Which specific books really made you smarter?

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Ecthelion
her name's Ingrid.

girl + physics =

Damn feriner, physical chemistry is not physics.

[Xeones]

I'll second Roberts' History of the World.

Guns Germs & Steel by Diamond

Lucifer Principle by Bloom

Brief History of Time by Hawking

and some good autobiographies which have left me with a kind of "what if ___ were here now" appreciation for a few people... More than one by physicist Richard Feynman (not books about physics, just anecdotes from his life). Also numerous musicians, Miles Davis comes to mind.

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Agathon


And they really can't on their own unless you are an autodidact. In many of the books I listed you will be lucky to get the most important themes from them if you merely pick them off the shelf. The trick is to be able to fit them into a historical pattern and a broad base of ideas.

That's why people like me have jobs.

Not absolutely. Being autodidact has its advantages, once you reach the point you can draw a basic picture of the human adventure. Semiology spreading to many disciplines being a good example.

[cinch]

My vote would have to go to "The Power Of Myth", which is more of a transcript than a book, really.... but still, it's packed with stimulating bits and observations put forth by Joseph Campbell. It didn't make me any smarter, obviously, but it did get my little brain a-moving... I mean, really moving... for perhaps the first time, I'd say.

Even if you don't agree with his theories, I'd reccommend it. It's a short read and packed with goodies.

Support PBS!

[Berzerker]

I can't remember the title, but I'm sure it had "A, B, C" or "D!ck and Jane" in it.

[TCO]

Free to Choose.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Things Fall Apart

Achebe's? Yep, that's a good book.

Non-fiction:
-Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams
-1066 and All That by Sellar and Yeats
-Colin McEvedy's historical atlases
-Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan
-Will to Power by Friedrich Nietszche
-Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors by Carl Sagan

Fiction:
-The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: A Trilogy in Five Parts by Douglas Adams
-Distress by Greg Egan
-Diaspora by Greg Egan (a bit inaccessible)
-The Science of Discworld by Terry Pratchett
-The Scar by China Mieville
-Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
-Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
-Red Mars or Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson

[JohnT]

The Story of Civilization vol. 1-11, Will and Ariel Durant.

[monkspider]

The nutritional facts on the back of Star Wars Episode II cereal.

Oh, The Gospel of John, The Gospel of Thomas, and A People's History of the United States by Tim Zahn, and a few other books that are of no interest to most here.

[monolith94]

The Power of Myth is quite amazing

as is "Surely You're Joking, Mr.Feynman".

[MrFun]

Originally posted by rah
No one has listed "The Art of War"

I found it very entertaining with a few real good concepts.

And thus, Rah mistakenly reveals his secret plans for world domination so that he can level all cities into extravagant golf courses.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Agathon

I used to like Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators.

I had a couple of those.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by St Leo

Things Fall Apart

Achebe's? Yep, that's a good book.

-Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

We agree twice!

[Potassium]

Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe
Doug Adams "Hitchiker Guide to the Galaxy" series

This is the only answer. Thread over.

[Monk]

Thanks everybody. I'll be doing a bit of research on some of all these books tonight and try to make up my mind.