You are what you read and I like to read. Here is my list of my “must read again” books and authors:
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. In this fictional novel, Rand explains her philosophy of Objectivism. She describes a society collapsing as the government increasingly and ineffectively asserts control and the most productive citizens go on strike in protest. It is no longer fiction!
The Source, by James Michener. This is historical fiction that traces the descendants of a family from prehistoric times to the 1960’s in what is now Israel. A great insight into the birth of the many religions that started or matured in the region.
Battle Cry of Freedom, by James McPherson. There is no possible way to understand current American politics without a complete understanding of all aspects of the Civil War. This is a comprehensive review of the events that led up to the war in a style similar to a modern day weekly news magazine but with the advantage of the passage of time.
I Am a Strange Loop, by Douglas Hofstadter. This is his sequel published 19 years after Gödel, Escher and Bach which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1980. I am fascinated with computers and programming, especially expert systems that claim artificial intelligence. Hofstadter explains how we process information, how, through the miracle of self-reference, we create an identity and how far we are from true artificial intelligence.
Le Ton Beau de Marot, In Praise of the Music of Language by Douglas Hofstadter. Hofstadter uses an obscure 28 line poem from an obscure 16th Century poet, Clement Marot to demonstrate the complexities of language, communication and culture. I took a stab at translating the poem myself. Show me yours and I’ll show you mine!
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M Pirsig. This is a philosophical novel about the “Metaphysics of Quality”. Pirsig has been quoted to say, “it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It’s not very factual on motorcycles, either.” The sequel, Lila, is worth reading too.
Stick and Rudder, An Explanation of the Art of Flying, by Wolfgang Langwiesche. This book, written in 1944, is still the best on the topic about flight and what it means to be a pilot.
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux. In this 2008 travelogue, he retraces the steps of the journey he took in 1975 and wrote about in The Great Railway Bazaar. I also like The Old Patagonian Express (a train trip from Boston to Patagonia), The Kingdom by the Sea (A walk around Britain), The Pillars Of Hercules, A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean and several others.
The Jack Ryan Series by Tom Clancy.
A Short History of Everything and At Home by Bill Bryson. A Des Moines native and gifted writer. His travel books are good reads too.
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. Try to wrap your hear around the Big Bang, black holes, light cones, and space-time. Then try to explain it to another person. Good luck, it is a quantum leap!
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. In this fictional novel, Rand explains her philosophy of Objectivism. She describes a society collapsing as the government increasingly and ineffectively asserts control and the most productive citizens go on strike in protest. It is no longer fiction!The Source, by James Michener. This is historical fiction that traces the descendants of a family from prehistoric times to the 1960’s in what is now Israel. A great insight into the birth of the many religions that started or matured in the region.
Battle Cry of Freedom, by James McPherson. There is no possible way to understand current American politics without a complete understanding of all aspects of the Civil War. This is a comprehensive review of the events that led up to the war in a style similar to a modern day weekly news magazine but with the advantage of the passage of time.
I Am a Strange Loop, by Douglas Hofstadter. This is his sequel published 19 years after Gödel, Escher and Bach which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1980. I am fascinated with computers and programming, especially expert systems that claim artificial intelligence. Hofstadter explains how we process information, how, through the miracle of self-reference, we create an identity and how far we are from true artificial intelligence.
Le Ton Beau de Marot, In Praise of the Music of Language by Douglas Hofstadter. Hofstadter uses an obscure 28 line poem from an obscure 16th Century poet, Clement Marot to demonstrate the complexities of language, communication and culture. I took a stab at translating the poem myself. Show me yours and I’ll show you mine!
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M Pirsig. This is a philosophical novel about the “Metaphysics of Quality”. Pirsig has been quoted to say, “it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It’s not very factual on motorcycles, either.” The sequel, Lila, is worth reading too.
Stick and Rudder, An Explanation of the Art of Flying, by Wolfgang Langwiesche. This book, written in 1944, is still the best on the topic about flight and what it means to be a pilot.
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux. In this 2008 travelogue, he retraces the steps of the journey he took in 1975 and wrote about in The Great Railway Bazaar. I also like The Old Patagonian Express (a train trip from Boston to Patagonia), The Kingdom by the Sea (A walk around Britain), The Pillars Of Hercules, A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean and several others.
The Jack Ryan Series by Tom Clancy.
A Short History of Everything and At Home by Bill Bryson. A Des Moines native and gifted writer. His travel books are good reads too.
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. Try to wrap your hear around the Big Bang, black holes, light cones, and space-time. Then try to explain it to another person. Good luck, it is a quantum leap!