John McPhee is the guy who, if I saw he had a thousand-page book on the most boring topic I could imagine, I would still read it with high expectations. Picks: The Pine Barrens, Giving Good Weight, Annals of the Former World, The Control of Nature.
David McCullough
Bill Bryson
Walter Isaacson
Ron Chernow
Carl Sagan
Stephen Jay Gould
Richard P. Feynman
Flannery O’Connor: her letters (The Habit of Being) and collection of essays (Mystery and Manners) are among the most important books I’ve ever read and reread and rerereread.
Rory Nugent: Once you’ve read Nugent’s adventure/travel books (The Search for the Pink Headed Duck and Drums Along the Congo), all others will pale in comparison. I’ve read Bryson, I’ve read Cahill, and the only thing I can say about them is, “Meh, they’re no Rory Nugent.” The only author who holds a candle to him is–
Bruce Chatwin. Do yourself a favor: read In Patagonia. Your life will be divided: before you read that book, and after. Beautiful, beautiful book.
Must add:
Simon Schama
Mary Karr
SJGould
Steven Pinker