Must Read Books?

Arcade Fire said:
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller (idiosyncratic anti-war story)
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Found it long and interminably dull considering it could have been written in about 3 sentences and still got the gist of it across. That said I haven't read it for many years so I do intend to try again. However it did at least remind me of "The Liar" by Stephen Fry, quite an entertaining book but most notable perhaps for the quotation by Hugh Lawrie along the lines of "It really doesn't seem fair, Joseph Heller struggled for years with Catch 22 and Stephen Fry appears to have knocked this out in a few rainy Sunday afternoons".

Arcade Fire said:
Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre (irreverent tragi-comedy)
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Possibly because I'd heard too much about this before I started to read it but I found this to be a big let down, the (ab)use of language could have been clever but was over-used and the story itself was none too worthwhile I felt. I'm aware I could be in a minority on this one though. :)

Just remembered about "Lanark" by Alistair Gray though, a big sprawling behemoth of a novel, well four books really. Mostly brilliant although some parts are less gripping but it would definitely feature in any 'must-read' list I could compile.
 
Mohinder said:
One the Road, by Kerouac. It's hard to get into because of his style, but once you get used to it it's a very addictive and enjoyable book. It makes you think about how boring your life (probably) is, and... I dunno, it just changed my outlook a little, for the better.
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Wicked book.

I just finished reading "On The Suffering Of The World" by Arthur Schopenhauer (it's from the Penguin Great Ideas); quite a short little book, but I found it a fascinating investigation into the nature of human suffering, and on the importance of high culture in our society.

The Consolations Of Philosophy by Alain De Botton is fairly simplistic, but a nice little introduction into some of the philosophies of Seneca, Socrates, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche etc. Some good light reading.
 
Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
The Traveller - John Twelve Hawkes
The Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum (far superior to the films)
Rainbow Six - Tom Clancy
The Stand - Stephen King

Angry White Pyjamas - Robert Twigger
 
Hitchikers Guide - Douglas Adams
Lord of the Rings - Tolkien
The Hobbit - Tolkien
Slaughter House 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
 
Well i never read ever and on holiday this year back in may i read my first book in over 10 years and that was Gordon Ramsay's autobiography and i must say it was a great read. Not what i expected at all, its not huge either can be read in a day or 2.
 
Carzy said:
The Consolations Of Philosophy by Alain De Botton is fairly simplistic, but a nice little introduction into some of the philosophies of Seneca, Socrates, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche etc. Some good light reading.
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Yes, definitely. I love this book for two reasons. Firstly, it changed my outlook on philosophy. It convinced me that philosophy is only useful when it teaches us how to be happier. Secondly, it introduced me to Michel de Montaigne, who I still maintain is one of the finest writers of the last five centuries.

I also recommend Status Anxiety by the same author. That's another book that really changed the way I think.
 
2 of my favorites are more niche books for people into combat sports etc

Lil Evil by Jens Pulver

A Fighters Heart by Sam Sheridan
 
Arcade Fire said:
Yes, definitely. I love this book for two reasons. Firstly, it changed my outlook on philosophy. It convinced me that philosophy is only useful when it teaches us how to be happier. Secondly, it introduced me to Michel de Montaigne, who I still maintain is one of the finest writers of the last five centuries.

I also recommend Status Anxiety by the same author. That's another book that really changed the way I think.
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Just finished reading "On Friendship" by Montaigne. Great author :)
 
James Frey - A Million Little Pieces

Even though he has now admitted to stretching the truth in some parts its still a powerfull book
 
Ghostwritten - David Mitchell. Absolutely knocked me sideways, the only book I've finished, thought about for 10 minutes and then flipped to the front and started reading again.

Espedair Street - Iain Banks. A faded rockstar reminisces about his bands rise and fall from stardom, mostly from a drunken stupor. A departure from Banks usual macabre that will probably leave you a bit choked up at the end.

Last Chance to See - Douglas Adams. Brilliantly written (like all of Adams' books) short stories of the authors trips with naturalist Mark Carwardine to see some of the worlds most endangered species. Laugh out loud funny.

Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham. 'When a day that you happen to know is Wednesday starts off by sounding like Sunday, there is something seriously wrong somewhere.'
Best. Opening. Sentence. Ever.
 
Ghost Force by Patrick Robinson. I bought it in an airport as something to occupy me on the plane, turned out it was really good. :)

It's about a near future scenario where Russia is forcibly taking Siberian oil, and they want to help Argentina fight for Las Malvinas (forgot the real name :o) and secretly lend them a few submarines.

It's actually surprisingly realistic.
 
A Brief History of Time - Prof. Steven Hawking

And if suggestions for a comedy are what you desire, try anything from Spike Milligan or the James Herriot series. These books have had me creased in pain through laughter, no exaggeration!
 
Syk3 said:
Whats this one about?
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That's difficult to answer. In a nutshell each chapter is a short story told from one characters perspective, although each one is self-contained (they are set in different locations and times) it becomes apparent that all of the stories are connected in some way. Saying more might ruin the book for you, but I'm confident you won't regret reading it.
 
Pumpkinstew said:
That's difficult to answer. In a nutshell each chapter is a short story told from one characters perspective, although each one is self-contained (they are set in different locations and times) it becomes apparent that all of the stories are connected in some way. Saying more might ruin the book for you, but I'm confident you won't regret reading it.
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Sounds good. Got a few on the list now :p.
 
Got to say I was borderline dissappointed with Freakonomics, a few "hmm.. interesting" statistics and percentages but the theory they used and the "big questions" they answered seemed like pretty common sense to me, and no I've never studied economics but have done a bit of finance.

Now World War Z on the other hand... That's a real man's book. I've heard about a guy who's learning Russian just to read it in it's original form.
 
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