axlsalinger
Well-known member
This topic has come up before, but I couldn't find a dedicated thread. Someone posted a question on Quora about great books to read for intellectual purposes, and one user posted a really interesting list (with descriptions) which I'll include below. I've only read a few of these, but do plan to check some out, including several that have been on my "to-read" list for too long.
If people are interested this can be the "book" thread, feel free to discuss anything you'd recommend from this list, or any interesting books you've read, any topic or genre.
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-books-every-intellectual-should-read
The List:
Math/Statistics
How Not To Be Wrong —It deals with how people with statistics in the wrong way.
How To Lie With Statistics —Exactly what the title says.
Economics
Thinking Fast and Slow —This is the book that created the field of behavioral economics. The authors are psychologists who won the Nobel prize in economics —that sound tell you everything
Death Of Money —Talks about the Federal Reverse, Banking, and economics.
Capitalism and Freedom —Great book. Lots of debate around whether this theory by Milton is correct.
The Law —A wonderful short book on Economics/Politics
Economics in one lesson —This answered a lot of questions I had in economics. In taught me the right economic policies we should have.
Philosophy
The History of Western Philosophy —A long but good book by, I think, the most prominent professor in philosophy. Unmatched and unparalleled. It starts with how the greeks thought things where made out of water, then air, then fire, then earth, then atoms!
Just & Unjust war —This is really a book about when war is legal and illegal. However I put it here because on top of teaching me about the just war theory, it taught me about innocence and morality.
History/Politics
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich —A history of Hitler’s Germany
The Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire —Talks about exactly what the title says.
Lies My Teacher Told Me —This book goes over all the lies that our highschools are teaching kids such as: Columbus’ “discovery”, why we celebrate thanks giving etc.
Why nations Fail? —This book is so important right now. It deals with the question why is 90% of countries are poor and “the west” are filthy rich (in terms of GDP)? Why isn’t sending money to Africa helping them grow? Amazing, amazing book.
A People's History Of The United States —In short, the entire history of the United States with no fluff or boring parts —maybe it’s because I like politics tho
Blackwater —This book talks about a company, Blackwater, who is above the law. They are a private semi-military group paid the US miltary. This will make you correctly change your love for Obama.
Federalist Papers —What is a list of the best intellectual books without the most intellectual people, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, from the most intellectual era, the Age of Reason!
Saving Strangers —This is another great book for our current times since the US wants to intervene in Iranian, Syrian and Russian politics. This is is what the title says “Saving Strangers.” Or more specifically, “When is it right to intervene for humanitarian reasons.”
Business
Rich Dad, Poor Dad —This taught me how the rich think and do business.
How To Win Friends & Influence People —What’s the point of being an intellectual if you have no one to share your ideas with or don’t know how to influence others in your ideas.
Science
A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Hawkins —What’s a list of intellectual books without understanding the universe and by the world’s most prominent cosmotologist!
The Believing Brain —This goes into critical thinking, logical fallacies and cognitive illusions
Consilence —A wonderful book on evolution and a science.
Bad Science —Goes into how medicine is conducted, what’s wrong with it and how it can be improved
The Righteous Mind —This book goes into religion and politics and why we’re so divided.
Critical Thinking In A Rapidly Changing World —This books teaches how to think critically, logically and scientifically. It’s a textbook but well worth it. Very good insights not found in other critical thinking books.
The Selfish Gene by Dawkins —Wonderful book by a wondersful person. This book has over 25,000 citiations in peer-reviewed journals which is a lot. Einstein has that much on one of his papers. So, that tells you how important this is. But, do’t be put off. This book isn’t as hard as Einstein’s theories
Why people believe in weird things —Again, critical thinking, logic and the scientific method.
Paranormality —Again, critical thinking, logic and the scientific method
Religion
The God delusion —There is nothing more intellectual than the debate around religion. Dawkins, the author, is a leading intellectual in this debate and this is he’s most best-selling book.
god is Not Great —Some think he is brash and arrogant. For me he is my role model and the reason I read everyday. The lack of a capital in the title (“god”) is not a spelling mistake. I think that sums up Hitchens’ view quiet well
The End of Faith —An important book in the debate of religion/atheism. I think if one reads these 3 books, they will be well versed in the debate.
The Demon-Haunted World —The author, Carl Sagan, goes into the witch trials, pseudoscience, religion and much more. As Justin said in the comments, “It’s a classic.” I agree
Utopia/Dis-utopia
Atlas Shrugged —A Dis-utopia novel. Gives the view of the world from the business side instead of the consumer side. It’s a novel, very philosophical.
Brave New World —Kinda the same as the above but this is a Utopia that goes wrong.
1984 —This is a famous book. Couldn’t put it down. This book talks about what facism would look like. The author also wrote another famous book called, “Animal Farm” (which an intellectual should also read)
If people are interested this can be the "book" thread, feel free to discuss anything you'd recommend from this list, or any interesting books you've read, any topic or genre.
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-books-every-intellectual-should-read
The List:
Math/Statistics
How Not To Be Wrong —It deals with how people with statistics in the wrong way.
How To Lie With Statistics —Exactly what the title says.
Economics
Thinking Fast and Slow —This is the book that created the field of behavioral economics. The authors are psychologists who won the Nobel prize in economics —that sound tell you everything
Death Of Money —Talks about the Federal Reverse, Banking, and economics.
Capitalism and Freedom —Great book. Lots of debate around whether this theory by Milton is correct.
The Law —A wonderful short book on Economics/Politics
Economics in one lesson —This answered a lot of questions I had in economics. In taught me the right economic policies we should have.
Philosophy
The History of Western Philosophy —A long but good book by, I think, the most prominent professor in philosophy. Unmatched and unparalleled. It starts with how the greeks thought things where made out of water, then air, then fire, then earth, then atoms!
Just & Unjust war —This is really a book about when war is legal and illegal. However I put it here because on top of teaching me about the just war theory, it taught me about innocence and morality.
History/Politics
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich —A history of Hitler’s Germany
The Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire —Talks about exactly what the title says.
Lies My Teacher Told Me —This book goes over all the lies that our highschools are teaching kids such as: Columbus’ “discovery”, why we celebrate thanks giving etc.
Why nations Fail? —This book is so important right now. It deals with the question why is 90% of countries are poor and “the west” are filthy rich (in terms of GDP)? Why isn’t sending money to Africa helping them grow? Amazing, amazing book.
A People's History Of The United States —In short, the entire history of the United States with no fluff or boring parts —maybe it’s because I like politics tho
Blackwater —This book talks about a company, Blackwater, who is above the law. They are a private semi-military group paid the US miltary. This will make you correctly change your love for Obama.
Federalist Papers —What is a list of the best intellectual books without the most intellectual people, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, from the most intellectual era, the Age of Reason!
Saving Strangers —This is another great book for our current times since the US wants to intervene in Iranian, Syrian and Russian politics. This is is what the title says “Saving Strangers.” Or more specifically, “When is it right to intervene for humanitarian reasons.”
Business
Rich Dad, Poor Dad —This taught me how the rich think and do business.
How To Win Friends & Influence People —What’s the point of being an intellectual if you have no one to share your ideas with or don’t know how to influence others in your ideas.
Science
A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Hawkins —What’s a list of intellectual books without understanding the universe and by the world’s most prominent cosmotologist!
The Believing Brain —This goes into critical thinking, logical fallacies and cognitive illusions
Consilence —A wonderful book on evolution and a science.
Bad Science —Goes into how medicine is conducted, what’s wrong with it and how it can be improved
The Righteous Mind —This book goes into religion and politics and why we’re so divided.
Critical Thinking In A Rapidly Changing World —This books teaches how to think critically, logically and scientifically. It’s a textbook but well worth it. Very good insights not found in other critical thinking books.
The Selfish Gene by Dawkins —Wonderful book by a wondersful person. This book has over 25,000 citiations in peer-reviewed journals which is a lot. Einstein has that much on one of his papers. So, that tells you how important this is. But, do’t be put off. This book isn’t as hard as Einstein’s theories
Why people believe in weird things —Again, critical thinking, logic and the scientific method.
Paranormality —Again, critical thinking, logic and the scientific method
Religion
The God delusion —There is nothing more intellectual than the debate around religion. Dawkins, the author, is a leading intellectual in this debate and this is he’s most best-selling book.
god is Not Great —Some think he is brash and arrogant. For me he is my role model and the reason I read everyday. The lack of a capital in the title (“god”) is not a spelling mistake. I think that sums up Hitchens’ view quiet well
The End of Faith —An important book in the debate of religion/atheism. I think if one reads these 3 books, they will be well versed in the debate.
The Demon-Haunted World —The author, Carl Sagan, goes into the witch trials, pseudoscience, religion and much more. As Justin said in the comments, “It’s a classic.” I agree
Utopia/Dis-utopia
Atlas Shrugged —A Dis-utopia novel. Gives the view of the world from the business side instead of the consumer side. It’s a novel, very philosophical.
Brave New World —Kinda the same as the above but this is a Utopia that goes wrong.
1984 —This is a famous book. Couldn’t put it down. This book talks about what facism would look like. The author also wrote another famous book called, “Animal Farm” (which an intellectual should also read)
