Here are my reccomendations, some of which have been posted by others:
-Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Amazingly well written book that really makes one think about censorship. Bradbury also has a very unique writing style that is interesting on its own.
-Catch 22
Only book that has ever really made me laugh. The picture it paints of war and human nature, while exaggerated, rings very true.
-Enders Game
One of the best science fiction books you will ever read.
-Hyperspace by Michio Kaku
This is a non-fiction book that covers much of the same stuff as ‘A Brief History of Time’ but I found Kaku covered a few topics with more clarity. If you are not well versed in physics I would read this first then read ‘A Brief History of Time’.
-The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov
If you like science fiction this is a good series written by one of the godfathers of genre.
“Bible” - GOD
“Wild at Heart” - John Eldredge
“You Can’t Afford the Luxury of A Negative Thought” - Peter McWilliams
“A Ready Defense” - Josh McDowell
“The Power of Myth” - Joseph Campbell
“The Hero with a Thousand Faces”-Joseph Campbell
“THE ART OF WAR” - SUN TZU
“The Count of Monte Christo” - Alexandre Dumas
Any of these are good picks.
Disclaimer ? I do not necessarily agree with the philosophy of Joseph Campbell. I found his ideas deep and intriguing.
Rockin. I agree with a number of reccomendations. “Ender’s Game” is fantastic. “Pillars of the Earth,” “Brief history of Time,” “Holy Blood, Holy Grail,” “Old man and the Sea.” Definetly great. Some of my own favorites:
“Aztec” by Gry Jennings. It is weird as hell in some places, but there is such beatuy and power in that stroy that it is more than worth getting through the rough spots.
The Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb. The first time through, I thought it was just average fantasy, but by the tenth, I realized all three books are phenomenal.
“Armor” by John Steakly. A great look at how silly intergalatic war would be.
“In the Hand of Dante” by Nick Tosches. Again, weird as hell, but Tosches has such a great command of language that it doesn’t matter. It even enhances the story in some places.
I second “Fahrenheit 451” and “1984”. Also “Brave New World”. They give a good view on dystopias written in the 20th century - and are still frighteningly up-to-date.
More wholesome: Lao-Tse’s “Tao-te-king”. Very short, very simple, good answers to life’s “big” questions - if you have any.
Don’t waste your time on science fiction read, Engines of creation the coming era of nanotechnology. Most science fiction will look very week afterwards.
If you want compelling, The Diaries of Sophie Scholl is a must read. Universtity of Munich students Hans and Sophie Scholl were a brother and sister who founded the white rose movemement and started a letterwriting campaign against the third reich. It covers growing up in the reich as hitler youths to their arrest and trial.
Barefoot Gen, a manga by a hiroshima survivor detailing his experience. Right after the war the US sent film crews to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These films have never been released. Read this book and you’ll know why. This book will give you a whole new appreciation of atomic weaponry and current world events.
Thats three good ones
[quote]Solomon Grundy wrote:
“Bible” - GOD
“Wild at Heart” - John Eldredge
…
Me Solomon Grundy
[/quote]
Look, I have no problem with “People of Faith” but the “Bible” by “God”? More like “Bible” as approved for mass production by the Catholic Church “in Latin” then further watered down in the King James version. What about Ayn Rand and “The Virtue of Selfishness”. It’s OK to look out for your self, just not at the expense of those around you.
A species in denial by Jeremy Griffith. (ISBN: 1-74129-000-7, i think).
Its a biological explanation for good, evil, “god’s purpose” (Intergrative meaning), human nature, and why we lie to ourselves the way we do. The essay on Plato’s cave allegory alone is worth buying this book. Shook my world.
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (ISBN: 1-920769-00-5). A true story of an Aussie criminal who fled to India. Only book to date that has made me cry.
Wuthering Heights sucks…I was force-fed that one in high school and hated it.
The World according to Garp by John Irving was a nice one.
I liked the Foundation series by Assimov as well. Didn’t like the Robot series, but the movie looks ok.
I’m reading Angles and Demons by Dan Brown now, it’s the prequel to The Da Vinci Code, and it’s keeping me up at night reading. His writing is good and there’s all sorts of useless/inane info packed in his books that I can pull out at the club when I’m trying to pick up some hotties.
