Book Recommendations

[jippykid]

The holiday season is coming up, and right around Thanksgiving I get inundated with requests from family and friends for a list of things I'd like for Christmas. I decided this year that I will honor their request, and give them a list of books that I'd like, but I need your help.

My question to you all is: What are some staples on your bookshelf and why? I'm interested in all types of books, not just those on spirituality. I like books on history, buddhism, philosophy, etc. I'm really looking for books that will challenge the way I think. Some books that I've read in the past, and have really enjoyed include Guns, Germs and Steel, Misquoting Jesus, Buddhism Without Beliefs, The Celestine Prophecy, and a myriad of random books on the lives of philosophers.

As I'm writing this list, I see that it correlates directly to the book topics I mentioned that I like in the above passage, so maybe I'm stagnating. I'm not sure. I just know that I need to make reading more a part of my life, and I value your input.

[ethereal]

Power vs. Force is a definite must. It has insights on all areas of human life and expression, from society to healing to sports to spirituality. It was the one book that changed my whole life around, so I highly recommend it

[Liara Covert]

If you enjoy fiction, I would also add The Alchemist (fable by Paulo Coelho). If you lean toward non-fiction, I would suggest The Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard or one of the various books about Edgar Cayce. In my mind, his life experience is some of the most compelling in human history.

[Angela]

Have you already read "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins? Whatever your point of view, it will grow you some new synapses.

[Jim11]

hey, a couple other ones on buddhism and spirituality you might like. But don't take my word for it - read some of the reviews, there are lots.
Peace is every step
The heart of the buddha's teachings
Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao
As a man thinketh
other:
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
Anyone will love the above book... guaranteed.
Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela (Paperback)
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty
The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas

philosophy
Essays and Aphorisms - schopenhauer

history
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda

King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa

copy and paste my updated list from place to place. A sample of some good ones that comes to mind.

Also, I second the selfish gene as being worth a look. Quite interesting - science from an author that assumes you know dick all about biology is always good. (at least for me)

[Michael Chui]

It's disturbing how self-descriptive these book recommendations are.

Barabasi, Albert-Laszlo: Linked. (All about Networks.)
Bloom, Harold: Genius. (100 greatest authors of all time. Yes, the Bible is in there. Well, part of it.)
Campbell, Joseph: Hero with a Thousand Faces. (Comparative Religion, theory of the mono-myth. Also see: four-part series, Masks of God.)
Covey, Stephen R.: Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. (Speaks for itself. Best PD book I have ever bothered with.)
Dyson, Freeman: Infinite in All Directions. (Inspirational. The basic concept behind Will Wright's Spore.)
Fischer, David Hackett: Albion's Seed. (History and Culture. Details on the British Immigration to America. Because school taught you nothing.)
Gaiman, Neil: American Gods. (Fiction. Comparative Religion.)
Heinlein, Robert A.: Stranger in a Strange Land. (Fiction. Cultural analysis of religion and sexuality. Try to find the uncut version.)
Little, John: The Warrior Within. (Philosophy.)
Penrose, Roger: The Road to Reality. (Physics. Starts with Pythagoras and goes past String Theory.)
Simmons, Dan: Hyperion [and sequels] (Fiction. Science Fiction. Or not.)
Taylor, Mark C.: The Moment of Complexity. (Complexity Theory.)