Dean McIntyre's Blog - Posts Tagged "philosophy"
Ten Books That Increased My Appreciation of Literature and Philosophy
1. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Find a version edited to make it easier for the modern reader to understand. Many other works reference Shakespeare or are based on Shakespeare, so reading his plays helps get more out of other books.
2. Bulfinch's Mythology
Sometimes it is split into two volumes. I recommend both volumes. Bulfinch's Mythology covers a lot of key Western fables and myths. It's worth supplementing with books on non-Western mythologies.
3. The Bible
I am recommending it because it is a work that was read and referenced by many authors, so reading it can help get more out of other books. I recommend the NKJV. It's easier to read than the King James Version but still keeps the flavor of the King James Version.
4. The Hero of a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.
Joseph Campbell was one of the first to explore comparative mythology.
5. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
The classic time travel story. It's not the first time travel story, but one of the most important early time travel stories involving a machine to travel in time.
6. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells
Not the first story dealing with invisibility, but one of the early ones that involved using science to become invisible and the psychological effects it had on the invisible person.
7. 1984 by George Orwell
Even more, thought-provoking in the Internet age than in 1948.
8. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Using farm animals to tell a story of how a rebellion to establish freedom for the animals degrades into a dictatorship with a privileged class.
9. Tao Te Ching by Laozi
A great book on Eastern philosophy. It's also very poetic, depending on the translation you get.
10. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
This book is on military strategy, but it is often applied to business strategy. and strategies relating to dealing with opponents or competition.
Find a version edited to make it easier for the modern reader to understand. Many other works reference Shakespeare or are based on Shakespeare, so reading his plays helps get more out of other books.
2. Bulfinch's Mythology
Sometimes it is split into two volumes. I recommend both volumes. Bulfinch's Mythology covers a lot of key Western fables and myths. It's worth supplementing with books on non-Western mythologies.
3. The Bible
I am recommending it because it is a work that was read and referenced by many authors, so reading it can help get more out of other books. I recommend the NKJV. It's easier to read than the King James Version but still keeps the flavor of the King James Version.
4. The Hero of a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.
Joseph Campbell was one of the first to explore comparative mythology.
5. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
The classic time travel story. It's not the first time travel story, but one of the most important early time travel stories involving a machine to travel in time.
6. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells
Not the first story dealing with invisibility, but one of the early ones that involved using science to become invisible and the psychological effects it had on the invisible person.
7. 1984 by George Orwell
Even more, thought-provoking in the Internet age than in 1948.
8. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Using farm animals to tell a story of how a rebellion to establish freedom for the animals degrades into a dictatorship with a privileged class.
9. Tao Te Ching by Laozi
A great book on Eastern philosophy. It's also very poetic, depending on the translation you get.
10. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
This book is on military strategy, but it is often applied to business strategy. and strategies relating to dealing with opponents or competition.
