Recommend Six Must-read books.

[Dachs]

Decided to slide in a Diamond rec without reading the rest of the thread, eh?

That would be a much better categorisation, with the caveat that in the UK 'Classics' means the study of Greek and Roman literature; I'm not sure where things like Sun Tzu go but you could probably put it there if you were using the strict definition of the term.

"Classics" in the United States refers to classical stuff, almost always Greco-Roman, too.

Yea, to be honest I pulled this outta my butt because I didn't have my fiction books around me to think of a better one. The setting is interesting enough, even if the writing is kinda weak...still, better than Turtledove

"Better than Turtledove" isn't saying much. It's like how the Tebow-led Broncos were "better than the Dolphins" last week.

 

[Antilogic]

That would be a much better categorisation, with the caveat that in the UK 'Classics' means the study of Greek and Roman literature; I'm not sure where things like Sun Tzu go but you could probably put it there if you were using the strict definition of the term.

I have specifically been avoiding posting to derail the thread, but I'll agree with this. If we are stuck with the didactic two-category system of non-fiction and fiction, though, it's another debate entirely, and the debate (in part) exists due to the shortcomings of that system.

I'll suggest some history and sociology books. If I repeat any, just consider it a second recommendation

...

Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond

A very readable take on the "Why Europe" question. Whether or not you accept Diamond's geodeterminist explanation for how Europeans came to conquer much of the world, it's well-written.

Anything by Pierre Bourdieu.

I hate his writing style and his stuff is a pain to slog through, but Bourdieu is still influential in sociology, anthropology, and history.

I don't understand why you would recommend anything that is painful to read--life is short!

Decided to slide in a Diamond rec without reading the rest of the thread, eh?

"Classics" in the United States refers to classical stuff, almost always Greco-Roman, too.

But it is easily readable. Just like how the Bud Light adverts talk about its drinkability, whatever that means. "It's a liquid that can flow down your throat!"

I think most people assume the "classics" refers to the Greco-Roman literature and philosophy, but it is used in a flexible manner. I'm certain I've heard works by Renaissance philosophers erroneously described as classics. There's a little overlap with the fiction genre, too--several novels are also described as classics (with a very different meaning of the word).

 

[Dachs]

I think most people assume the "classics" refers to the Greco-Roman literature and philosophy, but it is used in a flexible manner. I'm certain I've heard works by Renaissance philosophers erroneously described as classics. There's a little overlap with the fiction genre, too--several novels are also described as classics (with a very different meaning of the word).

I guess we need to differentiate between Classics and classics then

 

[_random_]

The Bible is fiction because it is a mythical narrative.

Not exclusively. You've got plenty of law, history, prophecy, biography, and theology thrown in. It's a bit tough to describe since it's such an odd anthology, but "non-fiction" works better than anything.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

My personal opinion:

Seneca - Letters From a Stoic

Aristotle - Nicomachean Ethics

Karl Marx - The Poverty of Philosophy

John Locke - An Essay Concerning Human Understanding

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 

[luiz]

I'm a bit disappointed by the absolute dominance of non-fiction books in this thread. Nothing wrong with a good informative read, but I have a policy of never reading two non-fiction books in a row (unless I'm reading them for academic or professional reasons; I mean that only as far as bedside reading goes).

Common' folks, recommend some must-read fiction works that many of us may not have heard of!

 

[Kozmos]

Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson.

Illium/Olympos by Dan Simmons.

 

[Dachs]

Illium/Olympos by Dan Simmons.

I also support the vote for Ilium and Olympos, and would like to recommend Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion in a similar vein. Kind of a mishmash of genres, although they're closest to science fiction.

 

[Smellincoffee]

The Meditations, Marcus Aurelius.

Amusing Ourselves to Death OR Technopoly: the Surrender of Culture to Technology, Neil Postman

Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, Carl Sagan

The Zinn Reader, Howard Zinn

The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx

A Life of Her Own, Emile Carles

Most of these are from a list of ten books that changed my life.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I'm a bit disappointed by the absolute dominance of non-fiction books in this thread. Nothing wrong with a good informative read, but I have a policy of never reading two non-fiction books in a row (unless I'm reading them for academic or professional reasons; I mean that only as far as bedside reading goes).

Common' folks, recommend some must-read fiction works that many of us may not have heard of!

It would be hard to have never heard of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, but it is absolutely worth your time to read. Another of my favorites is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Finally I recommend Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. All these books are enjoyable stories in themselves, but I think they also are valuable reads because of the lessons they can teach us about life.

 

[luiz]

It would be hard to have never heard of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, but it is absolutely worth your time to read. Another of my favorites is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Finally I recommend Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. All these books are enjoyable stories in themselves, but I think they also are valuable reads because of the lessons they can teach us about life.

I have read the three and they're all most excellent indeed

 

[kochman]

What six books do you think contributed most to your understanding of the most important things you know, whether it's politics or science or history, etc. Basically, I didn't go to the best schools growing up and will be done highschool next year, and honestly I don't think I know nearly as much as you guys here on this forum, so my intention is to self-educate myself so that I can communicate as well in college as most of you guys do on here, minor trolling aside

So for an aspiring off-topic'r, what books do you feel are must reads (to have a well-rounded foundation of knowledge in general)

Recommend away!

Guns, Germs & Steel - Jared Diamond
History of the World - J.M. Roberts
Holy Bible - Various authors
Art of War - Sun Tzu
Second World War - John Keegan
The New Concise History of the Crusades - Thomas Madden

 

[suiraclaw]

Catch-22
Frankenstein
Cat's Cradle
Don Quichote
A Tale of 2 Cities
Utopia

By the way, you should check out project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org), most of the books mentioned in this threads are available for free on that site as ebooks.

 

[Antilogic]

I guess we need to differentiate between Classics and classics then

Silly Ah'murika! You've done it again! Changing the definitions of words that probably shouldn't be changed!

Not exclusively. You've got plenty of law, history, prophecy, biography, and theology thrown in. It's a bit tough to describe since it's such an odd anthology, but "non-fiction" works better than anything.

...yup, this is what I was objecting to. Classics is a better label, due to its age as well as a tendency of old authors to throw everything together into one book.

I'm a bit disappointed by the absolute dominance of non-fiction books in this thread. Nothing wrong with a good informative read, but I have a policy of never reading two non-fiction books in a row (unless I'm reading them for academic or professional reasons; I mean that only as far as bedside reading goes).

Common' folks, recommend some must-read fiction works that many of us may not have heard of!

Can't speak for everyone, but here's my (abbreviated) story: I was a childrens' book reader growing up, but then I had the terrible experience in my middle and high schools with assigned literature. The history classes were phoned in by team coaches, I was forced to read "classic" novels that I really didn't care for in English classes, etc. Nearly swore off books entirely until I had the ability to take an "AP Language", which focused on non-fiction selections, over "AP Literature", which was more of what I already had. We read In Cold Blood, The Right Stuff, Isaac's Storm, and I think a few more books and articles that I have since forgotten. I loved the non-fiction option, and never turned back.

Guns, Germs & Steel - Jared Diamond
History of the World - J.M. Roberts
Holy Bible - Various authors
Art of War - Sun Tzu
Second World War - John Keegan
The New Concise History of the Crusades - Thomas Madden

Oh come on, another Diamond recommendation?

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I have read the three and they're all most excellent indeed

Good show!

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick is a fun read, you can complete it in a day or two. It's a science fiction book the movie Blade Runner was based on. In my opinion the book is much better than the movie, and covers a lot more than the movie does.

There are a series of historical fiction novels by Morgan Llywelyn called "The Irish Century." The books are 1916, 1921, 1949, 1979, and 1999. Great books, great stories, especially for someone like myself with Irish heritage.

 

[luiz]

Good show!

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick is a fun read, you can complete it in a day or two. It's a science fiction book the movie Blade Runner was based on. In my opinion the book is much better than the book, and covers a lot more than the movie does.

There are a series of historical fiction novels by Morgan Llywelyn called "The Irish Century." The books are 1916, 1921, 1949, 1979, and 1999. Great books, great stories, especially for someone like myself with Irish heritage.

Good tips, man. I'll definetely try to check out the Irish ones.

Here's another Irish tip: The Dream of the Celt, by Vargas Llosa, about the life of Roger Casement. Not Llosa's best book, but still a very good one.

 

[Integral]

The Meditations, Marcus Aurelius.

Amusing Ourselves to Death OR Technopoly: the Surrender of Culture to Technology, Neil Postman

Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, Carl Sagan

The Zinn Reader, Howard Zinn

The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx

A Life of Her Own, Emile Carles

Most of these are from a list of ten books that changed my life.

Another Postman reader!

You, sir, earn 10 cool points.

 

[Hygro]

I'm a bit disappointed by the absolute dominance of non-fiction books in this thread. Nothing wrong with a good informative read, but I have a policy of never reading two non-fiction books in a row (unless I'm reading them for academic or professional reasons; I mean that only as far as bedside reading goes).

Common' folks, recommend some must-read fiction works that many of us may not have heard of!

The problem with fiction is that it's rarely a "must-read". Some of my favorite books are fiction, but w

Other than my previous Dr. Seuss recommendations, my favorite fiction books and series-es.

Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson
Harry Potter by JK Rowling
A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
Ender's Game & Shadow by Orson Scott Card

 

[Cutlass]

And, as already said, a decent atlas.

I have one of those, and have looked through it a lot. Unfortunately, the one I have was printed not long before the USSR and Yugoslavia broke up

Originally Posted by Antilogic View Post
What Hath God Wrought by Daniel Walker Howe

I've been working my way through this for some time. I'm an incredibly slow and easily interreptable reader (3 small kids can do that to you). Just completely awesome.

Finally finished this. Amazing the time you find to read when you have no power or internet for a week

 

[kochman]

To the people suggesting fiction books...

Can you explain how this will help the original poster expand his knowledge? This is what he was asking for...