[Rembrandt]

If you’re young, you may not know of the exceptional books by James Michener, Ayn Rand, Robert Follett, James Clavell and many, many others, all available at used book stores. Cheap and in paperback, easy for traveling.

[thesetruths]

Ayn Rand should fit the bill.

[SamAdams76]

I do not know why James Michener books get the snob treatment by the intellectuals. They are amazing books and taught me more about history than any college could have. In fact, the books motivated me to read history books (for fun) and I continue to read history books to this day in large part to discovering Michener at an early age.

With Michener books, you can start anywhere, but my three favorites were "Alaska", "Space", and "Poland."