Essential non-fiction
Longitude
A great account on the quest to determine longitude, the hardest scientific problem in the 1700s.
Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898
A Pulitzer prize winning book on the history of New York City.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
History of the world in a single book. What more could you want?
The Straight Dope
The world's smartest human being that has been fighting ignorance since 1973. If you’ve wondered about just about anything, this series is for you. Five books in all (this is the first). Also check out the site.
From Beirut to Jerusalem
In the wake of 9.11 I realized just how hopelessly clueless I was about the middle east. This book fills that gap. An even-handed account of the region written by reporter that was based in Beirut and Jerusalem.
Origin of Species
Yet another classic, that I somehow missed during my more formative years. A surprisingly readable book, and one that everyone should read.
The Prince
I had always heard the phrase “machiavellian”, and I figured it was time to actually go to the source instead of a dictionary. If you ever need a how-to manual on obtaining and maintaining power, this is your book.
Professor and the Madman
A great book about the Oxford English Dictionary. Now only if I could afford to have the OED in my house.
The Tipping Point
A great book on how an epidemic spreads, be it a disease or an idea. It explains how Paul Revere was able to effectively prepare revolutionary forces against the British. Hint, it is a little more than just him saying “The British are coming!”.
The Lexus and the Olive Tree
An excellent book on Globalization. This book introduces the theory that no two countries that have a McDonald's in their captial have ever gone to war. (Yugoslavia being the exception).
The Power Broker
A weighty book (literally and figuratively) on Robert Moses, one of the most powerful people in America. He reshaped New York as he saw fit. Impressive for an unelected official.
Emergence
A great (and unlike others on the topic) approachable book on the topic of complexity and emergence. It explores the idea that complex behavior can emerge out of stupid agents. Fascinating.
In the Beginning... Was the Command Line
Stephenson, a sci-fi writer, is a true geek as evidenced by this book. A book on operating systems—what they are, why they exist, and whether they should be free. Funny and readable.
