So I went to a client’s house today and I noticed that in her vast family bookshelf, she had only a few fiction books. It made me wonder what are the books that actually help you in growing as a human being?
Books that make you learn something and actually increase your knowledge
Recommend few that you would help and opened some doors for you, made you aware about past or present, something that had an impact, something that has helped you through life (not philosophical but rather things you could discuss)
I have been reading fiction all my 20 years and now is the time that I give non-fiction a chance that adds something to me.
Thanks 🙂
Do write a one-liner on what the book is about
by Mysterious_Art_2916
4 Comments
Good philosophy books:
Twilight of the Idols – Friedrich Nietzsche
Three Dialogues – George Berkeley
Timaeus – Plato
Discourse on the Method – Rene Descartes
There are obviously countless more, but these are some pretty great ones.
Andrew Solomon’s *Far From The Tree*: a sobering jolt for depths of human empathy.
*A Curious Mind* by Brian Grazer & Charles Fishman: brief glances into a several few interviews with people from an array of life paths.
Daniel McNeill’s *The Face*: an exhaustive exploration of identity and other facets of our daily assumptions and performances.
The Truth in Comedy, by Charna Halper et al. It’s a long-form imrpov book, and it changed how I deal with people on a daily basis. Working in a flow to collaborate is one of the most important things I’ve learned in my life. “Yes, and…” is a concept every decent human should know.
The Art of Asking, by Amanda Palmer. I try to read this one once a year. She does a TEDtalk about it too. Art, music, love, relationships, grief, death and life. This one has it all.
A Mouthful of Air, by Anthony Burgess. This is probably one of the more technical nonfiction books you might be recommended, but it is a gem. Great commentary on teaching, language learning, communication styles, and educational systems (which unfortunately are still accurate). The writing is great, too.
If you want fast and easy reads, Mark Forsyth has several out. Elements of Eloquence is one that I bring out all the time because you can flip to any chapter and learn something fun and new.
Some history and philosophy might be things to try. For these I’d suggest:
The Penguin History of the World. It’s 1000+ pages but gives a useful overview of more than just European history.
The Problems of Philosophy by Betrand Russell is shorter but is a nice intro to philosophical thinking.