Ten Books That Will Stay With Me.
Saturday, August 15th, 2009Here are ten of the most influential and entertaining books I have read. some will teach you thinks, others will make you laugh. You might hate one or two. A couple might change your life. None will leave you indifferent.
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.
This is probably the most important book I have ever read. It shed a bright light on how the world works, what is wrong with it, and how it could get better. Rand’s views are extreme, but they are right. Objectivism and laissez-faire capitalism might not be applicable to the letter, but they provide us with a solution to the economic, and thus, many problems we encounter today. The book promotes strong moral values, individualism, self reliance and work ethics. It is a long book, 1000+ pages, and is a bit repetitive sometimes, but the story is a page turner.
Dune by Frank Herbert.
What a great book! I read in in three days, barely stopping to eat and sleep. Frank Herbert created a whole new world on planet Arrakis, along with it’s religions, political intrigues, war, and desert culture. The writing is brilliant, you can hardly put it down. Best of all, there is a whole series of books following that one.
Eons by Greg Bear.
Greg Bear’s books always teach me something, I like that. I learned a lot of biology in “Darwin’s Radio.” Eons gives a glimpse of a distant future that would otherwise be hard to imagine. Though far fetched, it is hard science fiction, and you will learn about physics.
Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche.
Nietzsche is one of my favorite philosophers. I was once reading one of his books at a coffee shop when a friend came by and said “You’re reading Nietzsche, it’s so dark..” I didn’t think so. It certainly is a sobering look at reality, but for anyone who favors reason rather than self-deception, it is an empowering and refreshing read.
Kiln People by David Brin.
Here is a funny and entertaining science fiction novel that also raises the question of identity and who we really are. In a distant future, people can make doubles of themselves to help with daily tasks. The doubles live only twenty four hours and may or may not upload memories to their originals before expiring. All is well, until someone figures out how to increase their lifespan..
Startide Rising by David Brin.
I like big sagas, and this other Brin novel is the start of a long one. Humans work alongside of genetically modified and intelligent chimps and dolphins. They deal with alien species on alien planets. The book has very interesting concepts of alien fauna and flora, as well as what aliens might look like and think. A great summer read with lots of adventures and resistance.
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson.
Three different stories in one come together in this thrilling book about data heavens, business and cryptography during World War II. If you know nothing about cryptography, and don’t think you need to, this book will definitely change your mind. It is also a great adventure novel, with a love story thrown in for good measure. A must read for your geek side!
Shogun by James Clavell.
I have learned so much about medieval Japan and Japanese culture in this historical novel. The complexities of the plots are amazing. It is also a poignant forbidden love story. And let’s face it, tall ships and samurai are pretty darn cool. I highly recommend all of Clavell’s novels.
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
I had to pick one. I love all his books. Dostoevsky is a master at understanding human behavior. His characters are so rich in personality, they seem more human than, well, humanly possible. I did read most of them in French, because I thought it would be closer to the original Russian. I also highly suggest “Crime and Punishment” and “The Idiot.” His writing style is brilliant. The best ‘existentialist’ novels, undoubtedly.
All right, this is nine, not ten. I can’t think of one right now, but I will post it when it comes to mind. I have read so many good books. Have you read any of those above? What did you think? What are your favorite books? Please comment below..












































