Must-read non-fiction suggestions?

[bubbsy]

Hey CP,

After being a pretty avid reader, work, marriage and finally a baby put a pretty big dent on quality reading time.

I'm really excited about trying to invest time in reading again, but needed some ideas on some non-fiction books that you might recommend. I've read a lot of fiction in my time, so hoping to get a bit of a taste of the otherside.

Thanks in advance.

[photon]

Good thread, what kind of non-fiction? Science? Political? Biographies? History?

[Hanni]

A Short History of Nearly Everything is always my first suggestion.

[PsYcNeT]

Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud

The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives

A History Of Histories

They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-1945

The Challenger Launch Decision: Risky Technology, Culture, and Deviance at NASA

Note: The majority of my picks are fairly dense reading, to varying degrees.

[GreenLantern]

Arnold's autobiography was highly entertaining and I would recommend reading it.

http://www.amazon.ca/Total-Recall-Un.../dp/1451662440

[psyang]

First two that come to mind are:

1) Hackers by Stephen Levy: an account of the hacker culture starting at MIT in the late 60s to the video game industry for Apples/Commodores in the early 80s). As an Apple IIe owner in the 80s, this book is extra special. In fact, I'll probably start re-reading it again today, now that it's on my mind again.

2) Apollo by Charles Murray/Catherine Bly Cox: an account of the Apollo space missions, told by the engineers involved (mainly those in mission control). Fascinating and accessible descriptions of the dream team that was formed, problems they encountered, their ingenious solutions, and what the missions meant to the American people at the time.

[para transit fellow]

The Prize by Daniel Yergin

The Authoritarians by Bob Altemeyer (available as a free pdf )http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

[cDnStealth]

Romeo Dallaire - Shake Hands With the Devil
Ishmael Beah - A Long Way Gone

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by photon

Good thread, what kind of non-fiction? Science? Political? Biographies? History?

first off thanx for the suggestions folks, it is much appreciated.

With regards to what kind, it doesn't really matter. have found that between work, wife, the baby, and the gym, just feels as though my brain/being feels a bit stunted with regards to an injection of something fresh/stimulating... I'm sure many know what i mean, after a long day, it's easier to just turn on the tube and watch something stupid or re-runs.

So looking for anything to read that others have found enticing enough to suggest.

[Puppet Guy]

Notes on a Beermat and Cheers: A History of Beer in Canada, by Nicholas Pashley
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
A Night to Remember by Walter Lord (Titanic survivors' recollections)
anything by Anthony Bourdain

[troutman]

[PsYcNeT]

Not to bag on it, but I really disliked Quiet by Susan Cain.

The first 1/3rd of the book was good, however it devolved into parroting itself quite frequently and was often riddled with very poor analogies and evocative phrasing that really soured me on the author's standing.

Basically it comes off a lot like that which she makes fun of a fair bit (self-help), which is ironic.

That said, Stringer is wonderful.

[Dion]

[troutman]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Not to bag on it, but I really disliked Quiet by Susan Cain.

The first 1/3rd of the book was good, however it devolved into parroting itself quite frequently and was often riddled with very poor analogies and evocative phrasing that really soured me on the author's standing.

Basically it comes off a lot like that which she makes fun of a fair bit (self-help), which is ironic.

That said, Stringer is wonderful.

Fair comment on Quiet. In the second part it seems to excuse introverts from participating in the world. Maybe not a great book, but it is an important book in that many introverts will recognize what they are for the first time, and extroverts can learn how introverts are different. I used to think there was something wrong with me for not wanting attention or not wanting to go to big public functions. Shyness is not introversion.

Stringer was featured on The Daily Show last week.

[Wastedyouth]

1984

[undercoverbrother]

Ghosts of the Medak Pocket:

While the author makes some mistakes, the feel of the book is correct. It give a glimpse into the issue soldiers on UN tours faced.

Shake Hands with the Devil:

It will leave you shaking you head.

Endurance, Shackelton's Incredible Voyage:

All completed before Gore-Tex

[bob-loblaw]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Ghosts of the Medak Pocket:

While the author makes some mistakes, the feel of the book is correct. It give a glimpse into the issue soldiers on UN tours faced.

Shake Hands with the Devil:

It will leave you shaking you head.

Endurance, Shackelton's Incredible Voyage:

All completed before Gore-Tex

nm

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

Ishmael Beah - A Long Way Gone

Was just going to say this, incredible read. Recommend.

[maverickstruth]

Originally Posted by troutman

Fair comment on Quiet. In the second part it seems to excuse introverts from participating in the world. Maybe not a great book, but it is an important book in that many introverts will recognize what they are for the first time, and extroverts can learn how introverts are different. I used to think there was something wrong with me for not wanting attention or not wanting to go to big public functions. Shyness is not introversion.

I much preferred 'The Introvert Advantage' by Laney over Quiet; for me, Quiet was more about highly sensitive people, which isn't really the same as introversion. Introvert Advantage does tend into the self-help in the latter half of the book, too, but it's worth reading just for the first section alone, in my opinion.

I also recently read Chris Hadfield's 'An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth'. Remarkable look at what it takes to be at the top of your field - whether that be space flight, or not. Plus, who doesn't love cool stories about being an astronaut!

[ripTDR]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Hey CP,

After being a pretty avid reader, work, marriage and finally a baby put a pretty big dent on quality reading time.

I'm really excited about trying to invest time in reading again, but needed some ideas on some non-fiction books that you might recommend. I've read a lot of fiction in my time, so hoping to get a bit of a taste of the otherside.

Thanks in advance.

Excellent thread!

Might I also suggest to you and others that a great way to "read" non-fiction is to listen to audiobooks. Wherever I drive, audiobooks is a great alternative to the same songs on my iPOD. Lately its been anything that has to do with physics.