Books to become well read by

Excluding most of the classics, like Dickens, as they're a give.

Conn Iggulden Emperor/Conqueror series are good, and somewhat historically accurate.

The Bible - not religious, but often been suprised when it's been useful to have a little knowledge of it.

Let's go play at the adams' - Mendal Johnson. A very sick book, but good reading. Probably not the greatest conversation starter :)
 
Why do you want to become well read? Being well read is only truly desirable for its own sake, don't try and do it just to impress. On that note, read whatever you feel like reading. You can be well read in an extremely niche genre and not be well read in the general knowledge sense but still be well read.
 
Parsifal said:
Why do you want to become well read? Being well read is only truly desirable for its own sake, don't try and do it just to impress.
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Or as Churchill would have it "It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations. Bartlett's Familiar Quotations is an admirable work, and I studied it intently. The quotations when engraved upon the memory give you good thoughts. They also make you anxious to read the authors and look for more".

In addition to my list before I'd recommend Dune by Frank Herbert, there are possibly other finer science fiction novels but it's a classic for a reason.

Philip K. Dick is also worth reading, Ubik and Do Androids Dream Of Electronic Sheep (Bladerunner is based on this short story) are two that I can recommend.

The Thirty Nine Steps by John Buchan is a great book although certain phrases are very much a product of their time and may offend more modern sensibilities.
 
Stephen Hawking - A Brief History Of Time

A great introduction to the universe as we understand it. And what can be more important than a basic knowledge of that?
 
If you want to "sound more intelligent at dinner parties" try these,

A brief history of time - Stephan Hawking,
Surely you're joking Mr Feynman - Richard Feynman,
Origin of species - Charles Darwin,
Iliad - Homer.

Should give you plenty to chat about.
 
The cosmic serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge by Jeremy Narby
DMT The Spirit Molecule : Dr Strassman
Supernatural:Graham Hancock
The Illad : Homer
Sun of gOd : Gregory Sams
 
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The selfish gene, by richard dawkins.

dawkins is a **** in his religious writings but he really shines in the field of evolution and genetics. The book is a pleasure to read and you'll come away with a good knowledge of how and why evolution works, with some very interesting theories of an evolution based modern culture. Even if you're clued up on evolution already, its well worth a read.
 
Russell's A History of Western Philosophy (then, trying to avoid any of his admitted bias, branch out at your leisure)
The Consolations of Philosophy
Classics by the Ruskis like Notes From The Underground by Dostoevsky
Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
The Elegant Universe + The Fabric of the Cosmos (remember string theory is only a... theory)
Ulysses
Atlas Shrugged

Probably more but meh.
 
Catch-22 - it is arguably more famous for being famous than it is for being an amazing read but it is still a great, great book.

Anything by Dickens is interesting, if not always brilliant.

Nietzsche if you want controversial, Descartes if you want compelling.

The Classics - try to read at least some of them.

The Bible - you don't have to have faith to find it worthy reading.

Stephen Hawking - much of his stuff is beyond me but 'A Brief History of Time' is fascinating and well written.

e : Just seen 'Atlas Shrugged' above. For the love of God, don't read this nonsense unless you're a student and/or hipster. It is utterly turgid, over-wrought nonsense.
 
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Nathaniels nutmeg- a really interesting history of the spice trade, and the competiton between Portugal, holland and England to dominate it.

White gold- about White slavery in north Africa, especially morocco. Truly barbaric, as recently as a few hundred years ago people were still being kidnapped from Cornwall and taken away for a lifetime of slavery.

Both by Giles milton, he writes about history with a very nice style, so his books read like a good novel.
 
Castiel said:
Gods War by Christopher Tyerman.

Besides being written by my mate, it is an excellent history of the Crusades and is far superior to Runcimans book.

It is the new reference guide for the Crusades.
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Would love to buy it, but being a poor student :P
 
Worth the thread revival imo as this is quite interesting:D

I agree with the following definitely-

Catch 22- It is Hilarious

1984- First time i ever felt awe-struck whilst reading, was the bit where O'brien is explaining Newspeak to Winston and says something along the lines of "imagine a world where thought crime is impossible because the words no longer exist in order to commit it"- That really made me think. (it's late, i can't remember the exact quote:p)

History of Western Philosophy (struggle through the first half where, imo, he dwells a little too much on the ancient Greeks)

And i would add-

Starmaker- Olaf Stapledon

The Trial - Franz Kafka

The Wind-up Bird Chronicle- Haruki Murakami

Any T.S Eliot

The Rights of Man/Common Sense/Age of Reason- Thomas Paine

and i'm sure people will disagree as it is a love/hate book, but Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon. Absolutely mad, but i loved it. I wouldn't discuss it at a dinner party though;)
:)

Anthony Beevor has some interesting history books too.

edit- Oh and don't bother with Ayn Rand
 
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