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Great Non-Art Books
Easiest way to explain this section: "Books that profoundly changed the way I think, or my ideas about the world."
I'd add to this list one item. Every week I read "The New Yorker" almost cover to cover. (All but the fiction) And I would recommend it to everyone. It's easily some of the best, most thought-provoking reading material out there.
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Guns, Germs, and Steel
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Jared Diamond
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One of the most erudite books I've ever read. Not an easy read, (I'd read a chapter than take about a day to digest it mentally) but really astounding insights.
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Catch-22
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Joseph Heller
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Maybe my all-time favorite novel. Definitely in my top 5. I've read it multiple times and laughed out loud every time.
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The Human Brain: A Guided Tour
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Susan Greenfield
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Written for the interested layman, a fascinating walk through the mechanisms of the brain. I couldn't put it down, I think I finished it in two sittings!
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The Making of the Atomic Bomb
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Richard Rhodes
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What I loved about this book is how the author makes this scientific story a page turner for the lay reader. Like a classic mystery novel full of stunning plot twists, he takes you on a very entertaining ride through history!
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Truman
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David McCullough
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A really enjoyable read. I wish we had a few politicians like him these days. It's interesting to look back and see how unpopular he was, ("To err is Truman" became a well-travelled phrase) and yet in retrospect, he really made some wise decisions!
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John Adams
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David McCullough
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A long book, but it really gives you a sense of just how important a figure he is to American history. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
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Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynmann
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James Gleick
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A great book. If you don't know anything about this man, READ THIS BOOK. If you've only read his humorous memoirs, READ THIS BOOK!
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Shadow
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Bob Woodward
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Not my usual reading material. A chronicle of how each of the last five president's (Nixon-Clinton) faced scandalous circumstances...poorly. Surprisingly, it made me MORE sympathetic and forgiving of anyone in that office!
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