Ten Books You Should Read
Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72, by Hunter S. Thompson
This is one of the most brilliant works I've ever read, and certainly Thompson at his best. Written as a series of articles for Rolling Stone as Thompson covered the 1972 presidential election, his early support of the McGovern campaign allowed him inside access to the unlikely Democratic candidate that would be unthinkable in today's age. Written in his classic frenzied, last-minute style with a biting, savage wit that cuts to the core of the political establishment.
You should read this book because it cuts through all of the bullshit politics is muddled in, and gives you a real look at how a campaign is run. It also has the uncanny ability to make politics interesting, even funny.
Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit, by Daniel Quinn
I've read this book 3-4 times over the past few years, and it never ceases to amaze me with it's profound message of...saving the world. Using a Socratic dialogue to teach the narrator about the perils of mankind's treatment of the Planet, Ishmael will leave you second-guessing our professed birthright of conquering every square inch of Mother Earth, and have you thinking about all of the ways in which you can help.
You should read this book because it will make you think about mankind's mission to conquer the Earth.
Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall
McDougall's search for the runners of the mystical Tarahumara tribe in the deserts of Mexico leads him on a journey far deeper than you might imagine. Investigating elements of evolutionary biology, contemporary running science, and pure human instinct, McDougall makes a real case for the argument that we are all...Born to Run.
You should read this book because it will make you realize that our bodies are not designed for us to be cubicle warriors.
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
I can think of few novels written in the 1930's that are as prescient and applicable in today's world as they were almost 100 years ago. Huxley's futuristic society where the world population is controlled and one's spot in the social order is pre-ordained is a frightening caricature of where our society is going.
You should read this book because it will make you think about the direction in which society is heading, when not led by a single individual.
High Fidelity, by Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby manages to capture the complicated mind of the middle-class twentieth-century male in this short novel about a record shop owner whose girlfriend has just left him, forcing him to re-evaluate his life’s relationships and what he really wants. Easy to read, and eminently enjoyable.
You should read this book as a male because it will make you grin at how spot-on Hornby describes the way we think, and you should read this book as a female because it will give you an insight into how us guys really think.
The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
Is it cliche to add this to a list of my top ten favorite books? Of course. Is there a reason that this is one of the best-loved books of all time? Without a doubt. Coelho's parable about a young boy who follows his destiny has certainly served as an inspiration to me on my trip around the world. Written in a simple, mystical style, the reader is left with a profound sense of confidence about following their heart and the fact that if they take a chance to do so, that all the world will conspire in their favor once they are on this journey.
You should read this book because it will inspire you to follow your dreams, regardless of what anyone else says.
The 4-Hour Workweek, by Tim Ferriss
This was the first book that taught me to really, truly, think differently. Tim has some really wacky ideas in here, some which you may try to put into practice and many of which you will write off as completely irrelevant for someone in your position. He's all about optimization and elimination of waste, and the central thesis of this book is to get an internet business up and running that will eventually take care of itself to the point where you only need to work four hours a week.
Realistic for most of us? No. But did this get me on the thought track that there are people out there that try to "hack" life, and do things differently? Absolutely, and this has had a profound effect on my approach to life over the past few years.
You should read this book because it will make you think about solving your problems in an unconventional manner.
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, by Michael Sandel
Following Professor Sandel’s wildly popular course on Justice at Harvard comes the book for a mainstream audience. While intensely philosophical in its nature, Sandel examines the traditional disciplines of utilitarianism, liberalism, and Aristotle’s notion on the good life in pursuit of the ultimate question: as a society, how should we organize and incentivize in a way that is fair to everyone?
You should read this book because it will make you think about whether you deserve everything you have, and if you would still believe that to be the case if you were an outside observer.
Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer
Krakauer's somewhat controversial chronicle of the deadliest Everest climbing season at the time is a must read for anyone with any sense of adventure whatsoever. Delving into the merits of firms hired to ferry mountaineers to the summit and the authenticity of the subsequent experience, this is a spell-binding tale of an absolutely harrowing journey, for both Krakauer and everyone else who summited the mountain. Regardless of one's thoughts on the merits of spending $100,000 for a chance at reaching the summit at the possible expense of the lives of many others, this book will inspire you as a human to dream about pushing the very limits in which we exist.
You should read this book because it will inspire you to push the boundaries of what you believe mankind to be capable of.
We Need To Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver
Written as a series of letters to her husband, Eva Khatchadourian muses about the way they raised their son, and whether he was, to put it bluntly, born evil. While addressing trade-offs everyone who chooses to start a family will face such as career vs. family, different parenting styles, and what to do when your child appears to love one parent more than the other, Shriver has written an absolute masterpiece that I would urge everyone to read.
You should read this book because it will upend everything you thought you knew about how a story should be told.
"Wear the old coat. Buy the new book." -Austin Phelps