Most Boring or Worst Book - Page 10

Andrew · 05-16-2005, 12:36 AM

It would be a stretch to call it the worst... but I had an extremely hard time completing "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu (translated by Ralph D. Sawyer)

My teacher recommended me the book after i quoted the line "Keep your friend close, keep your enemies closer" (i was writing an essay and didn't know who said it). I delved into the book expecting tactical information on warfare that could be translated universally to everyday conflicts... unfortunately, i didn't get much out of the book...

For one, it was way too expositional. Throughout the 150+ page intro, you're fed page after page of "is it really THAT neccesary to put that into here?"-type of information. It is meant to give you a "brief" history lesson on China... but the lesson quickly becomes dull and mundane, only sprouting a few interesting focal points midway between the midpoint and the end; when they talk about the Warring States

Then, after I read through the excruciating introductory stuff... I find out that the art of war is just a simplistically-structured-disappointment. To me, the actual art of war depicts itself to be "organized common sense". Numerous times, when reading, i thought of sarcastic phrases like "duh" & "reaaaaaallllly?". Then on top of that... you slowly realize that most of the tactics rely a lot on "chance" and "circumstance"...

Maybe I didn't interpret the book like i should have... but to me, it remains to be an overhyped book...

kristy_star · 05-16-2005, 04:50 AM

i wouldn't say that shakespeare's books are boring. i read only one, the merchant of venice. it's just that i cannot understand what he is saying. in my opinion, the very weird english makes his books very bad and very uninteresting.

Katherine · 05-16-2005, 06:18 AM

I think with Shakespeare it is definetly an acquired taste.
His story lines are very interesting but I can understand why it would be difficult to get through his plays, the fact that he uses olden English can be tough.
But I'm a Shakespeare fan...I love not only his plays but his sonnets as well.

everwoodisfab · 05-16-2005, 11:04 AM

^I

some Shakespeare but some I cannot stand... for example I love Romeo and Juliet but I cannot stand The Tempest. But The Taming Of The Shrew now theres a play

Katherine · 05-16-2005, 07:33 PM

I actually didn't mind The Tempest. It was his last play so I admire it deeply.

I cannot and still cannot stand Macbeth...it's annoys the hell out of me.

Oh and I don't think much of King Henry [insert number]. It's ok, but not something I'd use for light reading.

Romeo & Juliet, King Lear, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Othello...all excellent plays.

Andrew · 05-16-2005, 10:35 PM

"Romeo & Juliet" is too much of a classic not to like...

but i must admit i'm not too fond with "Othello" either... a little too melodramatic...

Katherine · 05-16-2005, 11:16 PM

That's why i loved it...because it was melodramatic...

everwoodisfab · 05-17-2005, 11:17 AM

^I agree with you about Macbeth katherine, but thats probably only because we were recently studying it in english and because we had to analyse every little bit it totally ruined the story for me, and then I was in a production of it so... it may sound weird but I think I know it too well to like it

Kari · 05-17-2005, 11:28 AM

I loved Hamlet, so much that I put Ophelia into one of my song lyrics

I loved that play, it was beautiful

Wicked Elphaba · 06-02-2005, 07:53 PM

The only book I've ever bought and couldnt finish was the Lovely Bones. I think I got to chapter 6 and just put it down. I sold it at a garage sale for .25cents.

05-16-2005, 12:36 AM	#136 (permalink)
Andrew Hollywood Star Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,285	It would be a stretch to call it the worst... but I had an extremely hard time completing "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu (translated by Ralph D. Sawyer) My teacher recommended me the book after i quoted the line "Keep your friend close, keep your enemies closer" (i was writing an essay and didn't know who said it). I delved into the book expecting tactical information on warfare that could be translated universally to everyday conflicts... unfortunately, i didn't get much out of the book... For one, it was way too expositional. Throughout the 150+ page intro, you're fed page after page of "is it really THAT neccesary to put that into here?"-type of information. It is meant to give you a "brief" history lesson on China... but the lesson quickly becomes dull and mundane, only sprouting a few interesting focal points midway between the midpoint and the end; when they talk about the Warring States Then, after I read through the excruciating introductory stuff... I find out that the art of war is just a simplistically-structured-disappointment. To me, the actual art of war depicts itself to be "organized common sense". Numerous times, when reading, i thought of sarcastic phrases like "duh" & "reaaaaaallllly?". Then on top of that... you slowly realize that most of the tactics rely a lot on "chance" and "circumstance"... Maybe I didn't interpret the book like i should have... but to me, it remains to be an overhyped book... __________________ Gone.

05-16-2005, 04:50 AM	#137 (permalink)
kristy_star Extra Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: philippines Posts: 388	i wouldn't say that shakespeare's books are boring. i read only one, the merchant of venice. it's just that i cannot understand what he is saying. in my opinion, the very weird english makes his books very bad and very uninteresting. __________________

05-16-2005, 06:18 AM	#138 (permalink)
Katherine Hollywood Elite Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Exile On Mainstream Posts: 34,756	I think with Shakespeare it is definetly an acquired taste. His story lines are very interesting but I can understand why it would be difficult to get through his plays, the fact that he uses olden English can be tough. But I'm a Shakespeare fan...I love not only his plays but his sonnets as well. __________________ Strange, where were you, when we started this gig, I wish the real world, would just stop hassling me

05-16-2005, 07:33 PM	#140 (permalink)
Katherine Hollywood Elite Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Exile On Mainstream Posts: 34,756	I actually didn't mind The Tempest. It was his last play so I admire it deeply. I cannot and still cannot stand Macbeth...it's annoys the hell out of me. Oh and I don't think much of King Henry [insert number]. It's ok, but not something I'd use for light reading. Romeo & Juliet, King Lear, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Othello...all excellent plays. __________________ Strange, where were you, when we started this gig, I wish the real world, would just stop hassling me

05-16-2005, 10:35 PM	#141 (permalink)
Andrew Hollywood Star Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,285	"Romeo & Juliet" is too much of a classic not to like... but i must admit i'm not too fond with "Othello" either... a little too melodramatic... __________________ Gone.

05-16-2005, 11:04 AM	#139 (permalink)
everwoodisfab Prime-Time Actor Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,818	^I some Shakespeare but some I cannot stand... for example I love Romeo and Juliet but I cannot stand The Tempest. But The Taming Of The Shrew now theres a play

05-16-2005, 11:16 PM	#142 (permalink)
Katherine Hollywood Elite Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Exile On Mainstream Posts: 34,756	That's why i loved it...because it was melodramatic... __________________ Strange, where were you, when we started this gig, I wish the real world, would just stop hassling me

05-17-2005, 11:17 AM	#143 (permalink)
everwoodisfab Prime-Time Actor Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,818	^I agree with you about Macbeth katherine, but thats probably only because we were recently studying it in english and because we had to analyse every little bit it totally ruined the story for me, and then I was in a production of it so... it may sound weird but I think I know it too well to like it

05-17-2005, 11:28 AM	#144 (permalink)
Kari RPG Assistant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Near Frankfurt/Main Posts: 14,416	I loved Hamlet, so much that I put Ophelia into one of my song lyrics I loved that play, it was beautiful __________________ The Literabbits I discovered that my castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

06-02-2005, 07:53 PM	#145 (permalink)
Wicked Elphaba Extra Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: prefects bathroom Posts: 203	The only book I've ever bought and couldnt finish was the Lovely Bones. I think I got to chapter 6 and just put it down. I sold it at a garage sale for .25cents. __________________ Proud H/Hr Shipper