Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy (FSG Classics)

by Jostein Gaarder

Gives an excellent historical perspective on the development of philosophical thought in the western world. Written in such an accessible style that it makes philosophy so much easier to absorb and understand.

Release Date: 03/20/2007

Amazon Price: $8.80 (as of 10/12/2008)

Classic Feynman: All the Adventures of a Curious Character

by Richard P. Feynman

Richard P. Feynman is a renowned physicist (a Nobel prize winner, no less!), but this book is really about his view of his world. Humorous, touching, and above all, human. My friends who've read this book have really enjoyed it as well.

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 10/12/2008)

Childhood's End

by Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C. Clarke is my favourite scifi author. And this book, which speculates on how the human race may evolve, remain one of those that I return to again and again.

Release Date: 05/12/1987

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Speed of Dark

by Elizabeth Moon

The story is told from the perspective of an adult autistic individual. He is presented with the "opportunity" to have his autism "cured". But will the cure change the core of who he is?

Release Date: 06/28/2005

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

by Mark Haddon

Another story told from the perspective of an autistic individual, this time a child as he goes about solving the mystery of his neighbour's dead dog. The writer's achievement is in achieving a sympathetic character out of a boy who because of the way his brain works, finds much difficulty connecting emotionally.

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

The Lovely Bones

by Alice Sebold

A teenager narrates from the dead. This book reminds me of Juno (the movie) without the quirky humour. Probably because the narrator is a rather intelligent, matter-of-fact teenager. Also, as with Juno, I think the fantastic writing is what separates it from others of its kind.

Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)

The Inheritors

by William Golding

Gets into the mind of a Neanderthal in a period when they come into contact with human sapiens. I've read reviews of this book, and know that some hate it, but to me, it's absolutely riveting.

Amazon Price: $10.40 (as of 10/12/2008)

Rendezvous with Rama

by Arthur C. Clarke

This novel apparently won the Campbell, Hugo, Jupiter, and Nebula Awards. But my fascination with it is more with the wondrous, mysterious environment (a complex alien craft) that it is centred upon.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

Stranger in a Strange Land

by Robert A. Heinlein

The story is told from the point of view of a human being raised by Martians, which explains why I like it (see my list of books from unique points of views above)

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

Vurt

by Jeff Noon

A friend recommended this book to me, and it's fantastic. The writer has a background as a DJ, hence the fluid, almost poetic writing style, and the rather fantastic, hallucinatory vibe you get from this story.

Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 10/12/2008)

Ender's Game Boxed Set: Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon

by Orson Scott Card

You'll find complex themes related to war -- genetic experimentation, exploitation of children in war, genocide, etc. -- in this series of very entertaining space adventures.

Amazon Price: $15.62 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Mayor of Casterbridge (Penguin Classics)

by Thomas Hardy

The central thesis of this book, that character determines destiny, strikes a chord with me.

Amazon Price: $9.00 (as of 10/12/2008)

Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life

by Clay Aiken, Allison Glock

I'm a fan, so this book is personal to me. But even if I weren't a fan, I'd still really enjoy this book, which is much more honest, painful, and yet funny, that what you'd expect.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Black Album

by Hanif Kureishi

This story about a young Pakistani confronting issues of culture and religion is set in England, and thus reminds me of my own university days.

Amazon Price: $13.45 (as of 10/12/2008)

Foundation (Foundation Novels)

by Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov probably ignited my love for scifi. He's got a knack of writing rather clever little short stories. I reread some of them recently, and I still like them. The Foundation novels are fascinating for how it develop's Asimov's concept of psychohistory.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 10/12/2008)

Chaos: Making a New Science

by James Gleick

This is an exciting account (well, exciting to me, anyway), on the early developments in how science can start to explain why nature is so seemingly random, yet patterned.

Amazon Price: $13.60 (as of 10/12/2008)

The Alchemist

by Paulo Coelho

Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 10/12/2008)

Thick Face, Black Heart: The Warrior Philosophy for Conquering the Challenges of Business and Life

by Chin-Ning Chu

I like this one because the philosophy seems realistic to me.

Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 10/12/2008)