I have begun to read books for fun again and need some suggestions for great non-fiction material. I’m interested in topics such as history (except American from right after the War of 1812 to right before Theodore Roosevelt), anthropology, economics (but something not too terribly technical, maybe Adam Smith, Marx, or Keynes but not a economics textbook), natural history especially climate and evolution, and fractals, golden ratio, prime numbers (but something understandable to a non math major).
Some books that I have really enjoyed are:
The Fighting Never Stopped: A comprehensive guide to world conflict since 1945 by Patrick Brogan
Jared Diamond’s The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal and Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
The Way The Wind Blows: Climate, History, and Human Actions
David Remnick’s book * Resurrection: The Struggle for a New Russia*.
I took a class on the Soviet Union last quarter and we had to read this book and write a paper on it. Being the astute student I am, I put it off until the weekend before the paper was due, and I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that the 400 pages of reading in two days wasn’t difficult at all. And I must imagine it’s even more enjoyable when you don’t have to write a big-ass paper on it
Because I’m a fanatical worshipper of his, read anything written by Douglas Hofstadter. Just based upon your interests I’d say Metamagical Themas might be something you would enjoy, just because it covers such a wide variety of topics that you could skip the ones that don’t interest you.
With respect to Hofstadter, I only really liked Gödel, Escher, Bach. I would suggest you’d read that before trying Metamagical Themes. While most people admire GEB, reception of Metamagical Themes is mixed.
If you like history-like books I’d like to recommend The story of art by Gombrich. A great book for introducing you to art history.
Otherwise I find it hard to recommend anything unless I know a bit more of what kind of subjects you’re interested in.
Another vote for Guns, Germs and Steel. A must-read. A Brilliant Solution by Carol Berkin provides wonderful insight into the creation of the U.S. Constitution. Genome by Matt Ridley. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis
the autobiography of Malcom X as told by Alex Haley
I knew nothing about Malcom X other than, “By any means necessary”, and my interest was sparked by a black history play at my school. He lived an intensely interesting life, from Harlem hustler to revolutionary.
of course, the last time I tried to get someone to read this book, he said “I hear the best part is the end” Asshole.
If you haven’t discovered James Burke, it’s high time you did. (If you decide to do a little reading on American history from the 1880’s, I can’t recommend The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough enough. I’ve reread it at least once a year for the past 15 years. It’s that good.)
Anything by Carl Sagan, but especially The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark.
Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman and What Do You Care What Other People Think? are two books of autobiographical stories from famous physicist Richard Feynman. They are fun, easy reads, but they also give some interesting insight into The Manhatten Project and the space shuttle Challenger disaster.
Moonshot by Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton is an excellent first-hand account of the Apollo missions.
The Fifties This is a very good and very interesting overview of the 1950’s. What’s interesting about it, is that he gives you a taste of a number of different topics, which gave me the impetus to seek out more information about those topics.
The Reckoning About how the U.S. automakers (Ford, GM & Chrysler) fucked themselves and the American people over during the course of the 20th century and how the Japanese automakers rise to prominence began.
The Best & The Brightest About the advisors to President Kennedy. I must admit that I’ve tried to read this one 5 or 6 times, but just haven’t been able to get into it.
Also John McPhee.
He has written over 30 books on a variety of subjects, ranging from Bill Bradley to thermonuclear weapons.
One that might interest you is Annals of the Former World which won the Pulitzer Prize. It is actually composed of four books which can be purchased separately, with a fifth book added on.
The book is a study of the geologic history of North America.
Mathematical Mysteries by Calvin C. Clawson is one good book on numbers and number theory at a popular level, and it includes quite a bit on the golden ratio and prime numbers.
Fractals and primes are both among the topics covered in Ivars Peterson’s The Mathematical Tourist, which isn’t bad though he’s not my personal favorite. I know I’ve read other books with good discussions of fractals, but they may all be in my office at work.
The Origins of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind Julian Jaynes
One of the only coherent theories on the arrival of consciousness in man. Fledgling Days Emma Ford
An excellent coming of age autobiography by one of the world’s premier falconers. The Wilderness World of John Muir Edited Edwin Way Teale
The life story of America’s greatest naturalist. Dictated by Muir himself it covers his entire life and struggle to preserve our dwindling wilderness heritage. The Arms of Krupp William Manchester
A chilling peek under the hind leg of Nazi Germany’s chief arms manufacturer. Its inside political view of the Nuremberg trials is mortifying. The family history is a catalog of ingrown morality. A Brief History of Time Stephen Hawking
A superb synopsis of quantum physics and the timespace continuum. The Making of the Atomic Bomb Richard Rhodes
A sweeping view of America’s drive to nuclear superiority in World War II. Written in scientific detail it still delivers an accurate portrayal of the human players.
“A Walk In The Woods” by Bill Bryson. An account of a couple of middle-aged guys attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail. It’s hilarious and filled with quite a few observations on various tidbits such as the history of regions they pass through, and the idiots and crass commercialism they encounter.
If you are interested in how epidemic disease affects human history Plagues and Peoples by William H. McNeill is a good read, although it may be out of print. Viruses, Plagues, and History by Michael B. A. Oldstone is also worth a look.
I’ll add my vote for Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Hofstadter. And also any of the following:
The Durants’ The History Of Civilization series. (In fact, anything by Will Durant.)
Churchill’s history of World War II and his History Of The English Speaking Peoples
The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich by William L. Shirer is a bit meaty, but particularly relevant.
Fearful Symmetry by Anthony Zee
Edmund Morris’ two-volume biography of Theodore Roosevelt, comprising The Rise Of Theodore Roosevelt and Theodore Rex
The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams (edited by Lester J. Cappon)
A History Of Pi by Petr Beckmann
The Extraordinary Story Of Human Origins by Piero and Alberto Angela is a decent introduction to anthropology.
Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand
Free To Choose by Milton Friedman
Complexity: The Emerging Science At The Edge Of Order And Chaos by Mitchell Waldrop
Chaos and Fractals: New Frontiers of Science by Heinz-Otto Peitgen
And a book I haven’t gotten around to reading yet, but which looks interesting: The Golden Ratio: The Story of Phi, the World’s Most Astonishing Number by Mario Livio
Asshole.