Your Hero and his/her biography

[Sisifo]

Do you have any historical or living person who has in any sense been a role model for you, or has inspired any episode of your life?
If so, please share it, and if you have a recommended biography. Christmas is the time to go book shopping!

In my case, undoubtfully: Sir Richard F. Burton. "explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, ethnologist, linguist, poet, hypnotist, fencer and diplomat."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Francis_Burton
Since I knew about his life deeds, and his character and philosophy, I wanted to live a life like hims. It was because of "his guidance" that I joined the foreign service, because of him that I chose arab, african and exotic posts, partially because of him that I decided to expand and explore my sexuality, and many and many of other things.
I recommend as a biography: Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton: A Biography https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/03068 ... 15_product

Please, tell me yours.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

No surprise here.

Edit: He was born in Missouri!

[Sisifo]

No surprise here.

Edit: He was born in Missouri!

Hehe. You see my signature... You know of any good biography of him?

[Animavore]

Larry Flynt.
Vociferous proponent of free speech, free enquiry and free press. Profound atheist, freespirited and lecherous asshole. Larry Flynt is the man of our times.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Flynt

[Gawdzilla Sama]

No surprise here.

Edit: He was born in Missouri!

Hehe. You see my signature... You know of any good biography of him?

I only read biographies for data. Sorry. Amazon only lists one.

[leo-rcc]

I've been trying to figure out for the past 10 minutes Who I would consider to be my hero but I can't think of anyone.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I've been trying to figure out for the past 10 minutes Who I would consider to be my hero but I can't think of anyone.

R.A.H. is the one I picked because he's the one you'd know. There are a few others but nobody here has heard of them, so it would be

[devogue]

Thomas Andrews

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_And ... ipbuilder)

[Clinton Huxley]

Hero? Why, would have to be Colonel Harry Flashman, VC....

Good choice of Richard Burton, BTW. Very interesting character. Have a couple of his books.

[Clinton Huxley]

Someone I'd like to know more about and would certainly qualify as a hero would be Alan Turing. I'd be typing in German now were it not for him, probably.

[Feck]

Charlie Chaplin
Randy old goat that he was
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Ch ... d_children

And of course Crowley

I have been over forty years engaged in the administration of the law in one capacity or another. I thought that I knew of every conceivable form of wickedness. I thought that everything which was vicious and bad had been produced at one time or another before me. I have learnt in this case that we can always learn something more if we live long enough. I have never heard such dreadful, horrible, blasphemous and abominable stuff as that which has been produced by the man (Crowley) who describes himself to you as the greatest living poet.
—Mr. Justice Swift

[Sisifo]

Gice me biographies, people! Wikipedia is to a story, like a roastbeef recipe is to a roastbeef!!

Hero? Why, would have to be Colonel Harry Flashman, VC....

Good choice of Richard Burton, BTW. Very interesting character. Have a couple of his books.

Which ones? I have the 2 volumes of "Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah", Wanderings in West Africa apart from the Kama Sutra and the Arabian nights, of course. I have always thought of buying "The Book of the Sword", but I hesitate thinking it could be outdated and unsavory...

[FBM]

Robert M. Pirsig: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

[url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listin ... 0739125060]Not really a biography, but as close as you'll get, I think[/quote]

Everything written by Richard Feynman,

and the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Canon.

[Clinton Huxley]

Gice me biographies, people! Wikipedia is to a story, like a roastbeef recipe is to a roastbeef!!

Hero? Why, would have to be Colonel Harry Flashman, VC....

Good choice of Richard Burton, BTW. Very interesting character. Have a couple of his books.

Which ones? I have the 2 volumes of "Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah", Wanderings in West Africa apart from the Kama Sutra and the Arabian nights, of course. I have always thought of buying "The Book of the Sword", but I hesitate thinking it could be outdated and unsavory...

Have got The Book of the Sword and his travels in the Blue Mountains. Got a biog too but can't remember who it was by. Did you see Rupert Everett's TV prog about Burton from a few years ago?

[Sisifo]

Gice me biographies, people! Wikipedia is to a story, like a roastbeef recipe is to a roastbeef!!

Hero? Why, would have to be Colonel Harry Flashman, VC....

Good choice of Richard Burton, BTW. Very interesting character. Have a couple of his books.

Which ones? I have the 2 volumes of "Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah", Wanderings in West Africa apart from the Kama Sutra and the Arabian nights, of course. I have always thought of buying "The Book of the Sword", but I hesitate thinking it could be outdated and unsavory...

Have got The Book of the Sword and his travels in the Blue Mountains. Got a biog too but can't remember who it was by. Did you see Rupert Everett's TV prog about Burton from a few years ago?

No; I'm in different international channels, so I can't follow the regular TV. Do you recommend to look for it?
Also, what's your opinion of the Book of the Sword, it is actually the one I would like to know if it is worth?