Books That Can Change Your World View

The Trojan War, as experienced by a 20th century historian who is brought back from the dead in the distant future, and sent back to observe the battle and report to the gods (who are very real). And that's not even the weird part.

The saga of Ender Wiggin: called upon as a young child to save humanity; and millennia later, to explain it. There are several more books in this series, but in my opinion Speaker For The Dead is the best of them. But you have to read Ender's Game first.

The Redemption of Christopher Columbus. This book delves into the origins of slavery, the clash of civilizations, and the alternate destinies that can arise from a little tinkering with history.

Clavell's great talent was to show you the world through every character's eyes, even the ones who are only there for a page or two. Try King Rat or Tai-Pan to start with.

An excellent explanation of the nature of science, and why it is not just another belief system.

How order can arise spontaneously from complexity, and the inevitable rise of evolving systems.

A compelling analysis of why the colonization of Mars is practical, affordable, and essential. Zubrin presents a realistic plan in great detail, using currently understood technology. This study changed NASA's thinking and became the basis for entirely new planning for manned Mars missions.

This book explains the fundamental advantages of the digital world, and is quite readable by those without a technical background.

Quantum mechanics meets mystic philosophy, and all things are interconnected.

When I say, “This is what I mean,” what is the “I” that's doing the meaning? Consciousness is not an audience in the theater of the brain, where all the understanding and intending happens. Rather, it is a pandemonium of agents and recognizers that only seems coherent as a trick of scale.

A different take on consciousness. Did it arise very recently in human development (somewhere between The Iliad and The Odyssey)?

Why do we remember the past, and not the future? What is the relationship between time and entropy?

Historical and recent developments in cosmology, relativity, quantum mechanics, string theory, M-theory and branes. A challenging read for the layman, but worth the effort.

The seminal book on chaos theory.

The great historical trends of the last 13,000 years have all had their roots in geography, climate, and the development of food production. This book won a Pulitzer Prize.

Humans have been altering the environment and reshaping the world for a good deal longer than you might think.

How the drive toward centrally planned economies lays the foundation for totalitarianism. This book was written during World War II, and will reveal a lot that you didn't know about the rise of Naziism.

The rise of the state and the demise of the citizen.

An exhaustively researched analysis of what happened at the Branch Davidian compound, and why. Thoroughly annotated, so you can follow the references and validate the facts if you so desire. No matter what you know or think you know about this event, this book will enlighten and disturb you.

What is the actual experience of gun control in countries around the world, and what are the implications for America?

Written around 400 BC, and still considered one of the principal studies of strategy.

A very readable journey into both classical philosophy and the practical problems of everyday life. And a wonderfully twisted story, as well.

Something to think about when you find yourself cheering for “our side”.

Study the way of all professions; even swordsmanship.

The real issues involved in armed self defense, by someone uniquely qualified to understand them. This book, and others by the same author, can be obtained from LFI's Police Bookshelf.

Widely criticized by many who refused all offers to review his data, Lott's study challenges the conventional wisdom with 18 years of data from every county in the U.S., and authoritative statistical analysis. Read an interview with the author.

Not exactly a book, this short essay can be read on the Web at http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/Snyder/cowards.html. It's well worth the time.