I just read The Empire of Wealth based on a recommendation from someone on the SDMB. It is basically a financial history of the U.S. A lot of information about banking and finance that does not show up in typical history books. It is written from a conservative viewpoint but the author only occasionally leaves the reality-based world.
an oldie but a goodie is **The Perfect Storm **by Sebastian Junger. the dullest parts were all those put in to make you feel like you knew the crew, but as for learning it includes all kinds of stuff from what it feels like to drown to how rescue jumpers train. fascinating!
and don’t miss** Into Thin Air**, if you have the slightest interest in the insanity that is climbing Mt. Everest.
That’s a pretty big book. You must be a super reader
I found In the Heart of the Sea very compelling and it’s not the kind of thing I normally read.
If you like The Perfect Storm and Into Thin Air, I also highly recommend Shadow Divers, by Robert Kurson and Iron Coffins, by Herbert A. Werner.
For something that won’t make you feel smarter but is still intriguing (if you’re into politics), try Game Change, about the 2008 US presidential election. If you didn’t follow it closely, you’ll learn lots of interesting stuff. If you DID follow it closely (as I did) you’ll still get a different perspective on the cast of characters. Everyone comes off as very human, with human strengths and foibles.
thanks, Kansas Beekeeper, I’m on it!
Also:
Chickenhawk:
The Ghost Map:
The Grizzley Maze:
Into the Wild:
Ghost Hunters:
Empire of the Summer Moon:
Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight:
“The Devil In The White City” is pretty much nonfiction, and a great book. I say pretty much because there are quite a few speculations- in terms of, say, a conversation that may have taken place. But it’s cool how the story of the serial killer is woven into the story of the World’s fair, and the building of the fair.
I read it in about ten hours (with several bathroom breaks). Not so super.
I love history. Several of these are Pulitzer winners, and richly deserved them:
Joseph Ellis, Founding Brothers - A great look at the Framers of the Constitution and their relationships - sometimes friendly, sometimes not, always competitive - with each other.
Garry Wills, Lincoln at Gettysburg - Disassembles and explains the Gettysburg Address - literate, classy and insightful.
James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom - One of the best one-volume histories of the Civil War out there, IMHO.
Geoffrey Ward et al., The Civil War - Ditto.
David McCullough, Truman - A great bio of a long-underappreciated leader.
James Flexner, Washington: The Indispensable Man - Also a great bio. Read this to see just why Washington was so vital to the cause of American independence, and then how he practically invented the Presidency.
Garry Wills, Cincinnatus - Examines Washington as a man shaped by, and who became an icon of, the Enlightenment.
David McCullough, 1776 - Follows Washington as a determined and inspirational military leader during the darkest days of the Revolution.
Richard M. Ketchum, Victory at Yorktown - Explores Washington’s greatest triumph, in the 1781 battle which virtually ended the war.
Ron Chernow, Alexander Hamilton - A magnificent, highly readable profile of the brilliant but deeply flawed man, a key Washington advisor, who did more than anyone else to lay the groundwork for generations of American prosperity.
Just started in on Luc Sante’s Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York. If you’re interested in the underclass of the late 19th century in NY, it might be of interest. If you’re interested in crime generally, or cons specifically, The Big Con might be interesting. It’s focused on the con racket of the early twentieth century, so a bit dated–I don’t think you’re going to find many of these cons around today, other than in heavily modified form. But it’s fascinating nonetheless, and inspired The Sting, as I recall.
Also just finished Where the Money Was: Memoirs of a Bank Robber, by Willie Sutton. Truth be told, it comes closer to being “Memoirs of a Serial Prison Escapist”, but still a good read.
Obviously, this kind of stuff fascinates me… 
Try Fasting Girls by William Alexander Hammond (make sure you have the right book – there is another one by the same name, but this one is free). It’s a 19th Century doctor’s look at the subject of girls and women who claimed to be able to miraculously survive without food (not to be confused with anorexia nervosa).
American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History
Scar Tissue - Autobiography of Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot CHili Peppers)
Inside Apple-Americas Most Admired and Secretive Company (liked it better than Jobs’ biography)
Helter Skelter - http://www.amazon.com/Helter-Skelter-Manson-Murders-ebook/dp/B00261OOXA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345516611&sr=1-1&keywords=helter+skelter
Night Stalker -http://www.amazon.com/Night-Stalker-ebook/dp/B005G49JP2/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345516650&sr=1-2&keywords=night+stalker
Rip it Up and Start Again -http://www.amazon.com/Rip-Start-Again-1978-1984-ebook/dp/B000R7G8MA/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1345516822&sr=1-4
Retromania -http://www.amazon.com/Retromania-Cultures-Addiction-Past-ebook/dp/B004GHN2IA/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2
Fast Food Nation -http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Food-Nation-All-American-ebook/dp/B003G83UI2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345516918&sr=1-1&keywords=fast+food+nation+kindle
The Omnivore’s Delimma -http://www.amazon.com/The-Omnivores-Dilemma-Natural-ebook/dp/B000SEIDR0/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2
Hip: A History -http://www.amazon.com/Hip-The-History-P-S-ebook/dp/B0013L2BMU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345517006&sr=1-1&keywords=hip
Let me throw in am enthusiastic seconding of some already mentioned:
Richard Feynmann’s autobiographies (particularly the first - Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynmann)
All the President’s Men
The Devil In The White City
Helter Skelter
Some others that are great reads:
The Final Days by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (something of a sequel to All the President’s Men)
The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman
The Price of Power by Seymour Hersh
A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan
The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam
The Civil War by Shelby Foote (a three volume set)
On a Wing and a Prayer by Harry Crosby
Goodbye, Darkness by William Manchester
The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
Generation Kill by Evan Wright
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls - http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Riders-Raging-Bulls-ebook/dp/B005Z37BNQ/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1345523080&sr=1-1
is another good pop culture book.
It’s old stuff, but if you have not encountered James Burke’s “Connections” PBS television series before,the book that is based on the series is on Kindle and it’s a fun, fascinating read with a very different take on the history of technology.