Wordly Philosophers reads like a popular history, but it's been responsible for more people entering the field than any other single book. It hooked me on economics, and I dated an economist for more than a year without taking an interest.
History and bios are my favorite reading. I also like mind sciences stuff also. Most modern fiction doesn't grab me at all - whenever I do read fiction, it's all older stuff. Go figure.
I'm not sure it's an advertisement for a book that it is responsible for more people entering the field of economics than any other. Shouldn't that require an apology? ;-)