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I’ve learned a lot from Oliver Sacks and Stephen Jay Gould.
Other good nonfiction:
John Allen Paulos, Innumeracy
Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Joan Didion, Political Fictions
Gore Vidal, United States
George Will, Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball
Try as I might, I can’t get past page 1 of anything by Ayn Rand. There must be something wrong with me.
I find I have better luck browsing the bookstore and then, if I don’t have enough money, getting an interesting title from the library. I have no idea why.
Another book that is perfect, considering the age of the OP, is A Random Walk Down Wallstreet by Burton G. Malkiel. I would recommend reading this right before, or right after, John Allen Paulos’ A Mathematician Plays the Stock Market.
I just wanted to thank all the posters who made suggestions in this thread. I really appreciate it, and I will be heading to the library and/or bookstore as soon as I get a chance. This place is great, I make one request for some book suggestions, and I get a list that will last me for years. Thanks everyone!
My husband brought home The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography from the library, and I found it absolutely fascinating.
I love nonfiction! Here are some favorites that are not mentioned.
Salmon Without Rivers by Jim Lichatowich
Ashes to Ashes: America’s Hundred-Year Cigarette War, the Public Health, and the Unabashed Triumph of Philip Morris by Richard Kluger
Annals of the Former World by John McPhee. It’s actually 5 books in one and about the geology of the US at about the 40th parallel. I like most of John McPhee’s writing.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is very quick reading. It’s not “educational” in the sense of pure information download, but fascinating.
For light, fun reading, I love travelogues. Round Ireland With a Fridge by Tony Hawks left me in (the good kind of) tears a lot, as did Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods. The information re: bears may not be accurate, but you don’t read his books to learn how to escape bear attacks.
Lastly,
Diamond: the History of a Cold-Blooded Love Affair by Matthew Hart.
“HACKSAW” by Edward R. Jones. Phenominal book, IMHO. Very interesting, as it entails the life of Edward Jones as he continually breaks out of prisons and chain-gangs across America. Gives you a different perspective on things, and surely kept my attention the whole way through. He writes his own biography so it’s very personal. Give it a whirl.
If you are interested in totally changing your perspective on life and understanding why we act the way we do and how to tap into the love and happiness that is our god given right to embrace and is within us all, may I suggest:
By Miguel Ruiz:
The Four Agreements and it’s companion book.
The Mastery of Love
You can buy them used for about $12 each (which includes shipping) on Amazon.com.
Happy hunting