The Top 10 Fiction Books for Non-Fiction Addicts 280 Comments

Written by Tim Ferriss Topics: Mental Performance

The dunes that inspired Dune: Agate beach sand dunes. (Photo: Kevin McNeal)

For a mere 20 years or so, I refused to read fiction. Read something that someone just made up? I can do that myself, thanks.

That was the attitude at least.

My time of reckoning came when I needed to fix insomnia, and non-fiction business books before bed just compounded the problem. I began reading fiction to “turn off” and instead saw breakthroughs in creativity and quality of life as a side-effect.

Now, if people ask me, for instance, “Which books should I read on leadership?”, I might reply: “Dune and Ender’s Game.” I’ve come to look for practical solutions in both fiction and non-fiction.

For those of you who are stuck in the business or how-to sections, as I was for decades, I offer you 10 fiction books that might change how you view the world… and how you perform.

The Top 10

Listed in no particular order…

1. Zorba the Greek

I have recommended this outstanding book before. It pits the instinctive against the intellectual, the simpleton (brilliant at times) against the over-thinker. Finding myself with my head frequently stuck up my own ass, this book is a constant companion and reminder to step outside of my brain.

Zorba himself would have you believe that words are wasteful and books a frivolous use of time (better spent dancing barefoot on the beach), but Zorba the Greek is stuffed like a grape leaf full of life-altering wisdom. For those looking to release the inner wild man, live each day in passionate awe, and reconnect with nature, Zorba reminds us how to live fully, love lasciviously and appreciate a life in the present tense.

2. Musashi

I bought this book at Kinokuniya bookstore in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It is as thick as a Harry Potter book, probably thicker, but the pages are as thin as onion skin. It’s a serious tome. I never expected to finish it, and I tore through it in less than two weeks.

If you’re like me and enjoy a good Samurai story – the wandering ronin, epic battle scenes with lots of penetrating (wisdom), then you’ll love Eiji Yoshikawa’s Musashi. It’s sold more than 100 million copies in Japanese. Musashi’s transformation from talented yet conflicted young warrior to one of the greatest (perhaps the greatest) swordsman of all time teaches you about critical thinking, strategizing, and ultimately, that there is more to life than merely surviving. Musashi re-created himself from nothing and rose from destitution to legend.

Why not you?

3. Stranger in a Strange Land

Ever feel like you don’t quite fit in? Don’t want to follow society’s silly rules?

Then you can probably relate to human-born and Martian-raised Valentine Michael Smith. In this controversial 1960’s cult classic, Heinlein questions long held assumptions on religion, government, and sexuality (free Martian love for all!).

It’s also where the term “grok” originated.

4. Ender’s Game

At one point, this was the only book listed on Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page. If it’s good enough to be the sole selection of the founder of Facebook, maybe there’s something to it.

The plot: In anticipation of another attack from a hostile alien race, the search for a brilliant military strategist has led to Ender Wiggin.

In space combat school, Ender stands out, demonstrating exceptional leadership and unconventional strategy. But it is lonely at the top for Ender, as he struggles with relentless pressure from his instructors. Through Ender’s journey, you’ll learn how to capitalize on your strengths and those of your teammates, as well as exploit your adversaries’ weaknesses. Ender is a futuristic Level 5 Leader we can all learn from.

Teaser: Drop kicks in zero gravity are the bomb. Trust me.

5. Dune

To check the power of a fast-rising duke, a space emperor executes a convoluted plan to gain control of the all-important planet that has a monopoly of The Spice (a super drug-cum-jet fuel). But wait! The duke’s son is actually the messianic result of a breeding program run by space witches. Oh, and the Mentats? The coolest. If that all sounds like gibberish, don’t despair. Dune presents, despite my synopsis, perhaps the most incredibly detailed and oddly believable fictional landscape I’ve ever encountered.

Also, to add to any confusion: walk without rhythm, and you won’t attract the worm.

Completely unnecessary YouTube reference — Christopher Walken has rhythm:

6. High Fidelity

After his girlfriend leaves him for another man, Rob embarks on a journey of self-discovery and evaluation by contacting ex-girlfriends to see what went wrong in each relationship. High Fidelity teaches us that eventually we all have to grow up, get past adolescent self-importance, and take responsibility for our own lives.

Who says I only like books with killing, aliens, and Greeks? I’m a sensitive guy .

7. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Raised in a culture where men are powerful, sexual, and dominant, the Klingon-speaking, D&D-playing chubby boy thinks he’ll never find true love or physical affection. Oscar struggles as a young immigrant from the Dominican Republic living with his older sister and mother in Paterson, New Jersey. A fun read with lots of geek culture, great history, and oh, it also won the Pulitzer Prize.

May the half-elves inherit the earth. Grey or Drow? Tough choice.

8. Fahrenheit 451

This classic work on state censorship remains as relevant in today’s world of digital delights as it was when published in the black-and-white world of 1953.

In a futuristic American city, firefighter Guy Montag does not put out blazes; instead, he extinguishes knowledge and promotes ignorance by conducting state decreed book burnings. After an elderly woman chooses a fiery death with her books rather than a life without the written word, he begins questioning not only his profession, but also a society that allows itself to be lulled into complacency by constant exposure to state-controlled, mind-numbing television shows.

If you wonder why some people take censorship so seriously, this book will give you the answer. It’s also a fantastically inspiring story of a one-versus-a-million fight that’s worth fighting. Who knows when your turn will come?

9. A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

If Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Star Wars had a love-child, it would read something like this.

This colorful novel by Douglas Adams begins with Arthur Dent narrowly escaping the Earth’s destruction as it is bulldozed to make room for a hyperspace bypass. Beyond the bizarre characters and plot twists, Adams proves that despite how bleak ones situation might be, there’s always something to laugh about. Adam’s Total Perspective Vortex is also considered to be a great Zen teaching tool, so if you’re looking for the meaning of life, you might not be far from the answer here.

If you need humor to make the jump to fiction, this might be your gateway drug.

10. Motherless Brooklyn

My mother and brother are, thankfully, book snobs. I mean this in the best way possible. Books take a lot of time, after all, and life is short. So when both my mom and broha simultaneously insisted that I read this book, I had to investigate.

A thriller about a detective with Tourette Syndrome? Sign me up. It’s a hysterical romp through high-stakes problem-solving and old-fashioned crime fighting, all told through deliciously mind-tickling prose. One of my absolute favorites.

Zen school and cop tapping? Check and check.

###

Which one fiction book would you choose to convert a non-fiction devotee to the world of imagination?

Posted on February 24th, 2012

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280 Comments

TrueGabe — February 24th, 2012, 2:40 am

This is awesome!
This solves two problems for me!

1. I need some new literature to sink my teeth into for 2012

2. I *rarely* read fiction! I could probably count on one hand how much fiction I’ve read – so I’m really happy to have some great suggestions from one of my favorite non-fiction authors!

So Tim…….. do you have a novel you’ll be springing on us at some point in the future??

Could be cool!

Gabrielle
@TrueGabe
Reply
- John Young — March 17th, 2012, 5:57 am
  
  For people who like things Japanese, with a dash of time travel and Studio Ghibli, try The Potter’s Notebook by Frank Giovinazzi.
  
  It’s a long book, more manageable on the Kindle, and involves a pair of brothers who have to work their way through the challenges and intrigues of a 17th century Japanese pottery making village.
  Reply
yaron — February 24th, 2012, 2:43 am

as a general rule of thumb science fiction tends to be more of a disguised observation about society then made up plots
for example “war of the worlds” was a description of what imperial colonization must have looked like to the invaded natives of the time
Fantasy fiction is more “excitement” oriented and has less subtext
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- destry levi griffith — February 24th, 2012, 3:46 am
  
  I felt a chill of realization reading this comment. Thank you for helping this non-fiction addict see why i should give sci-fi a try. Ps: if u want to give a mystery thriller a try, Steven King called Lee Child’s mass-market tough guy/thinking man Jack Reacher “The coolest continuing series character currently on offer” (quote from memory).
  Reply
  - Pangborn — April 25th, 2012, 1:13 pm
    
    Yes…the Reacher personna and dialogue style is highly addictive.
    Reply
  - trivium pursuit — May 26th, 2012, 5:28 am
    
    We are HOOKED on the Lee child Jack Reacher series. He’s very much more minimalist than we are; it’s good food for thought. Also, Ender’s Game is simply extraodinary, as are most things by Robert Heinlein.
    Reply
Tim Bailey — February 24th, 2012, 2:44 am

The walked things is funny!
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- Tim Bailey — February 24th, 2012, 2:45 am
  
  The Walken thing is funny! (apologies)
  Reply
Monty — February 24th, 2012, 2:46 am

Already read half the list. So I’m in good company. I would maybe have added a Salinger book but this is your list. It may be a good exercise for folks to go through their own top ten in the comments and we can compare notes.
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Davy — February 24th, 2012, 2:46 am

I’d like to recommend Siddhartha by Herman Hesse to anyone who enjoys reading about personal/spiritual journey and enlightenment! First time posting on the Ferriss blog! Hello everyone!
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- James Bumanglag — February 26th, 2012, 7:23 pm
  
  Great list. I have a few of these just sitting on my “to read” pile. Need to get on that!
  Reply
- Dave J — March 1st, 2012, 9:32 am
  
  Daves/Davys must think alike. My choice would be another book by Hesse, Narcissus and Goldmund. It’s a story of the tension – and reconciliation – between art and science. The world needs the best of both.
  Reply
- Iain — March 4th, 2012, 6:21 pm
  
  Siddhartha was good, although I liked Steppenwolfe better. It could just be the different stages of life. At the time I read it I was feeling more stuck in a rut than on the way to something new.
  Reply
- Kawika — April 8th, 2012, 7:23 pm
  
  Excellent suggestion!!!! I just read Siddhartha and it led me to change the way I think about many aspects of life. Very refreshing read!!!
  Reply
Tommy Bronsted — February 24th, 2012, 2:47 am

Hey!

I absolutely LOVED Zorba the Greek- I read it earlier this year when my friend told me that it reminded him of me.

Of all the books I’ve read, that has to be the best one- It sits on my desk and I have a couple go-to pages when I need inspiration. I especially like it when Zorba talks about cutting off his finger because it got in the way! So much passion for so many things…

Everybody can learn some important lessons from that book.

Plus- it’s fun as hell to read.
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drewblaisdell — February 24th, 2012, 2:47 am

Good list! I prefer non-fiction, though I urge others like me to check out famous semi-autobiographical fiction, like that of Hemingway.
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Andrzej — February 24th, 2012, 2:50 am

Thanks for sharing, quite a mixed list and looks interesting.

Looking forward to your Top 10 for Non Fiction, though – the choice there is much harder…
Reply
Monty — February 24th, 2012, 2:50 am

And… not a single comic book? C’Mon, Tim!
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Davy — February 24th, 2012, 2:52 am

Though this doesn’t directly relate to this post, I’m presently using The Four Hour Body for my body transformation. I’ve never been so consistently eager about eating well and excercising! I must confess to sleeping at odd hours though.
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Henry — February 24th, 2012, 2:54 am

Great list Tim!

I don’t see parables or fables like The Alchemist in the list, do you count them as fiction reads?

Henry
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- Jeff — February 24th, 2012, 3:03 am
  
  I second The Alchemist!
  Reply
neil keleher — February 24th, 2012, 2:54 am

the Algebraist by Iain M Banks. Or maybe Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.
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Johnny Lambie — February 24th, 2012, 2:55 am

For laughter, pathos and the human condition in all it’s extraordinary variety, “A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole
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Kane Spooner — February 24th, 2012, 2:55 am

Anything by Tom Robbins.
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- Davy — February 24th, 2012, 2:57 am
  
  Agreed. ATGW FTW.
  Reply
Tim — February 24th, 2012, 2:55 am

Atlas Shrugged was an amazing, unexpectedly page-turning 1200 page experience. Both the adventure and plot twists, as well as the chilling message.
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- Tim Slechta — March 3rd, 2012, 10:24 am
  
  I second Atlas Shrugged! My mentor gave it to me to read last summer, very awesome, great character development with many underlying parallels to capitalism and entrepreneurship. Plus the mystery/suspense was fantastic too
  Reply
Breanden — February 24th, 2012, 2:58 am

This is an awesome list. Thank you!

If you haven’t already, I would suggest looking at other works of Orson Scott Card such as Ender’s Shadow or Shadow of the Hegemon, which are about the same ordeal, but from another character’s perspective and then the same character’s stunning life after the war.

The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, is also an amazing book about friendship, betrayal, and revenge.

Pirate Latitudes, posthumously published by Michael Crichton, is also very entertaining–something like Pirates of the Caribbean mixed with the Count of Monte Cristo.
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Jason Ford — February 24th, 2012, 2:58 am

Hell yes! I’m a non-fiction addict and of the dozen fictional books I’ve read two are on this list. No idea what this means in the grand scheme of life, but I somehow feel more badass.

P.S. Met Travis Kalanick today at Stanford. That dude has skills. Uber is killing it.
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Maxim — February 24th, 2012, 3:00 am

That’s a great list, thanks! Thumbs up for Guide to the Galaxy, it is indeed very funny!

I would also recommend The Golden Calf by Ilya Ilf & Evgeny Petrov which is a Russian classic novel about a con man which is hilarious at times but in addition can also teach a couple of things about leadership and meaning of life.
Anyway, I thought that’s not a recommendation you come across very often, so why not to give it a try? However, I’m not sure whether much is lost in translation to English.
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Maxim — February 24th, 2012, 3:02 am

Here is the Amazon link if you’re interested: http://amzn.to/xgFRIs
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- Monty — February 24th, 2012, 3:15 am
  
  Thanks, Maxim, I’ll check that out.
  Reply
Sytze — February 24th, 2012, 3:05 am

OW MEN…

Nice serie, will have to delay the 4hourWW re-read again by 10 books right now Tim

However I personally loved:

1. Shamtaram, a fiction book based on true story, but everything is in India and described so fantastic, it feels like a non-fiction book for everyone from ‘the west’ !!

2. Game of Thrones: the HBO serie is based on a serious great series of books guys!

3. Heroes of Ages (written by Brandon Sanderson): really easy reading, fantasy world with kingdoms, superpowers, heroes and myths. Maybe not the best one ever, but reads like a train, so great for holidays

Enjoy, hasta la vista baby!
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- sunanda — May 25th, 2012, 1:20 am
  
  Its ”Shantaram”.
  Reply
Rado1 — February 24th, 2012, 3:06 am

I’m a huge sci-fi fan. But people consider that sci-fi equals laser guns and starships. My favorite answer is “I’m reading about psychology, sociology and s.o.”. Dune or Ender’s game are great examples. Or anything from Philip K. Dick (I mean books not action movie versions)
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Benjamin — February 24th, 2012, 3:07 am

Between this post and one Julien Smith wrote a few days ago I’m not sure how I’m going to have any time for anything BUT reading over the next few months.

And I love it. I’m looking forward to going through some of these.
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pauline — February 24th, 2012, 3:08 am

chris walken LMAO
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Louis Thompson — February 24th, 2012, 3:17 am

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have to be in the top ten. (obviously they are quite factual thought ;o))

Louis
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James — February 24th, 2012, 3:18 am

Thank you, Tim. It’s a nice list, good stuff. Would also recommend Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan. It’s a powerful story published in 1994 of a woman’s spiritual odyssey through outback Australia.
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reader — February 24th, 2012, 3:19 am

Super sad true love story. .it is important.
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Greg — February 24th, 2012, 3:20 am

Hi Tim,

After your recommendation I ended up reading Zorba the Greek, while staying on a fantastic beach in Malaysia (Pulau Perhentian), and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I left it behind so someone else could read it…

Have you ever read Brave New World?

Cheers
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Aron — February 24th, 2012, 3:21 am

Mobby Dick, Mellville: you will never learn so detailed about whale hunting, than in this book and get a feeling for the 18th and 19th century

Khaled Hosseini A thousand splendid suns want to learn more about afghan culture and history and about the role of the women combined with a great sad emotional story ? this book is a must have

When Nietsche wept: Great stoy by Erwin D. Yalom combined with Philsophy and Psychoanalysis and The Schopenhauer Cure Gives you great insights in Group Therapy, Philsophy and combined with an emotional great story ( I found the Schopenhauer cure even better)

All Quiet on the Western by Erich Maria Remarque: it chronicles the war life of a German soldier, and shows the dirt the war and you get a good and depressing feeling for the horrors of world war 1

And an other greeting from the last century Robert Antwon Wilson, Masks of the Illuminati : Before you but Den Brown on the List you should first consider Robert Anton Wilson. This is one of his more “conservative” books which covers peotry, quantum physics, psychology and occult spooky stuff combined with a gread story and a good portion of conspiracy theories. And all in a fiction novel.

Greetings from Vienna,
Aron
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Kay — February 24th, 2012, 3:25 am

I love the Ender series, one of my all time favourites. Would also recommend Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series – well written, dark and unputdownable. Wish he had lived to write more.
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Adam Seawright — February 24th, 2012, 3:33 am

Great list Tim; I just finished reading Ender’s Game and Hitchikers Guide recently, absolutely loved both of these books. I’m in the middle of Stranger in a Strange Land and it is an interesting story!

Of all the authors I’ve read though, I’ve found Neal Asher to be absolutely unbeatable for keeping me interested, especially in his book “The Skinner”. It was hard to put down and did a great job of removing me from reality for a while.

I’ve also just noticed Tim that your Copywright in the footer of your site is for 2010! You might want to look into inserting a code to make it automatic? Something like this should do the trick:

Adam.
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- Adam Seawright — February 24th, 2012, 3:37 am
  
  Hmm, code for the automatic copyright didn’t work; I’ve tweeted it to you instead.
  Reply
destry levi griffith — February 24th, 2012, 3:34 am

Technically fiction even though it’s a teaching novel, MY ISHMAEL by Daniel Quinn not only explains how to get out of our culture’s perceptual matrix, but demonstrates its point through a metanarrative that was clearly the inspiration for both the films HAPPY FEET and INCEPTION.

Selected by a panell including Ray Bradbury*, Quinn’s breakout novel ISHMAEL — which shares an uncanny number of basic plot-points with THE MATRIX** — won the Turner Tomorrow Fellowship: a half-million dollars that representing the largest single award ever given a work of fiction.

Since Tim asked, I personally highly recommend both (and am very grateful for the book and the materials on this site).

*http://readishmael.com/readishturner.html
**http://www.ishmael.org/Interaction/QandA/Detail.CFM?Record=401

*http://readishmael.com/readishturner.html
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Tony — February 24th, 2012, 3:34 am

George RR Martin’s all encompassing and genre breaking ‘A Song Of Ice And Fire’

5 volumes so far of this Machiavellian fantasy about the attempts of several disparate and realistic familial tribes attempting to regain power over the outpost of Westeros all while an ancient threat of the Others is returning and the years long devastation of Winter looms on the horizon.

Choose your favorite characters carefully for as in life all is subject to change!

And do not let the fact that this is now and ongoing HBO project put you off … there is a myriad of shade in the written word.
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Brian — February 24th, 2012, 3:38 am

Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Homo Faber by Max Frisch
A Hero of Our Times by Mikhail Lermontov
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Alberto Oliveira — February 24th, 2012, 3:40 am

The Cycle of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin. Full of “knowledge is power” lessons, wrapped up in a beautiful story about a talented young wizard who gets the yips after trying to show off and screwing up big time. He ends up becoming the greatest archmage of all time, righting wrongs as he sails around the world in his trusty boat.
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- Elizabeth Allen — February 24th, 2012, 5:11 pm
  
  The Earthsea trilogy story is one of my favorites and it was the first I read among the fantasy genre.
  
  Even though the book is classified as a “young adult” book, I believe it is suitable for adults The book came to life for me and the magic felt so real, I still have the story in my mind after all these years.
  
  Favorite parts I can recall; when Jed is harnessing the power of the winds and then when he is learning about the power of names.
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Earthsea
  Reply
Gloria Hushman — February 24th, 2012, 3:48 am

Fiction books are not that bad for it tackles our imagination and it may contribute on how we think critically.
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Jordan Fried — February 24th, 2012, 3:56 am

You’re MISSING a huge book from this list Tim

ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand

Read it.
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Divya — February 24th, 2012, 4:29 am

Great list! Surprisingly read a few of these through school.

Being a non-fiction addict myself, I can’t help but re-read “The Outsiders” every year. And of course, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Both books changed my outlook on life.
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Godric Osum — February 24th, 2012, 4:30 am

I’m also more of a non-fiction guy and get irritated with fiction books quickly. Anna Karenina by Tolstoy and Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky is absolutely amazing though. I probably learned more about human emotion from them than in any of the many psychology books I’ve read over the years.
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Takeshi — February 24th, 2012, 4:35 am

If you enjoyed “A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”, then you’ll enjoy the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. The humor is very similar, but transposed on a fantasy world than sci-fi. There are dozens of them, but “Thief of Time” is my hands-down favorite. Highly recommended.
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Sahar — February 24th, 2012, 4:39 am

Thanks for sharing your world. I saw Anthony Quinn as Zorba and loved the movie. Now I am going to read the book!
As a French, I would like to add up to the list Proust’s Swann which is a great contemplative work. But we may not have the same tastes
Cheers
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Archie Cunningham — February 24th, 2012, 4:40 am

Thanks for the post. If you fancy a down right hilarious read I’m really enjoying the Flashman series at the moment.

Archie
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- Danny — February 24th, 2012, 11:35 am
  
  Hey man I just read that! Very funny!
  Reply
dan sigman — February 24th, 2012, 4:46 am

Anything b Neal Stephenson, especially Zodiac, Snow Craah, or Diamond Age.
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Sam Davies — February 24th, 2012, 4:48 am

No mention of The Alchemist Tim?
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Bill Riddell — February 24th, 2012, 4:56 am

Brilliant list Tim, completely agree with Zorba and Stranger in particular.

I’ve converted a few friends with Haruki Murakami’s works – Wild Sheep Chase will blow minds with its imagination and Sputnik Sweetheart is a more vanilla option.

Lamb by Christopher Moore is a hilarious imagining of the life of Jesus, filling in that little gap between childhood and thirties when the bible picks up the action. Its blasphemous and yet theological sound.

Impossible to look past Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five – fact, fiction and vivid imagination collide in a brilliant look at the horrors of war with healthy doses of comedy and science fiction.
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Sally Warner — February 24th, 2012, 4:58 am

I have read 4 of the 10 so I will add the others to my reading list. I am a scifi addict however in recent years I have added some other things to the list. There are lots of straight science books, We need to talk about Kelvin by Marcus Chown which are extremely readable but let’s stick to fiction.

I read to move my mind from work, which is all interacting with people, planning and organising, to another place and force myself to think of other things.

To sleep I do the modern equivalent of counting sheep – prime numbers or prime number multiplication tables. However there is a British sleep expert who says count waterfalls – it depends on the kind of brain you have counting waterfalls works for some people – decorating waterfalls works for others.

Peter F. Hamilton – The Commonwealth Saga is published in two halves, Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained. Gripping complex and intense. A view of advanced worlds.

Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle – The Mote in God’s Eye and there are more in the series. A view of aliens and what makes them tick.

Sundiver – the uplift series David Brin Startide Rising won the nebula award. What happens when you take another species on earth and give them a hand.

The White Dragon – Anne McCaffrey also ended up on the best seller list and there is an entire series about the land and its like.

Ursula le Guin writes of worlds that are very different and lives around them. Social comment rather than huge story.

Glory Season – David Brin for a low tech meets high tech society clash. A society bred to be different. Fascinating.

I loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series but the staccato writing style, particularly the first one, gives some people whiplash, or should I say brain lash.

Twilight I have a lot of male friends who really love them too. Stephenie Meyers stories of vampires in a hidden society.
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Nick — February 24th, 2012, 5:16 am

A Confederacy of Dunces
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baahar — February 24th, 2012, 5:20 am

Thanks for the list !

For lovers of light-hearted, clean humor I would suggest P.G. Wodehouse’s books.

Jasper Fforde and Terry Pratchett, for contemporary light fantasy books, humorous too of course.

For more life-analysing, serious fiction: War and Peace
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David Kurkov — February 24th, 2012, 5:35 am

Hey Tim,

Thanks for the list! I’m going to read them one by one. Also, thanks for saving me from going into the non-fiction or nothing route – so happy I applied your advice when I did. Fiction is great – a lot of time even better than non fiction.

This is off topic – but of interest to me: couples like to share their days events with each other – in detail. What’s been your experience with being on a low-information diet and in a relationship? Any models you set for yourself or each other regarding sharing or listening? I’ve found most information hinders my measurable creative output during the day – I feel my brain short circuits.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for everything!

David
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Kevin — February 24th, 2012, 5:51 am

Dune, in my opinion, is the single best work of science fiction ever written. We can debate all the sequels, but Dune stands alone at the top of a mountain of SciFi that I’ve read in my life

-Kevin
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ronnie — February 24th, 2012, 6:22 am

The Scar by China Mieville. Fantasy meets subversive politics with steampunk horror in the right amount. Very imaginative.
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Ed Lamb — February 24th, 2012, 6:24 am

This post is PERFECT for me. Cheers Tim. A few I’d reccomend:

– Day of the Triffids
– I Am Legend (infinitely better than the movie)
– His Dark Materials (Trilogy)
– 2001: A Space Odyssey (even better than the movie)

Enjoy! Thanks again
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- Braden Talbot — March 1st, 2012, 8:44 am
  
  You’ve convinced me to read I Am Legend.
  Reply
irwin — February 24th, 2012, 6:26 am

Any Douglas Adams fan will love Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

I see a few other Terry Pratchett references in the comments, I think I need to read more of his books.
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Raymond M. — February 24th, 2012, 6:33 am

Read Ender’s Game plus the two sequels. Great series.

Tim, if you’ve not read it, put Armor by John Stakeley on your “to read” list. It is THE most emotionally impacting scifi book I’ve ever read. I’ve never read any other where the first person narrative was so raw as to make you really feel that you are on the ground with the primary character.

Saw you on Dr. Oz the other day. Almond butter before bedtime!
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Adam Casalino — February 24th, 2012, 6:40 am

As a great lover of fiction I always find it hard to believe that there are people out there who don’t read for enjoyment. Great list, though. There are a few that I need to check out.
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Paul Serwin — February 24th, 2012, 6:42 am

I agree with Bill about Murakami. I hadn’t touched fiction since high school, until a friend of mine recommended The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Slaughterhouse 5 by Vonnegut is also one of my favorites.

I’m not trying to get into a political or philosophical discussion with anybody, but one of my favorite pieces of fiction is Atlas Shrugged. Whether you believe in Ayn Rands philosophy or not, it’s a very captivating story of people who follow their passions.
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Gary — February 24th, 2012, 6:48 am

The Wheel of Time series is an amazing fantasy story
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Joe Teicher — February 24th, 2012, 6:52 am

I learned everything I know about life from the “A song of Ice and Fire” series by George R. R. Martin.
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Jeff Carroll — February 24th, 2012, 6:56 am

A few more books for the transition from non-fiction. These are skewed to genre side.

“The Last Samurai” by Helen DeWittt (and, no, it’s has nothing to do with the movie). Single, independent, eccentric, brilliant mother raises beyond-brilliant son using the Seven Samurai as her guide to being his “father.”

If you liked “Ender’s Game,” then check out “Old Man’s War” by John Scalzi or “Armor” by John Steakley.

Also “Cryptonomicon” by Neal Stephenson. An alternate history of WWII that explores the nature of information and its ability to liberate or dominate depending on who holds it. The scenes set in the present predicted Wikileaks.

“Hyperion” and “Fall of Hyperion” by Dan Simmons. As long as you’re reading science fiction, read some of the best.

And to echo a previous comment, anything by China Mieville–one of the most-talented writers working today.
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Carlos — February 24th, 2012, 6:56 am

One of my personal favorites is Chocolat. There’s nothing wrong with a little temptation.
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Ryan Pettit — February 24th, 2012, 6:56 am

No love for Steven Pressfield’s “Gates of Fire”? This is one of the best books I’ve read hands down. It tells the story of the battle of Thermopylae with such gripping detail and from a perspective so perfect it seems it could only have been achieved through fiction. The conversations between Spartan nobles about the nature of war and fear are full of compelling martial philosophy and Pressfield really makes you feel the depths of the Greeks’ struggle the way he presents everyday life in that epoch. Great historical fiction.
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- Bill Drislane — February 25th, 2012, 11:44 am
  
  Pressfield’s “The Afghan Campaign”, set during Alexander the Great’s Invasion of Afghanistan, is also very good.
  
  “A Soldier of the Great War” by Mark Helprin (not the conservative commentator, a different guy) is one of the best novels I’ve read. It has warfare, mountaineering, romance, and art appreciation, plus some pretty funny bits. His “Memoir from Antproof Case” is also very good.
  
  Virtually anything written by Kim Stanley Robinson – The Mars Trilogy is great, as is his Science in the Capitol series – “Forty Signs of Rain”, “Fifty Degrees Below”, and “Sixty Days and Counting”. Also the Three Californias Trilogy.
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  - Stephen — March 1st, 2012, 7:28 am
    
    I think that is the same guy – I believe the tag line for his columns is “novelist who wrote A Soldier in the Great War”, although maybe I’m mis-remembering. Either way, a good read.
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Brian — February 24th, 2012, 6:57 am

Fight Club and Steven King’s “The Gunslinger” series. Even if you don’t like Steven King, The Gunslinger is not typical “Steven King.”

+1 for Dune as well. “God created Arrakis to train the faithful.”
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Damionw — February 24th, 2012, 7:21 am

http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-cold-equations/

It is from the 50′s, and is about the limitations of humans in a world of hard science.

Really good piece of work.
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R A Jolsvay — February 24th, 2012, 7:22 am

Interesting selection, Tim. I got to the end of the list and realized there were only two books I hadn’t read. Could be why I follow your blog. Cheers.
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Jason — February 24th, 2012, 7:24 am

I’m a non-fiction addict, so cool idea for the list. The one book that needs to be on here is Gates of Fire. I’ve read 4 or 5 of the 10 listed here, and Gates of Fire trumps all of them. It’s amazing and the best non-fiction book I’ve ever read.
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Chris George — February 24th, 2012, 7:34 am

Thanks for helping me update my Amazon wishlist.
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Richard Hanley Jr. — February 24th, 2012, 7:38 am

Love the random Fatboy Slim video!

Was that another “wine night” Tim?
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Mattj — February 24th, 2012, 7:47 am

“The Power of One” by Bryce Courtenay is one of my favorites of all time, certainly fits the mold of the types of fiction books on your list.
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T — February 24th, 2012, 7:49 am

The Alienist – Caleb Carr
Magical look at 1800′s Gaslamp New York through the eyes of a newly emerging science … Psychiatry
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Shenee — February 24th, 2012, 7:54 am

The Brief Wondorous Life of Oscar Wao and The Hitchhicker’s Guide to the Galaxy are two of my favorite books. So good. Can’t wait to check out the other stuff on this list
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Aunt B — February 24th, 2012, 7:58 am

1984 by George Orwell. It does not end well, but it is one of my favorites.
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Eric Zentner — February 24th, 2012, 8:16 am

Hey Tim,

Terrific list… and I totally agree that fiction makes the best sedative… although with some of these books i think i end up LOSING sleep. Anywho, i’ve already wish-listed about 6 of them that i haven’t read, so thanks!

eric

P.S. Anyone who is roughly in our age bracket MUST read “READY PLAYER ONE” by Ernest Cline. Rated one of amazon’s best books of 2011, it’s a total tribute to video games and the 80′s. YOU WILL LIKE IT, Trust me!

http://www.amazon.com/Ready-Player-One-Ernest-Cline/dp/030788743X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330096355&sr=8-1
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Adam P — February 24th, 2012, 8:20 am

This will be interesting to look into. I don’t think I’ve read a fiction book in ten years. Similarly, I’ve never really seen them as a proper investment of time. Maybe this will change my outlook.
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Richard Marken — February 24th, 2012, 8:21 am

Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead? I know, both Rand novels but great for Entrepreneurs who want to stay focused.
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FB — February 24th, 2012, 8:35 am

Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series is a great combination of fantasy, comedy, philosophy and general awesomeness.

I suggest newcomers start with Small Gods, or Guards! Guards!
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Chris French — February 24th, 2012, 9:05 am

Have read most of these and agree. Also a big fan of the Speaker for the Dead – second book in Ender series. I still like The Fountainhead and Robert Sawyer’s WWW Trilogy is a fun read with some interesting insights.
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Mike — February 24th, 2012, 9:11 am

Ender’s Game is my favourite hands down, but second to that was Kite Runner. Amazing story and deserves a spot on this list.
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Scott — February 24th, 2012, 9:16 am

Great post, Tim!

For as much as you’ve discussed Stoicism on your blog, I’m surprised to have never seen Honore’ de Balzac’s works discussed here. In my view, he was to fiction what Seneca was to practical philosophy….someone who had a keen sense for life’s triumphs and defeats, and really powerful insights for taking them in stride. Wealth and poverty…love and hate…friendship and betrayal…it’s all there, and it’s all massively entertaining, too. I personally recommend Lost Illusions and Father Goriot….as well as his short story “The Atheist’s Mass,” which can be read in under half an hour.

Aside from that, Balzac himself was a fascinating character….and his massive caffeine-fueled output (90+ books during his 50-year lifespan) ups the ante for even the most committed 4HWW reader!

Thanks for the book rec’s….I look forward to seeing what everyone else has to say!
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Joel — February 24th, 2012, 9:32 am

Musashi is fantastic. Bought it in Narita airport, got diverted to Minsk (and delayed overnight) on my way home from Japan, read nearly all of it in one sitting.

As well as the things Tim mentions, there’s a great quote that Joe Rogan is a fan of repeating during UFCs: ‘If you know the way in one thing, you can see the way in all things.’ Basically, because Musashi is so awesome at swordfighting, he can apply the learning techniques he’s assembled to everything from flower arranging to the tea ceremony. AWESOME.
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badnicolez — February 24th, 2012, 9:46 am

Stranger was not even remotely Heinlein’s best work.

Here are my favs (not in order, but theme is in parentheses):
The Door into Summer (time travel)
Starship Troopers (military and war)
Glory Road (sword and dragon fantasy)
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (oppression and revolution)
Job: A Comedy of Justice (satire on religion – loved his depiction of Heaven and Hell)

These are my all-time faves, read them over and over again, should be read in this order:
Time Enough for Love
The Number of the Beast
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls
To Sail Beyond the Sunset
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- trivium pursuit — May 26th, 2012, 5:37 am
  
  Heinlein is the Master. I wrote him once, and his wife sent me a gracious reply. LIbertarian, with highly intelligent, hard working people who love and live to the full. There’s lots of great Heinlein out there(80 novels!) but Job and Sail were, I think, written when he was ill; I’d put them below the rest of the above list. Also strongly recommend Expanded Universe, which is a collection of some of his short stories and non-fiction essays. Half of the people working at NASA and JPL indicated that they are there, doing what they do, because they read Heinlein. Also, be advised that the movie Starship Troopers bears almost no resemblance to Heinlein’s intriguing work of the same name.
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Liz | Two Weeks to Travel — February 24th, 2012, 9:48 am

Great, I too am a non-fiction snob and really am working on expanding my horizons, look forward to digging in on some of these.
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Max Lawless — February 24th, 2012, 10:04 am

That’s easy – The Secret History by Donna Tartt. M
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Erin — February 24th, 2012, 10:11 am

Oh christ, one fiction book to convert someone? Nearly impossible.

I’m sort of backward. I refused to read non-fiction until I was 18 or so; I’ve been a fiction junkie all my life. After much deliberation, I think “Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse would be number one.
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John — February 24th, 2012, 10:17 am

A fugitive who escapes prison and embraces the bombay slums, Indian mafia, gun running, fighting, love, and some of the craziest stuff ever…. SHANTARAM by Gregory David Roberts is THE BEST.

It is all based on Gregs real life experiences in India as a fugitive, with some fictional additions for the dialogue, characters, and setting. Greg wrote the book three times (its over 1000 pages) and had it ripped up by prison guards when he was re-captured and taken back to prison.

It is such an amazing book… I bought this on Kindle and read it in about one week. I didn’t even know it was 1000 pages untill I bought it in paperback too. I think Johnny Depp bought the movie rights and they are working on it now..
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Stevie P — February 24th, 2012, 10:32 am

I’m a recovering non-fiction addict too. Gotta make some more additions to my “to-read” list now. Thanks Tim. Great post.
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Alistair — February 24th, 2012, 10:32 am

Another non-fiction junkie here! I think that is partly Tim’s fault to be honest, for writing such great books and then recommending others.

It’s nice to see some fiction recommendations also, and I would second the suggestion for Motherless Brooklyn. I enjoyed that and also Stieg Larsson’s Millenium trilogy.
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John H — February 24th, 2012, 10:53 am

Niko Kazantzakis wrote Zorba the Greek to compare himself (a writer) to men who lived a less analytic but more zestful life.

Some great Zorba the Greek Quotes:

“Life is trouble. Only death is not. To be alive is to undo your belt and *look* for trouble.”
? Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

“There is only one sin god will not forgive Boss, and that is to deny a woman who is in wanting ~ Zorba”
? Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

Alexis Zorba: Damn it boss, I like you too much not to say it. You’ve got everthing except one thing: madness! A man needs a little madness, or else…
Basil: Or else?
Alexis Zorba: …he never dares cut the rope and be free.
? Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

“Look, one day I had gone to a little village. An old grandfather of ninety was busy planting an almond tree. ‘What, grandfather!’ I exclaimed. ‘Planting an almond tree?’ And he, bent as he was, turned around and said: ‘My son, I carry on as if I should never die.’ I replied: ‘And I carry on as if I was going to die any minute.’
Which of us was right, boss?”
? Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

No more fooling around, not in this place. We’ll pull our pants up and make a pile of money.
? Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

Zorba: Why do the young die? Why does anybody die?
Basil: I don’t know.
Zorba: What’s the use of all your damn books if they can’t answer that?
Basil: They tell me about the agony of men who can’t answer questions like yours.
Zorba: I spit on this agony!
? Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

Am I not a man? And is a man not stupid? I’m a man, so I married. Wife, children, house, everything. The full catastrophe
? Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

You think too much.That is your trouble.Clever people and grocers, they weigh everything.
? Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek
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Danny — February 24th, 2012, 11:32 am

Awesome post! I listen to a lot of audio books (probably the ultimate time saving habbit and where I came across the 4hww). Fiction is generally more effective on audio as you don’t need to manually refer back to fiction like you do non fiction – much better in book format. Also, you must have read Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson…Epic!
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- tonys — March 5th, 2012, 1:28 am
  
  +1 for Cryptonomicon. Bought a dozen and showed up at friends’ places at odd times, Jehowa-style, to give a gift of Crypto, as it is now affectionately known Spectacular.
  
  tonys.
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RobStorm — February 24th, 2012, 11:33 am

Great list. Dune is especially excellent, I couldn’t believe how many parts of such thick science-fiction were so relevant in real life and human psychology.

I should really nab one of these since I’ve definitely been on a non-fiction kick.
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Collin Ferry — February 24th, 2012, 11:46 am

I’ve read four of these and they were all amazing. I’m sure the other six will be too. Thanks for the recommendations!
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Owen Garratt — February 24th, 2012, 11:53 am

Nice list!

Find some John D MacDonald…it mightseem a little, ah, ‘downmarket’, but the fella knew his craft!

Oh, and P.G. Wodehouse was awesome too!
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Jay Walsh — February 24th, 2012, 12:24 pm

Being the consummate list whore, may I humbly add my top 10 (in no particular order) for hardcore non-fictionites.

Kurt Vonnegut – Slaughterhouse 5
Anthony Burgess – A Clockwork Orange
Ayn Rand – Atlas Shrugged
Tom Robbins – Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates
John Irving – The World According to Garp
George Orwell – Animal Farm
Philip K. Dick – The Man In the High Castle
Max Brooks – World War Z
Cormac McCarthy – The Road
JG Ballard – The Atrocity Exhibition
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- Dale Watkins — February 26th, 2012, 12:03 am
  
  Thank you for throwing in the Vonnegut reference. If we’re speaking sci-fi, he offers some great humorous yet seriously socially critical pieces of work. Check out Cat’s Cradle, Player Piano, and Slaughterhouse 5 mentioned above.
  
  Also, for those having a difficult time connecting to more intimate roots in a time that doesn’t necessarily lend itself best to them, “Love in a Time of Cholera” by Gabriela Garcia Marquez is a must-read. Besides being a great piece of writing, you can feel the passion exuded by the characters on every page.
  
  Also, unfortunate that nobody has mentioned Hemingway. If you can get past his machismo characters, he truly is one of the greatest fictional writers of the 20th century. Although many of his novels revolve around his own travels, they are fictional. “The Sun Also Rises” is absolutely recommended for anyone traveling or living far from home.
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Garth Brantley — February 24th, 2012, 12:24 pm

Timely post! I’m looking for something new to read…. I too have been a non-fiction addict and I believe you just opened my mind. Thanks!
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Tonia — February 24th, 2012, 1:04 pm

Let me first say 42, and I know where my towel is. I’ve read about half the list, more if you count the times I have tried to read Dune. The first part is like the book in the Bible that is full of “So and so begat so and so, who begat so and so”. I’ve heard the rest is brilliant, just couldn’t get past it.
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Marek — February 24th, 2012, 1:05 pm

And now I’m waiting for the top 10 non-fiction books for fiction addicts
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Warren Hales — February 24th, 2012, 1:09 pm

The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

The Stand by Stephen King

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

They may be too “pop culture” for the literary types but who cares. They kick a$$.

I don’t know about recommending Atlas Shrugged for new fiction readers. It is an awesome book but you have to commit to that bad boy. lol

And a public service announcement … for the love of god DO NOT read the sequels to DUNE!!

Cool topic Tim. Thanks!
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Jamal — February 24th, 2012, 1:26 pm

The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham — a classic “self-discovery” book.
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Nathan — February 24th, 2012, 1:30 pm

Sideways Stories from Wayside School (series)
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Eric — February 24th, 2012, 1:37 pm

Tim,
Great List. Here’s two from mine that somewhat sit in the middle between fiction and non-fiction…the historical novel:

Gates of Fire – Pressfield (The truly epic story of Thermopylae)
Panther in the Sky – Thom (Historical novel of Tecumseh)

Both books have had a profound impact on how I look at the world, business or otherwise.

Cheers!
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Daniel — February 24th, 2012, 1:38 pm

I’ve learned a lot of my English with the Hitchhiker’s Guide. Take a running jump is one of my favourite phrases…
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Matt Bailey — February 24th, 2012, 2:44 pm

Oddly enough this was the question I was going to ask you on Reddit, but then got pulled away from my computer.
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Sean — February 24th, 2012, 3:13 pm

Ender’s Game author, Orson Scott Card, also put out a series of American Fantasy called The Tales of Alvin Maker. I am a huge fan of him as a science fiction writer, but this truly shows a very different side of his writing. The depth, coloring, and excellence of this series are not justified by saying that they have nothing to compare to. But, in modern fiction writing there is very little American Fiction. It is just down-right hard to compare them to anything at all. Frankly I have a had a hard time explaining the world he creates to my friends and leave at “You will enjoy them” The End.
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Brandon — February 24th, 2012, 4:13 pm

I’ll reiterate Atlas Shrugged and add the Fountainhead, both by Ayn Rand.

Also would highly recommend Fight Club by Chuck palahniuk.

AND One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest. Had me laughing out loud.
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Mountain Evan Chang — February 24th, 2012, 4:44 pm

The Gnoll Credo, by J. Stanton , would be my top pick. Similar lessons to Zorba the Greek, but a much quicker read, and I found it more entertaining.
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Tyler Carter — February 24th, 2012, 5:15 pm

Futuristic distopias and tomes of self-discovery? Actually, that’s about right.
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John Fawkes — February 24th, 2012, 6:45 pm

Feels good to know I’ve already read half of these. And seen the High Fidelity movie. Btw, are they still making Ender’s Game into a movie?
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Josh Krach — February 24th, 2012, 7:22 pm

I particularly love anything by Steven Pressfield although his texts blur the lines between fiction & non-fiction. “Tides of War”, “Gates of Fire” & “Virtues of War” are all great in that area, kick-ass visions of historical people/events that are highly motivational (at least to me).

But without a doubt “The Legend of Bagger Vance” is at the top of my list. I’ve given it to numerous friends who balked at the book until I told them it wasn’t about Matt Damon and Will Smith and subsequently loved it.

Read Farenheit 451 in high school and it absolutely changed my mindset when it comes to literature and undoubtedly fueled a desire for reading. Also think that George Orwell’s “1984″ is a fantastic mind trip.

Studying Economics as and undergrad I found “Looking Backwards” by Edward Bellamy to be, by far, the most interesting book an economics professor ever required me to read.

Cheers
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Charlie — February 24th, 2012, 7:27 pm

Great list Tim! I look forward to grabbing a few of those that I haven’t already read.

I am a big fan of The Alchemist also. Another longtime favorite in the same track would be Jonathon Livingston Seagull.
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Stephen Shelley — February 24th, 2012, 7:41 pm

Shantaram…c’mon Tim, this book is right down your alley. Please tell me you’ve read this. Awesome adventure tale (somewhat true) of a man rediscovering himself in India. A true epic. I loved every page of it.
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John "Widgett" Robinson — February 24th, 2012, 8:07 pm

In response to badnicolez: Just wanted to say agreed…whole world of Heinlein awaiting and I thought of Mistress when I first started reading before I saw Stranger…but I will say Stranger makes a great entry point for RAH. Worked for me, anyway.

And Number of the Beast…seconded. Jesus, that is way too much fun. (Thanks for the reminder to re-read.)

And to John Fawkes: Yes, Ender’s Game looks like it might actually get made this time…Asa Butterfield from Hugo is Ender and Harrison Ford is in the cast as the training commander (can’t pull the character name out of my hat at the moment.)
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James — February 24th, 2012, 9:21 pm

#8 and #9, yes and YES! I’ve read every book in the HHGttG series (with the exception of Young Zaphod Plays it Safe) once a year since I was 12. And Fahreheit 451 almost reads itself. In fact, Bradbury has been a major influence on my writing since day-one. Oh, and Ender’s Game and Dune are gleaming jewels in themselves.

BUT, if I can make one suggestion: A Confederacy of Dunces must be on this list. An absolute must for any reader. Even the story about its author and how it ended up getting published (and winning the Pulitzer) is worth five minutes of anyone’s time.

Thanks again, Tim. As always, be good or better.
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Janin — February 24th, 2012, 9:42 pm

One book? Well, I guess I am not one to follow the rules. Since Snow Crash has already come up numerous times…

1) Holes by Louis Sachar –
Here’s the opening:
“Stanley Yelnats was given a choice. The judge said, “You may go to jail, or you may go to Camp Green Lake.” Stanley was from a poor family. He had never been to camp before.”

Holes is about overcoming obstacles, mostly yourself, and more – written for “young adults and teens” but don’t let that put you off. I am a veracious reader of fiction and nonfiction and found Holes funny, engaging and thought provoking. You will enjoy it! Here’s a link: http://www.louissachar.com/HolesBook.htm.

2) Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
A scary possible future told in amazing detail with memorable characters – unpredictable, lots of action. About choices we make, sacrifice, victim or proactive? “The Windup Girl is a biopunk science fiction novel.” Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6597651-the-windup-girl

3) East of Eden by John Steinbeck
More accessible than Grapes of Wrath. Life, the nature of good and evil, do our circumstances of birth rule us or not? Brillliant, brilliant, brilliant! And hilarious at times.

4) Zodiac by Neal Stephenson (also wrote Snow Crash). Short earlier work. Passion and crazy eco-adventure combined with science. Think inflatable boat, not astrological signs. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/825.Zodiac

5) The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
NY Times says “screwball, alternative-reality, hard-boiled mystery, set, for maximum incongruity, in Alaska.” http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/13/books/review/Rafferty-t.html?pagewanted=all

That said, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Dune, To Kill A Mockingbird, Ender’s Game, Game of Thrones, Cryptonomicon, anything by Ursula K LeGuin – all amazing, although Dune can take some getting into.

Thanks for the list. I clearly have some more reading to do!
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Chase — February 24th, 2012, 9:54 pm

No WAY!!

YOU have a mother and a brother??!

I’m not buying it. There’s no way Tim is human- had to have been hatched.

-Chase
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Andy — February 24th, 2012, 10:35 pm

Tim-

Interesting selection. Have you ever heard of Way of the Peaceful Warrior? More Zen stuff, and from what I gather similar to Zorba

Also, I recently started the slow carb diet and can already see visual improvements, and an intense focus, like I have been in a haze my whole life. But dude, you need to warn people when they first start the diet. I have never shat so much in my life. (just ripped one) The biggest one being a MINIMUM of 12 Courics.

But thank you for the recommendations, I’m picking up Stranger in a Strange Land tomorrow.

Rock on brah
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Norman Dacanay — February 24th, 2012, 11:36 pm

I’ve been saying it for years to family and friends that the fiction books I read are not necessarily a means of escape…I don’t like to run away from things…just because a story is technically made-up doesn’t mean that you can’t pull something tangible out off it. If I were to boil it down to four authors and their books, they would be…

Brent Weeks – Lightbringer Saga
- a beautifully rendered tale of a savior trying to wrestle with his own inner demons while trying to fight actual “demons” in his land. The kicker, he is at once the lead protagonist and antagonist…and the brain-banging begins…

Glen Cook – Black Company Chronicles
- Lord of the Rings meets a gritty ‘Nam, Korea or WW II story telling from a front line grunt, except the grunt is actually the company medic and favored play-experiment of the Queen of all despotic rulers. Two words, medieval bad-ass.

R. Scott Bakker – Prince of Nothing and Aspect-Emperor
- deep reads that is sure to disturb you as enlighten you in the ways of human behavior and manipulation. Bakkers word play is amazing to say the least…a total mind-f*ck at times but so worth it…it is a series with a flavor unlike any other.

OK here we go….the one that I will get the most flack on…

R.A. Salvatore – Drizzt series
-the tale of a dark elf going through his seemingly immortal life while he adventures with the same friends that he knows will perish along with the passage of time. I know that by writing “Salvatore” on this may discredit me but he shines in battle and action sequences. I don’t think that anyone else in this genre or any can describe a fight sequence or struggle with as much emotion and mirth as he.

Well that’s it…there are much more amazing authors and books, but these top my list.

I hope that someone out there will give them a shot as they are very much worth it.
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- John — March 13th, 2012, 11:55 am
  
  Brandon Sanderson as an author has a love for studying leadership. This comes through in his writing, especially Mistborn, the Stormlight saga, and Elantris.
  
  You’ll find hidden lessons of leadership throughout the books, if you pay attention.
  
  John
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Rickard — February 25th, 2012, 2:57 am

Movies can serve the same purpose as novels, a point frequently made by Eben Pagan. Unlike novels, I believe they can make a more visceral impression. For example, to be inspired about what it means to be a man, watch Gladiator and notice the contrast between Commodus and Maximus.

Maximus is calm, stoic and he feels responsible not just for himself but for those around him. Commodus feels victimized, insecure and out of control.

I can warmly recommend the dramatization of Musashi, a.k.a. The Samurai Trilogy, with Toshiro Mifune portraying Musashi Miyamoto. Once again, notice the contrast between Musashi and his childhood friend Matahachi. By their actions you can tell that they have entirely different different values and self-images. Matahachi is impulsive, cowardly and weak. Musashi is on a mission to perfect his art, he is uncompromising, resolute and always stays true to his heart.
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Mike — February 25th, 2012, 5:20 am

Bulgakov

The Master and Margarita
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Miguel S. — February 25th, 2012, 8:54 am

‘The ibanker Shrugged’ is much more captivating in my opinion. At least the author is crazier… http://www.theibanker.com
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John — February 25th, 2012, 10:45 am

Hy Tim,

Great post I will have to take a look at a few of these (haven’t read a single fiction book in the past 10 years other than the Harry Potter series).

Can we still expect a “What I learned in 2011″ post?

Best,

John
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Keith — February 25th, 2012, 11:22 am

Shantaram, as mentioned above, is a tremendous work.

John D. MacDonald was a pioneer of the recurring Hero. Very light, escapist fiction. His character Travis McGee is a mix of Jimmy Buffet and Jim Rockford. Without Travis, there would be no Jason Bourne, Dirk Pitt or Mitch Rapp.

Patrick O’Brians series of historical fiction, set in the life of the British Navy during the Napoleonic wars, is on par with Jane Austin for period fiction.
The movie Master and Commander is based on his books.
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Chuck J. Rylant — February 25th, 2012, 5:16 pm

I’m about 1/3 the way through Ender’s Game and I don’t get it yet. Does it pick up or is the same all the way through?
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- Tony — March 1st, 2012, 7:43 am
  
  Even if you do not get it, keep going it is an easy ready, and the end is well worth it, and it may in fact recast your experience of the book.
  
  Tony
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KW — February 25th, 2012, 6:50 pm

Tim,

I workout within 30 minutes of rising after a cup of coffee. If i wait longer I get hungry. If I eat before working out I get nauseated/food comes up while I’m working out. In your research/experience is it more important to eat 30 grams protein within 30 minutes of rising or is it ok to wait until after I workout to have 30g protein? In my experience if I don’t workout upon rising I won’t do it. And eating before workout makes me feel bad during workout. But i am interested in your thoughts and suggestions for people who workout first thing in the morning. Please be specific with your guidance. Thanks.
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Bill — February 25th, 2012, 7:29 pm

The Power of One

Lonesome Dove
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- Bob — February 27th, 2012, 8:59 am
  
  Lonesome Dove is an absolute beauty. Glad someone beat me to it. The simply magnificent talk is the best part of a book filled with incredible events in the old west.
  
  William Kennedy’s Ironweed is fantastic. Concerns the efforts of a man who killed two people, one completely accidentally, and one in a riot throwing a stone, and has simply bowed out of life and gone on the road, for decades, as a tramp during and after the depression. That’s the back story. He now is trying to reconnect with life itself and finds it difficult to do so. Magnificent. The movie is good, but the book is superb. Kennedy’s written three or four really good ones too.
  
  John Nichols’ The Milagro Beanfield War is another, like Zorba, that connects you to how the simple human things in life can and maybe should be some of the most important.
  
  I have to disagree with the Ayn Rand suggestions, though. I’m an entrepreneur and have had her work suggested to me many times. I tried it and while the ideas are interesting, she is just not a great handler of language. They aren’t written well, in my humble opinion. Maybe you’ll disagree, though.
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BDJ — February 25th, 2012, 10:17 pm

Really good list, I love both fiction and non-fiction, keeping a good balance gives me more motivation to keep reading. As far as fiction, it has to be A HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE. This is a seriously epic read, the history of one town and one family as it evolves is mesmerizing. Beautifully written and gripping…
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David — February 26th, 2012, 12:51 am

Tim, A Very Strong Book Recommendation:

Romance of the Three Kingdom. (it is not a romance novel.)

It has been THE BOOK for strategy, leadership, war, moral conduct, politics, brotherhood, weapon building, scare tactics, and empire building in practically all asian countries since it’s publication in the 14th century. And Yes it is the go-to-book for ALL of those things. Every sentient asian adult male will read it in one form or the other at least once in their lifetime. The average is 3 times. It is said, you do not know the Sun Tzu’s Art of War until you Understand this book. Based about 60% on historic fact, I know Guan Wu(one of the characters) is still worshiped as the god of war. (taoist and some buddhism) I haven’t found any epic like it since. Like all asian novels, subtly counts for a lot. Try to get a reputable translation if you can.

Ender’s Game was a very good book. Haven’t read that in a long time.
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Hugh — February 26th, 2012, 2:35 am

Great list developing. Though technically not fiction, I would include Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as a non-business book that has nice significance for business. Rather philosophical and not a lot of action so it may not be a good read for those who are easily bored by fiction… unless your issue is insomnia.
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Maxim — February 26th, 2012, 7:13 am

Almost forgot! Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (her philosophy is very controversial but you don’t have to agree 100% with it to enjoy the book). Imho, this one is better than Atlas Shrugged but maybe it’s only because I read it first.
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Tom — February 26th, 2012, 8:44 am

Great list, all of them wonderful works of fiction which can be indeed recommended to anyone.

My personal favourites are The Foundation series by Asimov and the Hyperion Saga by Dan SImmons.
Especially the latter which consists of four books I re-read every year or when I feel I need perspective again. The comment earlier about how sci-fi often refers to societal issues and developments is true and highly relevant in Hyperion (and especially the subsequent Endymion). If you have got a side interest in quantum mechanics/physics then you get a double scoop of your favourite icecream for free.
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Roger K — February 26th, 2012, 9:12 am

The John Carter of Mars series, and Jules Verne- and you can look at Project Gutenburg for a bunch of old classics. I like Heinlen, too- but Aynn Rand never did much for me.

For Westerns, I’ve always been partial to Louis L’Amour more than Zane Grey, especially the Sackett family series. And the book is always better than the movie, no matter what genre you talk about…….
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David — February 26th, 2012, 10:51 am

I haven’t read fiction in many years. Then I watched A Game of Thrones and tore through the entire five books of the “Song of Ice & Fire” series by George R.R. Martin in two months. Amazing, I couldn’t put it down.

I think I’ll read Dune next!

David
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Joseph Bernard — February 26th, 2012, 2:36 pm

Thanks for the great list, the inspiration, and all the ones added by the comments. I have a number of novel favorites that invite the possible in those who read them. Several of them are not listed here. Stranger in a Strange Land is a classic. Here are my favorites:

Illusions, Richard Bach
Hypnotizing Maria, Richard Bach
Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
Old Path, White Clouds, Thich Nhat Hahn
Siddartha, Herman Hesse
Razor’s Edge, Somerset Maughm
Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman
Jitterbug Perfume, Tom Robbins
The Power Of One, Bryce Courtenay
Golf in the Kingdom, Michael Murphy

Thanks again for the inspiration,
Joseph
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jesse — February 26th, 2012, 2:52 pm

I love Lee childs books (all of them!)

also REPLAY…
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B.D. — February 26th, 2012, 5:26 pm

Anyone dismissive of fiction should consider the following Albert Einstein quote: “Dostoevsky gives me more than any scientist, more than Gauss.” [Carl Friedrich Gauss was a German mathematician and scientist.]
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Brad — February 27th, 2012, 12:52 am

A huge list of only two books:

The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon –

A modern-day gritty detective story. Some of the most true to life and amazing characters I’ve ever read. Chabon’s prose is also phenomenal – head and shoulders above most modern writers I’ve come across.

Takes place in an alternate history where a temporary settlement for Jewish refugees was started in Sitka, Alaska during WWII. Israel was destroyed in 1948. Now, in present-day Sitka, a Yiddish speaking city the size of Seattle, Detective Meyer Landsman gets sucked into a murder mystery involving the Jewish mob, gangsters, terrorists, and his ex-wife.

It won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards for best novel. It’s currently being adapted into a movie by the Coen brothers. Chabon also won the Pulitzer for “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay,” so you know he’s good. Not to mention, Tim, he’s friends with Jonathan Lethem. But my guess is you already know that.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke –

19th Century Britain, around the time of the Napoleonic wars. It is assumed that magic existed at on time in England, but to perform magic now would be ungentlemanly and unpleasant. It starts being more historical fiction than fantasy, but builds to an ending that puts all other recent fantasy (and most fiction) to shame. Clarke is a meticulous writer – detailed and in-depth. Her mythology is simply amazing, not to mention the prose is written in a very Dickens/Austen style.

Imagine a Victor Hugo novel with magic in it. A side note – the magic is a thematically used piece of the story, not a masturbatory excuse for the writer to go “look what I can do!” like a lot of modern hack fantasy.

It won Time’s best novel of the year, along with the Hugo, World Fantasy, and Locus best novel of the year. Not to mention, Neil Gaiman said it’s the finest English novel of the fantastic in the past seventy years. I heartily agree.
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- Greg Walker — March 29th, 2012, 10:08 am
  
  Awesome list, Brad! I concur wholeheartedly.
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Olivier Roland — February 27th, 2012, 1:29 am

For me it was exactly the reverse : I read almost only fictions until, like, I was 26, even after creating my first company at 19. I was so proud of being a “self-educated entrepreneur” that I thought I didn’t need books to learn. Fool of me.

The 4 hour workweek is actually the book that opened my eye about non-fiction book : it totally revolutionized my view of entrepreneurship and I said “If this one book can totally change the way I do something since 7 years, perhaps there are another books that can have this impact too”. And then I discovered the Personal MBA and others awesome books, and created a French blog about “great books that can change your life” that is now quite popular and help people to drop TV and read more, and all of that would not have happen if you didn’t write the 4 hour workweek. Thanks for that Tim !

Still I love to read fiction, so thanks for this great selection !
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Cem — February 27th, 2012, 2:42 am

Hi Tim,

I haven’t read Musashi, but from your description of it I think that you would really like “Shibumi” by Trevanian.

http://www.amazon.com/Shibumi-Trevanian/dp/0345311809

Best,
Cem
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The Graeme — February 27th, 2012, 12:09 pm

and please remember an enemy that becomes a friend will last, a friend that becomes an enemy will also last.
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Manny — February 27th, 2012, 3:24 pm

I was going to re-read 4HWW, but now I think I’ll pick up some samurai. I love anything with ninjas or samurais. Hell yeah!
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Nate Hutchison — February 27th, 2012, 9:45 pm

Ender’s Game is an awesome book! I’m so glad this is on the list. I highly recommend ender’s shadow too.
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Grant Wentzel — February 28th, 2012, 6:54 am

Great list.

About half are things that I’ve come to love in the last few years; the other half I need to check out. Interesting that we’re on the same wave-length on this stuff. Very cool.
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Stephen — February 28th, 2012, 7:19 am

“Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry – fantastic story of a cattle drive and some true heroes of the old west. The book “True Grit” by Charles Portis is a great short western as well – very funny.

“A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving is fantastic, I’m not sure if I prefer that or “World According to Garp”.

“The Godfather” by Mario Puzo – I think it is better than the movies.

Some classics – “The Grapes of Wrath” by Steinbeck, and “Great Expectations” by Dickens.

“Lords of Discipline” and “The Great Santini” by Pat Conroy – books that are better than the movies.
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- Bob — March 4th, 2012, 3:00 am
  
  What a great list! I’d second every one of these except maybe the Godfather, which I very much liked but didn’t truly love.
  
  And I’d also second Tim’s suggestion of Musashi. Absolutely fantastic.
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Mush Panjwani — February 28th, 2012, 8:44 am

Any fans of Hunger Games series? Talk about imagination!
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- David — March 2nd, 2012, 5:53 pm
  
  I’m sorry to be a snob, but Hunger Games is a cheap knock off of “Battle Royale” 1999 Japanese novel written by Koushun Takami. it was turned into the a movie in 2000 and into a japanese manga in 2002.
  Somebody has to stand up sometime to stop western authors from ripping off asian material yet again.
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Roberto — February 28th, 2012, 2:36 pm

Tim
To keep you Spanish fresh let me suggest
La Sombra del Viento (The Shadow of the Wind) – Carlos Ruiz Zafón
set in 1920′s Barcelona – a page turner indeed.

How about a classic…
One flew East
One flew West
And ONE FLEW OVER THE COOCKOO’S NEST
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Scott J — February 28th, 2012, 3:45 pm

I think fiction is a great medium for learning history. Well-written historical fiction can give you a sense of things in a way that non-fiction cannot. Here’s a few I really enjoyed:

- The Source: James Michener
- the Aubrey/Matarin novels: Patrick O’Brian
- Roots: Alex Haley
- The Good Earth: Pearl S. Buck
- Shogun: James Clavell
- Thirteen Moons: Charles Frazier
- My Antonia: Willa Cather
- Pillars of the Earth: Ken Follett
- The House of the Spirits: Isabel Allende

Guilty pleasure: Flashman series, and also enjoyed the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell.
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- Stephen — March 1st, 2012, 7:46 am
  
  Flashman stories are a lot of fun to read – what a great concept to put a dirtbag like Flashman in a bunch of different historical settings!
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Derek — February 28th, 2012, 5:37 pm

Hey Tim,

I didn’t know any other way to contact you, so I’m posting a comment on your blog. (BTW, I’m completely opposite from you — I’ve read nothing BUT fiction for the last 20 years, and am now finally perusing the business section. Check out Iain Banks’ The Player of Games.)

I saw this on BBC news and thought you’d enjoy (if you haven’t seen this already):

“Can three minutes of exercise a week help make you fit?”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17177251
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Greg — February 28th, 2012, 9:50 pm

Life of Pi. Amazing and unlikely story that takes you onto the lifeboat where Pi trains the tiger not to eat him. Moving and powerful from start to finish.

And any of the short-listed Man Booker Prize nominees of any year will generally be well worth the effort.
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- Alex — March 4th, 2012, 7:13 pm
  
  I second this suggestion.
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Noch Noch | be me. be natural. — February 28th, 2012, 10:49 pm

My fiance introduced me to Eric van Lustbader, stories on ninjas, HK triads, samurais… themes of justice, adventure, out of the universe forces

I introduced him to Adam William’s stories set in China from ages ago. intricately woven plots between generations. a bit of history learning from stories

and to be honest, sometimes, chick lit is a good read, hearty, amusing, light, very descriptive for those who want to work on their creativity

Noch Noch
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Michael Peter — February 28th, 2012, 10:50 pm

Neuromancer – William Gibson

Written in 1984, and the first winner of the science-fiction “triple crown” — the Nebula Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Hugo Award.

The story of a washed-up computer hacker Case, in the dystopian underworld of Chiba City, Japan, hired by a mysterious employer and guarded by a sexy razor girl with attitude to pull off the ultimate hack.

This book reads as oddly prophetic of things to come, even coining the term ‘Cyberspace’

I highly recommend this book.
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Vincent — February 29th, 2012, 1:56 am

I was asking myself exactly the same question! So, see, you’re not alone!
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Lukas — February 29th, 2012, 3:24 am

I first read Musashi in German when I was 13. Since then, I have reread the book 3 more times in English at various points in my life. I always knew that the book has shaped my thinking, but now at 34, I look back an realize just to what an extent it has done so.

Tipp: Reread the book in five years and you will get somthing different out of it!

Good recommendation!
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levi — February 29th, 2012, 3:31 am

Why hasn’t anyone recommended House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski?!! It is an incredible book about a house that is larger on the inside than on the outside. It’s absolutely horrifying. I haven’t geeked out on a book like I did with this one in a long, long time.

Other favorites would include:
1984 by George Orwell (my all time favorite, the audio book version read by Frank Mueller is amazing)

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (The Fountainhead is also great)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (all his books are great)
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller (hilarious)
Lord of the Flies by William Golding (The movie ‘The Beach’ with leo DiCaprio was loosly based on this book)

On the Beach by Nevil Shute (about nuclear fallout, terribly sad)
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (rounding out the dystopian society trend)

Animal Farm by George Orwell (satire of the Russian Revolution)
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- PETE — March 2nd, 2012, 3:11 pm
  
  Mark Z Danielewski’s sister “POE” released an album ‘Haunted’ which is loosely based on or inspired by “House of Leaves”.
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Ingimar — February 29th, 2012, 9:21 am

Excellent list Tim. I would also put Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett on there. A hilarious story of the apocalypse.

I am a serious fiction addict and I am wondering if you have the other version of that, that is non-fiction for a fiction addict?
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Mathieu — February 29th, 2012, 10:43 am

Amazing list, thank you Tim.

Recently I have been devouring countless manga series filled with dark humor, zen teachings and naked cyborg martial artists. Great for summoning my melatonin levels!

Since I am from Quebec, I will suggest “Le petit prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery if you haven’t already read it. It’s a kids tale that is designed to be read by adults. Many lessons.
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Jamie — February 29th, 2012, 1:13 pm

I apologize if this question is off topic. I tried posting in the forum but was getting errors:

Does anyone have any recommendations for a “4-Hour Dog Training” type book or program? Our dogs could use a refresher course in a few areas, and thanks to Tim I’m always looking for the most efficient way possible that gets the desired result. Dog training traditionally involves a lot of time and repetition, so I’m wondering if anyone has found a better way.
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Brandon R — February 29th, 2012, 2:57 pm

I still don’t read much fiction, but I am glad to see that you included Dune. It is, without a doubt, the best Fiction book I’ve ever read. It’s absolutely brilliant, entertaining and insightful! I’d recommend it as well!
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Su-Ching Lee — February 29th, 2012, 4:05 pm

The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King. Absolute classics that have changed my life. The first about pushing life’s boundaries, the second and last about hope and perseverance when the odds are against you.
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Mike — February 29th, 2012, 7:11 pm

If you like Stranger in a strange land then you will love Methuselah’s Children (also by Heinlein). It introduces the Lazarus Long character who is developed further in the Heinlein book “Time Enough For Love”. Deals with immortality, love, space travel, civilization, human nature and many other topics.
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- David — March 19th, 2012, 11:29 pm
  
  Time Enough For Love is an epic book and has shaped my life more than any other book. Just awesome.
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Emmet Gibney — February 29th, 2012, 10:30 pm

My favs are:

1) The Alchemist
2) The Art of Racing in the Rain
3) I should really start reading more if I can only name 2
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Alejandro Dominguez — February 29th, 2012, 11:53 pm

I go totally gonzo when I need to unwind. The melodic beauty of Hunter S. Thompson’s words make my mind tranquil. Yea, I know, its journalism i.e. non-fiction, but Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is an adventure like no other!
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Jim Tierney — March 1st, 2012, 5:37 am

The Good Earth
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Mike Rudd aka @marketingmiker — March 1st, 2012, 6:06 am

My personal favorite fictions books…
1) To Kill A Mockingbird
2) One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

And a shout out and RIP to Jane Berenstein who got me to love to read fiction as a little kid by reading just about every one of her and her husband’s 300 Berenstein Bears children books! She passed away at 88 this week.
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Enrique — March 1st, 2012, 8:45 am

Try to read The Count of Monte Cristo from Dumas…you will not be able to stop reading….
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Braden Talbot — March 1st, 2012, 8:50 am

1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

Also love The Drawing of the The in the Dark Tower Stores by Stephen King.

I see a lot of recommendations for Atlas Shrugged. While it’s not awful, and the plot is pretty cool, the characters are awful. No one talks our acts like that.
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Jim Sullivan — March 1st, 2012, 9:35 am

I plan to come out of opening night of the movie tomorrow dripping with condescention and say …”The book was better.” The Lorax!!! Still awesome.

I book that grabbed me was August 1914 by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Of course that sent me down road of reading numerous WWI non-fictions. In that group Guns of August was the page turner.
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Brandon Moores — March 1st, 2012, 9:47 am

Tom Robbins’s book Villa Incognito will keep you laughing.
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Anna — March 1st, 2012, 10:19 am

Great choices! Considering I write fiction, I kind of have a love affair with it already…I would add to ‘Ender’s Shadow’ to ‘Ender’s Game’: Bean is awesome. Anything by Ray Bradbury is great and deliciously creepy. And while I did like ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’, ‘The Moon is a Harsh Mistress’ and ‘Have Spacesuit, Will Travel’ are my favorite Heinlein books. Can you tell I read a lot of scifi?

If you’re trying to break a non-fiction habit, don’t forget the classics. Though many of them are BOR-ing (Frankenstein? Seven Gables? Blech), knowing the classic plots can really open up modern fiction.
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Torumoy — March 1st, 2012, 11:20 am

I can just see the last commentator recommended “1984″ by George Orwell. I felt to leave a comment just to recommend this book.

You can replace thousands of pages of politics, sociology books only by this one.

On top of that, George Orwell is an extra-ordinary writer. Not a single word is extra, and see how well he uses words.

How about The Stranger by Albert Camus. This is another great book.

Tim, would you make a longer list? Or genre specific lists?
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EV — March 1st, 2012, 11:50 am

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
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TimC — March 1st, 2012, 12:15 pm

Read Ayn Rand only if you are apolitical. Don’t believe anyone who tells you they read Ulysses, they didn’t. Only read Pynchon if you are medicated. To those who haven’t read much fiction, start below then move on to Marquez, Kundera, Rushdie and Roberto Bolano.

- Lonesome Dove – You won’t believe how this ol west cowboy novel will poke you. Start here.
- Count of Monte Cristo – Read this as a teen, wanted to live like the hero in this one immediately
- David Copperfield – Life is a series of chapters, some good, some bad, some wonderful and some terrible. It’s how you act through each of them that defines who you are
- The Stand – Good versus evil. Good is in Boulder; Bad is in Vegas. They fight.
- Catch-22 – I never laughed so hard while thinking so much in my life
- Lolita – The poetry of the verse will rip your heart out
- On the Road – We all need a bit more Sal Paradise in us
- Angle of Repose – Let Lyman Ward show you how to live then forgive.
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Reid — March 1st, 2012, 12:43 pm

Great suggestions. I’ll second the vote for The Count of Monte Cristo in this list, and here’s why:

- It’s very long but never boring; the book is mostly dialogue and it’s all extremely well written and engaging.
- The massive story arc makes the eventual revenge all the more satisfying.
- Some of the themes will definitely appeal to 4HWW readers (world travel, language learning, the value of broad knowledge/skills) and serve as a reminder that while these things required a massive fortune in the 1840′s, they’re far more easily attainable in the present day.
- It’s in the public domain, so you can read it for free on a Kindle/iPad.
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David Kasteler — March 1st, 2012, 3:48 pm

Great compilation. Ender’s Game is definitely a must read. If I had to add just one more book it would Les Miserables. Yes, everyone knows the music and basic story but the book is so much better. There are several excellent abridgments at about 300 pages so you don’t have to dive into the original. If you haven’t read this one this is one to add to your reading list.
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Patricio — March 1st, 2012, 4:43 pm

Great collection of fiction books. I am much like you were when it came to fiction titles however I may have to pick one of these books and take a chance. Perhaps Musashi?
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Ryan — March 1st, 2012, 6:14 pm

I loved Ender’s Game and Dune when I read them in high school. Whenever I read good fiction (and good writing in general), I feel like I take on the traits I admire in the protagonist and other characters — I’d approach situations thinking, “What would Ender do?”

Any tips for reading through all of your fiction recommendations (and other Top 10 / Greatest Books of All Time lists) efficiently? I used to get a lot of reading done while waiting for the subway, just a few pages at a time (but I no longer live in a public transport-friendly city).
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Josh — March 1st, 2012, 8:52 pm

Some pretty good books on this comments above. I’m a big non-fiction and fiction lover so I’d like to add (in no particular order):

1. (Author) James Clavell’s Asian Saga series – Shogun, Tai Pan, … Noble House, Whirlwind … Absolutely brilliant books. After each of these I couldn’t read another fiction book for a good while because I didn’t want the characters to dissolve from my mind.

2. (Author) Con Iggulden’s historical fiction books. He has a series about the life of Julius Caesar and another about Gengis Khan. Really manages to bring to life these historical characters.
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Jed Henley — March 2nd, 2012, 6:52 am

Love the list. Interesting and well founded point about Dune and Ender’s Game as leadership books. Will check out the ones I haven’t read.

One I can not recommend highly enough is “Sometimes a Great Notion” by Ken Kesey (author of the better known and also superb “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”). Widely considered one of the great American novels of the 20th century. I’ve never read anyone who gets inside his characters’ heads like Kesey.
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Bill Drislane — March 2nd, 2012, 7:04 am

I would also add:

I, Claudius
Claudius The God

… by Robert Graves.

Outstanding historical fiction. Also in the historical fiction category, I would list anything by Sharon Kay Penman, in particular ‘Lionheart’.
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Chel Hamilton — March 3rd, 2012, 12:04 am

Damn! Great list. I am addicted to non-fiction but a sucker for sci-fi! Next up? Enders Game.

Thank you for this list, Tim. Refreshing!
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MB — March 3rd, 2012, 3:45 am

Tim, you have to read ‘Perfume – The Story of Murder’ by Patrick Suskind…you will read it within a week.

18th century France, a man born with no smell of his own, but he himself has an extraordinary sense of smell…

“A fable of crimial genius…. Remarkable.” —The New York Times

“Mesmerizing from first page to last…. A highly sophisticated horror tale.” —The Plain Dealer

“A supremely accomplished work of art, marvelously crafted and enjoyable and rich in historical detail.” —The San Francisco Chronicle

“An original and astonishing novel.” —People

“An ingenious story…about a most exotic monster…. Suspense build up steadily.” —Los Angeles Times

“Immensely seductive…. Storytelling at its best.” —The Kansas City Star
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Lea Sadler — March 3rd, 2012, 8:11 am

I learned to love reading fiction before I learned to love reading business, self-improvement, and similar kinds of works. For Tim, fiction is a good way to wind down after a long day. For me, and for many others, I suspect, reading fiction is a way to really let your mind go and use your imagination. With fiction, it’s not scary to open yourself to new possibilities and new identities for yourself. (Hey, it’s not really happening, right?) Fiction provides a safe framework in which the reader can allow his or her “dreams” to flow freely, and to think about things that “could be.” This is important in a world where many people are afraid to let themselves ponder their true desires too much, lest they become utterly dissatisfied with their lives. As as Tim points out, clearly envisioning one’s dreams is the first step to attaining them.
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Jeff Nabers — March 3rd, 2012, 12:48 pm

Great post! I started reading trashy stuff last year like Bukowksi and James Patterson, but stopped because I didn’t want my head filled with junk.

Just bought several of these (happy to support you work through your links)—much appreciated!
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Emily — March 5th, 2012, 6:15 am

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. A story of redemption, freedom and make choices, even at risk of personal danger. Also a fantastic commentary on the French Revolution and people of that setting.
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Joshua — March 5th, 2012, 7:24 am

No book is familiar to me. C: Am I such an uninformed person? Well, I should check the books one by one and I think they are all engaging and interesting (I strongly believe in the recommendations of Tim Ferriss). I will start with Zorba the Greek. But I will search first if those books are available in our local bookstore that has very limited shelves. C:
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Dan B — March 5th, 2012, 1:01 pm

I’d have to put *Shogun* on that list, greatest book ever. Tim, I’m surprised with your love of strategy and that you are a self described japanophile that it didn’t make your list…..

Also, *City of Thieves*, read it in a day, you’ll thank me.
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Anthony — March 5th, 2012, 4:07 pm

Great Post Tim, i’m reading motherless brooklyn right now on my kindle and its awesome!

Reading non fiction books really does ‘calm your brain’ i found at times when i was working really hard its tempting to read more self help/business related books thinking its going to help me build my business. That couldn’t be further from the truth, and changing it up to a fiction book really helps you relax so when you start to work again, you’ll hit it harder!
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Zamon — March 5th, 2012, 5:57 pm

Tim,

What about Mr. Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brand New World’?
That book cracked my head open in a major way.
You hit the nail on the head with Musashi, one of my all time faves.
Domo domo!
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elizabeth mars — March 5th, 2012, 9:57 pm

I do not know if I would say it would convert anyone, but some wisp of me stays ever in the folds of “Their Eyes Were Watching God”.
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Humberto Gonzalez — March 6th, 2012, 5:23 am

Consider Metropole by Ferenc Karinthy. This coment from a reader in Amazon sumarizes the
Plot: Metropole” is a story of confusion written with absolute clarity. In brief the narrative tells of the Hungarian linguist Budai’s unaccountable stranding in a strange city (he slept on the plane that brought him to his destination, and paid no attention on the bus ride to the center of the city, imagining that he was on course on the way to a professional conference in Helsinki; he soon gets a very rude awakening).
http://www.amazon.com/Metropole-Ferenc-Karinthy/dp/1846590345/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331036172&sr=8-1

Enjoy!
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Marlon Paine — March 6th, 2012, 2:23 pm

If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino.

I’m a huge nonfiction fan, but this is my favorite book of all time.
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KWW — March 6th, 2012, 5:03 pm

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. I initially grabbed this because I have a fascination with gargoyles. Turns out it is a great book (not too many gargoyles) with many different stories within the main story. It starts out a little gruesome but it is also a great adventure, the Ultimate love story and a story of redemption. Great read.
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Craig — March 7th, 2012, 12:18 am

Hitchhikers Guide is classic! My pick of non-fiction books would have to be Fight Club, Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.

I’d have to say I prefer non-fiction and books that will improve my life or my businesses.

If I’m not reading about business, I’ve usually got my head stuck into travel books trying to decide where I should head to next!
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Zarathustra — March 7th, 2012, 2:26 am

I just wanted to second some of the earlier recommendations.

Ender’s Shadow – I think it’s actually better than Ender’s Game.
Catch 22 – Easily the funniest book I’ve ever read.
Neuromancer – worth reading for the imagery alone.
A Brave New World – A chillingly familiar story about how easily societies can be anesthetised into compliance.
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Ian — March 8th, 2012, 1:28 am

How about the Robin Sharma Ferrari books they are great.

Also thanks for voting my old school chum Nick Hornby onto the list. We used to cycle home together sometimes, seems strange to think he is famous now LOL!!!
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Rado1 — March 8th, 2012, 1:55 am

As I’m reading most of these comments it seems that reading fiction is just wasting of time and only self-improvement books are worth of time.

Don’t you feel boring yourself?. I read thousands of fiction books since my childhood and I see huge impact to my mind, fantasy, way of thinking. It’s not only way how to spend free time (Most of you are watching low-quality fiction in TV but refuse to read high-quality fiction on paper) fiction can learn you more than non-fiction.
Non-fiction can describe just situation that already happened. Fiction can describe people in very strange situations. You need to think together with the hero what to do next.
Sociology tries to study how people will behave in non-standard situations. Why? Writers done it already. They describe billions of non-standard situations and all possible human reactions.
Read them, think about them, learn them and improve yourself. May be better than by non-fiction books.
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daniel — March 8th, 2012, 11:43 am

sick ass post…
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Matt — March 8th, 2012, 5:43 pm

My one book? Catch-22. This book points out the ridiculous idea of war by being, well…ridiculous. Completely nonsensical discussions between the characters of this one will keep you coming back for more. After reading it once, you can go back and open any chapter and be completely engulfed in it again. Wonderful classic.
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Paul — March 9th, 2012, 12:11 am

The best book I have read in the last 10 years without a doubt is “Shantaram” by David Gregory Roberts. Enough said.
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Kathy Utting — March 9th, 2012, 10:45 am

A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole. Brilliant, off-beat and hysterical. Enjoy!
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Bill — March 9th, 2012, 11:23 am

The enemies gate is down.
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Khanh Nguyen — March 11th, 2012, 7:11 pm

Ahh you keep mentioning Zorba the Greek, I’m curious now, I’ll have to pick it up.

Recent book that Ive read and would recommend is ” A NEW Kind of Trailer Trash” By Brad Blanton, Great autobiography and a giant slap in the face in the end, Moralism, lol.
Cheers
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dael — March 12th, 2012, 4:00 am

anything by Haruki Murakami, except the short stories.

or

only the short stories by Yukio Mishima

or

Pattern Recognition by William Gibson

or

Mary and the Giant by Philip K Dick

or

The Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
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dael — March 12th, 2012, 4:05 am

second “A Prayer for Owen Meany”. definitely better than Garp. also, The Fourth Hand, and A Widow For One Yea, both by John Irving, are quite beautiful. he got richer and deeper as he got older.

Tom Robbins,” Another Roadside Attraction”. even though i last read it years ago, i still remember the haiku about the swallows. still blown away.
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Jon — March 12th, 2012, 8:03 am

‘A prayer for Owen Meany’ by John Irving.
The book deals with serious spiritual issues, such as the importance of faith, matters of social justice, and the concept of fate.
I’ve also got a soft spot for ‘Shibumi’ by Trevanian, a story of a displaced highly skilled assassin, with Japanese Zen undertones.
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pepe — March 12th, 2012, 4:08 pm

Neuromancer

William Gibson

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Matt Walsh — March 12th, 2012, 8:26 pm

The rest of the Dune series (5 other books after Dune) by Frank Herbet. Takes the leadership thing to an amazing conclusion. And it gets much weirder.
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Dave — March 12th, 2012, 9:12 pm

Don’t forget Michael Shaara’s “The Killer Angels” — not only a great novel about the battle at Gettysburg, but also real insight into leadership styles and results.

Shaara’s son Jeff Sharra continues the tradition. Check out “To the Last Man” — a novel about World War I that also focuses on General John Pershing’s challenges in building the production and “back office” infrastructure it takes to bring a country to war. Fascinating stuff and anyone who has ever had to deal with corporate BS to bring a new idea to life will identify with Pershing’s challenges.
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Wena — March 13th, 2012, 2:21 am

1. The Saga of Recluse series by L.E.Modisett Jr. Exploring the idea of different viewpoints of what constitute good and evil without religious terms. Follows a great train of logic that is reveal page by page. Also about balance of power represented by colors : Order (Black) and Chaos (White). The series starts off with Order being the “good guy” but other books also explore Chaos characters as the “bad guy”.

2. Books by Janny Wurst : explores the idea of extreme yet ruthless compassion. If you like Korean + Japanese culture, it’s her Empire Trilogy with Raymond E. Feist whereby the code of honour is very strongly tied to ruthless compassion. Her own books that stands out are “Master of Whitestorm” and “To Ride Hell’s Chasm”.

Both are relatively light reading (no longwindedness that bores me a lot) yet with very rich description and very engaging plot to the storyline. They explore human behaviour through stories simple for the layman to understand.

3. Adrian Mole Diary Series: The first one was great and the best one. By the time he got older, got too long winded. British Humour at it’s best and definitely he would have strived as a blogger.
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John — March 13th, 2012, 12:13 pm

In general, if an author is good he will lace lessons and his perspective through out the book. The better authors do it without you realizing it and you find yourself thinking about it or adopting the ideas, the mediocre hit you over the head with it (Heinlein, I’m looking at you and those ‘flashbacks to college’ from starship troopers!) Some authors play make believe with ideas of the future or past. Some authors examine and present philosophy and different beliefs, values and ways of looking at the world (my favorite.. tends to lead to personal change and self examiniation for self improvement), and some authors give just mind candy.

The diamond age is about 3 girls who are given self learning and teaching books, and how they develop the ability to think for themselves, through this teaching you independent thought.

Brandon Sanderson laces his book, very well, with lessons of leadership. All his books(mistborn, Stormlight archive, Elantris, lightbringer). All of them are amazing. Easily a favorite author.

Brent weeks in the night angel trilogy, examines the philosophy and morality of right and wrong, and what defines ‘wrong’. It’s not dry at all by the way. He does this through an amazingly gripping story of assassins, kings and magic.

Mythology and folklore tales often have amazing lessons. A few examples are A journey to the west, also called Monkey, from china teaches about Chinese view on the world and about the internal adventure of meditation and taoist development. Greek mythology teaches both psychology and life lessons. Grimm’s fairy tales teach life lessons as well. And can’t ever forget the odyssey.

John
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Michael V — March 14th, 2012, 4:40 pm

Hey Tim,

I saw in one of your videos you have a very comprehensive method of taking notes in your books.

I was wondering if you could elaborate on this or give any tips on the system you use.

Thanks!!
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Gregory Elfrink — March 15th, 2012, 5:34 pm

Well, I would say MY fiction works… but that’s a little bit too much shameless self promotion.

Ender’s Game is good stuff, I am actually reading Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide right now.

My favorite fiction series of all time though is A Prince of Nothing. It’s a trilogy in the fantasy genre and highly philosophical. You would probably like it a lot Tim.

It’s by Scott Bakker, if you do read it, let me know your thoughts
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Tim Feagles — March 16th, 2012, 12:05 am

“The Alchemist” By Paulo Coelho. Anytime I loose focus I give it a read. It is also the first book I gift to anyone who has shown interest in ‘doing something big’ with their life.
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Saurabh Hooda — March 20th, 2012, 1:25 am

‘My top books’ sort of article always generate maximum comments and replies. This post is no exception to that rule. your suggestions seem interesting, let me read a few. Btw, fountainhead and Atlas shrugged HAVE to be in this list
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Ulla — March 20th, 2012, 4:59 am

I’m guilty of exclusively reading autobiographies, mostly business people and natural leaders, although I have actually read Ender’s Game and have to agree it’s a fun read, even if you’re not really into that type of genre give it a try!
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Accounting Outsourcing — March 21st, 2012, 2:15 am

Excellent List. The first choice is brilliant. Zorba the Greek is one of the most exciting books I have ever read. I like the sound of Stranger in a Strange Land and Mushashi. I highly recommend Jack Kerouac’s work. You can start with On the Road or Dharma Bums to get a taste of his poetic prose. And don’t hate me if you end up with an entire line of kerouac books on your shelf.
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- Vishal — March 21st, 2012, 2:16 am
  
  I apologise. I read the comment rules (about names) after i had posted my comment.
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Marie — March 21st, 2012, 3:11 pm

Great list Tim,

And so many great comments.

But you forgot Atlas Shrugged by Ann Rand. Granted, a long book, but a strong theme of peservernace, leadership and bussiness savy!

Keep the blog entries coming!
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Graham Wheeler — March 21st, 2012, 11:55 pm

Good list. I’m also a rare fiction reader so it has to be really good. A few I’d add:

- Confessions of a Crap Artist (Phil Dick – non-sci-fi. Great because it is a simple story, very easy to read, but that really illustrates how different people’s perceptions of the same events are).
- Catch 22
- Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
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Carla Cenak — March 22nd, 2012, 6:44 am

I just want to ask if you’re thinking in offer a spanish ou portuguese versions of your blog. I know you have a lot of people interested in follow your ideas but is not so good yet in English like me and the traductors change the meaning of the ideas. Think about it… I’ll love to find it.
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Kurt Holle — March 22nd, 2012, 11:20 am

Hey Tim

Great list. Here is one amazing short story writer :Jorge Luis Borges from Argentina.He wrote about Funes el memorioso -a man who remembered everything and was so tortured by it he had to live in a dark room so he could acquire no new memories. He wrote about the structure of a labyrinthian library with every book in the universe. He wrote about the land of the inmortals where you meet a destitute and insane Socrates (I believe). He discovered the Aleph where all of the universe can be seen from one spot. Highly recommened author, perhaps the most deserving Nobel prize non-winner.
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Jonathan — March 26th, 2012, 2:27 pm

Just a quick note on Fahrenheit 451: it’s not about censorship, despite what most think. Bradbury himself said that the book was about how technology was (and is) destroying our society (see also: Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Martian Chronicles, etc.). The rampant misinformation about his book’s topic reached a head that, when he talked about its anti-technology theme to a literature class at UCLA, a student brazenly told the author that he was wrong.
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doctoream — March 28th, 2012, 11:58 am

Has read most of what’s on the list. Is confounded that not a single person mentions a single book by Mark Twain. Is fully aware that many of his books are banned because of overzealous political correctness junkies. However its important to recognize that Mark Twain wrote in the dialects that his characters would have used. Huckleberry Finn should be required reading for everyone. The encounter with the two con men on the river alone makes it worth the price of admission..

So many mentions of Dune makes me feel good inside. And apology to anyone who has only seen a screen version of Dune. No one has come anywhere close to succeeding with that.
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Robert Grey — March 29th, 2012, 9:04 am

Great article. Ender’s Game is actually one of my teenage favorites, and it definitely came to mind at times in college leadership positions.

I would like to add the classic “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley. It’s satire and sci-fi, though written in the 1930′s. Definitely read the foreword by the author hmself written in the 50′s, as he has a lot to brag about! (I think you will get it after you read it.)
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Charles — March 30th, 2012, 6:56 am

Tim – You must try The Witcher Series by Andrzej Sapkowski
So far translated into english:
-The Last Wish
- Blood of the Elves

Amazing stories: Quick rundown: A man genetically mutated to hunt monsters named Geralt of Rivia does a whole bunch of badass stuff involving . Boom.

Give them a shot, and I guarantee you will learn Polish just to read the untranslated books.
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BarnabyAlkire — March 31st, 2012, 7:06 am

250th COMMENT! #Winning! Haha Out of curiosity, Tim. Have you ever read The Lost Symbol? Or have study symbolism in general? It would seem that is an area of study that you would have picked up already in your life time. To your success and mine! Shalom.
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caroline — April 1st, 2012, 7:37 pm

Hi Tim,
My favorite all time fiction rec is Aztec by Gary Jennings.
Intelligent satire loaded with wry humor, action … a must read!!
Thanks for your book… when’s the next one??
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Jeremy — April 3rd, 2012, 11:35 am

I liked Fahrenheit 451, although I think we are becoming obsessed with the idea of an Orwellean future (just watched “In Time” which corroborated this.) or gasp, Hunger Games

I think i’ll check out enders game next. as always, thanks Tim.
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BrittanyKaye — April 4th, 2012, 10:30 am

Tim,

Re: your post about The Hunger Games and marketing, I have a minor point of interest. I bought a copy of the book today at a discount retailer, not yet having read any of the series, nor having seen the movie. I did so for three reasons:

-Every library copy within a 30mi radius has a 50+ person waiting list.
-The movie tie-in paperback has been raised to ~$10 at most retailers in my area.
-The original-design paperback is now only ~$6 at the same retailers.

I know sales figures aren’t really published, but it’d certainly make for some interesting reading. This may be fairly common but it’s the first time I’ve experienced it firsthand!

Thanks for all you do,
Brittany
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Una Bachinski — April 6th, 2012, 8:06 pm

“The Diamond Age: or A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer” by Neal Stephenson

Without knowing its contents, the title is misleading. It is one of THE best hmmm…sci-fi/cypberpunk novels I’ve ever read (William Gibson being the other AWESOME author in that genre).

Definitely a book to add to your “100 things to do before I die” list.
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Daniel — April 6th, 2012, 8:33 pm

I see it’s been mentioned multiple times already, but Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Do yourself a service and read it.
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Cameron Kingsbury — April 8th, 2012, 6:42 pm

Totally thought Tim meant that spice was a superdrug/cum/jetfuel as I’m a bit behind in my knowledge of latin conjunctions. It fits pretty well.

I’m a big fan Tim, I just picked up your books a week ago and looking forward to your next! Reading dune now as well
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Kawika — April 8th, 2012, 7:25 pm

World War Z!!!! The best Zombie novel for those who hate zombie novels, while also delving into the human condition as it relates to catastrophic events.
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Jonathan — April 9th, 2012, 2:22 pm

Do yourself a favor and never pick up an Ayn Rand book unless all you’re looking for is to be beaten over the head with an obnoxious philosophical system developed by an immense hatred of the Soviet Union conjoined with an infatuation with an idyllic interpretation of capitalist society.
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Christian — April 11th, 2012, 10:08 am

A Bend In The River by VS Naipaul. One of the problems I have with a lot of fiction is that to read another persons’ excessive descriptive writing is tedious – writers like this (most writers) tend to write with the intention of creating characters that readers identify with. Really great writers (Naipaul is one) ignore the reader and tell the truth of a matter, fiction or not, and as a consequence you identify with the writer and not the characters he’s created. A time saving tip to avoid crappy fiction: look at the list of Nobel Prize Winners In Literature, then read their best known works. It’s a great filter, provided you have patience and reasonable intelligence.
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Jose Lira — April 15th, 2012, 4:45 pm

I´m just like that, haven´t read fiction in years! Thanks for the list man, it will certainly help; I´ve been wanting to get some interesting books for a while, and this sound like a scrumptious path to follow.

Gracias !
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Paul Baker — April 16th, 2012, 10:01 pm

I would suggest the John Rain series of thrillers by Barry Eisler. Really well written series with good research into characters and plot along with reflections about today’s political/social/economic arenas.

Great article.
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Jason — April 22nd, 2012, 7:00 am

A great scifi book is The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi. Not only well written but very inventive.
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Carol — May 10th, 2012, 11:06 am

Fools Die by Mario Puzo; has everything, Over the years, I have given this to a lot of people as a gift, they all loved it.
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Kirill Pavlov — May 18th, 2012, 11:11 am

FIASCO by Frank Partnoy
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sunanda — May 25th, 2012, 1:34 am

thanks fr the list ,as non fiction addict its a way through…!!
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Vincent Wondra — May 31st, 2012, 8:32 am

I completely agree with Ender’s Game being on the list. It’s an absolutely brilliant book.
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tattoo fonts — June 5th, 2012, 10:12 pm

Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was
super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any recommendations for first-time blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.
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Kid Bowery — June 13th, 2012, 1:41 pm

Lit for the non-fiction reader? #1 – A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan; #2 – A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami; #3 – Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, also by Haruki Murukami
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Ricardo — July 13th, 2012, 5:05 am

Nice List I will certainly check it out.

I am just wondering how I didn’t see any book from Isaac Asimov, for me he’s the king of sci-fi. A nice one is Foundation its a must read.

Thank you for the list anyway.
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Pam — July 27th, 2012, 10:19 am

I just purchased “Zorba the Greek” based on your recommendation, I look forward to reading it
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Tony Naples — November 23rd, 2012, 6:42 am

I read science fiction as an adolescent including 4 on this list on this list,
Heinlen, Vonnegut,Bradbury, etc… If the author enjoys Stranger, and Farneheit, I sugges the read a large variety of Sci-FI books from these and other authors as well as jump into Vonnegut with gusto, Cat’s Cradle, Slaughterhouse Five (a mix of fiction and non-fiction)
These books form the basis for my interest only in History and Biography!
Self Help books?….a waste of time…You only need one…”Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten”
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Bernard Brandt — December 1st, 2012, 12:54 pm

In answer to your question, “Which one fiction book would you choose to convert a non-fiction devotee to the world of imagination?” I would recommend my first novel, “Bad Trip”.

I don’t mind saying that you were a primary inspiration for that book, Tim, and the title that you gave yourself in FHWW (‘Retired Drug Dealer’) finally prompted me to make the transition from reader to writer.

I actually think that YOU might like the book, after reading a line from TFHC, in which you said “It felt like I was holding the Necronomicon in my hands”.

What if the Necronomicon were a real book?

What if Rex Stout or Roger Zelazny had written a Cthulhu Mythos story?

I invite you to go to the Amazon page of Bad Trip, which may be found here:

http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Trip-ebook/dp/B00AA3PDB8

Enjoy.
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Neeru Tuteja — December 30th, 2012, 7:09 am

The Quest of the Sparrows is a great and meaningful book. I found it one of the best books I have read. It answered to many of my questions of life through an interesting story that touches the heart. It’s a must read for youth in these turbulent times of unrest.
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Charlotte Henley Babb — January 7th, 2013, 2:13 pm

If I were in charge of re-writing the what you have to read list in school, all of these books would be on it, starting with Stranger in a Strange Land. Beside of Huckleberry Finn, it’s the great American novel of the 20th Century, attacking every sacred cow and the very things that make us American–and ugly Americans. Oscar Wao and Motherless Brooklyn are now on my to-read lists.
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Alyssa — April 4th, 2013, 4:08 am

Top fiction books for me is really by one author, Malcolm Gladwell. 1. Outliers 2. Tipping Point 3. Bllink 4. What the Dog Saw.

Interesting reads that will manipulate the way you view things.
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