2006-11-09 04:38:25 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
"spies", by michael frayn
its very interesting and a bit of fun too
2006-11-09 04:47:32 · answer #1 · answered by **shell** 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cooo! Now where do I start? If you are at all musical there is the Penguin guide to Jazz on CD, it is written in a very elegant manner. The Oxford Histories are just so good, there is one on World Cinema, on Gardens and one on the Mind amongst others. If you are a political animal, there is always Noam Chomsky to devour, he goes against the grain but the truth shines out of his writing like a beacon. He does tend towards paranoia, but that is realpolitic for you.
Any sort of Open University book is always worth it, as are the Yale University books. On a lighter note, the "Dummies" books are always an informative read, As in "Intergalactic Time Travel for Dummies" " Hadron Collider Upgrading for Dummies" (They have not been written yet, but give it time)
If you are in any way religious, anything by Karen Armstrong will hit the spot. Very intelligent, lucid and readable. Well'ard! I could write on this for yonks, but there are only so many hours in the day. Happy reading.
2006-11-09 05:18:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The last few non-fiction books which I've read are:
The Fatal Shore (about the early history of Europeans in Australia)
The Twelve Caesars by Michael Grant (I was looking for Suetonius, but couldn't find a copy in my local library)
The Year Zero (about the Year Zero) - OK, but the Year 1000 was better.
A Complete History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (I have very little interest in science, but found this both enjoyable and rewarding)
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - which is really interesting and has defintely improved my drawing.
The Big Book of Tasteless Lists by Karl Shaw - my "Desert Island" choice. Includes lists of "Worst popes", "Worst Eurovision Entries", "People who literally died on stage", "Ugliest European Monarchs", "Xenophobic Names for Syphilis" - It's difficult to get hold of, (I think I've also seen the same collection published as the little book of bad taste) but it's absolutely brilliant in a totally useless way.
2006-11-09 22:24:43 · answer #3 · answered by Athene1710 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Devil in the White City - a non-fiction account of when the World Expo was in Chicago AND of the first American serial killer. Riveting stuff.
War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges is a great book...it helped me to understand why countries go to war.
Anything by the humorist, David Sedaris, is worth reading. I think it counts as non-fiction because most of it is in memoir format (he probably embellishes a bit, but not to the point of fictionalizing).
2006-11-12 12:19:51 · answer #4 · answered by Jen A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get past your predjudices and by a book by David Icke. I really recommend "I am me I am free" or "The truth will set you free"
No religious twaddle in sight as probably preconceived. All about how we are being brainwashed by the likes of Bush and Blair . . . etc. If you read the Da Vinci Code and want to read the real life version then buy one of the above. I DARE YOU
2006-11-09 06:04:37 · answer #5 · answered by cat1972_uk 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really enjoyed "No Logo" by Naomi Klein, although I did not expect to. Normally I prefer fiction, I need plot to pull me along, but I found this really gripping, couln't wait to read what else she would reveal.
I also enjoyed "The Culture of Complaint" by Robert Hughes, "The State We're In" by Will Hutton and anything by J K Galbraith.
2006-11-12 06:54:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want something meaty that will make you think then i suggest; Alice in Wonderland and the World Trade Centre Disaster By David Icke you can probably guess what it's about. Never the less it's a real eye opener.
2006-11-09 05:05:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm surprised no one said Freakanomics. I am a fiction fan, but I really enjoyed the book. I also like anything by the editors of the magazine mental_floss. I bought "Forbidden Knowledge" for my brother's birthday.
2006-11-09 12:55:40 · answer #8 · answered by Julie6962 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Marley & Me by John Grogan
I thought it was wonderful & even better, it seems to be on special offer in a lot of places at the moment.
It made me smile & also brought tears to my eyes ... it's a slice of John Grogan's home life, covering the years that he had his Labrador, Marley. Yes, it is probably quite sentimental but it is a great light read that leaves you feeling a little better about life.
2006-11-09 04:51:01 · answer #9 · answered by Solow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your are interested in Art 'How to paint' there are a number of versions for water colour, oil painting and acrylic.
If your interest in Napoleon. Stendhal 'Life of Napoleon'
If your interest is geography/ the environment how about Al Gore;s book 'An Inconvenient Truth'. Have just finished it and it is well written and researched.
2006-11-09 22:21:52 · answer #10 · answered by BUST TO UTOPIA 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Parkhurst tales by Norman Parker. True stories from inside the UK's hardest mans prison.
Its serious stories about incidents in the prison but there is a lot of humour too.
2006-11-10 06:07:55 · answer #11 · answered by Catwhiskers 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋