My reading list, and yours?

I’ve recently been on a journey to challenge my deeply held beliefs. I grew up conservative and Christian, for context. I’ve read a series of books on different matters, including Malcolm X, the annexation of Hawaii, and UBI and the economics of MMT. I’m about to start a book on Truman, per my professors recommendation, but I’m posting here to discuss books that challenged you intellectually, or which challenge your narrative. I have included a list of my most recent reads and what they’ve shown me. Anyone care to contribute?

The Righteous Mind
The Coddling of the American Mind
The Happiness Hypothesis -All three from Jonathan Haidt – introduced me to the world of moral and social phsycology. The Righteous Mind is the first book I read that opened me up to the idea of abandoning a religion that I was already turning away from

The God Delusion – Richard Dawkins – this book was hard for me. Dawkins takes a rather rabid anti-theist approach to atheism. This book breaks down why he believes the arguments for religion are without merit. My favorite chapter was “The ‘Good’ book”.

Unfamiliar Fishes – Sarah Vowell – this one offered history about Hawaii that I’d never heard before. Additionally, it provided a new perspective on missionaries and colonization, especially that of the pacific. Furthermore, it shed some light on the superiority complex that these people had over the “heathens” of these nations, and their intentions to strip them of their culture and make them behave more American or British, or as they called it, civilized. If you read but one thing from this list, make it this. You’ll never want secession for any state more than Hawaii.

Utopia for Realists – Rutger Bregman – reading now
The Deficit Myth – Stephanie Kelton – both of these books turn my perspective of the economy and what is possible for the US and other economies on its head. Read if you’ve never given UBI or guaranteed work programs a second thought.

I haven’t read, but will be reading next:
Man’s search for meaning – victor frankel
Truman – David McCullough
The Smartest Guy in the Room – Bethany McLean

Let’s talk about anything above, or share with us what your most challenging books are? I’m interested in continuing this trend of acquiring new perspective.

by TheChigger_Bug