Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I need everyone's help again with a book list. This one is Top 5 books you've read. [View all]bhikkhu
(10,715 posts)99. "Candide" by Voltaire (Butts' translation), "Demon Haunted World" by Carl Sagan
"The Proud Tower" by Barbara Tuchman, "Better Angels of Our Nature" by Steven Pinker, and "On the Shoulders of Giants", ed. by Steven Hawking.
Of course there are many more, but these are 5 books that have changed and improved the way I think of things, recently or in the past.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
139 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
I need everyone's help again with a book list. This one is Top 5 books you've read. [View all]
Pretzel_Warrior
Dec 2013
OP
A People's History, The Handmaid's Tale, The Chalice and the Blade, The Evolution of Conscience, and
Egalitarian Thug
Dec 2013
#4
By instigating my own reexamination of things I know, her book literally changed my life.
Egalitarian Thug
Dec 2013
#107
Do so. It's the story of how average Germans lived and how they (sort of) bought in to it.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Dec 2013
#29
1. The Grapes of Wrath 2. One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest 3. To Kill A Mockingbird
Zorra
Dec 2013
#20
War and Peace, A Fine Balance, Catch-22, Anna Karenina, Tao Te Ching.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Dec 2013
#24
great lists so far! as with last year, it will take some time to compile
Pretzel_Warrior
Dec 2013
#26
THose all sound interesting. I actually met the author and have a signed copy of his book
Pretzel_Warrior
Dec 2013
#33
Sorry, couldn't winnow it down to five. Eight was as close to the bone as I could cut.
11 Bravo
Dec 2013
#31
Catch-22; Grapes of Wrath; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; Moby Dick; Roughing It
Richardo
Dec 2013
#55
I HATE when books are a great read then end with a thud! (regarding #2 on your list)
Liberal_in_LA
Dec 2013
#62
yep! there's a whole backstory I could write an essay abour re: her love of Harry Potter
Pretzel_Warrior
Dec 2013
#73
Believe me, last time around the list was quite eclectic. I take all offers
Pretzel_Warrior
Dec 2013
#71
well, for that matter, The Book of Job in the Bible makes many international top 20 lists.
Pretzel_Warrior
Dec 2013
#74
Always Coming Home, by Ursula Le Guin.The entire Earthsea series. All of Terry Pratchett's Discworld
Hekate
Dec 2013
#87
"Candide" by Voltaire (Butts' translation), "Demon Haunted World" by Carl Sagan
bhikkhu
Dec 2013
#99
Disaster at the Pole: The Tragedy of the Airship Italia and the 1928 Nobile Expedition to the North
Katashi_itto
Dec 2013
#113
Since this is for your daughter I asked my wife for her top 5 recommendations
diabeticman
Dec 2013
#119
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned "The Demon-Haunted World" by Carl Sagan
HarveyDarkey
Dec 2013
#120
I am an eclectic reader, so it's hard to do a "Top Five Overall" list
distantearlywarning
Dec 2013
#125