Modern Times, by Paul Johnson
The Second World War, by John Keegan
Second World War, by Winston Churchill
The Civil War Trilogy, by Bruce Catton
The four books above are riveting, moving, and poetic.
The fifth is a special favorite. It is the book that made me love history, which I first read when I was nine or so:
A Child’s History of the World, by V.M. Hillyer
I’m a woman who loves history, especially military history.
Hmm… this is way tougher than my 5 novels challenge - mainly because my selection would have to be on content rather than literary merit, and also because I don’t read as much non-fiction. Off the top of my head (though I’m sure I’m going to change my mind on reflection):
The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee - Jared Diamond The Man who Stayed Behind - Sidney Rittenberg A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson Seven Years in Tibet - Heinrich Harrer The Code Book - Simon Singh
Damn jjimm took the very first book that came to mind.
The Code Book, by Simon Singh
The Reflexive Universe, by Arthur Young
The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins
Market Wizards, Jack Schwager (made me become a trader)
Reality Isn’t What It Used to Be : Theatrical Politics, Ready-to-Wear Religion, Global Myths, Primitive Chic, and Other Wonders of the Postmodern World, Walter Truett Anderson
Conciousness Explained, by Daniel Dennet (also, Darwin’s Dangerous Idea)
Damn, I knew I’d regret my choices. River out of Eden by Dawkins should also be on the list. Dump Seven Years in Tibet, if you’re being strict about the “only five” rule.
The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose
3,000 Years Ago by Geoffrey Bibby
The Harlot by the Side of the Road by Jonathan Kirsch
In the Beginning by John Gribbin
In no order:
Orthodoxy - GK Chesterton
The Greeks - HD Kitto
The Western Way of War - Victor Hanson
Holidays in Hell - PJ O’Rourke
The Offshore Islanders - Paul Johnson
Guns, Germs, and Steel, by Jared Diamond
The History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill
Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence
The Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary (10th Edition)
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
The Tao te Ching, by Lao Tsu
Sophie’s World, by Jostein Gaarder
On Writing, by Stephen King
Demon-Haunted World, Carl Sagan
Stupid White Men, by Michael Moore
The Mismeasure of Man - by Stephen Jay Gould
The Snow Leopard - by Peter Mathiesson
The Demon Haunted World - by Carl Sagan
Brazilian Adventure - by Peter Fleming
Hard to narrow down a 5th…another Peter Fleming travel book would be a good choice, as would one of many other great travel books, maybe one by Bill Bryson. Or The Great Escape (the book the movie was based on, I forget who wrote it).
I read much more non-fiction than fiction & I love this thread. Has given me many titles for future reading already. Thanks!
Guns, Germs, and Steel – by Jared Diamond
The Beak of the Finch – by Jonathan Weiner
The Code Book – by Simon Singh
The Cuckoo’s Egg – by Clifford Stoll
Hyperspace – by Michio Kaku
Forgot all about “Demon Haunted World”! Would have to add that as well as “Life: An Unauthorised Biography” and “Mummy Congress”. I can’t believe I forgot that one, it would have to be number one!