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Stephen R. Bown
Goodreads Author
Born
in Ottawa, Canada
Website
Genre
Member Since
January 2008
URL
https://www.goodreads.com/stephenbown
More books by Stephen R. Bown…
Globe and Mail Top 100
Dominion made the Globe and Mail Top 100 Books of 2023 list. Good news!
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/...
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/...
Stephen’s Recent Updates
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“An empire is often understood to be an aggregate of subject states, subdued by force and exploited for their resources to the aggrandizement of the heartland. It’s hard to dispute that this was Canada’s origin. But empire can also be construed as meaning to build, to connect or to unify. The older, now archaic word empyreal was used to denote something pertaining to the sky or heavens, something inspiring of awe. In a practical sense, relating to a political entity, the inspiration of awe could flow from the seemingly invincible power to control and direct and exploit; yet it could also flow from a string of grand or noble universal achievements. For many people these days, it’s unclear from which tributary of history we have sprung, in which world we now live.
It shouldn’t be unclear to which world we should aspire.” Stephen R. Bown |
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“The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway was the defining event of its era, around which most other events orbited—a catalyst for the powerful global forces that were pushing the land toward something new. Its story is a sweeping tale, with technological, political, economic, geographical and social components. It involves the dreams of politicians in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal; the financing genius and manipulative shenanigans of railway promoters to devise a business plan that would justify the expense; the feats of engineers to push a railway through the rock and bog around Lake Superior and through the rugged mountains of British Columbia; the adventures and hardships of explorers and surveyors; the occasional resistance of Indigenous peoples; and the terrific and horrific work of the labourers who poured their lives into it.”
Stephen R. Bown |
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“The only currency that we really have to spend during our lives is time. Everything else is just a sub-category.”
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“A hero, in his mind, was not someone who suffered disaster after disaster, heroically pulling through with great endurance, but rather one who focused his intelligence and skills to avoid disaster, thus succeeding by good planning and crafty decision making.”
― The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen
― The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen
“Although I have had offers of wireless installation for the Fram,” he said in one rambling interview, “that also I declined. I don’t care for it. It is very much better to be without news when you cannot be where the news comes from. We are always more contented if we get no news. A good book we like, we explorers. That is our best amusement and our best time killer.”
― The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen
― The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen
Polls
Spotlighted Book Discussion Poll I - October 26, 2011
This is a poll that adds other books to our listing of potential non fiction books to discuss and also helps the moderators determine which one or ones are the most popular. Since we have many more group members than when we first started; voting in the polls is very important. There will be a series of polls. Many of these books have been recommended by group members but were either not selected before nor voted upon before.
Vote for the book that you would most like to read and/or is the book that you believe that would appeal to the most group members.
Note:
We have added some of the books nominated thus far but we have more to add to other polls. However, this poll was getting quite large.
However, if you do not see your favorite book on this list; then just comment or pop me a note and I will immediately add it to this poll.
You can always change your vote at any time; so nothing is lost. There are some books which have been nominated by the same author; however, skip over those if the particular author does not suit you and vote for your favorite or for one you or others might want to read.
Before making your selection, please try to look up your choice and make sure it really is a book you are interested in or you think others would be; do not be lured in by the title. Also, check out the author and what others have said about the book before you (reviewers who you trust). Then of course, make your selection.
And if you do not see your favorite, just contact me and I will add it to the poll.
This is a poll that adds other books to our listing of potential non fiction books to discuss and also helps the moderators determine which one or ones are the most popular. Since we have many more group members than when we first started; voting in the polls is very important. There will be a series of polls. Many of these books have been recommended by group members but were either not selected before nor voted upon before.
Vote for the book that you would most like to read and/or is the book that you believe that would appeal to the most group members.
Note:
We have added some of the books nominated thus far but we have more to add to other polls. However, this poll was getting quite large.
However, if you do not see your favorite book on this list; then just comment or pop me a note and I will immediately add it to this poll.
You can always change your vote at any time; so nothing is lost. There are some books which have been nominated by the same author; however, skip over those if the particular author does not suit you and vote for your favorite or for one you or others might want to read.
Before making your selection, please try to look up your choice and make sure it really is a book you are interested in or you think others would be; do not be lured in by the title. Also, check out the author and what others have said about the book before you (reviewers who you trust). Then of course, make your selection.
And if you do not see your favorite, just contact me and I will add it to the poll.
by Robert W. MerryA Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent
by
Allison Hoover BartlettThe Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession
by Edward DolnickThe Clockwork Universe: Isaac Newton, the Royal Society and the Birth of the Modern World
by Thomas LevensonNewton and the Counterfeiter: The Unknown Detective Career of the World's Greatest Scientist
by Lynn Hudson ParsonsThe Birth of Modern Politics: Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams and the Election of 1828
Topics Mentioning This Author
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The History Book ...:
ARCHIVE ONE: PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF ~
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6558 | 4348 | May 08, 2013 03:33PM | |
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The Seasonal Read...:
Fall Challenge 2013: Completed Tasks (DO NOT DELETE POSTS)
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2494 | 636 | Nov 30, 2013 09:01PM | |
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Goodreads Librari...:
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973 | 721 | Sep 29, 2014 02:54PM | |
| The History Book ...: RADIAH'S 50 BOOKS IN 2014 | 99 | 144 | Dec 31, 2014 09:54PM | |
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The Seasonal Read...:
Summer Challenge 2016: Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS IN THIS THREAD
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2614 | 482 | Aug 31, 2016 09:00PM | |
| 2017 Reading Chal...: Book that covers a character's lifespan | 4 | 20 | Dec 27, 2017 11:09AM | |
| The History Book ...: MEDICINE | 140 | 492 | Jan 26, 2019 02:44PM | |
|
Reading with Style:
WI 18-19 Completed Tasks
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986 | 79 | Feb 28, 2019 09:01PM |
“I may say that this is the greatest factor: the way in which the expedition is equipped, the way in which every difficulty is foreseen, and precautions taken for meeting or avoiding it. Victory awaits him who has everything in order, luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time, this is called bad luck.”
―
―
“The only currency that we really have to spend during our lives is time. Everything else is just a sub-category.”
―
―
“The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway was the defining event of its era, around which most other events orbited—a catalyst for the powerful global forces that were pushing the land toward something new. Its story is a sweeping tale, with technological, political, economic, geographical and social components. It involves the dreams of politicians in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal; the financing genius and manipulative shenanigans of railway promoters to devise a business plan that would justify the expense; the feats of engineers to push a railway through the rock and bog around Lake Superior and through the rugged mountains of British Columbia; the adventures and hardships of explorers and surveyors; the occasional resistance of Indigenous peoples; and the terrific and horrific work of the labourers who poured their lives into it.”
―
―
“An empire is often understood to be an aggregate of subject states, subdued by force and exploited for their resources to the aggrandizement of the heartland. It’s hard to dispute that this was Canada’s origin. But empire can also be construed as meaning to build, to connect or to unify. The older, now archaic word empyreal was used to denote something pertaining to the sky or heavens, something inspiring of awe. In a practical sense, relating to a political entity, the inspiration of awe could flow from the seemingly invincible power to control and direct and exploit; yet it could also flow from a string of grand or noble universal achievements. For many people these days, it’s unclear from which tributary of history we have sprung, in which world we now live.
It shouldn’t be unclear to which world we should aspire.”
―
It shouldn’t be unclear to which world we should aspire.”
―
Explorers and Exploration
— 17 members
— last activity Jul 24, 2009 10:07PM
Famous explorers, less famous adventurers, exploring expeditions and the like
Friends who write
— 45 members
— last activity Jul 16, 2009 08:38AM
a group for people who either just dabble with being literary or are really serious about the craft. I Always say --It's a paying hobby with me doing ...more
Exploration and Survival
— 23 members
— last activity Jun 26, 2011 03:53AM
This is a group... I suppose to help get a library going of books about Exploration, History, and Survival. Mostly non-fiction here, but maybe a few h ...more
Armchair Sailors
— 332 members
— last activity May 25, 2020 01:57AM
A group to discuss historical fiction involving sailing ships--think Patrick O'Brian or C.S Forester--and the Golden Age of Sail. Ahoy! Photo: Brig ...more
