A book list

So in response to a request, here's a list of books that I consider to be about the best I've read.

The order here is not exact, as some of them could be reordered based on the various criteria, but it's a good start. This is not intended to be a high brow list of things I've finished, but works that I found to be most important to me.

1) Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes
"And so, to sum it all up, I perceive everything I say as absolutely true, and deficient in nothing whatever, and paint it all in my mind exactly as I want it to be." Volume 1, Chapter 25 ahem, fox news?

"'No one's gotten me pregnant'...'and I'm not the kind of man who lets himself get pregnant, not even by the king, and though I may be poor, I'm an Old Christian...'" Volume 1, Chapter 47

"I tell you, when it comes to asking stupid questions and giving crazy answers, I don't need to go looking for help from my neighbors." Volume 2, Chapter 22

"...that what applies here is the old saying about the pot calling the kettle black." Volume 2, Chapter 67 (for the record, yes that's a very old saying)

This book runs the gamut of range. It features an old man, half insane, and his adventures, sometimes in true hilarity, with an astounding wit. But there is also a grace, and a sense of fighting the insanity of the times, and to think, this was written around 1605.

I've read this both in English, and in the original Spanish (ah, college) and I recommend either to anyone.

2) To Kill a Mockingbird
What can I say, Atticus Finch rocks.

3) The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
This book, as many will know, effectively introduced the world of Fantasy literature to the general public. The depth of the universe he created has set the standard for serious fiction writers. Creating a universe with a history that explains and guides the characters is virtually a requirement at this point.

Tolkien went so far as to create entire languages for the universe (he was a professor of linguistics) and uses the foundations of so many mythological and other tales and borrows a bit here and there, plus if you get into it, using a certain amount of Bible themes, especially how Morgoth and the Valar came to Middle Earth and the theme of Salvation.

4) Competing for the Future, by C.K. Prahalad & Gary Hamel
I had to read this book for my MBA course work, and I'm so glad I did. As someone in the business world, this book is really a classic. I'm not really one to be satisfied just doing the same thing over & over. This book does so much to help lay foundations for progress, and strategic thinking and planning, I recommend this to anyone who has any connection to business, either by owning one, or by planning on doing something besides say shoveling snow for the rest of one's life.

5) The Art of Warfare, by Sun Tzu
This book is hard. Some of the principles are completely counter-intuitive, and some are very situational, so being aware of which ones fit at which time can be difficult. But that being said, it's so interesting to see someone write this all up, and lay out the scenarios. I probably need to re-read it and try to apply it to chess.

6) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
I love this book, and it needs to be read (without the whole word replacement business) by every kid, and probably again by nearly every adult. Censoring this book is ridiculous in all its forms.

7) The Great Gatsby
I read this in high school, as part of one of the AP classes, and I found it interesting, and more than a bit self indulgent. But that's what you get when you have a damaged rich guy as the named protagonist. Nothing like fucked up love story in the middle of the roaring 20's! and with scandal & murder!

8) The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
Ah, the Okies. I guess California's Prop 187 wasn't the first time that California was a bit anti-immigrant (too soon?). Steinbeck helps to set the stage so thoroughly, and really brings the struggles of the Great Depression to life. Its nearly impossible to imagine the 30's without this novel.

9) The Call of the Wild, by Jack London
Perhaps the greatest adventure book around. London creates unforgettable characters, and paints such a great picture of the Yukon and Alaska. This book really helped stoke my interest in Western fiction, and love of that genre in film as well. Besides, what's better than a story of a boy and his dog?

10) The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
Damnit, I have the conch. It's my turn. Nope, nothing like an object lesson in the fragile line between chaos and civilization. For my part, I think that our friend Tom would fit right in.

11) Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Dafoe
Nothing like being shipwrecked on an island with some cannibals to make a good story.

12) The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Ambrose
This book does such a good job of explaining why War is hell, and what so many people need to do to overcome their fears and do what they need to do.

13) American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Dave assigned this to me, and his account of the story line is pretty good. I just think this was such a creative idea, that the Old World gods came to North America, to basically unfertile soil, and the things they have to go thru to ensure their survival. Very good story, and obviously HBO agrees since they're working on a series now.

14) The Walking Drum, by Louis L'Amour
One of Louis better works, and not in his strength of the westerns. Rather, this is an adventure book set in Europe, Turkey, and down into basically Iraq/Iran. It's an adventure tale set when the Moors had invaded Spain, and brought their culture into Europe, so we're looking around 1100 AD. It's an epic tale, and one that was not finished. By many accounts, Louis was intending a 2nd book to complete the tale, but didn't get to it before he passed away.

15) The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
I literally laugh myself to tears in several places in this book. Anyone who needs to learn to understand British humor should start with this book. The way they describe the matter of fact destruction of earth just like the way that poor Arthur has to deal with the town's decision to remove his house as part of the freeway off ramp. Classic. and remember, Don't Panic!


16) The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway
Been a long time since I read this one, but the struggle is everything we have sometimes. So dig in your heels and get stubborn baby!

17) The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli
The manual for how to win a kingdom, keep it, and how to handle all the various things that come up. Rife with examples specific to Machiavelli's life and the region at the time. Lots of fun commentary on the actions of various Popes, the Venetians, the French, and others. Good times. I just finished this book, and I can already see the flaws in how numerous governments and other leadership positions come about, and other ways to adjust them. There are lots of lessons to be learned in this book about leadership and recognizing wisdom, and setting up the things around you. I will be reading this again, cause I'll need another pass or six to get this all nailed down.

18) A Song of Fire & Ice Series, by George R. R. Martin
Ok, so this might be cheating, but this whole series (currently 5 books with nearly 5000 pages in total) is just astounding, but its not just one book. I've written about it before, and will be again. I don't want to give away too much, as I expect to be lobbying for and/or assigning this to my compatriots in the near future. I figure they ought to finish war & peace first, as it's a lot of work by all accounts.