From recent "what are you reading" threads I've gathered
that many orgers are heavily into non-fiction.

Personally, I've mainly read classical English and Russian
literature and was never really that interested in all the
non-fiction since I was too involved in wrapping my head
around the vast array of incredibly beautiful novels out
there.

However, lately I'm becoming more and more interested in
many other topics. Like the mind and how it works, lots of
mathematical themes, psychology, but also a lot of history
things about the universe, and anatomy and language.

I've read a few of them now and I'm interested in reading
more.

Yet, it seems that for every really good book about these
various topics there are also about a dozen very bad ones.

So I was wondering if you could point out some interesting
ones for me.

Especially about psychology. What would be a good starting
point? [IceNine, I know you could help me out here].

Thank you!!!

The Six Pillars of Self Esteem, by Nathaniel Branden

The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler by Robert Payne.

Long-haired Lover From Liverpool: The Life And Times Of Jimmy Osmond...

BattierBeMyDaddy said:

I'm still waiting for the 2 volume biography about Hitler
by Ian Kershaw to be delivered. I've ordered it 2 weeks
ago, but there seems to be some problem. Apparantly it's
out of stock or something.

Do you consider quantum physics books to be non-fiction?

IceNine said:

hmmm, probably, since my defenition of non-fiction is
purely "not a novel". so anything beyond that will do.

IstenSzek said:

Let me know if it's good. I will have to read it.

IstenSzek said:

I was rather fond of the Feynman lectures!

IceNine said:

Ok, but there are so many Feynman books, which one would
be a good introduction for a potnoodle like me??

IstenSzek said:

Hell, I would go with "QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter."

IceNine said:

Ok, thanks. I'll put him on my list and look into it as
soon as my new paycheck arrives.

Another thing I wanted to know is if Carl Sagan is worth
checking out. Someone recommended his

"The Demon-Haunted world; science as a candle in the dark"
to me and boasted it was one of the best books she ever
read.

IstenSzek said:

I have only read his book "A Path Where No Man Thought." It was a good book about nuclear winter and the consequences of nuclear war. It was a good read.

Also IstenSzek, from what you describe, Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter would cover a whole lot of what you're interested in. It's a very tough book in places, but overall it's very readable and full of neat insights about the mind and the world.

teller said:

That's another one that I keep hearing and reading about.
I'll look into that one as well.

A brief history of time
is still a favorite of mine.

I only read "non-fiction" as opposed 2 fiction that is. i enjoy reading inspiration/help books, psychology, criminology, autobiographies.

OTB betting slips and ripple labels.

BattierBeMyDaddy said:

Mein Kampf - Hitler the guy was

MostBeautifulGrlNTheWorld said:

howz that book workin for ya?

IstenSzek said:

i read Carl Sagan "Billions and billions" a few months back, non fiction, some interesting musings worth checking out

"The History of Torture" by Brian Innes

"Lord High Executioner" by Howard Engel

"Mind Hunter" by John Douglas

"The Enyclopedia of Serial Killers" by Brian Lane and Wilfred Gregg (includes SHOCKING photos! )


"Yoga: Mind and Body" The Sivanada Yoga Vendanta Center

Oh! And my favorite: "Fingerprints of the Gods"
by Graham Hancock