help me pick something smart to read

[rokstedy]

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Malcom Gladwell's books, ' Blink ' and "The Tipping Point' ' are great reads.

Germs, Gun and steel is fantastic if you're after some history.

Chuck Palahniuk books are great if you're looking for fiction. 'Choke' is my personal favourite.
(for a sample of his style, check out his short story, Guts )

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, stories about sticking carrots up your ass, while entertaining for sure, are not exactly what I am looking for right now. I've got BBV for that (or at least poop in a bag). Many other great suggestions though. I'm going to head to the library tonight with a list in hand.

Thanks to all who have replied.

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JDS, do NOT skip Infinite Jest. I promise you won't be sorry. It weighs about 9 lbs., but it's a phucking cool ride, and the author gets high. So there's that. That said, it is probably the SMARTEST, most CEREBRAL text I've ever read.

[jds1201]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Malcom Gladwell's books, ' Blink ' and "The Tipping Point' ' are great reads.

Germs, Gun and steel is fantastic if you're after some history.

Chuck Palahniuk books are great if you're looking for fiction. 'Choke' is my personal favourite.
(for a sample of his style, check out his short story, Guts )

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, stories about sticking carrots up your ass, while entertaining for sure, are not exactly what I am looking for right now. I've got BBV for that (or at least poop in a bag). Many other great suggestions though. I'm going to head to the library tonight with a list in hand.

Thanks to all who have replied.

[/ QUOTE ]


JDS, do NOT skip Infinite Jest. I promise you won't be sorry. It weighs about 9 lbs., but it's a phucking cool ride, and the author gets high. So there's that. That said, it is probably the SMARTEST, most CEREBRAL text I've ever read.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is on the list, but probably won't be the first choice because today I'm looking for something to travel with and a nine pound book probably isn't ideal.

I like your passion and will make sure I read this over the next few weeks.

[Dozman]

KING LEOPOLD'S GHOST - Adam Hochschild: Interesting historical account of King Leopold's massacre of the Congonese peoples. He ended up slashing the population by 10 million when he was done.

FAST FOOD NATION- Eric Schlosser: Everyone has read this book.

FOR YOUR FREEDOM AND OURS: THE KOSCIUSZKO SQUADRON- Story of how Polish fighter pilots fought in WWII and then were promptly screwed over by the Ally powers.

[whipsaw]

i have no idea if it's been posted before, but you could read EDGDF, it's supposed to be pretty smart reading.

[DING-DONG YO]

Dune - Frank Herbert

[keikiwai]

old school history book - has some multi page break even stretches... but overall fantastic multi volume

The Last Lion by William Manchester - biography of Winston Churchill

Any book by Michener is also a good bet

[whipsaw]

also i can't remember if I posted it here or in another book thread, but do read:

Common Sense on Mutual Funds by John C. Bogle

[seaweed]

anything by heidegger. just having one of his books on a shelf at your house will instantly make you smarter.

books by proust should do the same.

[keikiwai]

nerdbomber:

The Feynman Lectures on Physics


a 3 volume based upon Richard Feynman's freshman physics course at Cal Tech he used to teach

it starts very gently and understandably and works it's way into very advanced stuff.... it's a book i'm slowly slowly reading a few pages every now and then

very clear but def. not eezee reading

[Dozman]

I almost forgot. Read THE ALCHEMIST. I know how to turn rocks into gold now because of that book.