Non-Fiction
How The Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill
Not the sort of "the Irish Rule!!!" book the title might lead you to
expect. This is a scholarly and insightful, but not boring book
that should be of interest to anyone who thinks history means something.
Paperback ISBN: 0-385-41849-3
Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean
Instead of the emotionalism of the film, this is a thoughtful exploration
of the ramifications of the death penalty for society, the people we hire
to administer capital punishment, and the families of the victims.
You should read this even if you disagree and know you will not change
your mind.
Paperback ISBN: 0-679-75131-9
The Mensa Genius A*B*C Quiz Book by Alan Stilson
A fun letters-based puzzle book written by a good guy who I know. If
you have a resident math whiz who needs a little humbling and find
yourself to be more of a text person, this book may be very useful.
Paperback ISBN 0-201-31135-6
Six Easy Pieces by Richard P. Feynman
Feynman, the famous winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, who did
safecracking as a hobby was also an amazing teacher. This book consists of
six of his freshman physics lectures. These are understandable even if you
know nothing of physics, but if you do they will push you toward very
interesting questions.
Hardback ISBN 0-201-40955-0
The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene
Twenty years ago string theory was a far-out pool of absurdities proposed
by a cult of physicists on the fringe of science. Today it is even more
absurd (states that our universe is actually eleven-dimensional), is called
either superstring or M theory, and looks like humanity's best hope for
explaining how the universe really works. Greene does a great job of
explaining existing scientific theories (relativity, quantum mechanics)
and why we need M theory to make them play well together. Some math is
included, but algebra-phobes can skip these short sections without losing
the main points of the book. Excellent even if you are not a big physics
buff.
Hardback ISBN 0-393-04688-5
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