Nonfiction books everyone should read - a reqiest for help.

n/a | ixtl

[ixtl]

I am preparing a list for my children and grandchildren of the _____ (to be filled in) non-fiction books everyone should read. To date, I have only four, all of which I have read. In alphabetical order by author:

Charles Darwin, "On the Origin of Species by Natuarla Selectin."

Noccolo Machiavelli, "The Prince."

Sun-Tzu, "The Art of War."

H. G. Wells, "The Outline of History (1939 edition).

For the record, I am a 70+ year old retired attorney, who has always been a voarcious reader.

Criticism and suggestions are welcome.

[cyclotic]

I second Weeder. I’m reading it now. I live in a bizarrely liberal state and was having a conversation with our state senate minority leader the other day and recommended it to her and the entire legislature.

[goat granny]

Too much heavy reading kills brain cells, some popcorn for the mind and a great story teller is anything by Louis Lamour. Specially if you like westerns and the west as it really was....he writes about places he has been..The Sackett series is great, takes a family from their european roots in the 1700’s to America in the late 1800’s....many of his books have been make into movies. Alas he up and died and its hard to find an author who's books you consistently really like.....

[Jeff Chandler]

Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell

[Azeem]

Best books about WW2 I’ve read.

Band of Brothers - Ambrose
With the Old Breed - Sledge
Helmet for my Pillow - Leckie

[tbw2]

“Myths of Rich and Poor” by Michael W. Cox and Richard Alm
“The Skeptical Environmentalist” by Bjørn Lomborg
“Why I am not a Muslim” by Ibn Warriq
“Education Myths: What Special Interest Groups Want You to Believe About Our Schools—And Why It Isn’t So” Jay P. Greene
“Guns, Germs and Steel”, the impact of geography and agriculture and resources on development
“The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness” by Dave Ramsey

[Jeff Chandler]

Doh!

[dsrtsage]

“Skeletons on the Zahara” by Dean King

“What is the what?” by Valentino Achak Deng

These are two most excellent non-fiction books that
quickly popped to mind. And are both available on Amazon

[Squantos]

I think every bookshelf should have this mans exploits on it....

http://burtoniana.org/biography/index.htm

Sir Richard Frances Burton ...the explorer.

Good look at the world back when.

Stay safe...

[IYellAtMyTV]

Re: your tag line~ I love that show!

[smokingfrog]

Rules for Radicals

[Question_Assumptions]

Other than the Bible, which I think qualifies as non-fiction and is important even if you aren't religious, I would add (books I find myself referencing again and again):

Race and Culture by Thomas Sowell (a fantastic treatment on the role that culture, rather than race, plays in success)

A Conflict of Visions by Thomas Sowell (an excellent explanation of the underlying assumptions that divides people along fairly consistent and predictable political lines)

War Before Civilization by Lawrence Keeley (a threatment on just how nasty, brutish, and short life was before civilization)

Out Of America: A Black Man Confronts Africa by Keith Richburg (a good treatment of why Africa is so messed up by a black reporter sent to Africa who realized he was American rather than African)

The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton and James Mason (explains why the Constitution was structured the way it is and illustrates the thought that went into it)

If you can find a copy at a decent price, I also recommend Stereotype Accuracy: Toward Appreciating Group Differences

Note that I picked up most of these because they were reviewed in The National Review. They all do a good job of refuting common left-wing assumptions about how the world works and could be valuable for helping young people see through the left's propaganda.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Agreed, he was one hardcore dude.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Here’s a list to work from. Not all of them will strike your fancy, but it’s a place to start.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/61928099/U-S-Marine-Corps-Professional-Reading-Program-Reading-List

[MamaB]

I like William W. Johnstone’s westerns. He wrote many other series but his Preacher and Smoke Jensen books bring the old west alive. Oh, can not forget his Eagles, Blood Bond. The Loner, and the others. I also like Zane Gray. Love to read and have a good selection on my iPad.

[gorush]

“Blacklisted by History” by M. Stanton Evans
“Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand
“Undaunted Courage” by Stephen Ambrose

[barmag25]

The Bible
The New England Primer
The 5000 Year Leap
Cicero The Republic The Laws
Basic Economics (Thomas Sowell)
George Washington the son of his country (Paul Van Dyke)
Benjamin Franklin The first American
The Wealth Of Nations
The writings of Thomas Jefferson

[Berlin_Freeper]

A few weeks ago was my mother-in-law’s birthday. I gave her a book “Grandmother’s Story” where basically she answers questions about her life, what were her parents like, what her schooling was, friends and interests, etc.

She liked the gift very much and has been busy with it. The idea is, eventually the “book” gets gifted to our daughter.

Maybe you can find something like that.

[Billthedrill]

I'd replace The Prince with another Machiavelli piece, Discourses on Livy. It isn't the heavy going it sounds, and it presents a historical foundation for Machiavelli's insistence that a republic, not a princedom, is the best form of government. The Prince was candy cotton the day it was published, and the model for it, Caesar Borgia, was notably incompetent at both conquering and rule.

Other books important to my own education include History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell, Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, and the Federalist Papers. The first two are indispensable for a general western education; Americans will profit more than most from the last, and for them I'd also include either Catton's or Foote's treatments of the Civil War. All IMHO, of course.

[ForMyChildren]

Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant

Complete Book of Shooting by Jack O’Connor, et al

Yes, one could argue that they don’t make books like they used to.

[smokingfrog]

Some books about Sir Richard Francis Burton are free on amazon if you have a kindle (or use the kindle app).