What genre of books make you smarter or increase intellect? Or which specific books have you read that you feel like you have learned from? I get tired of the fluff books sometimes!
Any book can make you ‘smarter’ if you are paying attention to it and considering it. Even bad books give you the opportunity to reflect on why they’re bad, compare them to better texts and allow you to flex your brain.
But i would say if you’re looking for books for learning, non -fiction is where you’ll find it. There’s absolutely loads of non-fiction books out there so it’s hard to know where to point you without a particular interest. What areas do you find interesting?
jiabaoyu on
I’d recommend the Very Short Introduction series from Oxford University Press. They’re short (obviously), inexpensive, and generally give a good overview of a topic, whether it is the history of the American South, gravity, or silent films. They cover politics, science, and the humanities.
sd_glokta on
I’ve really enjoyed the Great Courses series.
MegC18 on
There are a lot of talented academic history writers who also present tv programmes in their specialist areas. Mary Beard, Bettany Hughes, Janina Ramirez and Alice Roberts are my current favourites.
Texan-Trucker on
Hmmmm. Well I may go out on a limb and suggest a series that I enjoy, partly because of how the protagonist is so “pleasant and proper” but is not snobbish or “high society”, [yet her words and tone can gently cut when she needs them to, as part of her unique occupation, and this enhances her charm]
Listening to this series, for me, is like an enjoyable “etiquette and speaking lesson”, that soothes. But I should also state that the amazing narration by Orlagh Cassidy pulls all this together, beautifully, in living color so to speak.
“Maisie Dobbs” series by Jacqueline Winspear. It happens to be a female sleuth series that takes place in and around London in the earlier 1900’s. The author also incorporates a good number of historical elements to the stories which is another easy way to learn other trivia of history and past society.
BeeB0pB00p on
Try any Michael Lewis book. Find a book he’s written on a topic you like. He is very good at making what might on the surface seem like a dull subject, interesting. And he’s not too heavy handed. He grounds his books with people, there’s always someone or a few people he relates a topic to. He covers a broad range of topics, so you should find at least one of his books piques your interest. (e.g. The Blind Side, The Big Short, Moneyball, The Fifth Lesson, The Premonition)
lhooper11111 on
Listen to all the classics.
J_M_Bee on
All kinds of books can increase one’s understanding of the world. Different types of books teach us different types of things. What you really should think about is what kinds of books do you like reading, what kinds of things do you like thinking about or learning about. Let your answers to those questions guide what you read. Based on your question, though, I’d look into books on psychology, economics, anthropology and philosophy. As for fiction, look up “best novels of all time” and read the ones that seem interesting.
Morbid_thots on
very good comments so far
Id add that reading biographies on important historical figures can be eye opening.
Poignant satires that were relevant to its time like Master and Margarita can also teach you a lot. In general, theres much to learn from banned books.
Banned books such as animal farm, to kill a mockingbird, maus.
panpopticon on
Reading and understanding Shakespeare will definitely make you feel smarter. Puzzling out Elizabethan syntax until you can read (or better yet, *speak*) his words with the clarity and flow of modern speech will offer at least three concrete benefits.
One, greater mastery of the English language. Two, familiarity with the plays themselves; and Three, appreciation for the huge amount of borrowing from and allusions to Shakespeare in wider culture.
11 Comments
Any book can make you ‘smarter’ if you are paying attention to it and considering it. Even bad books give you the opportunity to reflect on why they’re bad, compare them to better texts and allow you to flex your brain.
But i would say if you’re looking for books for learning, non -fiction is where you’ll find it. There’s absolutely loads of non-fiction books out there so it’s hard to know where to point you without a particular interest. What areas do you find interesting?
I’d recommend the Very Short Introduction series from Oxford University Press. They’re short (obviously), inexpensive, and generally give a good overview of a topic, whether it is the history of the American South, gravity, or silent films. They cover politics, science, and the humanities.
I’ve really enjoyed the Great Courses series.
There are a lot of talented academic history writers who also present tv programmes in their specialist areas. Mary Beard, Bettany Hughes, Janina Ramirez and Alice Roberts are my current favourites.
Hmmmm. Well I may go out on a limb and suggest a series that I enjoy, partly because of how the protagonist is so “pleasant and proper” but is not snobbish or “high society”, [yet her words and tone can gently cut when she needs them to, as part of her unique occupation, and this enhances her charm]
Listening to this series, for me, is like an enjoyable “etiquette and speaking lesson”, that soothes. But I should also state that the amazing narration by Orlagh Cassidy pulls all this together, beautifully, in living color so to speak.
“Maisie Dobbs” series by Jacqueline Winspear. It happens to be a female sleuth series that takes place in and around London in the earlier 1900’s. The author also incorporates a good number of historical elements to the stories which is another easy way to learn other trivia of history and past society.
Try any Michael Lewis book. Find a book he’s written on a topic you like. He is very good at making what might on the surface seem like a dull subject, interesting. And he’s not too heavy handed. He grounds his books with people, there’s always someone or a few people he relates a topic to. He covers a broad range of topics, so you should find at least one of his books piques your interest. (e.g. The Blind Side, The Big Short, Moneyball, The Fifth Lesson, The Premonition)
Listen to all the classics.
All kinds of books can increase one’s understanding of the world. Different types of books teach us different types of things. What you really should think about is what kinds of books do you like reading, what kinds of things do you like thinking about or learning about. Let your answers to those questions guide what you read. Based on your question, though, I’d look into books on psychology, economics, anthropology and philosophy. As for fiction, look up “best novels of all time” and read the ones that seem interesting.
very good comments so far
Id add that reading biographies on important historical figures can be eye opening.
Poignant satires that were relevant to its time like Master and Margarita can also teach you a lot. In general, theres much to learn from banned books.
Banned books such as animal farm, to kill a mockingbird, maus.
Reading and understanding Shakespeare will definitely make you feel smarter. Puzzling out Elizabethan syntax until you can read (or better yet, *speak*) his words with the clarity and flow of modern speech will offer at least three concrete benefits.
One, greater mastery of the English language. Two, familiarity with the plays themselves; and Three, appreciation for the huge amount of borrowing from and allusions to Shakespeare in wider culture.
[Macaulay’s Historical Essays](https://lintreader.com/book/macaulay-critical-historical-and-mi-rMmym4V3) and [History of England](https://lintreader.com/book/macaulay-the-history-of-england-fro-ojMdO8vX). These were the most popular history books read by the most educated people in the last half of the 19th century. You will walk away with an education in English History