Inspired by a question a reader asked me, I thought I’d ask our followers on Facebook and Twitter for an answer to the question: what books would you recommend someone read to improve their general knowledge of the world? >.
I must say that the number and quality of responses overwhelmed me. the box just delivered by amazon reminds me that i ordered 9 books from this list.
You are reading: If you wanted to assemble the entirety of human knowledge what books would
Here’s the list of what 55,000 of the internet’s smartest readers came up with, and what a list it is!
The Accidental Superpower: The Next Generation of American Preeminence and the Coming Global Disorder
international strategist peter zeihan examines how the harsh rules of geography are eroding America’s commitment to free trade; how much of the planet is aging into mass retirement that will unnerve markets and capital supplies; and how, against all odds, it is the ever-hungry US economy that, alone among developed nations, is fast approaching energy independence. Combined, these factors are doing nothing less than overthrowing the global system and ushering in a new (dis)order.
sapiens: a brief history of mankind “I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun and engaging look at early human history…will find it hard to put it down.”— bill gates
how to read a book this book impacted us so much that we created an entire course, the art of reading, around it.
a world history
william mcneill’s widely acclaimed one volume history emphasizes the four old world civilizations of the middle east, india, china and europe, paying particular attention to their interaction over time as well as the impact on historical scholarship in light of most recent archaeological discoveries. The engaging and informative narrative touches on all aspects of civilization, including geography, communication, and technological and artistic developments, and provides extensive coverage of the modern age.
the intelligent man’s scientific guide
An Incomplete Education: 3684 Things You Should Have Learned But Probably Didn’t
here’s your chance to brush up on all the subjects you’ve fallen asleep in school, reacquaint yourself with all the facts you once knew (and then promptly forgot), catch up on major developments in today’s world and become the renaissance man or woman you always knew you could be!
a brief history of almost everything
Taking in everything from the big bang to the rise of civilization as his territory, bryson seeks to understand how we went from being nothing to being us. To that end, he joined a throng of the world’s most advanced (and often obsessed) archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians, traveling to their offices, laboratories, and camps. he has read (or tried to read) their books, he has plied them with questions, he has become an apprentice to their powerful minds. A brief history of almost everything is the record of this quest, and it is a sometimes deep, sometimes funny, and always supremely clear and entertaining adventure into the realms of human knowledge, as only Bill Bryson can put it. science has never been more immersive or entertaining.
slaughterhouse five
slaughterhouse-five, an American classic, is one of the best anti-war books in the world. Centered on the infamous bombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim’s odyssey through time reflects the mythical journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we fear most.
one hundred years of solitude
One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the rise and fall, the birth and death of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buend; a family. inventive, funny, magnetic, sad and full of life with unforgettable men and women, brimming with truth, compassion and soul-striking lyrical magic, this novel is a masterpiece in the art of fiction.
anne frank: the diary of a young woman
Discovered in the attic where she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank’s remarkable diary has since become a global classic: a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. . In 1942, with the Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled her home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. for the next two years, until her whereabouts were revealed to the gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the “secret annex” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined spaces, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary, Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. Thoughtful, poignant and funny at times, her account offers a riveting commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and energetic young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.
a history of the world in 100 objects
neil macgregor has blazed an unusual path to international renown. As director of the British museum, he organized an exhibition that aimed to tell the story of humanity through the stories of one hundred objects made, used, venerated or discarded by man. The exhibit and accompanying BBC radio series broke broadcast records and Macgregor’s book became a bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic and a huge Christmas hit, with over 100,000 copies in print in the States alone. united.
23 things they don’t tell you about capitalism
23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism uses twenty-three short essays (some good examples: “there’s no such thing as a free market,” “the washing machine has changed the world more than the internet has”) to equipping readers with an understanding of how global capitalism works and doesn’t work, while offering insight into how we can shape capitalism for humane ends, rather than become slaves to the market.
the structure of scientific revolutions
A good book may have the power to change the way we see the world, but a great book actually becomes part of our daily consciousness, permeating our thinking to the point that we take it for granted and forget how provocative and challenging your ideas once were and still are. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions is that kind of book. when it was first published in 1962, it was a landmark in the history and philosophy of science. fifty years later, it still has many lessons to teach.
Marcus Aurelius Meditations
marcus aurelius antoninus (121-180 a.d.) succeeded his adoptive father as emperor of rome in 10 a.d. 161—and Meditations remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. With a deep understanding of human behavior, Marcus provides insight, wisdom and practical guidance on everything from living in the world to facing adversity and interacting with others. Consequently, the Meditations have become required reading for statesmen and philosophers alike, while generations of ordinary readers have responded to the direct intimacy of his style. In Gregory Hays’s new translation, the first in a generation, Marcus’s thoughts speak with a new immediacy: Never before have they been presented so directly and powerfully.
war and peace
… focuses largely on Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia and follows three of literature’s best-known characters: Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a count who fights for his inheritance and yearns for spiritual fulfillment. ; Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who leaves his family behind to fight in the war against Napoleon; and Natasha Rostov, the beautiful young daughter of a nobleman who intrigues both men. As Napoleon’s army invades, Tolstoy brilliantly follows characters from diverse backgrounds—peasants and nobles, civilians and soldiers—as they grapple with the unique issues of their time, history, and culture. and as the novel progresses, these characters transcend their specificity, becoming some of the most moving and human figures in world literature.
crime and punishment
One of the supreme masterpieces of world literature, Crime and Punishment catapulted Dostoevsky to the forefront of Russian writers and into the ranks of the world’s greatest novelists. Drawing on the experiences of his own days in prison, the author feverishly and convincingly recounts the story of Raskolnikov, an impoverished student tormented by his own nihilism and the struggle between good and evil. Believing that he is above the law and convinced that humanitarian ends justify vile means, he brutally murders an elderly woman, a moneylender whom he considers “stupid, sick, greedy… good for nothing.” Later overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and terror, Raskolnikov confesses to the crime and goes to prison. there he realizes that happiness and redemption can only be achieved through suffering. imbued with strong religious, social and philosophical elements, the novel was an immediate success. This remarkable and unforgettable work is reproduced here in Constance Garnett’s Authorized Translation.
the prince
The prince shocked Europe in the publication with his defense of ruthless tactics to gain absolute power and his abandonment of conventional morality. Niccolò Machiavelli drew on his own experience in office under the turbulent Florentine republic, rejecting the traditional values of political theory and acknowledging the complicated and transitory nature of political life. Concerned not with a lofty ideal but with an enduring regime, the prince has become the bible of realpolitik, and still retains his power to alarm and instruct. In this edition, Machiavelli’s harsh, pragmatic Italian is preserved in George Bull’s clear and unequivocal translation.
the art of war: the essential translation of the classic book of life
for more than two thousand years, sun-tzu’s art of war has provided leaders with essential advice on battlefield management strategies and tactics. An elemental part of Chinese culture, it has also become a touchstone for the Western struggle for survival and success, whether in battle, in business, or in relationships. Now, in this crisp and accessible new translation, eminent scholar John Minford brings this seminal work to life for today’s readers. Capturing the literary quality of the work, Minford presents the central text in two formats: first, the unadorned ancient words of wisdom attributed to Sun-tzu; then the same text with extensive continuous commentaries from the canon of traditional Chinese commentators. a lively and scholarly introduction and other valuable tools round out this authoritative volume.
antifragile: things that benefit from clutter
Just as human bones grow stronger when subjected to stress and strain, and rumors or riots intensify when someone tries to suppress them, many things in life benefit from stress, disorder, volatility, and confusion. . what taleb has identified and calls “antifragile” is that category of things that not only benefit from chaos but need it to survive and thrive.
the denial of death
Winning the 1974 Pulitzer Prize and the culmination of a life’s work, Death Denial is Ernest Becker’s brilliant and passionate answer to the “why” of human existence. In stark contrast to the prevailing Freudian school of thought, Becker addresses the problem of the vital lie: man’s refusal to acknowledge his own mortality. In doing so, he sheds new light on the nature of humanity and issues a call to life and its living that still resonates more than twenty years after he wrote it.
non-zero: the logic of human destiny
(robert) wright asserts that since the primordial ooze, life has followed a basic pattern. both organisms and human societies have become more complex as they master the challenges of internal cooperation. Wright’s narrative ranges from fossilized bacteria to vampire bats, from Stone Age peoples to the World Trade Organization, uncovering surprises like the benefits of barbarian hordes and the helpful stability of feudalism. here is history endowed with moral meaning, a way of looking at our biological and cultural evolution that suggests, refreshingly, that human morality has improved over time, and that our instinct to discover meaning may itself serve a purpose. higher purpose. insightful, resourceful, insightful, non-zero offers stunning implications for what we believe in and how we adapt to the world of technology’s ongoing transformation.
zero to one: notes on startups, or how to build the future
The great secret of our time is that there are still unexplored frontiers to be explored and new inventions to be created. In Zero to One, legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel shows how we can find unique ways to create those new things.
consent fabrication: the political economy of the media
In this groundbreaking work, now with a new introduction, Edward S. herman and noam chomsky show that, contrary to the usual image of the news media as cantankerous, stubborn and ubiquitous in their search for truth and defense of justice, in their actual practice they defend the economic, social and political agendas of privileged groups that dominate domestic society, the state, and the global order.
Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues From Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming
[o]ne of the most talked-about climate change books of recent years, for reasons that are easy to understand: It tells the controversial story of how a motley group of high-level scientists and scientific advisers, with deep connections in the politics and industry, waged effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge for four decades. The same people who claim that the science of global warming is “unsolved” have also denied the truth about studies linking smoking to lung cancer, coal smoke to acid rain, and CFCs to the ozone hole. . “Doubt is our product,” wrote one tobacco executive. these “experts” provided it.See Also: Formula 1: The 10 best books to read in 2020
confessions of an economic hitman
of the usa uu. military in iraq to infrastructure development in indonesia, from peace corps volunteers in africa to jackals in venezuela, perkins exposes a corruption conspiracy that has fueled instability and anti-americanism around the world, with consequences reflected in our daily headlines . Having raised the alarm, Perkins passionately addresses how Americans can work to create a more peaceful and stable world for future generations.
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
americans have lost touch with their history, and the lies told me by my teacher, professor james loewen, show why. After studying eighteen prominent high school American history texts, he has concluded that none do a decent job of making history interesting or memorable. Marred by an embarrassing mix of blind patriotism, mindless optimism, sheer misinformation, and outright lies, these books omit nearly all the ambiguity, passion, conflict, and drama of our past.
the art of worldly wisdom
the remarkable best-seller: a 300-year-old long-lost book of wisdom on how to live successfully but responsibly in a society governed by self-interest, as sharp as Machiavelli but as humanistic and scrupulously moral as Marcus aurelio.
the 48 laws of power
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, The 48 Laws of Power is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against supreme control.
seeking wisdom: from darwin to munger, 3rd edition my most talented book.
negotiating your salary: how to earn $1000 per minute
In addition to the basic trading rules, $1000 per minute tells readers when to apply them. The book is reorganized to tell: what to do at the beginning of the job search, how to “dodge” the salary issue during the job search, what to prepare before a job interview, when to enter negotiations and in what order to ask for stuff. special training is provided on how not to jeopardize the offer you have and still negotiate the offer you want.
against the gods: the extraordinary story of risk
In this unique exploration of the role of risk in our society, Peter Bernstein argues that the notion of controlling risk is one of the central ideas that distinguishes modern times from the distant past. Against the Gods chronicles the remarkable intellectual adventure that freed humanity from oracles and fortune tellers through the powerful risk management tools available to us today.
the creators: a story of heroes of the imagination
By uniting the lives of selected people into one grand mosaic, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Daniel J. boorstin explores the development of artistic innovation over 3,000 years. A hugely ambitious chronicle of the arts that offers boorstin with the scope that made the discoverers of him a national bestseller.
the user illusion: reduce consciousness to measure
as john casti wrote, “finally, a book that really explains consciousness.” This groundbreaking work from Denmark’s leading science writer draws on psychology, evolutionary biology, information theory, and other disciplines to make his groundbreaking point: that consciousness represents only an infinitesimal fraction of our ability to process information. Although we are not aware of it, our brain filters and discards billions of data to allow us to understand the world around us. in fact, most of what we call thinking is actually the unconscious discarding of information. what our conscience rejects constitutes the most valuable part of ourselves, the “me” that the “me” uses for most of our actions: speaking fluently, riding a bicycle, anything that involves experience. It’s no wonder that in this information age, many of us feel empty and dissatisfied. As compelling as it is insightful, this important book encourages us to trust more in what our instincts and senses tell us so that we can better appreciate the richness of human life.
the grapes of wrath
First published in 1939, Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning epic of the Great Depression recounts the dust bowl migration of the 1930s and tells the story of an Oklahoma farming family, The Joads, driven from their home and forced to travel west to the promised land of California. Out of its trials and its repeated clashes against the harsh realities of an America divided into rich and poor, unfolds a drama that is intensely human yet majestic in its moral scale and vision, elemental yet frank, tragic yet ultimately moving in its human dignity. . A portrait of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless, of a man’s fierce reaction to injustice and a woman’s stoic strength, the novel captures the horrors of the Great Depression and explores the very nature of equality and justice. in United States. At once a naturalistic epic, captivity narrative, road novel, and momentous gospel, Steinbeck’s powerful historical novel is perhaps the most American of American classics.
Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
A contemporary classic, Please Kill Me is the definitive oral history of the most nihilistic of all pop movements. iggy pop, richard hell, the ramones and dozens of other punk figures lend their voices to this defining account of that explosive era. this 20th anniversary edition features new photos and an afterword by the authors.
the power broker: robert moses and the fall of new york
one of the most acclaimed books of our time, winner of the pulitzer and francis parkman awards, the corridor of power tells the hidden story behind the shaping (and deformation) of twentieth-century new york (city and state) and makes public what few have known: that robert moses was, for almost half a century, the most powerful man of our time in new york, the shaper not only of the politics of the city, but also of its physical structure and the problems of urbanism. decadence that afflicts us today.
eureka street: an ireland novel like no other
“all stories are love stories,” begins eureka street, the big-hearted and achingly funny novel by robert mcliam wilson. Set in Belfast during the riots, Eureka Street takes us into the lives and families of Chuckie Lurgan and Jake Jackson, a Protestant and a Catholic, unlikely friends and staunch allies in a difficult time. When a new graffiti job starts popping up all over town, “OTG”, the locals are stumped. the more they try to figure it out, the more it reflects the passions and paranoias that rule and divide them. Chuckie and Jake are just as baffled as everyone else. meanwhile, they try to make a living on the battlefield they call home. Chuckie falls in love with an American who lives in Belfast to escape the violence in his own land; The best Jake can do is get into a hilarious and ruthless war of insults with a beautiful but fierce Republican whose Irish name, properly pronounced, sounds to him like someone is drowning. The true love story on Eureka Street involves Belfast: the soul and spirit of the city, and her will to survive the worst she can do to herself.
the razor’s edge
larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. The progress of his spiritual odyssey involves him with some of Maugham’s brightest characters: his fiancée Elizabeth, whose choice between love and wealth has lifelong repercussions, and Elliott Templeton, his uncle, a classic American expat snob. Maugham himself weaves in and out of the story to watch his characters wrestle with his destinies.
ideas: a history, from wittgenstein to the world wide web, two volumes in slipcase
letters of a stoic
For several years of his turbulent life, Seneca was the guiding hand of the Roman Empire. The reasoning inspired by him was derived primarily from Stoic principles, which had originally been developed some centuries earlier in Athens. This selection of Seneca cards shows him upholding the austere ethical ideals of Stoicism, the wisdom of the self-possessed person immune to overwhelming emotions and life’s setbacks, while valuing the friendship and courage of common men, and criticizes the harsh treatment of slaves and the cruelties in the gladiatorial arena. The humanity and ingenuity revealed in Seneca’s interpretation of Stoicism is a moving and inspiring declaration of the dignity of the individual mind.
The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King
the fascinating untold story of samuel zemurray, the self-made banana tycoon who went from penniless roadside banana peddler to kingmaker and revolutionary CAPITALIST When Samuel Zemurray arrived in the United States in 1891, he was tall, lanky, and penniless. when he died in the greatest house in new orleans sixty-nine years later, he was among the richest and most powerful men in the world. Working his way up from a roadside fruit vendor to conquering United Fruit Company, Zemurray became a symbol of the best and worst of the United States: proof that America is the land of opportunity, but also a classic example of the corporate pirate who treats foreign nations as the backdrop for his adventures. zemurray experienced one of the great untold stories of the last hundred years. Starting with nothing more than a cart of freckled bananas, he built a sprawling empire of banana cowboys, mercenary soldiers, Honduran peasants, CIA agents, and American statesmen. From rushing the docks of New Orleans to overthrowing Central American governments and precipitating the bloody thirty-six-year Guatemalan Civil War, the Banana Man lived a monumental and sometimes cowardly life. Rich Cohen’s brilliant historical profile, the fish that ate the whale, reveals Zemurray as a hidden power broker, driven by an indomitable will to succeed.
the teacher and his emissary: the divided brain and the construction of the western world
in a book of unprecedented scope, now available in a larger format, iain mcgilchrist presents a fascinating exploration of the differences between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and how those differences have affected society, history, and culture. McGilchrist draws on a wealth of recent research in neuroscience and psychology to reveal that the difference is profound: the left hemisphere is detail-oriented, while the right has greater breadth, flexibility, and generosity. McGilchrist then takes the reader on a journey through the history of Western culture, illustrating the tension between these two worlds as revealed in the thought and belief of thinkers and artists from Aeschylus to Magritte.
things fall apart
Things Fall Apart tells two intertwined stories, both centering on Okonkwo, a “strong man” from an Ibo village in Nigeria. the first, a powerful fable of the age-old conflict between the individual and society, traces the okonkwo’s fall from grace with the tribal world. the second, as modern as the first is ancient, refers to the clash of cultures and the destruction of the world of Okonkwo with the arrival of aggressive European missionaries. these perfectly harmonized twin dramas are informed by a consciousness capable of encompassing at once the life of nature, human history, and the mysterious compulsions of the soul.
decolonizing the mind: the politics of language in African literature
ngugi describes this book as “a summary of some of the issues I have been passionately involved with during the last twenty years of my practice in fiction, drama, criticism, and the teaching of literature.”
The Origin of Wealth: The Radical Reconstruction of the Economy and What It Means for Business and Society
Over 6.4 billion people participate in a $36.5 trillion global economy designed and overseen by no one. How did this marvel of self-organizing complexity evolve? How is wealth created within this system? And how can wealth be increased for the benefit of individuals, companies and society? In The Origin of Wealth, Eric D. beinhocker argues that modern science provides a radical perspective on these age-old questions, with far-reaching implications. According to beinhocker, wealth creation is the product of a simple yet profoundly powerful evolutionary formula: differentiate, select, and amplify. In this view, the economy is a “complex adaptive system” in which physical technologies, social technologies, and business designs continually interact to create new products, new ideas, and increased wealth. beinhocker takes readers on an entertaining journey through economic history, from the stone age to the modern economy, and explores how the “economics of complexity” provides provocative insights on topics ranging from building adaptive organizations to the evolving workings of stock markets and new perspectives on government policy. A landmark book that shatters conventional economic theory, The Origin of Wealth will reshape our thinking about how we got here and where we’re going.
The Company of Strangers: A Natural History of Economic Life
The company of strangers shows us the remarkable strangeness and fragility of our daily lives. This completely revised and updated edition includes a new chapter that looks at how the rise and fall of social trust explains the unsustainable boom in the world economy over the past decade and the financial crisis that followed. Drawing on insights from biology, anthropology, history, psychology, and literature, Paul Seabright explores how our evolved capacity for abstract reasoning has enabled institutions such as money, markets, cities, and the banking system to provide the foundations of the social trust we need in our daily lives. even the simple acts of buying food and clothing depend on an amazing web of interaction that spans the globe. How did humans develop the ability to trust complete strangers to meet our most basic needs?
Understanding the Media: The Extensions of Man
when first published, marshall mcluhan’s understanding of media made history with his radical insight into the effects of electronic communications on man and life in the twentieth century. This edition of McLuhan’s best-known book improves its accessibility for a general audience and provides the full critical apparatus needed by scholars. In Terrence Gordon’s own words, “McLuhan is already in full flight in the introduction, challenging us to dive with him into what he calls ‘the creative process of knowing’.” style that he explored rather than explained. the probes, or aphorisms, were an indispensable tool with which he sought to goad and prod the reader into an “understanding of how the media works” and provoke reflection. In the 1960s, McLuhan’s theories aroused both anger and admiration. it is intriguing to speculate what he might say 40 years later on subjects to which he devoted entire chapters such as television, the telephone, guns, housing, and money. Few today would argue that the media has in fact decentralized modern life and turned the world into a global village.
Poor Charlie’s Almanac: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, third enlarged edition
letters from a self-made merchant to his son
lorimer’s letters from a self-made merchant to his son is a timeless collection of aphorisms from the golden age of a wealthy man, a prosperous pork packer in chicago to his son, pierrepont, whom ‘ affectionately’ calls ‘piggy’. the writing is subtle and bright.
the song of the dodo: island biogeography in an era of extinction
See Also: Emily Dickinson and Reading – Emily Dickinson Museum
David Quammen’s book, The Song of the Dodo, is a brilliant and moving work, impressive in its scope and momentous in its message: a crucial book in precarious times, radically altering the way we understand nature. world and our place in that world. it is also a book full of entertainment and wonder. In The Song of the Dodo, we follow Quammen’s keen intellect through the ideas, theories, and experiments of leading naturalists of the last two centuries. We follow him as he travels the world, tracing the subject of island biogeography, which encompasses nothing less than the study of the origin and extinction of all species. Why is this island idea so important? Because islands are where species go extinct most often, and because, as Quammen points out, we live in a time when human activity is cutting up all of Earth’s landscapes into island-like fragments. Through their eyes, we glimpse the nature of evolution and extinction, and in doing so come to understand the monumental diversity of our planet and the importance of preserving its wild landscapes, animals, and plants. we also meet some fascinating human characters. by the end of the book we are wiser and more deeply concerned, but quammen leaves us with a message of excitement and hope.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies
In this “witty, informative, and charming” book (William H. McNeill, New York Book Review), Jared Diamond convincingly argues that geographic and environmental factors shaped the modern world. societies that had had a head start in food production advanced beyond the hunter-gatherer stage, and then developed religion, as well as nasty germs and potent weapons of war, and ventured into sea and land to conquer and decimate preliterate cultures. A breakthrough in our understanding of human societies, guns, germs, and steel chronicles how the modern world came to be and stunningly dismantles racial theories of human history. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the Phi Beta Kappa Science Prize, the Rhone-Poulenc Prize, and the Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal.
world order
henry kissinger offers world order a profound meditation on the roots of international harmony and global disorder. Drawing on his experience as one of the foremost statesmen of the modern era — advising presidents, traveling the world, observing and shaping the pivotal foreign policy events of the last few decades — Kissinger now reveals his analysis of the ultimate challenge. for the 21st century: how to build a shared international order in a world of divergent historical perspectives, violent conflict, proliferating technology, and ideological extremism.
what went wrong?: the clash between islam and modernity in the middle east
For centuries, the world of Islam was at the forefront of human achievement: the world’s foremost military and economic power, the leader in the arts and sciences of civilization. Christian Europe was seen as an outer darkness of barbarism and unbelief from which there was nothing to learn or fear. and then everything changed. The West won victory after victory, first on the battlefield and then in the marketplace. In this elegantly written volume, Bernard Lewis, a renowned authority on Islamic affairs, examines the anguished reaction of the Islamic world as it tried to make sense of how it had been overtaken, overshadowed, and dominated by the West. In a riveting portrait of a culture in crisis, Lewis shows how the Middle East turned its attention to understanding European weaponry, industry, government, education, and culture. he also describes how some Middle Easterners blamed a series of scapegoats, while others did not ask “who did this to us?” but rather “where did we go wrong?”
thinking, fast and slow
In the international bestseller Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman, the renowned psychologist and Nobel Prize winner in economics, takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we we think. system 1 is fast, intuitive and emotional; system 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. the impact of overconfidence in corporate strategies, the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future, the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning our next vacation, each of these can be understood only by knowing how the two systems shape our judgments and decisions. By engaging the reader in a lively conversation about how we think, Kahneman reveals where we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can reap the benefits of slow thinking. he offers insightful and practical insights into how decisions are made in both our business and personal lives, and how we can use different techniques to protect ourselves from the mental failings that often get us into trouble. Winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Award and selected by the New York Times Book Review as one of the top ten books of 2011, Thinking, Fast and Slow is destined for be a classic.
pride and prejudice
when elizabeth bennet first meets fit bachelor fitzwilliam darcy, she finds him arrogant and conceited; he is indifferent to her good looks and quick mind. When Ella later discovers that Darcy has become involved in the troubled relationship between Ella’s friend Bingley and Ella’s beloved sister Jane, Ella is determined to dislike him more than ever. In the sparkling folk comedy that follows, Jane Austen displays the folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the friendships, gossip and snobbery of provincial middle-class life.
living within limits: ecology, economy and demographic taboos
Living Within Boundaries, Hardin focuses on the neglected problem of overpopulation, making a compelling case for drastically changing the way we live and run our world. our world itself, he writes, is in a lifeboat dilemma: it can only hold so many people before it sinks; not everyone can be saved. the old idea of progress and unlimited growth loses sight of the fact that the earth (and each part of it) has a limited carrying capacity; sentimentality should not cloud our ability to take the necessary steps to limit population. but hardin refutes the notion that goodwill and voluntary restraint will suffice. instead, nations where the population is growing must bear the consequences alone. Too often, he writes, we operate on the flawed principle of cost sharing combined with private profit. In Hardin’s famous essay, “The Tragedy of the Commons,” he showed how the common pasture of a village suffers from overgrazing because each villager puts as many cattle as possible on it, since the costs of grazing are shared by all. but the profits go to the individual. the metaphor applies to global ecology, he argues, making a powerful case for closing borders and ending immigration from poor to rich nations. “The production of human beings is the result of highly localized human actions; corrective action must be local….globalizing the ‘population problem’ would only guarantee that it would never be solved.” Hardin doesn’t flinch from the startling implications of his argument, as he criticizes shipping food to overpopulated regions and asserts that coercive population control is inevitable. but he also proposes a free flow of information across borders, to allow each state to help itself.
the book: about the taboo of knowing who you are
At the root of human conflict is our fundamental lack of understanding of who we are. the illusion that we are isolated beings, disconnected from the rest of the universe, has led us to view the “outside” world with hostility and has fueled our misuse of technology and our violent and hostile subjugation of the natural world. In the book, philosopher Alan Watts provides us with a much-needed answer to the problem of personal identity, distilling and adapting the ancient Hindu philosophy of Vedanta to help us understand that the self is, in fact, the root and foundation of the universe. In this revealing and revealing work, Watts has crafted a primer on what it means to be human and a primer on the central mystery of existence.
The Cave and the Light: Plato vs. Aristotle, and the Struggle for the Soul of Western Civilization
Accessible, fascinating and eloquently written, The Cave and the Light offers a startling new perspective on the Western world, sure to open eyes and spark debate.
how to win friends and influence people
dale carnegie’s proven advice has led millions upon millions of readers for more than seventy-five years up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives. now the first and best book of its kind has been rebooted to master the complexities of modern times and will teach you how to communicate diplomatically and tactfully, capitalize on a strong network, please people, project your message broadly and clearly, be a more effective leader, increase your ability to get things done and optimize the power of digital tools.
Learn or Die: Using Science to Build a Cutting-Edge Learning Organization
learn or die examines the learning process from an individual and organizational point of view. From an individual perspective, the book looks at the cognitive, emotional, motivational, attitudinal, and behavioral factors that promote better learning. organizationally, learn or die focuses on the kinds of structures, culture, leadership, employee learning behaviors, and HR policies that are necessary to create an environment that enables critical and innovative thinking, learning conversations, and collaboration. . the volume also provides strategies for mitigating the reality that humans can be lazy, reflective thinkers seeking confirmation of what they believe to be true and affirmation of their self-image. Exemplary learning organizations discussed include Reserved Bridgewater Associates, LP; intuit, inc.; united parcel service (ups); w. I blood & associates; and idea.
The Straight Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
as America sinks deeper into polarization and paralysis, social psychologist jonathan haidt has done the seemingly impossible: challenged conventional thinking about morality, politics, and religion in a way that speaks to everyone on the political spectrum. Drawing on his twenty-five years of pioneering research in moral psychology, he shows how moral judgments arise not from reason but from hunches. he shows why liberals, conservatives, and libertarians have such different intuitions about right and wrong, and shows why each side is right about many of their central concerns. In this subtle yet accessible book, Haidt gives you the key to understanding the miracle of human cooperation, as well as the curse of our eternal divisions and conflicts. If you’re ready to trade anger for understanding, he reads straight minds.
the future of the mind: the scientific quest to understand, improve and empower the mind
the future of the mind brings a subject that once belonged only to science fiction to a surprising new reality. This scientific tour de force reveals the amazing research being done in the best labs around the world, all based on the latest advances in neuroscience and physics, including recent experiments in telepathy, mind control, avatars, telekinesis, and memory recording. and dreams. The Future of Mind is an extraordinary and mind-blowing exploration of the frontiers of neuroscience. dr kaku looks forward to the day when we can achieve the ability to load the human brain into a computer, neuron by neuron; project thoughts and emotions around the world in a brain network; take a “smart pill” to enhance cognition; send our consciousness throughout the universe; and push the very limits of immortality.
the lessons of history
With its accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the durant take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity throughout time. By juxtaposing great lives, ideas, and achievements with cycles of war and conquest, the durants reveal the salient themes of history and give meaning to our own.
how to lie with statistics
darrell huff runs the gamut of all types of statistics in popular use, investigating such things as the sample study, the tabulation method, the interview technique, or the way results are derived from figures , and points out the myriad number of dodges that are used to complete rather than inform.
1984
1984 was george orwell’s chilling prophecy about the future. And though 1984 has come and gone, Orwell’s narrative is more current than ever. 1984 presents a startling and unsettling worldview so powerful it’s utterly compelling from start to finish. No one can deny the power of this novel, its hold on the imaginations of multiple generations of readers, or the resilience of its warnings, a legacy that seems to grow with the passing of time.
A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World
Acclaimed by readers and critics around the world, A Splendid Exchange is a sweeping narrative history of world trade, from Mesopotamia in 3000 B.C. to the firestorm over today’s globalization, brilliantly exploring trade’s colorful and contentious past and providing new insights into its future.
anarchy, state and utopia
Translated into 100 languages, winner of the National Book Award, and named one of the 100 most influential books since World War II by the literary supplement, Anarchy, State, and Utopia remains one of the most trenchant defenses theoretically and philosophically richest examples of economic liberalism to date, as well as a foundational text in classical libertarian thought. With a new introduction by philosopher Thomas Nagel, this revised edition will introduce Nozick and his work to a new generation of readers.
a theory of justice
Since its appearance in 1971, John Rawls’ Theory of Justice has become a classic. the author has now revised the original edition to clear up a number of difficulties that he and others have found in the original book. Rawls seeks to express an essential part of the common core of the democratic tradition – justice as fairness – and to offer an alternative to utilitarianism, which had dominated the Anglo-Saxon tradition of political thought since the nineteenth century. Rawls substitutes the ideal of the social contract as a more satisfactory description of the basic rights and freedoms of citizens as free and equal persons. “Each person,” writes Rawls, “possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override.” Promoting the ideas of Rousseau, Kant, Emerson, and Lincoln, Rawls’ theory is as powerful today as it was when it was first published.
the arthashastra
Kautilya: The Arthashastra, published in 2000 by Penguin Classics is the English edition of the classic treatise on classical economics and political science by the ancient Indian philosopher Kautilya. the text of this great book includes 15 books, each dealing with a topic related to the state and its economy. the books include topics such as the law, the king, foreign policy, discipline, capturing a fortress, and the duties of rulers. kautilya explains in detail the duties and virtues of an ideal king. descriptions include a breakdown of what the ideal king should do during the course of the day and how the king should behave in typical situations. the arthashashtra also includes detailed strategies such as gifts, bribes, illusion and force to deal with neighboring countries. the other important sections of the book include maintaining law and order in the state, forests and wildlife, and economic ideas. The book looks at how the Mauryans protected forest wealth, including trees and animals. importance is also given to the importance of maintaining law and order for the proper functioning of the state.
godel, esher, bach: an eternal golden braid
douglas hofstadter’s book deals directly with the nature of “maps” or links between formal systems. However, according to Hofstadter, the formal system that underlies all mental activity transcends the system that supports it. if life can emerge from the formal chemical substrate of the cell, if consciousness can emerge from a formal system of active neurons, then computers too will attain human intelligence. gödel, escher, bach is a wonderful exploration of fascinating ideas at the heart of cognitive science: meaning, reduction, recursion, and much more.
extraordinary popular delusions and mass madness
This classic study of crowd psychology offers an illuminating and entertaining look at three large-scale scams. Originally published in England in 1841, his remarkable accounts of human folly reveal that the hysteria of the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the junk bond frenzy of the 1980s were far from exclusive 20th-century phenomena. The first of the financial scandals discussed, “the mississippi scheme,” refers to a disastrous 18th-century plan for the commercial exploitation of the mississippi valley, where investors were lured by louisiana’s reputation as a region of mountains of gold and silver. During the same time, thousands of British investors were ruined by the “South Sea bubble,” a stock market based on British trade with South Sea islands and South America. The third episode involves the Dutch “tulipomania” of the 17th century, when people went into debt collecting tulip bulbs, until a sudden depreciation in the value of the bulbs rendered them worthless (except as flowers). Driven by greed and fueled by naivete, these historic failed investment strategies retain irrefutable relevance for modern times. Extraordinary Popular Raves is essential and exciting reading for investors and students of history, psychology, and human nature alike.
Thinking Strategically: Competitive Advantage in Business, Politics, and Everyday Life
Thinking strategically is a crash course to outperforming any rival. This entertaining guide is based on dozens of case studies from business, sports, movies, politics, and gaming. describes the basics of a good strategy, and then shows how you can apply them to any area of your life.
the einstein factor: a new proven method to increase your intelligence
New research suggests that the superior achievements of famous thinkers may have been more the result of mental conditioning than genetic superiority. now you can learn to condition your mind in the same way and improve your performance in virtually every aspect of mental ability, including memory, speed, IQ, and learning ability.
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