TheBaronOfFratton
5980 replies · 108179 views
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I'm not much of a biography reader (yet), but these people tend interest me most:
Dictators, US Federal Reserve Chairmen , Economists and Bankers, Generals and Soldiers , Financiers and Businessmen
Probably the most influential memoirs I've read are "Panzer Commander: The memoirs of Col. Hans von Luck", Inside the Third Reich (Memoirs of Albert Speer) , Everything about Robert McNamara I can find (ie. "The best and the brightest"), and "Buffet: the making of an American capitalist". I read them a long time ago, and they left a strong impression on me.
It was incredible for a 17 year old to read the adventures of a professional soldier & military leader that fought many enemies, himself usually outgunned and outnumbered. There was much horror, obstacles, and suffering in the Colonel's world, but all of this was an adventure of many lifetimes to him.
Robert McNamara and Albert Speer were both fundamentally flawed men that placed an everlasting impression on wars they managed. They were also ambitious and highly talented technocrats that were thrown into horrific situations. They spent the rest of their lives atoning for the things they did.
Their final judgement:
McNamara: I'm proud of my accomplishments, but I'm very sorry that in the process of accomplishing things...I made errors.
Speer: "...all the enthusiasm and the glory of my youth as well as belated horror and guilt." "I would do it all again".
Buffet is the "Patron saint" of American capitalism, and is regularly the first to third richest man in the world. His genius is one of focus, hard work, discipline, emotional stability, and calculated thinking & decision making.
The next (auto) biographies that I'm going to read is probably going to be Greenspan: Age of Turbulence, In an uncertain World (Robert Rubin) and The education of a speculator (Victor Niederhoffer). It's going to be hard for me to get down to it, though, so it'll take a while.
Swenglish Session with a fat crappy housewife.
That chick looks like an even fatter Brittney Spears!... NAH she's just a a little pretty girl, trapped inside a grown ups body 
FEUER FREI!
your schnitzel is fucking ricoiuloudlyHUGE <--- EU quote for life
We need English subtitles! I have a feeling that some of your awesomeness cannot be fully appreciated without understanding what you're saying. I have to say though, I'm enjoying the meal anal rape happening in this video though (Y)
Whow, you´ve read so much - how is that almost all the art icons tend to have a very interesting but also sad - and somehow depressing - kindof life? There is always some sad end to great musicians, paintors, actors... my favourite Czech and Slovak actors always die alone, in depression, or even in madhouses... the same goes for Karel Kryl (Czech musician who was participating against communism with his songs, he was a great icon back then, and still is now) who drank himself to death - or how it said when someone dies from drinking too much alcohol - soon after he was 50. So young... I think it´s because of how they see the world, that they think too much, realize things other people mostly don´t - or just can´t ignore them. They put it into songs or pictures, but the thought remains inside of them.
I see them as having very "up and down" lives. Periods of great joy and energy, and periods of great sadness & madness. They seem to have special skills...and, like all people, often at the expense of others. Do you know people like this?
Oh, don´t need to tell me about these freakin biographies of teens of 20 and somethingWTF is exactly the word. I know that one does not have to be 50 to have something interesting to say or gone through, but what the hell, teen stars? What´s in there??? Writing about his first kiss? Why can´t they just tell it to the diary and then burn it? <_<
I think the biographies of 20 year olds and B-list celebrities.. are mainly ghostwritten stuff- basically a marketing ploy. 
^What are you implying here?!
^You see I'd say almost the opposite!I'm not much of a biography reader (yet), but these people tend interest me most:Dictators, US Federal Reserve Chairmen , Economists and Bankers, Generals and Soldiers , Financiers and Businessmen
But then that's your field - and prerogative, obviously...
^Oh yes, never fear - I can smell shameless cash-ins along with the rest of them! We have celebrities back home who 'proudly' declare they've never read a book in their life ( <_< ), yet have "written" several bestsellers themselves. It truly is vomit-inducing... :xI think the biographies of 20 year olds and B-list celebrities.. are mainly ghostwritten stuff- basically a marketing ploy.
^Then you're in luck lady, as you'll just end up a skag-addled, two-bit grubbing whore, lollopping around Stockholm Central Station looking for tricks to turn... Yeah? You'll WISH you had money for smack and cakes!Swenglish Session with a fat crappy housewife.
^In a curious piece of serendipity that you might have forgotten(?), I was a chef in Sweden in a former life - and can just about fully understand his internet persona! In fact I might even have worked with him!We need English subtitles! I have a feeling that some of your awesomeness cannot be fully appreciated without understanding what you're saying.
I just found out that Behati is half -Nambian. No wonder!
^Which half?!I just found out that Behati is half -Nambian. No wonder!
Yes, and half-South African. 100% fine though... *groan* 
^Which half?!I just found out that Behati is half -Nambian. No wonder!
Yes, and half-South African. 100% fine though... *groan*
I would make circles on her atypical cheekbones, LOL, so that half.
^Which half?!I just found out that Behati is half -Nambian. No wonder!
Yes, and half-South African. 100% fine though... *groan*
Must be the left half, from the Skeleton Coast... *groan again*
^
huh? I don't get it..
^You see I'd say almost the opposite!I'm not much of a biography reader (yet), but these people tend interest me most:Dictators, US Federal Reserve Chairmen , Economists and Bankers, Generals and Soldiers , Financiers and Businessmen
But then that's your field - and prerogative, obviously...
^Oh yes, never fear - I can smell shameless cash-ins along with the rest of them! We have celebrities back home who 'proudly' declare they've never read a book in their life ( <_< ), yet have "written" several bestsellers themselves. It truly is vomit-inducing... :xI think the biographies of 20 year olds and B-list celebrities.. are mainly ghostwritten stuff- basically a marketing ploy.
As for biographies, I'm willing and am interested in reading those about artists. It's just that my knowledge about visual arts is pretty limited so I have a lot of catching up to do..
I believe "Snookie" did a book signing at a B&N not too far from me just two weeks or so ago. heh heh..
^huh? I don't get it..
The Skeleton Coast is a region in Namibia. Yes, that's it's real name! Sounds like a tough neighbourhood. 
^huh? I don't get it..
The Skeleton Coast is a region in Namibia. Yes, that's it's real name! Sounds like a tough neighbourhood.
Yeah, I know, but what are the "groans" referring to? And why mention the Skeleton coast?
The fact that it was a bad joke and you've just proved that.Yeah, I know, but what are the "groans" referring to?
The skeleton make up in the picture.And why mention the Skeleton coast?
^A good time as any to repost this:I believe "Snookie" did a book signing at a B&N not too far from me just two weeks or so ago. heh heh..
But as for biographies, well, yes that makes perfect sense. Just as 'business' as a starting point is incredibly daunting to me...
^Yeah (although don't sell your joke short, Tran!The fact that it was a bad joke and you've just proved that.Yeah, I know, but what are the "groans" referring to?The skeleton make up in the picture.And why mention the Skeleton coast?
) *groan* is just a shorthand, or meme, in recognition of saying something cheesy! 
Why did you ask "No wonder!" though?
I see them as having very "up and down" lives. Periods of great joy and energy, and periods of great sadness & madness. They seem to have special skills...and, like all people, often at the expense of others. Do you know people like this?
Yes, quite a lot. Not one is famous, of course. But most of my friends tend to have a wild life... sometimes they even don´t have to be artists 
I think the biographies of 20 year olds and B-list celebrities.. are mainly ghostwritten stuff- basically a marketing ploy.
What a sick world
The fact that it was a bad joke and you've just proved that.The skeleton make up in the picture.
Oh, I thought there was some sort of hidden reference to Behati and Nambians that I missed..
^A good time as any to repost this:But as for biographies, well, yes that makes perfect sense. Just as 'business' as a starting point is incredibly daunting to me...
haha,....