books you should slap yourself for not having read yet

[natedogg]

Global Brain by Howard Bloom
Complex adaptive systems - from bacteria to democracy - explained in full. You'll look at everything differently. Everything.

Redemption Ark by Alastair Reynolds
A leader of the new wave of kick-ass sci-fi writers, Reynolds finally hits cruising speed with Redemption Ark.

Journey to the Ants by E.O. Wilson
Everyone knows that bugs are cool, and hive species are fascinating. Wilson just proves it is all.

The Twelve Caesars by Seutonius
Up close and personal with Caligula and Nero. Written circa 100 A.D, these first and second-hand accounts of roman caesars make the worst of the modern despots look like boy scouts. Surprisingly readable for an ancient text.

Happy Holidays

natedogg

[scrub]

Journey To The Ants kicked ass.

scrub

[fsuplayer]

"catcher and the rye" for me.

[ilya]

I'm reading "Working" by Studs Terkel and I can't recommend it enough. It's a collection of taped interviews (which are more like monologues) with all kinds of working people -- a factory worker, a CEO, a hoooker, a piano tuner, a model, a yacht broker, etc...
It's from the 70's, so it feels dated at times, but it's still really fascinating.
If anyone has read "Gig," some other guy's more contemporary version of "Working," I'd love to hear comparisons/opinions.

[deacsoft]

I've read it many times (one of few advantages for a private school upbringing) but I'm sure many have not. That book being... The Holy Bible. A lengthly but surprisingly good read. You don't even have to be religious to enjoy it. Plus, there are many great lessons that can be learned from it.

[Zeno]

I have the Twelve Caesars by Seutonius and echo your recomemdation.

Been wanting to read more E.O. Wilson by haven't the time; I do have his book Consilience which I started then set aside because of other reading. Been setting on the self too long.

Global Brain sounds very interesting. Seems a bit realted to some things I read in Murry Gell-Mann's, The Quark and the Jaguar, a book I recomend to you and everyone else.

I haven't read Sic-fi in years. Last stuff was Asimov's robot series of books. Used to be an advid reader of some Sic-fi in my youth, from Robert Heinlein to Ray Bradbury.

-Zeno

[Jett Rink]

A Prayer For Owen Meany, by John Irving.

Great Christmas gift for any reader.

[kyro]

sorry if this has been selected, but The DaVinci Code. Incredible book.

[wacki]

The Art of Seduction, by Rob Green

The most sick and twisted book I have ever read. The kicker, all the stories in it are true.

[PoBoy321]

In Search of Schrodinger's Cat by John Gribbin

It's a book about quantum physics, which I know is going to make a lot of people think "WTF?" but it seriously changed my whole outlook on the world. We're all gamblers, we all understand odds. We've seen people catch runner-runner quads to outdraw a set, and when you realize that there is the possibility that at any time, every atom in your body could instantly turn into light, you'll see things differently.

Also, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

It's a little dry for people who are looking for light reading, but it's basically James Joyce's autobiography. When you see the genius that came from such a horrible background, you'll see what anyone is capable of.