# Books to read Pretty much everything from [Les cent livres du siècle](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_cent_livres_du_si%C3%A8cle) and [Les 100 meilleurs livres de tous les temps](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_100_meilleurs_livres_de_tous_les_temps). See also [Quels sont les classiques littéraires à lire absolument ?](https://fr.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111112161815AAh5LUy), [100 Books to Read in a Lifetime](http://www.amazon.com/b?node=8192263011), [Alan Kay from Viewpoints Research Institute recommends his reading list for beginners](http://shelfjoy.com/shelfjoy/alan-kay-from-viewpoints-research-institute-recommends-his-reading-list-for-beginners), and many other similar lists. [Derek Sivers' Books I've read](https://sivers.org/book) seems to be a really good list (for non-fiction books). [Five Books](https://fivebooks.com/) seems to be a good resource as well. My reference as of 2020 will be [The Greatest Books](https://thegreatestbooks.org/), which is an aggregated list generated from more than a hundred individual lists. ## Atheism / religion * Scott Atran, ["In Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion"](http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Trust-Evolutionary-Landscape-Evolution-ebook/dp/B0058RTMXG/) (mentioned by Carlo Strenger in "The Fear of Insignificance: Searching for Meaning in the Twenty-First Century") * Richard Carrier, ["On the Historicity of Jesus: Why We Might Have Reason for Doubt"](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1909697494/) (this seems to be a serious book on the topic of the historicity of Jesus - no conspiracy theories, etc.) * André Comte-Sponville, ["L'esprit de l'athéisme : Introduction à une spiritualité sans Dieu"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Esprit_de_l%27ath%C3%A9isme) (Comte-Sponville sounds like an "old atheist", who thinks that religion can be good - e.g. lead to a more moral life) * David Fitzgerald, ["Nailed: Ten Christian Myths That Show Jesus Never Existed at All"](http://www.amazon.com/Nailed-Christian-Myths-Jesus-Existed/dp/0557709911) (is this as seriously researched as Carrier's book?) * Caroline Fourest, ["Tirs croisés : La laïcité à l'épreuve des intégrismes juif, chrétien et musulman"](http://www.amazon.fr/Tirs-crois%C3%A9s-l%C3%A9preuve-int%C3%A9grismes-chr%C3%A9tien/dp/2253114375/) (recommended by [@ArianeBeldi](https://twitter.com/ArianeBeldi)) * Philip Kitcher, ["Life After Faith: The Case for Secular Humanism"](http://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Faith-Humanism-Lectures/dp/0300203438/) * George Levine, ["The Joy of Secularism: 11 Essays for How We Live Now"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Joy-Secularism-Essays-Live/dp/0691156026) * David Mills, ["Atheist Universe"](http://www.amazon.com/Atheist-Universe-Thinking-Christian-Fundamentalism/dp/1569755671) * David Niose, ["Nonbeliever Nation: The Rise of Secular Americans"](http://www.amazon.com/Nonbeliever-Nation-Rise-Secular-Americans/dp/1137278714) (reviewed on [Friendly Atheist](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/09/29/a-review-of-david-nioses-nonbeliever-nation/)) * Victor J. Stenger, ["God: The Failed Hypothesis"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God:_The_Failed_Hypothesis) (Victor J. Stenger is one of the "New Atheists", he died in 2014) * [Bible](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible) (e-book, really long to read?) * authors listed in ["50 Top Atheists in the World Today"](http://www.thebestschools.org/blog/2011/12/01/50-top-atheists-in-the-world-today/) (2011) (Peter Singer, etc.) ## Biography * Christopher Hitchens, ["Hitch-22: A Memoir"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitch-22) ## Business / entrepreneurship * Jason Fried, ["Rework"](http://www.amazon.com/ReWork-Change-Way-Work-Forever-ebook/dp/B003ELY7PG/) (mentioned by [@epsitec](https://twitter.com/epsitec)) * Michael A. Hiltzik, ["Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of the Computer Age"](https://www.amazon.com/Dealers-Lightning-Michael-A-Hiltzik-ebook/dp/B0029PBVCA) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * Christopher Locke, Rick Levine, Doc Searls & David Weinberger, ["The Cluetrain Manifesto: The End of Business as Usual"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cluetrain_Manifesto) * Rowan Manahan, ["Where's My Oasis?: The Essential Handbook for Everyone Wanting that Perfect Job"](http://www.amazon.com/Wheres-My-Oasis-Rowan-Manahan/dp/0091899982) * Don Norman, ["The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition"](https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expanded-ebook/dp/B00E257T6C) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * OCTO Technology, ["Partageons Ce Qui Nous Departage"](http://www.amazon.fr/Partageons-ce-qui-nous-d%C3%A9partage/dp/2952589526) * Paul Sloane, ["The Innovative Leader: How to Inspire Your Team and Drive Creativity"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Innovative-Leader-Inspire-Creativity/dp/0749450010) ## Comics * [Andy Fischli](http://www.andyfischli.ch/) (only available in German?) * [F'murr](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%27murr) (already read a lot of his works; e.g. ["Bêêêêstes of le Génie des alpages"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_G%C3%A9nie_des_alpages#Hors_s.C3.A9rie) contains previously unreleased material) * Winsor McCay, ["Little Nemo"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Nemo) * [Guillermo Mordillo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillermo_Mordillo) * François Schuiten & Benoît Peeters, ["L'archiviste"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Archiviste) * François Schuiten & Benoît Peeters, ["L'écho des cités"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Cit%C3%A9s_obscures#Hors-s.C3.A9rie) * François Schuiten & Benoît Peeters, ["Le guide des cités"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Cit%C3%A9s_obscures#Hors-s.C3.A9rie) * François Schuiten & Benoît Peeters, ["L'ombre d'un homme"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Ombre_d%27un_homme_(bande_dessin%C3%A9e)) * François Schuiten & Benoît Peeters, ["La route d'Armilia"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Route_d%27Armilia) * François Schuiten & Benoît Peeters, ["Voyages en utopie"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Cit%C3%A9s_obscures#Hors-s.C3.A9rie) * François Schuiten & Benoît Peeters, other ["Les Cités obscures"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Cit%C3%A9s_obscures) stories that I haven't read yet * [Lewis Trondheim](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Trondheim) (I need to read all his works) ## Computer science / software * Jon Bentley, ["Programming Pearls"](http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Pearls-2nd-ACM-Press/dp/0201657880/) * Frederick P. Brooks Jr., ["The Mythical Man-Month, Anniversary Edition: Essays On Software Engineering"](https://www.amazon.com/Mythical-Man-Month-Anniversary-Software-Engineering-ebook/dp/B00B8USS14) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * Raymond Chen, ["The Old New Thing: Practical Development Throughout the Evolution of Windows"](https://www.amazon.com/Old-New-Thing-Development-Throughout-ebook/dp/B004YWCL5W) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * Thomas Cormen, ["Introduction to Algorithms"](http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Algorithms-Thomas-Cormen/dp/0072970545/) * Tom DeMarco, ["Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams"](https://www.amazon.com/Peopleware-Productive-Projects-Tom-DeMarco-ebook/dp/B00DY5A8X2) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * Eric Evans, ["Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software"](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0321125215/domainlanguag-20) (recommended by [@behaghel](https://twitter.com/behaghel)) * Erich Gamma, etc., ["Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software"](http://www.amazon.com/Design-Patterns-Object-Oriented-Addison-Wesley-Professional/dp/0201633612/) * Imran Ghory, ["Reinforcement learning in board games"](http://www.cs.bris.ac.uk/Publications/Papers/2000100.pdf) * Robert L. Glass, ["Facts and Fallacies of Software Engineering"](https://www.amazon.com/Facts-Fallacies-Software-Engineering-Robert-ebook/dp/B001TKD4RG) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * Andy Hertzfeld, ["Revolution in The Valley: The Insanely Great Story of How the Mac Was Made"](https://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Valley-Paperback-Insanely-Great-ebook/dp/B006BAW3N0) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * Steve Krug, ["Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability"](http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Me-Think-Usability/dp/0321344758) (recommended by [@behaghel](https://twitter.com/behaghel)?) * F. William Lawvere & Stephen H. Schanuel, ["Conceptual Mathematics: A First Introduction to Categories"](http://www.amazon.com/Conceptual-Mathematics-First-Introduction-Categories/dp/052171916X/) * Robert C. Martin, ["Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship"](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0132350882) * Steve McConnell, ["Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction"](http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Construction/dp/0735619670/) * Benjamin C. Pierce, ["Types and Programming Languages"](http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/tapl/) (recommended by [@icassina](https://twitter.com/icassina), quite "academic"/complex; see also [code in Scala](https://github.com/ilya-klyuchnikov/tapl-scala)) * Eric S. Raymond, ["The Cathedral & the Bazaar: Musings on Linux and Open Source by an Accidental Revolutionary"](https://www.amazon.com/Cathedral-Bazaar-Musings-Accidental-Revolutionary/dp/0596001088) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * David Rice, ["Geekonomics: The Real Cost of Insecure Software"](https://www.amazon.com/Geekonomics-Real-Cost-Insecure-Software-ebook/dp/B004UAALT6) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * Fabien Sanglard, ["Game Engine Black Book: Doom"](http://fabiensanglard.net/gebbdoom/index.html) (free ebook) * Harold Simmons, ["An Introduction to Category Theory"](http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Category-Theory-Harold-Simmons/dp/0521283043/) (also recommended by [@icassina](https://twitter.com/icassina)?) * Joel Spolsky, ["The Best Software Writing I"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Software-Writing-Introduced/dp/1590595009) (belonging to [@ebruchez](https://twitter.com/ebruchez)) * Steve Weber, ["The Success of Open Source"](https://www.amazon.com/Success-Open-Source-Steve-WEBER-ebook/dp/B002OSXS0U) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * Gerald Weinberg, ["The Psychology of Computer Programming: Silver Anniversary"](https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Computer-Programming-Silver-Anniversary-ebook/dp/B004R9QACC) (recommended by [@akosma](https://twitter.com/akosma)) * see also ["What is the single most influential book every programmer should read?"](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-single-most-influential-book-every-programmer-should-read) * see also ["What non-programming books should programmers read?"](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/38210/what-non-programming-books-should-programmers-read) ## Economics * Jacques Attali, ["La crise, et après ?"](http://www.amazon.fr/La-crise-apr%C3%A8s-Jacques-Attali/dp/2213643075) and [other essays](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Attali#Essais) (economics, finance, etc.) (was this recommended by [@behaghel](https://twitter.com/behaghel)?) * Ronald Findlay, ["Power and Plenty: Trade, War, and the World Economy in the Second Millennium (Princeton Economic History of the Western World)"](http://www.amazon.com/Power-Plenty-Millennium-Princeton-Economic-ebook/dp/B003SNJEPS/) (recommended by Christoph G.) * Milton Friedman & Rose Friedman, ["Free to Choose"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_to_Choose) (recommended by [@avernet](https://twitter.com/avernet)) * Thomas Piketty, ["Le Capital au XXIe siècle"](http://www.amazon.fr/Le-Capital-au-XXIe-si%C3%A8cle-ebook/dp/B00EYCOV3M/) (long book - 970 pages -, recommended by [@danielmiessler](https://twitter.com/danielmiessler)) * Nassim Nicholas Taleb, ["Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder"](https://www.amazon.com/Antifragile-Things-that-Gain-Disorder-ebook/dp/B009K6DKTS/) * Charles Wheelan, ["Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science"](https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Economics-Undressing-Science-Revised-ebook/dp/B003NX6TYC) (recommended by [@danielmiessler](https://twitter.com/danielmiessler)) ## Education * Martha C. Nussbaum, ["Cultivating Humanity: A Classical Defense of Reform in Liberal Education"](http://www.amazon.com/Cultivating-Humanity-Martha-C-Nussbaum-ebook/dp/B00J8CVOHY/) (mentioned by Carlo Strenger in "The Fear of Insignificance") ## Essays * Christopher Hitchens, ["Arguably: Essays by Christopher Hitchens"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arguably) * Tim Kreider, ["We Learn Nothing: Essays"](https://www.amazon.com/We-Learn-Nothing-Tim-Kreider/dp/1439198713) (recommended by [@tferriss](https://twitter.com/tferriss)) * Daniel Pennac, ["Comme un roman"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comme_un_roman) (already read, to read again) ## Fiction * Scott Adams, ["The Religion War"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Religion_War) * Isaac Asimov, ["Foundation"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_series) (series) (science fiction classic) * Gabriel Bá & Fábio Moon, ["Daytripper"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytripper_(DC_Comics)) (recommended by [@avernet](https://twitter.com/avernet/status/638501563384885249)) * René Barjavel, ["La Nuit des temps"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Nuit_des_temps) (recommended by [@behaghel](https://twitter.com/behaghel)) * René Barjavel, ["Le Grand Secret"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Grand_Secret_%28roman%29) (recommended by [@behaghel](https://twitter.com/behaghel)) * René Barjavel, ["Ravage"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravage_%28roman%29) (recommended by [@behaghel](https://twitter.com/behaghel)) * Emily Brontë, ["Wuthering Heights"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuthering_Heights) * S. Corinna Bille, ["La Fraise Noire"](https://encrypted.google.com/books/about/La_fraise_noire.html?id=0EUVAAAAMAAJ) (read a long time ago?) * Douglas Coupland, ["Microserfs"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microserfs) * Roald Dahl, short stories not included in ["The Collected Short Stories of Roald Dahl"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Collected_Short_Stories_of_Roald_Dahl) * Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ["Vol de Nuit"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vol_de_nuit), etc. * Friedrich Dürrenmatt, ["Der Tunnel"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tunnel_%28short_story%29) (short story, mentioned by [@icassina](https://twitter.com/icassina)) * Antoine Galland, ["Les Milles et Une Nuits"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mille_et_Une_Nuits) * Romain Gary, ["La Vie devant soi"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Vie_devant_soi) (recommended by a colleague) * William Gibson, ["Neuromancer"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromancer) (science fiction classic, recommended by [@JeromeCaillet](https://twitter.com/JeromeCaillet)) * Frank Herbert, ["Dune"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(franchise)) (series) (science fiction classic) * Franz Kafka, ["L'amérique"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Am%C3%A9rique) (read during the 90s) * Frank Kafka, ["Le château"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Ch%C3%A2teau) (read in 2001) * Franz Kafka, ["Le procès"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Proc%C3%A8s) (read in 2004) * Cormac McCarthy, ["The Road"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road) (saw the movie in 2010 and liked it) * Ursula K. Le Guin, ["The Found and the Lost: The Collected Novellas of Ursula K. Le Guin"](https://www.amazon.com/Found-Lost-Collected-Novellas-Ursula-ebook/dp/B01E4A32X8/) (I'm not sure where to start, are there better collections?) * Ursula K. Le Guin, ["The Dispossessed"](https://www.amazon.com/Dispossessed-Ambiguous-Utopia-Hainish-Cycle-ebook/dp/B000FC11GA/) (can it be read independently?) * Bill Moody, ["Sur les traces de Chet Baker"](http://www.amazon.fr/Sur-traces-Chet-Baker-enqu%C3%AAte/dp/2743612061) * Amélie Nothomb, ["Acide sulfurique"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acide_sulfurique_(roman)) (recommended by Miriam) * H. P. Lovecraft, ["The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft"](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11851522-the-complete-works-of-h-p-lovecraft) * Terry Pratchett, ["The Colour of Magic"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Colour_of_Magic) (recommended by François in 2015) * Terry Pratchett, ["The Dark Side of the Sun"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Side_of_the_Sun) (recommended by François?) * Terry Pratchett, ["Strata"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strata_%28novel%29) (recommended by François?) * Jean-Paul Sartre, ["Le mur"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Mur_%28Sartre%29) (read during the 90s?) * Dan Simmons, ["Hyperion"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperion_(Simmons_novel)) (science fiction classic, recommended by [@JeromeCaillet](https://twitter.com/JeromeCaillet)) * Neil Stephenson, ["Cryptonomicon"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptonomicon) (recommended by [@ebruchez](https://twitter.com/ebruchez)) * Charles Stross, ["Singularity Sky"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singularity_Sky) * Boris Vian, ["L'Arrache-cœur"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Arrache-c%C5%93ur) * Boris Vian, ["L'Équarrissage pour tous"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27%C3%89quarrissage_pour_tous) * Boris Vian, ["Et on tuera tous les affreux"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Et_on_tuera_tous_les_affreux) * Boris Vian, ["Le Goûter des généraux"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Go%C3%BBter_des_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9raux) * Boris Vian, ["L'Herbe rouge"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Herbe_rouge) * Boris Vian, ["J'irai cracher sur vos tombes"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%27irai_cracher_sur_vos_tombes) * Boris Vian, "Chansons", "Nouvelles", "Poèmes", "Textes sur le jazz" (sections from a Boris Vian collection I received as a gift) * Bernard Werber, ["Les fourmis"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Fourmis_(Werber)) * Bernard Werber, ["Nous les Dieux"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nous_les_dieux) ## Health * R. Barker Bausell, ["Snake Oil Science: The Truth about Complementary and Alternative Medicine"](http://www.amazon.com/Snake-Oil-Science-Complementary-Alternative/dp/0195383427) * Jean Brissonnet, ["Les pseudo-médecines : Un serment d'hypocrites"](http://www.amazon.fr/pseudo-m%C3%A9decines-Un-serment-dhypocrites/dp/2915312028/) * Edzard Ernst, ["Healing, Hype, or Harm?: A Critical Analysis of Complementary or Alternative Medicine"](http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Hype-Harm-Complementary-Alternative/dp/1845401182/) * Mikhail Tombak, ["Can We Live 150 Years?"](http://www.amazon.com/Can-Live-150-Years-Maintenance/dp/0972732845/) ## History / anthropology * Jared Diamond, ["Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collapse:_How_Societies_Choose_to_Fail_or_Succeed) (recommended by Franck?) * Jared Diamond, ["Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel) (recommended by Franck?) ## Humor * Pierre Desproges, ["Dictionnaire superflu à l'usage de l'élite et des biens nantis"](http://www.amazon.fr/Dictionnaire-superflu-lusage-l%C3%A9lite-nantis/dp/2020324369) (and others) ## Interviews * Maurice Chappaz, ["À-Dieu-Vat !"](https://encrypted.google.com/books/about/%C3%80_Dieu_vat.html?id=NJwbAQAAIAAJ) ## Meditation * Bhante Gunaratana, ["Mindfulness In Plain English"](http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf2/Mindfulness%20in%20Plain%20English%20Book%20Preview.pdf) * Alan Watts, ["Out of Your Mind: Essential Listening from the Alan Watts Audio Archives"](http://www.amazon.com/dp/1591791650) (audio book, recommended by [@avernet](https://twitter.com/avernet)) ## Misc * Florence Braunstein & Jean-François Pépin, ["La Culture générale pour les Nuls"](http://www.amazon.fr/Culture-g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rale-Pour-Nuls-%C3%A9dition/dp/2754016287) * Ben Schott, ["Schott's Quintessential Miscellany"](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schotts-Quintessential-Miscellany-Ben-Schott/dp/140881577X) * William Strunk & E.B. White, ["The Elements of Style"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elements_of_Style) * Eric Voutaz, ["Pincées d'espoir"](https://books.google.ch/books/about/Pinc%C3%A9es_d_espoir.html?id=kwUuGQAACAAJ&redir_esc=y) (received from Eric) ## Music * Frank Alkyer, ["The Miles Davis Reader"](https://encrypted.google.com/books/about/The_Miles_Davis_Reader.html?id=Dx2Ty5xVg04C) * Jan Swafford, ["Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music"](https://www.amazon.com/Language-Spirit-Introduction-Classical-Music/dp/0465097545/) (looks like a good introduction to classical music) ## Parenthood * Jennifer Senior, ["All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood"](http://www.amazon.com/All-Joy-No-Fun-Parenthood/dp/0062072242) ## Personal development * David Allen, ["Getting Things Done"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done) (already read - read again? - or read the [2015 version](http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0143126563/)) * David Allen, ["Making It All Work"](http://www.amazon.com/Making-All-Work-Winning-Business/dp/067001995X/) * Leo Babauta, ["The One Skill: How Mastering the Art of Letting Go Will Change Your Life"](http://zenhabits.net/lg/) (free book, mentioned by [@avernet](https://twitter.com/avernet)) * Leo Babauta, ["Zen To Done"](http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Done-Ultimate-Simple-Productivity-ebook/dp/B001970HQU/) * Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves, ["Emotional Intelligence 2.0"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_Intelligence_2.0) * Dale Carnegie, ["How To Win Friends and Influence People"](https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People-ebook/dp/B003WEAI4E/) (listed on [Hacker News](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14477851)) * Ray Dalio, ["Principles: Life and Work"](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1501124021/) (recommended on [@Coursera](https://twitter.com/coursera)) * Arvind Devalia, ["Get the Life You Love and Live It"](http://www.amazon.com/Get-Life-You-Love-Live/dp/1905613008/) * Tim Ferriss, ["Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers"](https://www.amazon.com/Tools-Titans-Billionaires-World-Class-Performers-ebook/dp/B01HSMRWNU/) (really interesting or not?) * Tim Ferriss, ["Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World"](https://www.amazon.com/Tribe-Mentors-Short-Advice-World-ebook/dp/B071KJ7PTB/) (really interesting or not?) * Jonathan Fields, ["Career Renegade: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love"](http://www.amazon.com/Career-Renegade-Great-Living-Doing/dp/0767927419/) * P.M. Forni, ["The Thinking Life: How to Thrive in the Age of Distraction"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Thinking-Life-Thrive-Distraction/dp/B008SMFIC2/) * Dan Harris, ["10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works"](https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works-A/dp/0062265423) (recommended by [@PeterAttiamd](https://twitter.com/PeterAttiamd)) * Gordon MacKenzie, ["Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace"](http://www.amazon.com/Orbiting-Giant-Hairball-Corporate-Surviving/dp/0670879835) * Eric Maisel, ["The Creativity Book: A Year's Worth of Inspiration and Guidance"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Creativity-Book-Inspiration-Guidance-ebook/dp/B001NJA8Y0) * Mark Manson, ["Models: Attract Women Through Honesty"](https://www.amazon.com/Models-Attract-Women-Through-Honesty-ebook/dp/B005EOTH24) (recommended by [@danielmiessler](https://twitter.com/danielmiessler)) * David McRaney, ["You Are Now Less Dumb: How to Conquer Mob Mentality, How to Buy Happiness, and All the Other Ways to Outsmart Yourself"](http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Now-Less-Dumb/dp/1592408796) * Becki Saltzman, ["Living Curiously: How to Use Curiosity to be Remarkable and Do Good Stuff"](https://www.amazon.com/Living-Curiously-Curiosity-Remarkable-English-ebook/dp/B01EKOGYCY/) (recommended by [@gschaer](https://twitter.com/gschaer)) * Eckhart Tolle, ["A New Earth"](http://www.amazon.com/New-Earth-Awakening-Purpose-Selection/dp/0452289963/) ## Philosophy * Simon Blackburn, ["Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think:_A_Compelling_Introduction_to_Philosophy) (Blackburn is an atheist; he doesn't agree with Harris on morality) * Russell Blackford & Damien Broderick, ["Intelligence Unbound: The Future of Uploaded and Machine Minds"](http://www.amazon.com/Intelligence-Unbound-Future-Uploaded-Machine/dp/1118736281/) (mentioned on [kurzweilai.net](http://www.kurzweilai.net/intelligence-unbound-the-future-of-uploaded-and-machine-minds)) * Jean Bricmont & Alan Sokal, ["Intellectual Impostures"](http://www.amazon.com/Intellectual-Impostures-Jean-Bricmont-ebook/dp/B005OA3I8C/) (recommended by Stephen Law - books about pseudoscience; see also the original French version, ["Impostures intellectuelles"](http://www.amazon.fr/Impostures-intellectuelles-Alan-Sokal-ebook/dp/B00QR1Q48S/)) * David Chalmers, ["The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conscious_Mind) (and others) (seems to have a very weird view on consciousness - and philosophical zombies - not necessarily interesting) * Brian Christian, ["The Most Human Human: What Talking with Computers Teaches Us About What It Means to Be Alive"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Most-Human-Talking-Computers-ebook/dp/B004FEG2S6) * Paul Davies, ["The Mind Of God"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mind_of_God) * Daniel Dennett, ["Freedom Evolves"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Evolves) (and others) (but I really don't agree with him on free will!) * Will Durant, ["The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the World's Greatest Philosophers"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Story-Philosophy-Opinions-Philosophers/dp/0671739166) * Michael S. A. Graziano, ["Consciousness and the Social Brain"](http://www.amazon.com/Consciousness-Social-Brain-Michael-Graziano/dp/0199928649) (summarized by [@SelfAwarePatter](https://twitter.com/SelfAwarePatter) on [his blog](http://selfawarepatterns.com/2013/12/30/consciousness-and-the-social-brain-a-review/)) * Douglas Richard Hofstadter, ["I Am a Strange Loop"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_a_Strange_Loop) * Bruce Hood, ["The Self Illusion: How the Social Brain Creates Identity"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Self-Illusion-Creates-Identity/dp/0199988781) (interviewed by [@SamHarrisOrg](https://twitter.com/SamHarrisOrg)) * Julian Jaynes, ["The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind"](https://www.amazon.com/Origin-Consciousness-Breakdown-Bicameral-Mind/dp/0618057072) * William MacAskill, ["Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference"](https://www.amazon.com/Doing-Good-Better-Effective-Difference-ebook/dp/B00XGX17IM) (interviewed by [@SamHarrisOrg](https://twitter.com/SamHarrisOrg)) * Bryan Magee, ["The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Philosophers-Introduction-Philosophy/dp/019289322X) (was Magee atheist?) * Jacques Monod, ["Le Hasard et la Nécessité. Essai sur la philosophie naturelle de la biologie moderne"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Hasard_et_la_N%C3%A9cessit%C3%A9) (Monod was Camus' friend; this book seems to be a good complement to ["The Selfish Gene"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Selfish_Gene)) * Thomas Nagel, ["The Last Word"](http://www.amazon.com/Last-Word-Thomas-Nagel/dp/0195149831/) (recommended by [@SamHarrisOrg](https://twitter.com/SamHarrisOrg)) * Robert Nozick, ["Philosophical Explanations"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophical_Explanations) * Richard Oerton, ["The Nonsense of Free Will: Facing Up to a False Belief"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Nonsense-Free-Will-Facing/dp/1780882874) (recommended by [@SamHarrisOrg](https://twitter.com/SamHarrisOrg)) * Michel Onfray, ["Contre-histoire de la philosophie"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contre-histoire_de_la_philosophie) (several volumes) * Donald Palmer, ["Looking at Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter"](http://www.amazon.com/Looking-At-Philosophy-Unbearable-Heaviness/dp/007803826X) (easy to read, comics, etc.) * Derek Parfit, ["Reasons and Persons"](http://www.amazon.com/Reasons-Persons-Derek-Parfit/dp/019824908X/) (recommended by [@SamHarrisOrg](https://twitter.com/SamHarrisOrg) and [@willmacaskill](https://twitter.com/willmacaskill)) * Roger Penrose, ["The Emperor's New Mind"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_New_Mind) * Roger Penrose, ["Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadows_of_the_Mind) (and others) * Massimo Pigliucci, ["Answers for Aristotle: How Science and Philosophy Can Lead Us to A More Meaningful Life"](http://www.amazon.com/Answers-Aristotle-Science-Philosophy-Meaningful/dp/0465021387) (Massimo Pigliucci is a philosopher fighting scientism among "New Atheists" such as Sam Harris, etc.) * Robert M. Pirsig, ["Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance) * Jacques Pitrat, ["Artificial Ethics: Moral Conscience, Awareness and Consciencousness"](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6468168-artificial-ethics) * W. V. Quine & J. S. Ullian, ["The Web of Belief"](http://www.amazon.com/The-Web-Belief-W-Quine/dp/0075536099) * Jean-François Revel & Matthieu Ricard, ["Le moine et le philosophe"](http://www.amazon.fr/moine-philosophe-Jean-Fran-ois-Revel-ebook/dp/B009HBIGCC/) (mentioned by Carlo Strenger in "The Fear of Insignificance") * Michael Sandel, ["Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice:_What%27s_the_Right_Thing_to_Do%3F) (recommended by Massimo Pigliucci in his negative review of ["The Moral Landscape"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moral_Landscape)) * Peter Singer, ["The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically"](https://www.amazon.com/Most-Good-You-Can-Effective-ebook/dp/B00VQPLZX4) * Nassim Nicholas Taleb, ["The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Swan_(2007_book)) * Theodore Schick & Lewis Vaughn, ["How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age"](http://www.amazon.com/How-Think-About-Weird-Things/dp/007353577X) (recommended by Peter Boghossian, author of "A Manual for Creating Atheists") ## Physics / cosmology * Bill Bryson, ["A Short History Of Nearly Everything"](http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything-ebook/dp/B0035OC7VI/) * Richard P. Feynman, ["QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter"](http://www.amazon.com/QED-Strange-Princeton-Science-Library/dp/0691125759/) (recommended on Quora) * Richard P. Feynman, ["What Do You Care What Other People Think?"](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Do_You_Care_What_Other_People_Think%3F) * Brian Greene, ["The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elegant_Universe) * Brian Greene, ["The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fabric_of_the_Cosmos) * Stephen Hawking, ["The Universe in a Nutshell"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Universe_in_a_Nutshell) * Michio Kaku, ["Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_Worlds_(book)) * Manjit Kumar, ["Quantum: Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality"](https://www.amazon.fr/Quantum-Einstein-Debate-Nature-Reality-ebook/dp/B002RI9ZRC) (recommended by dad) * David Lindley, ["Where Does The Weirdness Go?: Why Quantum Mechanics Is Strange, But Not As Strange As You Think"](http://www.amazon.com/Where-Does-The-Weirdness-Mechanics/dp/0465067867) (recommended on Quora) * Bruce Rosenblum & Fred Kuttner, ["Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness"](http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Enigma-Physics-Encounters-Consciousness/dp/019517559X) * Charles Seife, ["Decoding the Universe: How the New Science of Information Is Explaining Everything in the Cosmos, from Our Brains to Black Holes"](http://www.amazon.com/Decoding-Universe-Information-Explaining-Everything-ebook/dp/B000O76NFK/) * Max Tegmark, ["Our Mathematical Universe: My Quest for the Ultimate Nature of Reality"](http://www.amazon.com/Our-Mathematical-Universe-Ultimate-Reality-ebook/dp/B00DXKJ2DA/) (summarized by [@SelfAwarePatter](https://twitter.com/SelfAwarePatter) on [his blog](http://selfawarepatterns.com/2014/04/21/tegmarks-mathematical-universe-hypothesis/)) * that old book my grandparents gave me when I was 8-10 years old ## Psychology * Eric B. Baum, ["What Is Thought?"](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0262025485/) (recommended by [@r3mix](https://twitter.com/r3mix)) * Ed Diener, ["Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth"](https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Unlocking-Mysteries-Psychological-Wealth/dp/1405146613) (recommended on [@Coursera](https://twitter.com/coursera)) * Robert H. Frank, ["Passions Within Reason: The Strategic Role of the Emotions"](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393960226/) (recommended by [@verybadwizards](https://twitter.com/verybadwizards), not available as e-book as of Jan. 2017) * Winifred Gallagher, ["Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life"](http://www.amazon.com/Rapt-Attention-Focused-Winifred-Gallagher/dp/0143116908) * Daniel Goleman, ["Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition; Why It Can Matter More Than IQ"](http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Intelligence-Matter-More-Than/dp/055338371X) * Jonathan Haidt, ["The Happiness Hypothesis: Putting Ancient Wisdom to the Test of Modern Science"](http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Hypothesis-Putting-Ancient-Science-ebook/dp/B00YY05O7G/) (had a really good discussion with [@SamHarrisOrg](https://twitter.com/SamHarrisOrg) on his podcast) * Michael John Harris, ["The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We've Lost in a World of Constant Connection"](https://www.amazon.com/End-Absence-Reclaiming-Constant-Connection-ebook/dp/B00INIYHFU/) * Robert-Vincent Joule & Jean-Léon Beauvois, ["La soumission librement consentie"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soumission_librement_consentie) (read ["Petit traité de manipulation à l'usage des honnêtes gens"](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petit_trait%C3%A9_de_manipulation_%C3%A0_l%27usage_des_honn%C3%AAtes_gens) from them) * Daniel Kahneman, ["Thinking, Fast and Slow"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow) (recommended by [@mistertricker](https://twitter.com/mistertricker)) * Robert Levine, ["The Power of Persuasion: How We're Bought and Sold"](https://www.amazon.com/Power-Persuasion-Were-Bought-Sold-ebook/dp/B000QEOVG4/ref=mt_kindle) (recommended by [@willmacaskill](https://twitter.com/willmacaskill)) * Barry Schwartz, ["The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice) * Carol Tavris & Elliot Aronson, ["Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts"](https://www.amazon.com/Mistakes-Were-Made-But-Not/dp/0156033909) (recommended by [@PeterAttiamd](https://twitter.com/PeterAttiamd)) ## Science * Richard Dawkins, ["The Extended Phenotype"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Extended_Phenotype) (considered by Richard Dawkins himself as his best book) * Richard Dawkins, ["The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_of_Reality) * Jordan Ellenberg, ["How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Not_to_Be_Wrong) * Ben Goldacre, ["I Think You'll Find It's a Bit More Complicated Than That"](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Youll-Find-More-Complicated-ebook/dp/B00HATQA8K/) * Douglas Richard Hofstadter, ["Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6del,_Escher,_Bach) (recommended by [@aloiscochard](https://twitter.com/aloiscochard)) * Darrell Huff, ["How to Lie with Statistics"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Lie_with_Statistics) (recommended by [@behaghel](https://twitter.com/behaghel)) * Matt Ridley, ["The Evolution of Everything: How New Ideas Emerge"](https://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Everything-How-Ideas-Emerge/dp/0062296000) * Matt Ridley, ["The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature"](https://www.amazon.com/Red-Queen-Evolution-Human-Nature-ebook/dp/B006O4227U) (recommended by [@danielmiessler](https://twitter.com/danielmiessler)) ## Social sciences / sociology / politics * Noam Chomsky, ["Understanding Power: The Indispensible Chomsky"](https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Power-Indispensible-Chomsky-Noam/dp/1565847032/) (one of this best books, apparently) * Caroline Fourest, ["Le choc des préjugés : L'impasse des postures sécuritaires et victimaires"](http://www.amazon.fr/choc-pr%C3%A9jug%C3%A9s-Limpasse-s%C3%A9curitaires-victimaires/dp/2702135331/) (recommended by [@ArianeBeldi](https://twitter.com/ArianeBeldi)) * Normand Baillargeon, ["Petit cours d'autodéfense intellectuelle"](http://www.amazon.com/petit-dautod%C3%A9fense-intellectuelle-Normand-Baillargeon/dp/2895960445) * Thomas Friedman, ["The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Is_Flat) * Eric Hoffer, ["The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements"](https://www.amazon.com/True-Believer-Thoughts-Movements-Perennial-ebook/dp/B003TO5838) * A. des Isnards & T. Zuber, ["L'Open Space m'a tuer"](http://www.amazon.fr/LOpen-space-tuer-Alexandre-ISNARDS/dp/2266258095) * Johan Norberg, ["Progress: Ten Reasons to Look Forward to the Future"](https://www.amazon.com/Progress-Reasons-Look-Forward-Future-ebook/dp/B01C9O36UK) ## Switzerland * Maurice Chappaz, ["Portrait des Valaisans"](https://encrypted.google.com/books/about/Portrait_des_Valaisans_en_l%C3%A9gende_et_en.html?id=82MkAQAAIAAJ) * ?, "Forces Motrices de Mauvoisin S.A. : Nos 50 Ans" ## Technology * James Barrat, ["Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era"](http://www.amazon.com/Our-Final-Invention-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1250058783/) (recommended by [@SamHarrisOrg](https://twitter.com/SamHarrisOrg)) * Nick Bostrom, ["Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies"](http://www.amazon.com/Superintelligence-Dangers-Strategies-Nick-Bostrom-ebook/dp/B00LOOCGB2/) (recommended by [@SamHarrisOrg](https://twitter.com/SamHarrisOrg)) * Erik Brynjolfsson & Andrew McAfee, ["Race Against The Machine: How the Digital Revolution is Accelerating Innovation, Driving Productivity, and Irreversibly Transforming Employment and the Economy"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_Against_the_Machine) * Peter H. Diamandis & Steven Kotler, ["Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think"](http://www.amazon.com/Abundance-Future-Better-Than-Think-ebook/dp/B005FLOGMM) (recommended by Ray Kurzweil) * Douglas Rushkoff, ["Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus: How Growth Became the Enemy of Prosperity"](https://www.amazon.com/Throwing-Rocks-Google-Bus-Prosperity-ebook/dp/B00Z8VTKBQ) ## Travel * Patricia Schultz, ["1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List"](http://www.amazon.com/000-Places-See-Before-You/dp/0761104844) ## Vegetarianism * Aymeric Caron, ["Antispéciste: Réconcilier l'humain, l'animal, la nature"](http://www.amazon.fr/Antisp%C3%A9ciste-R%C3%A9concilier-lhumain-lanimal-FICTION-ebook/dp/B01DDOWFVG/) * Renan Larue, ["Le végétarisme et ses ennemis: Vingt-cinq siècles de débats"](http://www.amazon.fr/v-g-tarisme-ses-ennemis-Vingt-cinq-si-cles-ebook/dp/B00SBZ69TC/)