Best metaphysical & visionary fiction books according to redditors
We found 882 Reddit comments discussing the best metaphysical & visionary fiction books. We ranked the 219 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
^(Note: these are all books I've read and can recommend from experience.)
David Brin's Sundiver is a detective mystery. Likewise his Existence is a mystery about a recently discovered artifact, though its presentation with multiple perspectives lacks the singular detective tone of Sundiver. It's not as much of a mystery/thriller more of a mystery/adventure. It is also one of the overall best science fiction novels I've ever read; the writing is top notch, the characters superbly lifelike, the tone excellent, and the overall reading experience enjoyable and filled with a realistic optimism.
Gregory Benford's Artifact is an investigative mystery about a strange artifact. His Timescape is about a strange phenomenon.
Jack McDevitt's The Engines of God is an investigative mystery about a strange artifact.
Asimov's The End of Eternity is a classic mystery/thriller.
Alastair Reynolds' The Prefect and Chasm City are both standalone detective mysteries. His Revelation Space is similar, but does not have the same classic mystery tone.
Greg Bear's Queen of Angels and Slant are both standalone detective mysteries.
I seem to recall the Second Foundation (Foundation's Fear, Foundation and Chaos, Foundation's Triumph) trilogy by Greg Bear, Gregory Benford, and David Brin having some mystery aspects. I think one of them at least is a detective mystery, but I can't remember which right now.
Dan Simmons' Ilium/Olympos is a sort of detective mystery, but its tone is much more action/adventure despite the protagonist's undertakings to determine what in the world is going on.
Joan D. Vinge's Cat Trilogy (Psion, Catspaw, and Dreamfall) are detective mysteries.
Julian May's Perseus Spur is a detective mystery. It's pretty light-hearted and a lot of fun to read. Something you would pick up at an airport bookstore and not be at all disappointed with. I can't speak for the other two books in the trilogy, haven't read them yet. Just ordered them off Amazon for $4 a piece.
I could go on, but I think that should keep you busy for a while.
 
^(Edited to clarify the tone of some suggestions. Some are more traditional mystery/thriller, while others are more adventure/mystery, more alike to Indiana Jones than a noir detective.)
My bf and I have been together for about 8 months, and we talked and put a $30 limit on gifts for each other this time. To that end, my plan for this is:
I wasn't planning on getting a gift for his family, but I asked and he said that his parents probably will get me something small. :-/ I probably still won't get them anything store-bought really but I'm thinking I'll up my baking game & just plan to bring goodies to any situation in which I will encounter his parents for the next month. My other thought was that maybe I'd make some of these, but was thinking maybe that's a bit weird. (I'm a med/grad student so I don't think it's TOTALLY out of the blue?)
Of course there are others (non fiction: Krakauer, Hillenbrand, come to mind; deeper: Tim O'Brien, Saramago; more fantastic: Guy Kay, Herbert, etc. ) but, trying to stay within age range / contemporary, and gender neutral... that's where I started! if any of these seem like the right thread, let me know, and i can give you a bucket more.
That's because you are doing it wrong!
Buy The Alchemist™ to learn more.
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach.
Great book. One of those life changers. Short as hell, too. PDF available here. Give it a look.
Absolutely 100% The Alchemist!
If this doesn't teach you how to live your life to the fullest, I don't know what can, and it's a spectacular piece of travel literature as well!
My go-to recommendation is Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. Despite the fact that one of the main characters is Christ, it's actually not a religious book — I'm an atheist and I read this at least once a year. It's helped me deal with my perception of failure, and it also provided a foundation for me to figure out how to be happy in my life.
Outside of that, I recommend reading fiction for fun. I try to read a book or two a month, and I've really been much happier for it! I keep a long list of books I want to read eventually, and when I finish one I just find another that sounds interesting and I read it!
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Games-Play-Your-Head-Yourself/dp/0998379417/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=1BXRYBBJEZD
You may enjoy this sci-fi book:
http://www.amazon.com/Dispossessed-Hainish-Cycle-Ursula-Guin/dp/0061054887
I think it explores some of the ideas of left anarchism pretty compellingly.
Have you read "The Dispossed"?
http://www.amazon.com/Dispossessed-Ursula-K-Guin/dp/0061054887/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251442266&sr=8-1
I don't really know anything about anarchists, but what you describe sounds similar
Here are some quick recommendations from my list of favorites for those who are interested (I hope mods are OK with links to make looking easier, otherwise I'll happily remove them). These books engaged and inspired me and my imagination:
The Alchemist:
>The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho continues to change the lives of its readers forever. With more than two million copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has established itself as a modern classic, universally admired.
>Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found.
The Three Body Problem is a Chinese Science Fiction novel that has recently become popular in the West thanks to a good translation (I recommend reading my synopsis and not the Amazon one, to avoid spoilers):
>Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project looks for signals in space from alien civilizations. Meanwhile, in the present day, a physicist joins a grizzled detective to investigate why famous scientists are all committing suicide.
Fahrenheit 451:
>Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden.
The Art of Happiness (by the Dalai Lama):
>Nearly every time you see him, he's laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes everyone else around him feel like smiling. He's the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, a Nobel Prize winner, and a hugely sought-after speaker and statesman. Why is he so popular? Even after spending only a few minutes in his presence you can't help feeling happier.
Snow Crash:
>Hiro Protagonist delivers pizza for Uncle Enzo’s CosoNostra Pizza Inc., but in the Metaverse he’s a warrior prince. Plunging headlong into the enigma of a new computer virus that’s striking down hackers everywhere, he races along the neon-lit streets on a search-and-destroy mission for the shadowy virtual villain threatening to bring about infocalypse.
Sum: Tales from the Afterlives Ctrl-f '200 days'
So hopefully you read the Night Watch / Day Watch / Twilight Watch books? There's supposedly two more books out there in the series now, Last Watch and New Watch, which I haven't read.
The Markhat series by Frank Tuttle is brilliant fun.
9 Goblins is short but totally worth it. by T. A. Kingfisher
The Night Circus is a whimsical book full of beautiful things, tends to be a bit melancholy.
Most things by Elizabeth Bear are worth reading, as are most things by Connie Willis.
Charlie Stross' Laundry Files are excellent fun with the single, sole, sad exception of the second book which I hated but which other people loved.
The Enterprise of Death is - well. Um, let's just say the woodcut engraving on the cover? Not a metaphor in this book. Does not pull punches.I found it more horrific than a dozen other books labeled specifically as horror, but also more brilliant and more beautiful.
If you haven't got around to reading Ben Aaronovitch's stuff you're in for some good London fun. He's an excellent writer.
The Felix Castor series by Mike Carey is brilliant too.
A couple of really good SciFi books with great philosophical elements are The Dispossessed and The Lathe of Heaven, both by Ursula Le Guin. I'd definitely recommend them as a quick read (quick as in not involved in a long/ongoing series like several other suggestions).
Your heart speaks loud so you can hear it. (Check out The Alchemist.)
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
http://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Fable-About-Following-Dream/dp/0062502182
Fiction:
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin is a great start (good critique of anarchist philosophy).
The Red Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson actually cites Mondragon and discusses cooperative economics in detail.
After The Deluge (of Critical Mass fame) by Chris Carlsson is a novel about a post-capitalist San Francisco.
Non-fiction:
After Capitalism by Seymor Melman.
America Beyond Capitalism by Gar Alperovitz.
Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism by Richard Wolff.
Capitalism's Crisis Deepens: Essays on the Global Economic Meltdown by Richard Wolff.
After Capitalism by David Schweickart.
Against Capitalism by David Schweickart.
Capitalism or Worker Control by David Schweickart
Putting Democracy to Work by Frank T Adams.
Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice by Jessica Gordon Nembhard.
Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the Age of Capital by John Restakis.
Owning Our Future: The Emerging Ownership Revolution by Marjorie Kelly.
For All the People: Uncovering the Hidden History of Cooperation, Cooperative Movements, and Communalism in America by John Curl.
I've posted this before but I'll repost it here:
Now in terms of the question that you ask in the title - this is what I recommend:
Job Interview Prep
Junior Software Engineer Reading List
Read This First
Fundementals
Understanding Professional Software Environments
Mentality
History
Mid Level Software Engineer Reading List
Read This First
Fundementals
Software Design
Software Engineering Skill Sets
Databases
User Experience
Mentality
History
Specialist Skills
In spite of the fact that many of these won't apply to your specific job I still recommend reading them for the insight, they'll give you into programming language and technology design.
Vaguely reminiscent of Engines of God:
https://www.amazon.com/Engines-God-Jack-McDevitt/dp/0441002846
In which early exploration of nearby planetary systems by exoarchaeological teams reveals an entity of some kind that seems to target structures while leaving worlds wih only non-sentient life alone, and which may be headed toward our solar system.
Not a thriller but rather a neat series about the dangers and discoveries of interplanetary scientists. No assassins or other nonsense.
The Last Policeman trilogy is set in a pre-apocalyptic world. I think it'd fit in with what you're looking for.
The Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan?
The dilemma is that it's YA in that it follows teenagers and features coming of age themes and that Amazon markets it as such, but not YA in terms of complexity or pace (my review). If it doesn't fit, feel free to ignore me.
It's also free in the US for the next week (link).
back to the beginning
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Current Selection#####
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Past Selections#####
2014######
2013######
2012######
2011######
2010######
The Road Less Traveled
I think parents would find more useful information here, but I read it when I was 20(no kids) and found it pretty interesting.
The Alchemist
A quick read, I have felt more at ease and optimistic about life since I read it. Both actually have religious themes--didn't bother a godless man such as myself though.
Motivation to be more creative? Poke the Box by Seth Godin
I have quite a few business-related recommendations, but watching or reading Seth gets my brain going everytime.
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho maybe?
A quick browse of my bookshelf and the ones that jumped out at me... some nonfiction, some fiction... some light, some heavy...
The Culture of Contentment by John Galbraith
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Pimp by Iceberg Slim
The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris
Bloom County Babylon by Berkeley Breathed
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
Turned On: A Biography of Henry Rollins by James Parker
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Beyond that, my most prized book is my hardback Norton Anthology of English Lit (2nd vol - the 'modern' stuff).
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I'm def curling up with a good one when I hit the hay!
This
0-5: Owl Magnetic Page Markers. These are great for marking either the page you are reading in a book or various pages if you are keeping places in textbooks. Plus, they are super cute.
5-10: Vegetable Steamer because steamed vegetables are yummy!
10-20: The Alchemist-Paulo Coelho. This is a book that everyone, male or female, should read and would likely enjoy reading.
20-50: The Big Bang Theory-Season 5 Pre-Order. Everyone loves to laugh!
First part sounds like this book: Sum by David Eagleman
Easily in my top 5
I don't know if its little-known or not but one I read recently that was just delightful was Mr Penumbras 24 Hour Bookstore. It was one of those books you just picked up and wanted to read all the way through. Very enjoyable :)
There are so many great books! The Brontes' work, Jane Austen, War and Peace, everything by Dostoyevsky....Sometimes it takes a while to get into certain of the great books, but they always pay off.
Also, in case you haven't read them, check out David Mitchell's early work--Ghostwritten, Number9Dream, and Cloud Atlas all are brilliant.
Well, these are the choices she is making. It is a bit rude to leave a conversation for another task in most cases. See her selfishness, and don't make it yours.
It's one thing to be sensitive to the needs of another, but these require boundaries. In the story Illusions by Richard Bach (which I think is good reading, and easy besides) a vampire appears to the two main characters and claims he must suck blood or he will die. Of course the character with boundary issues is terrified because he wants to help everyone, but in this scene he learns some boundaries.
We have to be true to ourselves no matter what. If someone is not treating us right in major ways, we need to decide if we want to continue compromising ourselves or move on. If the compromises are minor and not breeches of integrity, then the choice is harder to make.
You can't change anyone else, only yourself.
Best to you.
Illusions - Richard Bach
A brilliant stand alone scifi novel about academics trying to get as much information out of an alien dig site as they can before the entire planet is destroyed due to governmental necessity.
I found the book in a used bookstore in a wet, drippy, stinky basement in the enlisted soldier's club on Ramstein air force base. I was never so happy to find a good book in which to escape in all my life.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Engines-God-Jack-McDevitt/dp/0441002846
This reminds me of one of the insights in The Celestine Prophecy:
>3. Subtle energy. There is an energy, previously undetected by science, that forms the basis of all things. Human perception of that energy starts with an increased awareness of beauty: people, animals, plants, ecosystems that have a high level of that energy appear particularly beautiful. By becoming aware of that energy, we become able to notice when and how we give and receive energy.
The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony is an amazing book about Greek mythology that no one seems ever to have heard of. I highly recommend.
I am 90% sure it was this one.https://www.amazon.com/Sum-Tales-Afterlives-David-Eagleman/dp/1491503629
http://www.amazon.com/The-Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332723261&sr=8-1
Now that you mention it, he is an amateur alchemist and physician. jk, but i should mention a [book] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416) that he recommends of minor relevance.
It's by Paulo Coehlo.
I doubt this is what you're looking for, but the first thing that came to my mind was The Alchemist.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344976866&sr=8-1&keywords=the+alchemist
I'm reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho right now. It has so many wise bits to it and and I am thoroughly enjoying it!
http://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239306118&sr=8-1
1.) Something that is grey.
Silver is grey, right? ;)
2.) Something reminiscent of rain.
When I think of rain I think of cuddling up with a good cup of coffee.
3.) Something food related that is unusual.
Coffee chocolate Not that weird... but pretty amazing.
4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!)
Bones for my dog because he hates being alone!
5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!
I haven't read this yet, but it's supposed to be amazing!
6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!
This book
7.) Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...)
meow.
8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it.
I don't think any nail polish is useful, but I love this color
9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?
Shawshank Redemption Come on, it's amazing. And sad. And Stephen King.
10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.
These would be particularly useful because I could keep my hair out of my face so I can see zombies better to kill them!
11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals.
skip for now
12.) One of those pesky Add-On items.
Apparently you can straighten your nose with this interesting little item Ohhhh, China.
13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why?
This book is the most expensive item on my list. Dream item? Nah. A kindle would be my dream item, but not feasible to have on list right now.
14.) Something bigger than a bread box.
This big enough?
15.) Something smaller than a golf ball.
This ring is itty bitty!
16.) Something that smells wonderful.
This air freshener. Mmmm
17.) A (SFW) toy.
Amazon lists this as a toy, so I'm going to have to go with that!
18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school.
These would be great to hang papers and reminders up on the fridge.
19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be.
I'm obsessed with books, so uh... most of my wish list. Or this bookmark that symbolizes all that is books.
20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand.
I'm sure you've seen this but come on! It's John Snuhhhh!
Bonus! Oregon Fruit
Fear cuts deeper thank swords! Thanks for the contest. =)
The Alchemist is something you might be interested in!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416
Listed below is a list of resources that help me get started with entrepreneurship, I recommend that you start listening to podcast first and then migrate to the books; if you can do both. Indulge!
Business Podcast-
http://www.tropicalmba.com
http://fourhourworkweek.com/blog/
http://www.entrepreneuronfire.com
https://www.stansberryradio.com/James-Altucher
http://www.smartpassiveincome.com
http://www.startupsfortherestofus.com
http://mixergy.com
http://freedomfastlane.com
Business books-
http://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Napoleon-Hill/dp/1453670114
http://www.amazon.com/The-50th-Law-50-Cent/dp/006177460X
http://www.amazon.com/The-4-Hour-Workweek-Anywhere-Expanded/dp/0307465357
http://www.amazon.com/The-Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416
http://www.amazon.com/Choose-Yourself-James-Altucher-ebook/dp/B00CO8D3G4
http://www.amazon.com/MONEY-Master-Game-Financial-Freedom-ebook/dp/B00MZAIU4G
http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Learning-Journey-Performance/dp/0743277465
Internet blogs/resources-
http://www.reddit.com
http://www.quora.com
https://growthhackers.com
http://www.tropicalmba.com
All of the sites listed above will give you an idea of how the game is played if you want to learn more in-depth I recommend https://www.udemy.com/courses/ . If you have any questions just hit me up! hope this helps or at least give you an idea.
GOOD LUCK!!!
you won't be dissappointed I promise.
If you do buy it, and are disappointed and can tell me exactly why, I will buy you a month of reddit gold.
if you buy it and are not disappointed I will upvote as many of your post and comments I possibly can.
Either way you win, buy it and love it!
The Alchemist
I believe it was one of the stories in Sum.
check this book out. its filled with awesomeness like that!
http://www.amazon.com/Sum-Forty-Afterlives-David-Eagleman/dp/0307377342
That was amazing: I really recommend a book called 'Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives' for more of this kind of thing. It's a tiny little book, with each chapter (two or three pages each) a description of a differently imagined afterlife (this ^^ would sit well in the book).
e.g. (pasted from Amazon)
> ... Is God actually the size of a bacterium, battling good and evil on the battlefield of surface proteins, and thus unaware of humans, who are merely the nutritional substrate?
great for /r/trees.. :)
[ http://www.amazon.com/Sum-Forty-Afterlives-David-Eagleman/dp/0307377342 ]
Sort of depends on the type of book you're looking for but here are some of my faves in no particular order: Illusions, Stalking the Wild Pendulum, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Dancing Wu Li Masters, The Holographic Universe, Center of the Cyclone, True Hallucinations, The Archaic Revival, Be Here Now.
How about some Richard Bach? Either Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah or The Bridge Across Forever: A Love Story I recommend the second one first because it is full of love and hope
I used to buy Illusions by Richard Bach for people. The subtitle is "The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah." Very good. Might go well with Ishmael, which others have mentioned.
In the same vein -- it could have the exact same subtitle, in fact -- is Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein. If he likes that you could follow it up with other late-career Heinlein, such as Job or Time Enough For Love. All are excellent. Others have mentioned Starship Troopers, and it is also excellent. But his earlier stuff is very adventure-oriented, while his later stuff probably has more potential for life-changing.
Lastly, if he's up for a little ancient philosophy that gives you a different way to look at life, try Marcus Aurelius, which is free on the internet. Tell him not to get too hung up on what goes on in book one. It's almost like an acknowledgements page, but there is some good stuff in there. But once book two gets rolling the life-changing stuff really begins. Tell him it's how to focus on what matters and let go of what doesn't. If people could learn that they'd definitely change their lives.
And good for him. I'm 53 and I started reading philosophy at 50. Learning new things activates the old brain cells and will keep him mentally sharp longer.
It's from this book.
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
Short read. Cheap book. Thought provoking. I read this right when I went to college and it really opened up my world.
so far down i doubt it will even get seen, but this is a book i thought would make an incredible movie since it came out
one of the most intriguing movies that could be made now that the technology exists to make it properly
It sounds like a story by Jack McDevitt The Engines of God
http://www.amazon.com/Engines-God-Jack-McDevitt/dp/0441002846
Oh man... I did not know this existed. I always thought Vall-henge was a nod to Engines of God
Have you read The Celestine Prophecy? https://www.amazon.com/Celestine-Prophecy-Adventure-James-Redfield/dp/0446671002
I've only ever skimmed it but your comment here reminded me of the premise of that philosophy. That coincidences are kinda like a universe wink at you to remind you that you are on the right path, or not.
Read the Celestine Prophecy!
This book changed my life.
Might I suggest an interesting book? The Celestine Prophecy by Carlos Castaneda
This book fueled my desire to cherish and learn from the people in our lives. Another good one everyone should read from time to time, Dale Carnegie's "How to win friends and influence people".
Have you read the Celestine Prophecy? This post (and my comments and those of others) bears too much relevance to this book.
It's not just a book.
It's like...the entire foundation of this subreddit, as I see it.
Please humor it, it's captivating and mind-blowing and cheap AF on amazon.
Peace again, fellow naut.
Has anyone here read The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield?
The Chrysalids, The Kraken Wakes, - John Wyndham
Timescape Gregory Benford
Hey folks, I'm not sure this counts but I'm a local author and blogger. You can read a review of my first book on Twin Cities Geek here: http://twincitiesgeek.com/2016/12/the-moonborn-is-a-minnesota-authors-moby-dick-space-adventure-debut/
​
And my second one (a collaboration with Sam Gorski of Corridor Digital) can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Games-Play-Your-Head-Yourself/dp/0998379417
It's usually not easy to see something in a new light so you're definitely not "dumb" just because you're having a hard time with it. It might also be that other people's advice isn't that great (mine included).
I tried looking for some books as I only knew one off the top of my head. And it's related to NDEs so I'm hesitant to share it (since you said you've still experienced some fear, despite reading seemingly positive and nice-sounding things in NDEs).
However, it seems that there are a lot of books that point to - amongst other things - studies on NDEs and various aspects of NDEs as evidence for life-after-death. And perhaps a more scientific/argumentative approach of some of those books will have a different effect on you (hopefully a more positive one) than simply reading NDE reports.
I also found a book that might be good and that seems to have nothing to do with NDEs. This book is written by a neurosurgeon and contains 40 imagined possibilities of life beyond death. Judging by the reviews it could be thought-provoking in a good way for you. Although I also want to say that some people found certain scenarios presented in the book to be disturbing to some extent. So, in the end, I'm not sure if it's good, but you can take a look at it and decide if you want to read it.
​
More scientific books on life-after-death (referring to NDEs):
1. Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences
2. Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience
​
Book with 40 imagine possibilities of life beyond death:
1. Sum: Tales from the Afterlives
​
I don't really have any other suggestions, but there are a lot of books out there on the topic of life-after-death - its just a matter of finding them.
While this isn't an exact match, it's the same claustrophobic feel. The Last Policeman. It's pre-apocolyptic, last days of civilization before an asteroid destroys the earth, and a detective still feels compelled to do his job.
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Policeman-Novel-Trilogy/dp/1594746745/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485658572&sr=8-1&keywords=Last+policeman
I would say the Last policeman because technically at the point he book takes place the police departments have crumbled due to an impending meteor strike of earth.
Other than that I'm useless for this answer
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Policeman-Novel-Trilogy/dp/1594746745
"The Last Policeman" by Ben Winters is a basic detective murder mystery, except a planet-killing asteroid is due in 6 months. A decent read, although not strictly scifi.
It's not complete, but the Library of America editions are beautiful, probably the best collections of his work on the market. Worth every penny. I cherish mine.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Philip-K-Dick-Collection/dp/1598530496/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1344569259&sr=8-4&keywords=philip+k+dick+library+of+america
http://www.amazon.com/Philip-K-Dick-Collection/dp/1598530496/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267839999&sr=8-3
They are available separately, of course, or at the library.
naïve. super by Erlend Roe. A nice book about a 25 year old who's finding life a bit meaningless so spends some time at his brothers apartment figuring things out.
# | Book | Links
---|----|----
1 | Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson | (Powells) (Amazon)
2 | Contact by Carl Sagan | (Powells) (Amazon)
3 | Bellwether by Connie Willis | (Powells) (Amazon)
4 | 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson | (Powells) (Amazon)
5 | The Dispossessed, Ursula K. Le Guin | (Powells) (Amazon)
6 | The Lifecycle of Software Objects by Ted Chiang | (Free)
7 | The Practice Effect by David Brin | (Powells) (Amazon)
8 | A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan | (Powells) (Amazon)
9 | The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell | (Powells) (Amazon)
10 | As She Climbed Across The Table by Jonathan Lethem | (Powells) (Amazon)
It's a fiction book, but "The Dispossessed" is a great read and deals with a libertarian socialist society. Seriously, read this book!
The above link is to Amazon, here's a link to a non-possessed copy ;D
Hi.
Look, I stole your catch phrase. XD
Here's why I would love a Kindle. Although I love reading physical books, I only have so much space to display them in my bedroom, so purchasing and borrowing e-books from my library has significantly helped me keep some control of the space in my room. I also download a ton of self published books on amazon to give those authors a chance. If I love the book, or even jus like it, I try to leave them good reviews. I want to publish my own work one day, and I would want somebody to do this for me.
My favorite e-book would have to be Erin Morgenstern's ["The Night Circus".] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Night-Circus-ebook/dp/B004J4WKTW/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1371314001&sr=8-1&keywords=The+night+circus)
This is a book I would love to reread over and over. It's about a unique Black and White circus that travels the world and shows up without any notice. The imagery is breathtakingly stunning, and the story brings you in unlike most books I have ever read. The magic in this book is real, and you feel as though you're in the Circus itself! The love story woven into this masterpiece is absolutely beautiful. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I can promise you this is a book you would absolutely love. I would love to own something this beautiful.
Also,as a user on here once said about this book, "It makes you homesick for places you've never been, and for places that don't even exist."
I keep hearing how amazing The Night Circus is, and would love to read it. And if you read it too, I'd have someone to squee about it with, if it really is that good!
Is it this Gray House?
https://www.amazon.com/Gray-House-Mariam-Petrosyan-ebook/dp/B01JZAKPF0
For anyone interested in The Gray House, the kindle version is on sale for 99 cents on US amazon today and it is part of kindle unlimited.
Amazon'd!
I love redditor book rec's on non-book threads. Thank you.
My list(s) are currently lacking. I have two on my ebooks list and just this one on my "normal" wish list.
Thanks for the contest.
The Alchemist -- Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist
http://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310882769&sr=8-1
I got your list right here:
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - great story about finding your way in life, destiny, etc. One of my personal favorites and a real life changer for me personally (read it when I was 14, very impressionable)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominigue Bauby - memoirs of a magazine editor who has a stroke and goes from being a hot shot playboy to being paralyzed. He loses all motor function and the whole book is written by him blinking out the letters. Despite it all he has a razor wit and such a positive outlook it really makes you think about your own life and what is important to appreciate.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig - kind of an interesting book that gives you a historical breakdown of philosophy all through a somewhat biographical story about a motorcycle trip with his son. Has some really insightful views on what is quality and what is the point of education. Highly recommend for anyone just starting college.
Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman by Richard P Feynman - Autobiography/memoir of one of the greatest minds to ever live. From learning how to pick locks while working on the manhattan project, experimenting with acid, and learning the bongos. Dr. Feynman has such a passion for life, science, and learning it's contagious. Seriously, just see how excited he gets about rubberbands.
The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
I think this is why i asked in the beginning what you're expecting. Especially if you're comparing yourself to others, you may be expecting more than is reality. Just because people say they have a relationship, doesn't mean it's anything more than their own feelings or imagination playing tricks on them. So, don't rely too heavily on 'mountaintop moments' or the right 'feeling' to come along.
Do you like to read? If so, I know an awesome book that goes through a man's experience as he begins to unlearn all he'd learned about what life is truly 'all about'. It's sharing a Taoist, or Buddhist thought of seeing the trip, the present moment, as what's important rather than the destination. A relationship with God looks much the same. If you focus on the feelings or the enlightened moments, you'll miss the whole experience of going through life with Him!
The book is called "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman It's kind of an autobiography of sorts.
If that doesn't tickle your fancy, another book that helped me quite a bit with my relationship with God was a rather popular one: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
Most people either love it or hate it, but perhaps the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho?
Two more life changing books to read:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416
http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Light-Manual-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0060527986/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373578304&sr=1-1&keywords=warrior+of+the+light
I have so many complicated emotions reading your post. I've been trying to think of what to write, and I don't know what.
I went to school to be a music teacher, and tried teaching several times, and never got positive feedback. I even took some graduate school classes. I'll never forget one of my instructors saying, "that was a great lesson, but I could never see you actually doing this..." Whatever sort of demeanor or manner teachers have, I don't have it. Education is a very passionate matter for me, so it's really tough to just let it go, but I don't know how else to handle it. I've never had a positive review, it feels really stressful to work in a classroom environment... I guess it's just not my thing. I feel really sad when I think about teaching. It sounds like you've been a lot more successful as a musician than I have been as a teacher, but maybe I can empathize somewhat; in the way you find the industry intimidating, and the work environment uninviting, I feel very similarly about the education industry. But your sentiment that it's not for me but I wish it was - that's exactly how I feel about teaching.
So I decided I want to be a singer/songwriter, as crazy as that sounds, because music is the only thing that means anything to me, and I know I'd regret pursuing anything else, even if it means taking a vow of poverty.
While I'm working toward that, though, I've been working at my aunt's law firm, and I have the luxury of a single family home, which is a great place for an acoustic musician to live. Tax breaks are in your favor (even though I don't actually think this is a good social policy...). If you're really serious about playing more, consider a cheap single family home on the fringes of town.
If it's any consolation about playing, I feel like I can pick up my horn and play with nearly my best tone quality, even if I haven't touched it in months. I really swear by Jim Thompson's Buzzing Book. You could at least do the exercises in your car with the mouthpiece or in a park with an ipod.
But life just takes us all kinds of places whether we expected to go there or not. And you can choose what you want to be a part of your life, and how much of your time you want that thing to take up. Perhaps not without sacrifices, it's certainly possible for you to play as much or as little as you like, and take it as seriously or not as you like.
Two books that come to mind are Centering by M.C. Richards and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
The Alchemist, could be a good read.
The Alchemist - by Paulo Coelo
From Amazon:
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world, and this tenth anniversary edition, with a new introduction from the author, will only increase that following. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.
http://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Fable-About-Following-Dream/dp/0062502182
I’m there as we speak. The stint between things happening can be so disheartening; leaving you with ample opportunities for doubting and succumbing to a sedentary lifestyle. But it’s just a transitional period. It is during those gaps that a lot of us give up. We put aside our dreams because they don’t happen when we’d prefer. I think that is part of the test. Are you willing to persevere? Are you willing to take it day to day? You have to be. Life doesn’t move as fast as our minds, so we have to adapt. We have to let ourselves fall into a pace. Each day take a step, no matter how small. Fill these voids with training and self proposed assignments. Delve further into your aspirations with each free moment.
I wanted to be in entertainment. I wanted to break into any part of the film/video industry right now. I fell victim to the expected instant gratification lifestyle that plagues western civilization. So I received a certification in broadcasting and got an internship. I worked it like a 9 to 5 paying job. After the better part of a year I was running out of money, homeless, and practically starving. I am proud to say that I was their number one go-to guy. I was the first person they called for anything. The president of the company even took the time to validate my efforts with a simple “you’re important to us here” once. I knew I was in. I asked to be put on the pay roll. “Just part time pay”, I said. No dice. I needed a college level education, not just a trade school obtained piece of paper. So I went to college. I got through one semester and fell dead broke. I left with good grades and got a job, got depressed, started drinking everyday. 4 years and 2 DUIs later, I hit bottom. I lost the dream. I ruined it. Now all I had to do was find a new job and reevaluate my piss poor existence. After 2 years, I was done with court. Writing had become my only outlet for that creative yearning that refused to leave my mind. I was pining away for my dreams to come back.
So I bit the bullet and went back to a community college to finish my associates. I’m still working on it today. But I’m almost done. I’ve had some things published in literary magazines and continue to work on some half-baked screen plays, you know, to keep up with that film maker dream I had. I’m even lucky enough to have people in California ready and waiting for me to finish school to come start an entry level position. Thinking back on it I don’t know how I made it through those times of uncertainty. I don’t know what I did, but I did it, even after giving up.
I suppose my point is this; it takes time. Your life is nothing more than opportunity amidst distraction. Those chances come and go in irregular intervals but when they arrive you have to be ready to snuff the anxiety, bite the bullet, and jump. They don’t come as often as you’d like, but they will. You’ve put yourself in the way of the train. Now you have to wait for it. When it comes barreling towards you, be sure to grab on. Just don’t be surprised when it stops at the next station leaving you wondering why things aren’t progressing. They will, so long as you don’t let go, slowly but surely.
This turned out to be a lot longer than I anticipated; sorry for that. Since you have the time I’ll recommend a book that touches on this a little more eloquently then I can. It’s called The Alchemist. It’s a short read, but holds a lot of good metaphors for intentional diligence over a lifetime. Good luck.
The Alchemist
The best motivational story, that isn't just motivation. It has multiple lessons in it. It's not a self-help.
This?
Yup, and this book beat you to it. I also suggest the shit out of it.
The story is called "Metamorphosis."
On Sum, from the Publisher's Weekly review:
>A clever little book by a neuroscientist translates lofty concepts of infinity and death into accessible human terms. What happens after we die? Eagleman wonders in each of these brief, evocative segments. Are we consigned to replay a lifetime's worth of accumulated acts, as he suggests in Sum, spending six days clipping your nails or six weeks waiting for a green light? Is heaven a bureaucracy, as in Reins, where God has lost control of the workload? Will we download our consciousnesses into a computer to live in a virtual world, as suggested in Great Expectations, where God exists after all and has gone through great trouble and expense to construct an afterlife for us? Or is God actually the size of a bacterium, battling good and evil on the battlefield of surface proteins, and thus unaware of humans, who are merely the nutritional substrate? Mostly, the author underscores in Will-'o-the-Wisp, humans desperately want to matter, and in afterlife search out the ripples left in our wake. Eagleman's turned out a well-executed and thought-provoking book.
This strip reminds me of "Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives" by David Eagleman.
Here's a synopsis..
Link
PS. This isn't a theistic book.
It's from this book.
sum by david eagleman
In the book "SUM", it talks about different theories of death. One of which is where you can live for as long as you want...then it goes on to explain how people set up "suicide dates", or hitman type things where they want to be killed a certain week, but with no knowledge of when its going to happen.
Very interesting read, short too.
http://www.amazon.com/Sum-Forty-Afterlives-David-Eagleman/dp/0307377342
Your quote reminds me of a great story from this book
I also recommend [Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman] (http://www.amazon.com/Sum-Forty-Afterlives-David-Eagleman/dp/0307377342?)
it's similarly eyeopening stuff
Okay so, YA books are my jam, and I'll get to those in a second. But if you want a fun summer read you'll have trouble putting down, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is great. It's a really fun read, especially for people who like books. It's got mystery, humor, and you'll stay up way too late reading to figure out what's going to happen next. It's not the deepest or most challenging book in the world, but it's real fun and well paced.
For YA, anything by Laurie Halse-Anderson is amazing. I've read Speak more times than any other book. Her book Catalyst is also really awesome. And I just finished her book Twisted a few days ago, and it was a great, quick read. (I actually finished it in one lazy day!)
Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why is heartbreaking. If you liked Fault in Our Stars, I'm sure you'll love this. It's a great concept (girl who kills herself gives a series of tapes to a boy to explain why she did it), and it's just superbly well written. Along the same lines, Markus Zusak's I am the Messenger is also a great high-concept, all-the-feels read.
If you like the more fantasy-esque YA books, the best series I've found is Clive Barker's Abarat series. If you end up getting these, make sure to get the hardcover versions. The writing is great itself, but what really makes the series is that each book has over 300 paintings and illustrations done by the author himself. It's a great epic, and the third book of five just came out last year. The series gets darker as it goes, which is great.
And, finally, not a YA novel, but Adam Rapp's The Metal Children is an awesome play about a guy who wrote a YA book that's the focus of a censorship argument in a small town. It's got some great points in it, and is a fast, fun read.
Hope this helps! Sorry if I used the word 'great' too much. :P
Oh! I love reading books!
I'm going to recommend two based on the books you've read:
I'm a big fan of books about cryptography, codes, etc. This one is fun, smart, and a good read. Based on your interests (Cryptonomicon, Millenium series, etc.) I think you'll really enjoy it.
This is the ultimate conspiracy book. The first 100 pages are hard to get through, but it's amazingly worth it.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel.
Disclaimer: I'm not trying to sell the book on behalf of anyone. Source: I took it out from the Library.
I also really loved A Suitable Boy. I think it's brilliant.
For a completely contrasting look at India, I recommend the white tiger by Aravind Adiga.
I think The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is absolutely brilliant, one of the best novels of the last decade.
White Teeth is another really wonderful book about multiculturalism and immigrant life that really stands out.
For a rip-roaring old-fashioned adventure yarn, you can't do better than
Sea of Poppies.
Finally for some superior storytelling and brilliant narrative experimentation try Cloud Atlas or Ghostwritten
Ghostwritten by David Mitchell. Link
It might be too early, but this one still shouldn't be forgotten. Like Cloud Atlas, it mingles SF concepts with intertextual literature. It is perhaps a more subtle work, but anyone who enjoyed this month's novel should definitely give it a go.
The Night Circus
Leviathan Wakes should be mentioned.
The Night Circus has gotten a lot of praise. I haven't read it yet, but I'm aware of it's growing fan base.
I'm sure 'The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making' is a great story but it's a pet peeve of mine to include Children and Young adult books in a 'best of' list. This is probably a result of seeing Harry Potter Book 4 win a Hugo award.
Supposedly, "the hype is justified." Check the reviews, guys! http://www.amazon.com/The-Night-Circus-Erin-Morgenstern/dp/0385534639
http://www.amazon.com/The-Night-Circus-Erin-Morgenstern/dp/0385534639 ???
Frank and Beans!
This book, even used would be absolutely amazing!
I think I would dance, sing and dress the theme of the book!
George, if you get a chance, can you think about adding Richard Bach's Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah to the reading list?
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0440204887/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Q1OxDbC1Y57RH
Reminds me of a scene in this book....
The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy
Autobiography of a Yogi
The Field,
The Intention Experiment, The Bond
Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
Illusions
Illusions - Richard Bach. A somewhat short read, but wonderful. If you liked Jonathan Livingston Seagull (same author), you'll love this book. It goes into much further depth discussing the philosophies of self-imposed mental limitations, and what it means to be self-actualized in the pursuit of happiness. But it does it all in a very light, anecdotal way that really makes you think. That's what I love about it. Definitely worth the $8 Amazon's charging for a brand new copy, and the used copies start at $3 including shipping.
I immediately thought of this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Illusions-The-Adventures-Reluctant-Messiah/dp/0440204887
"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof."
Illusions, my absolute favorite book.
You really need to read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Illusions-The-Adventures-Reluctant-Messiah/dp/0440204887 you'll seriously love it. Quite topical.
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by richard bach
amazon link
False: read the vampire metaphor.
Illusions by Richard Bach
Engines of God?
//edit: I'm not sure why I'm being downvoted, yes the alien monolith reference was meant to reference 2001: A Space Odyssey, but it's also the entire plot line behind the book I posted.
I’d highly recommend reading “The Celestine Prophecy” The Celestine Prophecy: An Adventure https://www.amazon.com/dp/0446671002/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_NjzRBb1S6DSCS
I read it in two days on a hammock in the
Boundary Waters, and not to sound cliche, but it was a very uplifting experience. A movie was made out of it, but trust me and read the book. I’ve read a lot and it’s easily in my top 5.
LOVE IT
(I was just going to leave a quick comment and then...well...theres a lot here haha)
This is exactly why I do what I do every single day. I teach 8th grade science in a title 1 NYC school. Priority for me is helping my students become the best version of them as I make the journey myself. I think that age group is ideal for teaching these concepts as they haven't figured out what type of people to be yet or how to get to be that type of people. My content is the tool I use to give them the perspective they need. I get to do genetics/evolution/physics/space/human impact...lets me cover everything about living well.
I happen to have started around 24 and now that I'm 26 and pretty confident in what I've learned and actually done, I share with as many people as I can. I'm lucky enough to teach with my best friend AND get the same 3 classes he does. We've been tag teaming our kids with personal growth materials and speeches and all sorts of things this year....and it's making a noticeable difference in them.
These are a few of my recent reads that I think carry important lessons and then a link to my actual webpage that I put together so I can share and help regular people. I'm in the process of building one dedicated to my students so they have somewhere to go for answers and encouragement as they age. I don't expose my students to these sources of information, I just absorb and integrate it into what I teach.
Good luck! And keep it up! We need more real teachers, it's not about memorizing facts it's about becoming human.
[The Celestine Prophecy: An Adventure] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0446671002/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_986UAbV1ES609)
[Ego Is the Enemy] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591847818/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.96UAbDFHSW0S)
[The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591846358/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_W-6UAbZ3NTY0A)
My own webpage [Earthling Healing] (https://sites.google.com/view/earthlinghealing/personal-growth?authuser=0)
I would suggest "Timescape" by Gregory Benford. link
Argh, thanks! I specifically checked this, and somehow the Letters part snuck in. Probably Timescape's fault.
Timescape won the Nebula and I recommend it too. It's hard SF if you can have such a thing with regard to time travel.
edit: I finished Courts of the Sun not too long ago and thought it was decent. I was dissapointed to come to the end only to find that it's supposed to be the first novel of a trilogy.
I want to suggest Roberto Calasso's The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony, not as source material, but as an interesting imagining of the myths. He weaves all the myths together to create one great myth cycle, a mythological panorama of Ancient Greek beliefs and thoughts.
I suggest [The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony] (https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Cadmus-Harmony-Roberto-Calasso/dp/0679733485)
My suggestion is Roberto Calasso's The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony. It's part essay and part re-telling, often to do with relationship networks, and the first few chapters in particular touch on the minotaur myth.
Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony is what you're looking for.
Say no more, fam
Top 10 Games You Can Play In Your Head, By Yourself: Second Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998379417/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_odktDbCKH5983
I found it on amazon.de
​
Link
One of my favorite books is Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman. It's 40 short stories, like 2-3 pages long with 40 possibilities of what happens after death. It is so incredibly creative and really makes you think! It's a super quick read, too. I honestly could not put it down.
I don't want to spoil it, but here is the Amazon page for it, which has some examples if you'd like to read them. ;) For example, "In one afterlife you may find that God is the size of a microbe and is unaware of your existence" or "In a different version of the afterlife you work as a background character in other people's dreams." And those aren't even the coolest ones! I 100000% recommend you get this book!
If I were to win, I would like
Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial. Thank you! And happy world book day!!!
Have you ever read the book Sum?
I think you're limiting your idea of what an afterlife could be. I'm not saying that an afterlife exists (I don't believe so but it goes without saying that I'm not always right) but to say that there is nothing interesting or possibly wonderful out of all the possibilities after we die is just too boring. Although I personally wouldn't care for it, don't you think some folks might find Valhalla pretty cool?
>I don't get why some people hold on to such an idea, why would anyone want that?
Yes you do. You're just avoiding the answer and you've actually stated it elsewhere. For most people who believe in an afterlife, it's "better" than this life. To every person that would mean something different.
This reminds me of a book that talked about different concepts like this one, more broadly about what constitutes/comes after death, called Sum: Tales from the Afterlives. There's one where people who've passed on are sent to a place where they are required to watch the lives of their descendants until their bloodline no longer continues. Interesting stuff.
this book
the last policeman, iirc.
See 'The Last Policeman' for a recent effort to describe the possible scenarios.
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Policeman-Novel-Trilogy/dp/1594746745
ctrl+f Phillip K. Dick =)
Check this out!
I've only read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep so far, which I really enjoyed. I'm holding off on buying anymore Dick until after the holidays because I've been trying to talk my wife into getting me this for Xmas.
Get someone to kick in an extra $20 and get the Philip K. Dick Boxed Set. And wear a helmet when you wear it.
Can I sub out the perfectly good video game for this?
https://www.amazon.com/Philip-K-Dick-Collection/dp/1598530496/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480945322&sr=8-1&keywords=philip+k+dick+collection
I have that collection by him and it's great. It includes most of his best novels including all the ones that /u/WISHTHELORDWOULDTAKE recommended.
"Naive. Super"
by Erland Loe
Super quick read about a man trying to find the meaning of life empirically.
http://www.amazon.com/Naive-Super-Erland-Loe/dp/1841956724
For me Erlend Loe's "Naive. Super." always works. It's about a guy who suddenly stops everything in his life because nothing seems to mean anything, and slowly tries to find some meaning again. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naive-Super-Erlend-Loe/dp/1841956724
"Naive. Super" by Erlend Loe. It's short, easy to read and really funny.
Naive. Super. by Erlend Loe. It's a little masterpiece, and did outwardly change my life. There have been other books that have altered my perceptions or made me think about things in a new way, but none were quite so prolific in affect.
Those owls are hilariously adorable! I love cross stitch.
Yeah I like some pretty cheesy paranormal and historical romance novels. I regret nothing.
Congrats! AND Happy early birthday!
I ain't birthed no babies
Imagining my son with this makes me feel super happy!
Happy Birfday
Book idea 1
Book idea 2
Book idea 3
Book idea 4
Late post, I know, but definitely grab The Gray House! It's modern fantasy, and it's not always categorized as YA but I think it fits.
If you're interested in reading with a group, I'm trying to get a book club going at /r/thegrayhouse starting mid-September.
Here are all the local Amazon links I could find:
amazon.co.uk
amazon.ca
amazon.com.au
amazon.in
amazon.com.mx
amazon.de
amazon.it
amazon.es
amazon.com.br
amazon.nl
amazon.co.jp
Beep bloop. I'm a bot to convert Amazon ebook links to local Amazon sites.
I currently look here: amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, amazon.com.au, amazon.in, amazon.com.mx, amazon.de, amazon.it, amazon.es, amazon.com.br, amazon.nl, amazon.co.jp, if you would like your local version of Amazon adding please contact my creator.
Okay, I'll look for it! That's pretty cool.
EDIT: Found it. Thanks again!
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist
here's an excerpt from one of it's reviews:
>More parable than novel, "The Alchemist" uses the story of young shepherd Santiago's search for his Personal Legend as an allegory for everyman's struggle to break from the comfortable confines of conformity and pursue his life dreams. Along the way, of course, our young everyman is beset by all manner of setbacks, testing his resolve and forcing him to become attuned to the Soul of the World in order to survive. By paying attention to the details in the world around him, which serve as omens guiding him towards his goal, young Santiago becomes an alchemist in his own right, spinning unfavorable circumstances into riches.
My entire point was that if knowing 2 languages was something that you actually wanted to accomplish, then it's something that you could do, since it's not something that's impossible nor even all that hard. All I was trying to do is give you some tough love as motivation.
Don't just sit there and wish for things, wishes are as worthless as prayers. Ultimately, you are where you choose to be, doing what you choose to be doing. I guarantee that you have enough time in your day somewhere that you could learn another language. It's not easy, but it's doable. Even if you only have 15 minutes. 15 minutes a day, every day, consistently will get you speaking another language. Will it be quick? No. Will you get to the same destination? Yes.
Pick a language that you're passionate about and that you actually want to learn and I will personally find resources for you for that language.
So, what's your excuse for not learning another language when it's something that you wish you could do?
And if you want to learn Dick, then I recommend this.