawks turned out? I personally was particularly disappointed by how little of the potential from The Traveler was left in The Golden City. The direction he took it all in, felt overly simplistic and needlessly fantasy-y...

Clojure Programming.

The latest fiction I read was The Devil's Chain.
It's OK, but the first in the series, Checkmate, was much better.

I just read The Abide Guide by Oliver Benjamin on how to live like The Dude from The Big Lebowski. Dudeism is the world's slowest growing religion according to themselves. Far out even if it is just.. you know, their opinion, man.

Pretty funny book.

I don't know if it's been recommended or not, but I have fun reading mysterious benedict society. The first book is especially good. It's for children/teenager.

Another one is The Innocence of Father Brown. Haven't finish this but it is good detective stories

I just bought Hannibal Rising, The Silence of the Lambs, The Lost World (Jurassic Park), The Lost Symbol and Digital Fortress for a dollar each.

Technically its a audio book, but its amazing!

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The 34th Rule

34 Rule is best rule \o/

Borrowed from an acquaintance Tales of the Otori by Gillian Rubinstein. Seems like a long read, so they'll keep me busy for a while if they're worth the read.

Alfred Bester - Computer Connection - not as good as Stars My destination or the demolished man so I'd suggest to read those in a first place.