Nonfiction books everyone should read - a reqiest for help.

n/a | ixtl

[Grizzled Bear]

Errrrr.... The Bible? By God?

After that, anything by Natan Shiranski.

[W. W. SMITH]

Blackstone on the law. Not certain on tittle.

[Keltik]

bump

[ixtl]

As I remember, it is “Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England.”

According to one of my law professors, it had an inordinate effect on 19th Century American jurisprudence because the set was only four volumes, and would easily fit into the itinerant attorney’s saddlebags.

[Sherman Logan]

H. G. Wells, "The Outline of History (1939 edition).

I read this when pretty young and it had a big impact on me.

Reread it recently and was amazed by the implied and explicit biss throughout towards socialism/fascism/eugenics, etc. which I had completely missed at the age of ten.

Still a good book, but should be read with the understanding the author is promoting a particular political ideology. Also should be counterbalanced with something more libertarian.

BTW, Wells was the originator of the phrase "liberal fascism" that made Jonah Goldberg such a big splash recently. Wells was in favor of it.

[americanophile]

I read Skeletons, but also read Sufferings in Africa, which was Capt. Riley’s own account; I enjoyed it much more, especially because of the faith elements that are left out of Skeletons.

[phil1750]

My favorite WWII book is “Up Front” with Bill Mauldin.
It is a classic book of war cartoons with excellent commentary.

[americanophile]

Excellent thread. I enjoyed looking through everyone's titles. There are certainly plenty of outstanding works on here. Among my two favorite modern non-fictions are:

1. The Fall of Constantinople by Steven Runciman
2. The Great Siege: Malta 1565 by Ernle Bradford

Two absolutely riveting histories made even more valuable by their brevity and readability. You won't believe these are non-fiction, and if you're looking for a book to convince someone that history is exciting, The Great Siege will certainly do the trick.

[Lazamataz]

[Lazamataz]

“Serial Killers Guide (How To Avoid Capture)” by Albert Fish

“Eating Souls for Fun and Profit” by Pennywise the Clown

[Verginius Rufus]

Bill Bryson is very readable and interesting.

I've read his A Walk in the Woods, about the Appalachian Trail, In a Sunburned Country, about Australia, A Short History of Nearly Everything, and part of At Home.

[wintertime]

I read, “A Walk in the Woods”. Very interesting. I recommend it.

[reaganaut]

“Serial Killers Guide (How To Avoid Capture)” by Albert Fish

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Absolute classic, Laz!