Not sure about suggestions that haven’t already been put for a “better body of knowledge”, but at Aslan’s age I was reading The Scarlet Pimpernel in omnibus version and the collected Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. If anything, they showed how the English language could be used to portray passion with sang froid.
I’ll second the suggestion of the Cartoon History of the World. Those are books I consume with great glee.
I originally had a very long bibliography of works that covered the western canon from Plato to Nietzsche with some other additions and a list of secondary sources, but then I decided that was overkill. Here are my five recommendations:
Dialogues of Plato. I think the Trial and Death Dialogues, the Republic, and the Symposium are the most important. They are beautiful, their influence sneaks into Western thought in so many ways, and they are almost certain to draw a reaction from you. If you have read these, seek out some of his lesser known dialogues.
The Education of Henry Adams. This is a beautiful, elegant book. It is impossible to absorb all its lessons in one reading, but it is worth the read for its style alone, IMO.
Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and his Organon. You said that you wanted to understand “how the world has been run.” After Aristotle’s rediscovery in the Middle Ages, his ideas absolutely dominated Western thought for a very long time, but very few people fully understand them. These are by far the most difficult recommendations on my list–the Organon tracts will cure the worst insomnia.
Since Machiavelli’s Discourses have been recommended, I recommend Livy’s History itself. Reading his work with an eye toward how he utilizes myth and tale provides an important lesson in the reading of all history, IMO. It is also a rather enjoyable read.
I really wanted to recommend some obscure medieval political philosophy or 17th century British thinker (they’re my specialties…or will be when I’m finished), and while I think those things have their place, the works are not easily accessible. Instead, I’ll recommend the Philippic orations by Cicero–best ad hominem attacks ever (heh :D) and an interesting take on the times.
THE LAW by Frederick Bastiat -19th Century French libertarian thought about the purpose of government
MERE CHRISTIANITY by CS Lewis
for a good insight into US Right-wing thought & conspiracy theory- AN OVERVIEW OF OUR WORLD by Jack McManus (John Birch Society)
MYSTERIES OF TIME AND SPACE- Brad Steiger- overview of the Paranormal by a True Believer
ANTHEM by Ayn Rand- a fictional primer to her thought, you’ll love it or hate it, you’ll either want to devour the rest of her work or you’ll decide you never need to read another thing by her, but at least you’ll know who she was & what she stood for.
