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molly bloom
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Lundenwic
Oct 2001
time: 15:33
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'A Brief History of Science'- A. Rupert Hall and Marie Boas Hall
'Guide to Science I and II'- Isaac Asimov
'Europe: A History'- Norman Davies
'The Essential Erasmus'-eh, Erasmus...
The Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary or the Concise Oxford English Dictionary- absolutely vital tools, with entries on neologisms, words from the Commonwealth, words from the United States. If you love language, or English, or both, then a decent comprehensive dictionary is a necessity. I used to like reading the dictionary when I was a child, and I think if you get children interested in words and language at an early age most of your educational tasks have been accomplished- the child will want to read and learn on their own.
Any good quality encyclopaedia- always useful for dipping into at random, and you will never know where an article will take you- an article on Charlemagne's wars against the Lombards and another on Khair ud Din sparked my lifelong interest in history.
A good introduction to Western art history- Thames and Hudson used to publish several general introductions to Western (and Eastern and African art). Get someone intrigued by any aspect of visual art, and they'll rarely be bored on holidays if there's a gallery in the place they're visiting. Feed the eye (and the ear) as well as the brain.
'The Vikings'- Magnus Magnusson
'Ulysses'- James Joyce
'The Greek Myths'- Robert Graves
'Le Morte D'Arthur'- Mallory
'Beowulf' - anonymous
The Authorized Version of the English Bible, translation for King James I and VI- better by far than any modern translation for sheer poetry, vigour and intensity of feeling- along with Jacobean tragedy and Metaphysical poetry one of the abiding legacies of a golden age of literature in English. The passage concerning the death of Absalom could wring tears out of granite.
'The Canterbury Tales'- Geoffrey Chaucer
'Common Sense' and 'The Rights of Man'- Thomas Paine
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Ben Kenobi
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McGregornobi!
Oct 2002
time: 21:33
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Long list.
right know I'm plowing through Bernard Cornwall, but that's more for pleasure than for enlightenment.
Books that I think should be added, Ivan Denisovich, Things Fall Apart, Brave New World, Crime and Punishment, Grapes of Wrath, Fahrenheit 451.
Now, if you want specifically Christian books, I have torn apart my copy of Mere Christianity, by CS Lewis.
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Xeones
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I'll second Roberts' History of the World.
Guns Germs & Steel by Diamond
Lucifer Principle by Bloom
Brief History of Time by Hawking
and some good autobiographies which have left me with a kind of "what if ___ were here now" appreciation for a few people... More than one by physicist Richard Feynman (not books about physics, just anecdotes from his life). Also numerous musicians, Miles Davis comes to mind.
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cinch
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Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Jul 2002
time: 22:33
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My vote would have to go to "The Power Of Myth", which is more of a transcript than a book, really.... but still, it's packed with stimulating bits and observations put forth by Joseph Campbell. It didn't make me any smarter, obviously, but it did get my little brain a-moving... I mean, really moving... for perhaps the first time, I'd say.
Even if you don't agree with his theories, I'd reccommend it. It's a short read and packed with goodies.
Support PBS!
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Monk
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I don't think we're in Brønshøj anymore
Jan 1970
time: 06:33
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Thanks everybody. I'll be doing a bit of research on some of all these books tonight and try to make up my mind.
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21-01-2004 01:21
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