CHAT 10 Books That Will Make You Smarter

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
Books | Updated December 24, 2019

10 Books That Will Make You Smarter

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Jamie Frater



This list seems a good one to introduce our new Listverse Shopping category. We launched the category on the first of September this year and are currently publishing one list a day (extra to the regular three daily lists) which shows up in the category listing only. Be sure to check it out.
While reading is always stimulating, sometimes we want to go for a pure intellectual power-up. Here are some selections we’ve found that are guaranteed to expand your mind and worldview.


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10The Courage to Write
Ralph Keyes

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While Ralph Keyes’ conversational guide is an invaluable tool for those of us who aspire to a profession in writing, it is equally eye-opening for those who simply enjoy reading the fruits of their labor. Keyes’ insight comes from over three decades of teaching writing, and is engaging for writers of all levels.
Comments from successful authors are sprinkled throughout, illustrating how they overcame roadblocks in their creative processes. Originally published in 1995, The Courage To Write has become a standard volume for aspiring writers and is a fascinating read for anyone.

9A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bill Bryson

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Author Bill Bryson made his name with colorful first-person accounts of stays in some pretty challenging environments, like the Appalachian Trail and the Australian Outback. With A Short History of Everything, Bryson challenges himself- and the reader- to comprehend the works of some of science’s greatest minds, in an effort to understand… well, everything.
From the Big Bang to the advent of civilization to our modern day, Bryson’s work is entertaining, informative and meditative in equal measure- a trek through the history of the world through the eyes of a someone very much like us.

8At Home: A Short History of Private Life
Bill Bryson

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A more recent work by Bryson, At Home takes us along as the author contemplates the history of all of our comforts. Room by room, he delves into the origins of all of the “modern artifacts” that we take for granted, in his signature style- witty, entertaining and informative. He also covers a topic that is rarely seen these days: the origins of domestic gardens.
This 2011 work has, on the surface, a narrower focus but becomes just as involved and in-depth as the previous entry. Bryson is the only repeat author on our list for good reason; his work will engage you, and show you new frames of reference for the commonplace.
This book is hands-down the single best book I have read in years. If you only buy one book on this list, this is the one. Since I first read it, I have bought extra copies every year to give away as gifts.

7Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
Jared M. Diamond

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Jared Diamond’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work is an examination of the expansion of civilization and culture- not through ingenuity and bravery, but through opportunity and necessity. Diamond’s theories convincingly illustrate how each facet of our modern civilization fell into place, painting a picture of human achievement that differs significantly from the popular one.
The book won the 1998 Pulitzer for General Nonfiction, among other awards, and has received excellent academic reviews as well. It’s a worldview-challenging work that deserves a read.

6 Cosmos
Carl Sagan

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Carl Sagan’s seminal 1980 work is a companion piece to the PBS series, also aired in 1980, with each illustrated chapter corresponding to an episode. The stated purpose of the book and series- to explain complex scientific concepts to anyone interested in learning them- helped to make this exploration of the nature of the Universe immediately engaging in a way that few science publications before had been able to achieve.
15 billion years of cosmic evolution are covered in a light, inclusive tone that makes Cosmos as easy to read as it is intellectually stimulating. It became the best selling nonfiction science book of all time upon publication, and is responsible for the higher visibility of science-based publication and programming that continues to this day.

5Predictably Irrational
Dan Ariely

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Dan Ariely’s 2010 New York Times bestseller is a fascinating examination of human nature. As its title indicates, Ariely posits that human beings are eminently predictable- just not in the ways that we might think.
The basic concept- that we make completely irrational choices a great deal of the time, yet do so in ways that are easy to predict- is elaborated on in ways that will make you question the very motives behind the choices you make, from the trivial to the life-altering. A provocative and stimulating read.

4The Holographic Universe
Michael Talbot

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Michael Talbot’s seminal work of quantum physics and speculative science incorporates David Bohm and Karl Pribram’s theories of the Implicate (enfolded) and Explicate (unfolded) orders of consciousness to ask whether all that we see and experience could be essentially a projection of our collective consciousness- the mother of all holograms.
An impressive amount of science supports Talbot’s theory, which touches on everything from deja vu and “meaningful coincidences” to the holographic nature of dreams. It’s a cohesive theory, convincingly and thoroughly explained, that will give you a different view of the world around you- perhaps a radically different one.

3Contrary Notions
Michael Parenti

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Political analyst Michael Parenti has a long history of calling into question the established histories and conventions that drive our society. This collection of short works is perhaps the purest distillation of his revolutionary worldview, and the most varied of all his works.
Touching on a wide array of topics from class and wealth to technology and the environment to race, sex and ethnicity, Parenti’s lucid and authoritative style is a pleasure to read and has a way of making complex subjects easy to process. While any of his works are recommended, this is perhaps his most accessible.

2A People’s History of the United States
Howard Zinn

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Howard Zinn’s landmark tome, first published in 1980, has undergone multiple revisions and editions, and the newest version features a recap of the history of the book itself, which is an absolutely invaluable examination of the history of the US told not from the point of view of those with power, but those with none- the factory workers, the poor, the immigrants, the women and minorities upon whose backs the US was built.
Zinn’s remarkably cohesive, conversational and controversial work is as vital as when it was published, and offers a historical perspective on America that many of us have never considered.

1Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Bruce Lee

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Published posthumously, Tao of Jeet Kune Do was assembled from various notes and essays by the great Bruce Lee. Far from simply a martial arts book, it illustrates that Jeet Kune Do- the system which Lee invented- is as much a system of mindfulness and an approach to life as it is a way of combat.

The most reflective and abstract entry on this list, Tao of Jeet Kune Do is a fascinating and stimulating read for literally anyone, the thoughts and meditations of one of the great humanist minds of our time.
 

ambereyes

Veteran Member
I've read Cosmos and A People's History of the United States, both IMHO excellent reads. Thinking about it, maybe it's time for a reread.
 

jward

passin' thru
Notta bad list, Doz, but kinda cookie cutter ... What list can You come up for here and now?
...make me smarter, cynical, but capable of wide eyed wonder, dangerous but with a healer's heart, and tall.
 

michaelteever

Deceased
I've enjoyed two of them, Michael Talbot's 'The Holographic Universe' and Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos'.

Recommend both, great reads.

Michael

I'll make it a point to locate the others. Thanks!
 

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
Well, you can lead a horse to water … :D

My difficulty with any such list would be in limiting it to only ten books :D What caught my eye with this list was the TWO books on it from Bill Bryson. I was not familiar with his work, a neighbor (who makes Christmas wreaths in the season) recently insisted we read Bryson's One Summer- America 1927 and loaned us his copy. I'm about half way through it and it is wonderful. One Summer

I found the list interesting and useful and thought it would be worth sharing here.
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
Notta bad list, Doz, but kinda cookie cutter ... What list can You come up for here and now?
...make me smarter, cynical, but capable of wide eyed wonder, dangerous but with a healer's heart, and tall.

As Freeholder said, I'll put the Bible at #1

going from there:

2. America Alone by Mark Stein
Someday soon, you might wake up to the call to prayer from a muezzin. Europeans already are. And liberals will still tell you that "diversity is our strength"--while Talibanic enforcers cruise Greenwich Village burning books and barber shops, the Supreme Court decides sharia law doesn't violate the "separation of church and state," and the Hollywood Left decides to give up on gay rights in favor of the much safer charms of polygamy.

If you think this can't happen, you haven't been paying attention, as the hilarious, provocative, and brilliant Mark Steyn--the most popular conservative columnist in the English-speaking world--shows to devastating effect. The future, as Steyn shows, belongs to the fecund and the confident. And the Islamists are both, while the West is looking ever more like the ruins of a civilization.

But America can survive, prosper, and defend its freedom only if it continues to believe in itself, in the sturdier virtues of self-reliance (not government), in the centrality of family, and in the conviction that our country really is the world's last best hope. Mark Steyn's America Alone is laugh-out-loud funny--but it will also change the way you look at the world.

Available for under $2.00 on Amazon:



3. 1000 Years for Revenge: International Terrorism and the FBI--the Untold Story by Peter Lance
1000 Years for Revenge is a groundbreaking investigative work that uncovers startling evidence of how the FBI missed dozens of opportunities to stop the attacks of September 11, dating back to 1989. Award-winning journalist Peter Lance explains how an elusive al Qaeda mastermind defeated the entire American security system in what the author calls "the greatest failure of intelligence since the Trojan Horse." Threading the stories of FBI agent Nancy Floyd, FDNY fire marshal Ronnie Bucca, and bomb-maker Ramzi Yousef, Lance uncovers the years of behind-the-scenes intrigue that put these three strangers on a collision course. An unparalleled work of investigative reporting and masterful storytelling, 1000 Years for Revenge will change forever the way we look at the FBI and the war on terror in the twenty-first century.

Ragnarok: This book goes into great detail of Yousef's ties to the OK City bombing as well as an attempted assassination of the Pope.

Available for under $2.00 on Amazon:



4. Deception: Pakistan, the United States, and the Secret Trade in Nuclear Weapons by Catherine Scott-Clark
The shocking, three-decade story of A. Q. Khan and Pakistan's nuclear program, and the complicity of the United States in the spread of nuclear weaponry.

On December 15, 1975, A. Q. Khan―a young Pakistani scientist working in Holland―stole top-secret blueprints for a revolutionary new process to arm a nuclear bomb. His original intention, and that of his government, was purely patriotic―to provide Pakistan a counter to India's recently unveiled nuclear device. However, as Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark chillingly relate in their masterful investigation of Khan's career over the past thirty years, over time that limited ambition mushroomed into the world's largest clandestine network engaged in selling nuclear secrets―a mercenary and illicit program managed by the Pakistani military and made possible, in large part, by aid money from the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Libya, and by indiscriminate assistance from China.

Most unnerving, the authors reveal that the sales of nuclear weapons technology to Iran, North Korea, and Libya, so much in the news today, were made with the clear knowledge of the American government, for whom Pakistan has been a crucial buffer state and ally―first against the Soviet Union, now in the "war against terror." Every successive American presidency, from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush, has turned a blind eye to Pakistan's nuclear activity―rewriting and destroying evidence provided by its intelligence agencies, lying to Congress and the American people about Pakistan's intentions and capability, and facilitating, through shortsightedness and intent, the spread of the very weapons we vilify the "axis of evil" powers for having and fear terrorists will obtain. Deception puts our current standoffs with Iran and North Korea in a startling new perspective, and makes clear two things: that Pakistan, far from being an ally, is a rogue nation at the epicenter of world destabilization; and that the complicity of the United States has ushered in a new nuclear winter.

Based on hundreds of interviews in the United States, Pakistan, India, Israel, Europe, and Southeast Asia, Deception is a masterwork of reportage and dramatic storytelling by two of the world's most resourceful investigative journalists. Urgently important, it should stimulate debate and command a reexamination of our national priorities.

Ragnarok: Want to know who REALLY has nuclear capability in the middle east? Read this book...

Available for under $1.00 on Amazon:



5. General Patton's Principles for Life and Leadership by Porter Williamson

This is the original, first person account of the principles by which General Patton lived his life and led his men. The book was warmly endorsed by both General Patton's son and daughter as being true to the character of their Father -- his drive, his indomitable will, his faith, his genius as a warrior, and especially of the extraordinary bond with his troops. The many principles are grouped within the topics: Leadership, Command & Management, Fitness, Pride-Courage-Confidence, Decisions, Success, and Life & Death.

Ragnarok: Some great life advice from America's BEST General ever!


Available for under $4.00 on ebay:




6. The Prince by Machiavelli

The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, is a 16th-century political treatise. The Prince is sometimes claimed to be one of the first works of modern philosophy, especially modern political philosophy, in which the effective truth is taken to be more important than any abstract ideal. It was also in direct conflict with the dominant Catholic and scholastic doctrines of the time concerning politics and ethics. The Prince has the general theme of accepting that the aims of princes—such as glory and survival—can justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends. Although it is relatively short, the treatise is the most remembered of Machiavelli's works and the one most responsible for bringing the word "Machiavellian" into usage as a pejorative. It even contributed to the modern negative connotations of the words "politics" and "politician" in western countries. In terms of subject matter it overlaps with the much longer Discourses on Livy, which was written a few years later. Machiavelli emphasized the need for realism, as opposed to idealism. Along with this, he stresses the difference between human-beings and animals since "there are two ways of contending, one in accordance with the laws, the other by force; the first of which is proper to men, the second to beast". In The Prince he does not explain what he thinks the best ethical or political goals are, except the control of one's own fortune, as opposed to waiting to see what chance brings. Machiavelli took it for granted that would-be leaders naturally aim at glory or honor. He associated these goals with a need for "virtue" and "prudence" in a leader, and saw such virtues as essential to good politics and indeed the common good. That great men should develop and use their virtue and prudence was a traditional theme of advice to Christian princes. And that more virtue meant less reliance on chance was a classically influenced "humanist commonplace" in Machiavelli's time, as Fischer says, even if it was somewhat controversial. However, Machiavelli went far beyond other authors in his time, who in his opinion left things to fortune, and therefore to bad rulers, because of their Christian beliefs. He used the words "virtue" and "prudence" to refer to glory-seeking and spirited excellence of character, in strong contrast to the traditional Christian uses of those terms, but more keeping with the original pre-Christian Greek and Roman concepts from which they derived. He encouraged ambition and risk taking. So in another break with tradition, he treated not only stability, but also radical innovation, as possible aims of a prince in a political community. Managing major reforms can show off a Prince's virtue and give him glory. He clearly felt Italy needed major reform in his time, and this opinion of his time is widely shared. Machiavelli's descriptions in The Prince encourage leaders to attempt to control their fortune gloriously, to the extreme extent that some situations may call for a fresh "founding" (or re-founding) of the "modes and orders" that define a community, despite the danger and necessary evil and lawlessness of such a project. Founding a wholly new state, or even a new religion, using injustice and immorality has even been called the chief theme of The Prince. Machiavelli justifies this position by explaining how if "a prince did not win love he may escape hate" by personifying injustice and immorality; therefore, he will never loosen his grip since "fear is held by the apprehension of punishment" and never diminishes as time goes by. For a political theorist to do this in public was one of Machiavelli's clearest breaks not just with medieval scholasticism, but with the classical tradition of political philosophy, especially the favorite philosopher of Catholicism at the time, Aristotle. This is one of Machiavelli's most lasting influences upon modernity.

Ragnarok: Modern politics is a lot easier to follow after reading this.

You can find it under $5.00 but it just feel's a lot more "right" if you spring for a collectible copy:



7. The Wisdom of Israel edited by Lewis Browne

The essence of the Hebraic contribution to the world's moral culture, from the prophetic utterances of the Bible to the wit and wisdom of living writers, with interpretive introductions and explanatory notes.

The notable collection is part of the rich cultural heritage of the Hebrew people and of the entire world. From the Old Testament, the Apocrypha, the Twelve Testaments, Hillel, Josephus, the New Testaments, the Talmudic writers, Maimonides, Spinoza, the Hasidic tales and teachings, through the modern period of Mendelssohn, Heinrich Heine, Sholom Aleichem and many others, the selections reflect not only the philosophical, ethical and moral history of a creative people, but also the deep humor which has sustained them for many centuries.

Ragnarok: Again, I would recommend an older copy ( which is available on ebay for under $5.00 ) just for the impact of the original copyright date of 1945. This book really hits home when you realize that it was written for future generations, in case the next attempt to eradicate the Jews was successful.





8. The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer

Forgotten Soldier
recounts the horror of World War II on the eastern front, as seen through the eyes of a teenaged German soldier. At first an exciting adventure, young Guy Sajer’s war becomes, as the German invasion falters in the icy vastness of the Ukraine, a simple, desperate struggle for survival against cold, hunger, and above all the terrifying Soviet artillery. As a member of the elite Gross Deutschland Division, he fought in all the great battles from Kursk to Kharkov.

Sajer's German footsoldier’s perspective makes The Forgotten Soldier a unique war memoir, the book that the Christian Science Monitor said "may well be the book about World War II which has been so long awaited." Now it has been handsomely republished containing fifty rare German combat photos of life and death at the eastern front. The photos of troops battling through snow, mud, burned villages, and rubble-strewn cities depict the hardships and destructiveness of war. Many are originally from the private collections of German soldiers and have never been published before. This volume is a deluxe edition of a true classic.

Ragnarok: This book blew me away. I have never read a more clear and concise rendering of what life on the frontlines is like. Sajer pulls no punches and, IMHO, this book should be mandatory reading for anyone thinking of joining the infantry.

Available on Amazon for under $2.00:



9. On Combat by Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman

On Combat looks at what happens to the human body under the stresses of deadly battle the impact on the nervous system, heart, breathing, visual and auditory perception, memory - then discusses new research findings as to what measures warriors can take to prevent such debilitations so they can stay in the fight, survive, and win. A brief, but insightful look at history shows the evolution of combat, the development of the physical and psychological leverage that enables humans to kill other humans, followed by an objective examination of domestic violence in America. The authors reveal the nature of the warrior, brave men and women who train their minds and bodies to go to that place from which others flee. After examining the incredible impact of a few true warriors in battle, On Combat presents new and exciting research as to how to train the mind to become inoculated to stress, fear and even pain. Expanding on Lt. Col. Grossman s popular "Bulletproof mind" presentation, the book explores what really happens to the warrior after the battle, and shows how emotions, such as relief and self-blame, are natural and healthy ways to feel about having survived combat. A fresh and highly informative look at post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) details how to prevent it, how to survive it should it happen, how to come out of it stronger, and how to help others who are experiencing it. On Combat looks at the critical importance of the debriefing, when warriors gather after the battle to share what happened, critique, learn from each other and, for some, begin to heal from the horror. The reader will learn a highly effective breathing technique that not only steadies the warrior s mind and body before and during the battle, but can also be used afterwards as a powerful healing device to help separate the emotion from the memory. Concluding chapters discuss the Christian/Judeo view of killing in combat and offers powerful insight that Lt. Col. Grossman has imparted over the years to help thousands of warriors understand and come to terms with their actions in battle. A final chapter encourages warriors to always fight for justice, not vengeance, so that their remaining days will be healthy ones filled with pride for having performed their duty morally and ethically. This information-packed book ploughs new ground in its vision, in its extensive new research and startling findings, and in its powerful, revealing quotes and anecdotes from top people in the warrior community, people who have faced the toxic environment of deadly combat and now share their wisdom to help others. On Combat is easy to read and powerful in scope. It is a true classic that will be read by new and veteran warriors for years to come.

Ragnarok: I used to have a job that was a lot more intense than my current one and this book was invaluable. I'd recommend it not only to our military members but to ANT first responder that may find themselves in a life or death situation.

Colonel Grossman was the one who originated the "Sheepdog" philosophy of the population and goes into detail of the role the Sheepdog plays amongst the sheep and the wolves.

For those interested, Colonel Grossman runs the Killology website and offers many informative articles and other learning opportunities:

Available on Amazon for under $15.00:



10. The Qu'ran

Ragnarok:
Know your enemy and be able to spot the deluge of lies spoonfed to you and the American citizens. Even if you can't force yourself to read the entire thing, having one available for reference is important. I would, also, recommend at spot 10.5 a copy of the Reliance of the Traveller which is the be-all and end-all source reference guide for all aspects of Sharia law.

PDF Copy of the Qu'ran: https://www.alislam.org/quran/Holy-Quran-English.pdf
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
Oh, yeah... I have to add this one, too...

11. Under Cover - My Four Years in the Nazi Underworld of America by John Roy Carlson

Publisher's Weekly's best-selling nonfiction book of 1943 is a work of its era. Carlson's name is a pseudonym for a man who uses an assumed name when investigating these various right-wing groups. The man himself is an Armenian who came over to the United States as a youngster, having suffered, with his parents, the prejudice of peoples in the Old World. One Christmas in New York, a couple of men assassinate the bishop of their Armenian church. These men claim ties to a right-wing group. And thus Carlson's mission is born: to penetrate such groups and find out how they are working in the United States.

What follows are accounts of Carlson, posing as an Italian American, visiting various right-wing organizations and becoming, at times, a pseudo-member. He starts low, helping to sell right-wing newspapers (but mostly destroying them and claiming he sold them) and attending meetings of various right-wing groups. Eventually, he starts his own paper, which he distributes only to people who are already of a right-wing persuasion. This gives him credibility that he's able, from then on, to use a door to various "American First" or "America for America" groups.

Many of these groups are anti-Semitic. Many believe in using democracy to spread their doctrines and then ending democracy once they come to power. Many take Germany's side in the war or are antiwar. Many probably are dangerous. Carlson goes to cities all over America to get the scoop: New York (including black Harlem, where there are African American Nazi sympathizers), Chicago, Salt Lake City, and Boston. Carlson tracks down various politicians who given an ear to some of the people in these groups. And Carlson gives out addresses and phone numbers too!

Ragnarok: If you though America was united during WWII, think again. If you enjoy a good spy novel you will LOVE this book and the fact that it all happened makes it all the more enjoyable. Carlson infiltrates the local groups and follows the rabbit hole all the way to Senator's offices in D.C. This is a really good read!

Available on Amazon for under $3.00:
 

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
In my admittedly limited experience, I have run across more people who were enstupidated by their exposure to the Bible than enlightened by it. Like those who say "I read as far as _______________ and went no further."

The problem is usually not the Bible itself but someone's biased interpretation of it. We live at the intersection of infinity and eternity but are bound about by Lilliputian threads of some other mortal's making.

Do feel free to add to or detract from the OP list as you wish however :D
 

jward

passin' thru
Doz

Well as a work of literature, alone, the Bible is required reading. I feel the same can be said for all religious tomes, though. Naturally, as a Christian, the Bible has all sorts of additional weight, with me. I don't discuss lilliputian enstupidification kinds of stuff, though. Just live as well as I can, and if ever I am asked how, or why, I answer.

Bill bryson? If I recall, enjoyed his History, though DH kept that one in his throne room, so not sure I read it in its entirety.

I am glad you shared, I would read the list of ingredients in TP, were nothing else available, and I always nag my professor friends in the meat world for recommendations. Pretend world shouldn't be so different, should it : ) ?
 

jward

passin' thru
Ragnarok, you throwing your hat in the instructor pool? If so, we'll need ya to fill out some paperwork... & I warn ya, I m a lousy student, stubborn, slow witted, full of questions etc... And I need equal doses of instruction on man the majestic, coz a diet too heavily weighted toward man the monster leads me to fight losing battlles with trees, and walls, and big metal things.

I've some experience with much of your list, with the exceptions of 7, 8, 9 & 11.
I am particularly looking fwd to #9, as it is an area of interest.

An adjunct to the book you mentioned that I am more familiar with is:

I can't get over it. Dr. Matsakis.
In this ground-breaking book, Dr. Matsakis explains that post-traumatic stress disorder affects not just soldiers, but also suruvivors of many other types of trauma including:

•crime
•vehicular accidents
•rape
•family violence
•sexual abuse
•natural catastrophes
I Can’t Get Over It directly addresses survivors of trauma. It explains the nature of PTSD and describes the healing process.
 

PghPanther

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Have read 3 of those books and they are good but can't touch these two books......

1) The Prize (the epic quest for oil and power in the 20th century)- Daniel Yeagan this book was made into a PBS mini series documentary...……...incredible read with rich historical ironies and stories in the twists of fate determining the use of oil energy through this past century.

2) The Making of the Atomic Bomb - Richard Rhodes ( Pulitizer Prize winning non-fiction book) the single best book I've ever read in my life...……….have read it 4 times now...…..bought a copy to own after my 3rd reading of it...…...it will raise your IQ level ………...Carl Sagan described it as a "A stimulating intellectual journey worthy of epics such as Milton"

Rhodes book is some 800 pages and incredible in the insight of 20th century physics...……..I caution you that it is not an easy read but a profound one that will leave you wiser and smarter from reading it...……..two chapters in the book still haunt me about their profound insight and revelation to this day...….."The long grave already dug" (the chapter about WW 1)……………..and "Tongues of Fire" (a chapter on the eyewitness account of the Japanese doctor who took care of burn victims from the Hiroshima A bomb blast)...…The closing words of that last chapter are as shocking as the final words penned in the 1984 novel...…...
 

MinnesotaSmith

Membership Revoked
I would cull several books from that list without hesitation.

First, Zinn's book has a horrible reputation among nonliberal historians.
Second, Bryson is a limited-view man who is dishonest, going by his book about the Appalachian Trail. He is absolutely despised (contempt, not just hatred) for his "Walk in the Woods" pack of disrespectful lies. I cannot imagine reading anything else such a person has written.
Third, Diamond is a one-trick pony. He thinks that when a society cuts its trees, it's SOL, but fine before.

A MUCH better assortment IMO would include (aside from a pre-1950 edition Bible):

Sorokin's Man and Society in Calamity
Rand's Atlas Shrugged
Strauss & Howe's The Fourth Turning
Dr. Helen's Men on Strike
Kennedy's Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
Vox Day's The Irrational Atheist
Huntingdon's The Clash of Civilizations
Hanson's Carnage and Culture
Mayer's They Thought They Were Free
Steve Moxon's The Woman Racket
Gibbon's books on the decline and fall of the Roman Empire
Solzhenitsyn's The Gulag Archipelago
The Federalist Papers

Hayek's The Road to Serfdom
Townshend's Up The Organization
Hofer's The True Believer
The Color of Crime
Foxe's Book of Martyrs

Schwarz's You Can Trust the Communists
Kaku's Physics of the Impossible
Escalante's, Gatto's, and Iserbyt's books on schooling
Anonymous Conservative's book r/K Selection Theory
some other nonfiction books about science/math by Pournelle and Asimov
Strunk's Elements of Style
 
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Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
I think you can be a Grade A douche', sometimes, Minnesota but I'll be damned if I don't agree with a majority of the books on your list...

:D
 
A Patriot's History of the United States - Schweikart

The Book of Vitures - Wm Bennett

The Mosquito ( A human History of Our deadliest Predator) - Timothy C. Winegard
 
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