Hello,

I'm looking for some book recommendations as the title of this thread suggests. I would prefer non-fiction books in the categories of Science, Philosophy, Politics, History, or anything that you feel can expand the mind. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

(PS. Sorry if this made it into the wrong section of the forum)

Hello,

I'm looking for some book recommendations as the title of this thread suggests. I would prefer non-fiction books in the categories of Science, Philosophy, Politics, History, or anything that you feel can expand the mind. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

(PS. Sorry if this made it into the wrong section of the forum)

I would suggest The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.

I would suggest The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.

Good read, but I've already read that one. I'm currently reading The Selfish Gene and enjoying it. I'll probably end up buying other books by Dawkins as well, since I find his writing style pretty entertaining.

Except that he's an asshole


Read "Mein Kampf", I'm going to buy it, it looks very interesting

Or the Analects of Confucius

Except that he's an asshole

Yeah, could you demonstrate that for me? I must have missed the parts where Dawkins was an asshole.

I would highly recommend "Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku. Talks a lot about higher dimensions, quantum physics, and how it is easier to come up with a GUT in higher dimensions. Definitely a mind expanding read.

Yeah, could you demonstrate that for me? I must have missed the parts where Dawkins was an asshole.

He's disrespectful


Skaught, excellent suggestion. I myself am a big fan of Kaku but I haven't read any of his books...definitely picking them up soon

He's disrespectful


Skaught, excellent suggestion. I myself am a big fan of Kaku but I haven't read any of his books...definitely picking them up soon

Oh I think you would like them. Hyperspace is probably my favorite. Parellel worlds is also very good. I like his books cause I really am a layman as far as quantum/astro physics is concerned, but he really is good at gearing them towards that kind of croud and making it seem like its something that anyone could learn. Let me know if you read anything by him.

I agree with you there; I watch many television presentations by him and he is actually easy to understand and effectively communicates the science so that anyone, even a commoner like myself, can understand

That's why I like him instead of super technical and confusing people

And yup, I will; which of his books deal with parallel universe and time travel?

Both Hyperspace and parellel worlds deal with time travel. Hyperspace much more so. Parellel Worlds is all about parellel universes. I haven't read any of his other books cover to cover. I would say that so far Hyperspace is his best. It has a lot of refertences to science fiction novels, it has many illustrations, it often shows how physics has influenced the world of art. Great book, I can't talk it up enough. I've read it 4 times!

Yeah, could you demonstrate that for me? I must have missed the parts where Dawkins was an asshole.

It's true, he and his deplorable wife are both utter assholes on it.

"The Greatest Traitor", by Ian Mortimer - not bad, covers the 1310-1330 period of Edward I-III and Roger Mortimer

I suggest, some modern current affair reading: Fiasco, by Thomas Ricks

Or:
The leader by Guy Walters, Which is an Alternate history thriller.

I'm actually pretty surprised that more people haven't jumped on this thread. Come on guys, share your thoughts on some great books you've read.

He's disrespectful

Why should he show respect to cruel, anachronistic belief systems?

He's disrespectful

Why should he show respect to cruel, anachronistic belief systems?

I greatly admired Richard Dawkins' book "The Selfish Gene" and went back for his last chapter in his second edition (Good guys finish first). However, I believe that when it comes to his views on religion, he actually has an element that is truly ironic. He seems to me to be just as intolerant as some religious fundamentalists; his intolerance isn't to the idea of God as this or that, however, but that God doesn't exist at all. In my view, he is dead set on the idea that God can only exist the way fundamentalists see God and since he can't believe in such a God (neither can I), then God can't exist. Personally, I solve the problem by defining God as everything or Good (it's just an 'o' away after all). Virtually everyone if not everyone believes in everything and ditto for good (Dawkins certainly believes that evolution generally favours good over time especially because certain groups can become isolated at times). To me, I dislike the concept of devil, but I can believe in bad, inneficient things, or 'evil' (removal of the 'd'), which, like Dawkins, I believe are constantly being culled out of things (however, there is just so -many- ways to have inneficient or 'evil' things; deception plays a big part in it).

To view a multitude of various styles and authors I'd suggest this link...

http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=2&q=http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/&ei=5HVbSY3IMtG3twen1424Dg&usg=AFQjCNFwQ67pzVkEXREaVObXN2DXipn-_g

I also suggest the Hyperspace book. My other one would be "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance".

Blandnuts? Unusual Username but kind of cool. Like opening a can of Planter's Mixed and finding 99% peanuts.

Someone should write a book on the psychology of Usernames or has it been done?

The confessions of an economic hitman.

To expand your mind try these two...one is very hard.

1. How the Mind Works - Steven Pinker
2. A new kind of science - Stephen Wolfram

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, by Mary Roach
The Canon, by Natalie Angier
How the Mind Works, by Stephen Pinker
Hyperspace, by Michio Kaku
The Evolution of Species, by Charles Darwin
Cosmos, by Carl Sagan
Death by Black Hole, by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

god is not Great (http://www.amazon.co.uk/God-Not-Great-Religion-Everything/dp/1843545748/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271953172&sr=8-1), Christopher Hitchens.

The Fabric of the Cosmos (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fabric-Cosmos-Texture-Reality-Penguin/dp/0141011114/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271952940&sr=8-1), Brian Greene.

A Short History of Nearly Everything (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/0552997048/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271953261&sr=8-3), Bill Bryson.

Science, A History (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-History-1543-John-Gribbin/dp/0140297413/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271953000&sr=1-3), John Gribbin.

Modern Times (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Modern-Times-Revised-Twenties-Nineties/dp/0060935502/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271953069&sr=1-1), Paul Johnson. (Don't read it if you don't already know your 20th century history, though.)

"The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark (http://www.amazon.com/Demon-Haunted-World-Science-Candle-Dark/dp/0345409469/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272051149&sr=1-1)" by Carl Sagan

An excellent book that debunks a lot of paranormal crap like UFOs, ghosts, gods & demons, astrology, etc...
It helps people be critical thinkers and not gullable idiots.

The Corps-First book is called "Semper fi"

and

The brotherhood of war- the first book is called "the lieutenants".

They are both by WEB Griffin and are extremely good.

Emergence - by Steven Johnson - a rather good read into the realm of emergent properties.

Parental Advisory: Censorship in America

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Art of War by Stung Stu(possibly spelled wrong)
Hiroshima by John Hersey

I also like 100 people who are screwing up America by Bernard Goldberg.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Art of War by Stung Stu(possibly spelled wrong)
Hiroshima by John Hersey

I also like 100 people who are screwing up America by Bernard Goldberg.

Sun Tzu by the way :D

The Seventy Great Battles in History is also an awesome book

The origin of species by Charles Darwin,
The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci,
The Works of Archimedes.

I'd like to recommend these books.

I would prefer non-fiction books in the categories of Science, Philosophy, Politics, History, or anything that you feel can expand the mind.
My favorite nonfiction in the categories of hardcore science and history are:

1. The Holy Bible by the LORD thy God.
2. The Mahabharata by various ancient authors and demigods.
3. The Iliad by Homer.
4. Worlds in Collision by Immanuel Velikovsky.
5. Chariots of the Gods by Erich Von Daniken.
6. The Devil's Delusion by David Berlinski.

Hello,

I'm looking for some book recommendations as the title of this thread suggests. I would prefer non-fiction books in the categories of Science, Philosophy, Politics, History, or anything that you feel can expand the mind. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

(PS. Sorry if this made it into the wrong section of the forum)

I recommend the book - A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson, which is about science history. The book is very interesting and easy to understand even though its content is about science.

does it have to be a science book?
I really liked Swan Song (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Song_(novel)) Shadow of the Wind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_of_the_Wind) and The Sparrow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sparrow_(novel)) series

wow, I guess I like S books

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy was amazing. There were at least three words on every page I had to look up. (thankfully, the kindle has a built-in dictionary), but it would have helped if I knew Spanish.

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy was amazing. There were at least three words on every page I had to look up. (thankfully, the kindle has a built-in dictionary), but it would have helped if I knew Spanish.

I really liked The Road, so I'm gonna read this one. Thanks

I just read "This Perfect Day" and it was super super good. I also loved "Spin"

I really liked The Road, so I'm gonna read this one. Thanks

Wow, "The Road" was the most depressing book I think I've ever read.
It was like the literary version of "Death of the Fireflies."

Jared Diamond's book, Collapse, is brilliant. I need to get my hands on Guns Germs and Steel, his previous book.

It was like the literary version of "Death of the Fireflies."Is that the same as "Grave of the Fireflies"?... If so it's been in my DVD collection for best part of 2 years and still unopened... never quite been in the mood. :/
But "The Road" is good... just depressing.

@ sarkus-yeah, I misspoke...or something like that...Grave Of The Fireflies.

Beautifully animated...just absolutely stunning, and very well-told.

Most. Depressing. Film. Ever.

Yeah, The Road was good too...I reread it and bawled my eyes out each time.

I'd just rather not read stuff that abets my Major Depressive Disorder, it does not need feeding, KWIM?

Is that the same as "Grave of the Fireflies"?... If so it's been in my DVD collection for best part of 2 years and still unopened... never quite been in the mood. :/
But "The Road" is good... just depressing.

Grave of the Fireflies is more depressing. MUCH more

I would highly recommend "Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku. Talks a lot about higher dimensions, quantum physics, and how it is easier to come up with a GUT in higher dimensions. Definitely a mind expanding read.
OMG Michio Kaku? I've watched his show "SciFi Science", but I had no idea that he was an author! I am SOOOOOOO gonna look for Hyperspace!!

Alone In The Universe: Why Our Planet Is Unique
John Gribbon / Wiley / 2011 / 219pp

Mr. Gribbon (Astrophysics/University of Sussex) explains why (in his opinion) we are the only intelligent beings in our galaxy and perhaps, even the universe. An interesting and good read.

Godel, Escher, and Bach:an Eternal Golden Braid by Hofstadter
For narratives:
The Republic by Plato
...anything by Dostoyevsky

Innumeracy Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences by John Allen Paulos

I'd recommend reading the Bible or the Qu'ran, or does it go without saying. I'm not recommending it on the basis of its scientific merit, but these 2 books are very influential historically in various fields. It's not so much that you should adopt their doctrine, but so you can understand those who have (which is over half the world). After all, its a mark of an educated mind that can entertain a thought without accepting it ;)

"What Is Your Dangerous Idea?" edited by John Brockman with an introduction by Steven Pinker and an afterword by Richard Dawkins.

"What do the world's leading scientists and thinkers consider to be their most dangerous idea? Through the leading online forum Edge (www.edge.org) the call went out, and this compelling and easily digestible volume collects all the answers. From using medication to permanently alter our personalities to contemplating a universe in which we are utterly alone, to the idea that the universe might be fundamentally inexplicable, What Is Your Dangerous Idea? takes an unflinching look at the daring, breathtaking, sometimes terrifying thoughts that could forever alter our world and the way we live in it."

Well,i have heard a very good books especially Michio Kaku books!! I have got both of his book already.. Mind blowing books!! Those books are Hyperspace and Parallel Worlds!!

Currently reading "Outer Dark" by Cormac McCarthy. Tremendous book. I'm addicted to his prose style.

"The Dictator’s Handbook: Why Bad Behavior Is Almost Always Good Politics". Written by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith

Fiction - 6 book Series .. Clan of The Cave Bear - Written by Jean M Auel -

It won awards for the amount of research necessary, and even though it is a work of fiction it has been adopted by some as a survival guide. It has many researched medicinal plants, and methods of living from bleaching leathers with Urine, to using surrounds to catch animals. I laughed. I cried. I am very well read and this was the vest series I have ever read. It is one of the only series I reread about 15 years later and enjoyed as much.

They attempted to make this into a movie (first book) starring Darryl Hannah, but it did not do it justice. This Story requires at least a season or Miniseries to tell and even then it is such an awesome book series it would be a shame to miss the reading of it.


The archaeological and paleontological research for this book was carried out by Auel from her public library, by attending archaeological conventions, and touring extensively on sites with briefings by working field archaeologists.[5] Some of the descriptions are based on the first adult Neanderthal skeletons found in Iraq from the cave burial at Shanidar, dating between 60-80,000 years BP. Other data is clearly linked to the widespread Aurignacian culture and Gravettian culture, and their tell-tale Venus figurines which Auel uses as one center of her Cro-magnon religious practices.[6]

The writing is so incredible I felt as if I had completed a journey when I finished them. I enjoy the writing of Robert Ludlum as well if anyone is wishing to discern my literary taste.

This story spans 4000 pages and has sold 45 million copies, so it is likely some here have even read it.

I always liked the Trilogy format with books so I would not need to start fresh on my next book, and this does not disappoint. Many people who read this series adopt it as their favorite books.


Hillary Clinton - The Clan of the Cave Bear by Auel. Clinton continued “I’ve been interested for a long time in archeology and anthropology, and this novel about life in prehistoric times is a rich blend of imagination and information about everything from plants that were used for medicine to the rituals and taboos of Neanderthal man.”

Here is movie of first book, but it some books dont translate as well into movies.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXh4BNYYObU


This is a great way to spend a few weeks worth of reading.