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Nin'
10-04-08, 06:59 PM
Hello,

I'm looking for some book recommendations as the title of this thread suggests. I would prefer non-fiction books in the categories of Science, Philosophy, Politics, History, or anything that you feel can expand the mind. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

(PS. Sorry if this made it into the wrong section of the forum)
11parcal
10-04-08, 07:03 PM
Hello,

I'm looking for some book recommendations as the title of this thread suggests. I would prefer non-fiction books in the categories of Science, Philosophy, Politics, History, or anything that you feel can expand the mind. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

(PS. Sorry if this made it into the wrong section of the forum)

I would suggest The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.
Nin'
10-04-08, 07:16 PM
I would suggest The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.

Good read, but I've already read that one. I'm currently reading The Selfish Gene and enjoying it. I'll probably end up buying other books by Dawkins as well, since I find his writing style pretty entertaining.
Norsefire
10-04-08, 07:56 PM
Except that he's an asshole


Read "Mein Kampf", I'm going to buy it, it looks very interesting

Or the Analects of Confucius
Nin'
10-04-08, 09:10 PM
Except that he's an asshole

Yeah, could you demonstrate that for me? I must have missed the parts where Dawkins was an asshole.
skaught
10-04-08, 09:29 PM
I would highly recommend "Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku. Talks a lot about higher dimensions, quantum physics, and how it is easier to come up with a GUT in higher dimensions. Definitely a mind expanding read.
Norsefire
10-04-08, 10:07 PM
Yeah, could you demonstrate that for me? I must have missed the parts where Dawkins was an asshole.

He's disrespectful


Skaught, excellent suggestion. I myself am a big fan of Kaku but I haven't read any of his books...definitely picking them up soon
skaught
10-04-08, 10:25 PM
He's disrespectful


Skaught, excellent suggestion. I myself am a big fan of Kaku but I haven't read any of his books...definitely picking them up soon

Oh I think you would like them. Hyperspace is probably my favorite. Parellel worlds is also very good. I like his books cause I really am a layman as far as quantum/astro physics is concerned, but he really is good at gearing them towards that kind of croud and making it seem like its something that anyone could learn. Let me know if you read anything by him.
Norsefire
10-04-08, 10:41 PM
I agree with you there; I watch many television presentations by him and he is actually easy to understand and effectively communicates the science so that anyone, even a commoner like myself, can understand

That's why I like him instead of super technical and confusing people

And yup, I will; which of his books deal with parallel universe and time travel?
skaught
10-04-08, 10:59 PM
Both Hyperspace and parellel worlds deal with time travel. Hyperspace much more so. Parellel Worlds is all about parellel universes. I haven't read any of his other books cover to cover. I would say that so far Hyperspace is his best. It has a lot of refertences to science fiction novels, it has many illustrations, it often shows how physics has influenced the world of art. Great book, I can't talk it up enough. I've read it 4 times!
GeoffP
10-04-08, 11:25 PM
Yeah, could you demonstrate that for me? I must have missed the parts where Dawkins was an asshole.

It's true, he and his deplorable wife are both utter assholes on it.

"The Greatest Traitor", by Ian Mortimer - not bad, covers the 1310-1330 period of Edward I-III and Roger Mortimer
Challenger78
10-09-08, 12:06 PM
I suggest, some modern current affair reading: Fiasco, by Thomas Ricks

Or:
The leader by Guy Walters, Which is an Alternate history thriller.
Nin'
12-22-08, 03:21 PM
I'm actually pretty surprised that more people haven't jumped on this thread. Come on guys, share your thoughts on some great books you've read.
phlogistician
12-23-08, 08:39 AM
He's disrespectful

Why should he show respect to cruel, anachronistic belief systems?
scott3x
12-31-08, 08:21 AM
He's disrespectful

Why should he show respect to cruel, anachronistic belief systems?

I greatly admired Richard Dawkins' book "The Selfish Gene" and went back for his last chapter in his second edition (Good guys finish first). However, I believe that when it comes to his views on religion, he actually has an element that is truly ironic. He seems to me to be just as intolerant as some religious fundamentalists; his intolerance isn't to the idea of God as this or that, however, but that God doesn't exist at all. In my view, he is dead set on the idea that God can only exist the way fundamentalists see God and since he can't believe in such a God (neither can I), then God can't exist. Personally, I solve the problem by defining God as everything or Good (it's just an 'o' away after all). Virtually everyone if not everyone believes in everything and ditto for good (Dawkins certainly believes that evolution generally favours good over time especially because certain groups can become isolated at times). To me, I dislike the concept of devil, but I can believe in bad, inneficient things, or 'evil' (removal of the 'd'), which, like Dawkins, I believe are constantly being culled out of things (however, there is just so -many- ways to have inneficient or 'evil' things; deception plays a big part in it).
cosmictraveler
12-31-08, 08:24 AM
To view a multitude of various styles and authors I'd suggest this link...

http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=2&q=http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/&ei=5HVbSY3IMtG3twen1424Dg&usg=AFQjCNFwQ67pzVkEXREaVObXN2DXipn-_g
Blandnuts
01-25-09, 07:30 PM
I also suggest the Hyperspace book. My other one would be "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance".
PsychoticEpisode
01-25-09, 10:38 PM
Blandnuts? Unusual Username but kind of cool. Like opening a can of Planter's Mixed and finding 99% peanuts.

Someone should write a book on the psychology of Usernames or has it been done?
Challenger78
01-27-09, 08:21 AM
The confessions of an economic hitman.
kmguru
01-27-09, 07:52 PM
To expand your mind try these two...one is very hard.

1. How the Mind Works - Steven Pinker
2. A new kind of science - Stephen Wolfram
ThreeLawsSafe
02-27-09, 07:39 PM
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, by Mary Roach
The Canon, by Natalie Angier
How the Mind Works, by Stephen Pinker
Hyperspace, by Michio Kaku
The Evolution of Species, by Charles Darwin
Cosmos, by Carl Sagan
Death by Black Hole, by Neil DeGrasse Tyson