I read more non fiction books than fiction, even not taking into account the books that are related to my profession.
Most of them regard our local politics in a wide sense, which, as most of Italian things, is particular, funny, despicable, tasty or just messy. They keep publishing one after the other new block busters that easily exceed a million copies each. I more or less read all of them to argue with fellow commuters or to follow the debates on TV, which are better than movies. In the class of Hellzapoppin'.
I want to point out
three non fiction books that I keep going back to, to refresh a notion or just to re enjoy a particular concept.
The Clash of Civilizations
that one can
read on line, download and build himself an ebook or buy the
pdf for 99 cents.
It's 18 years that it was published and it raised quite a turmoil. I find it very useful.
A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russel that I keep reading since I was in high school. Sony Bookstore carries it but watch out it is faulty.
The Rhetoric of Aristotle.
I got mine from Adelaide. We have it on MR from the same source.
Of the whole book I keep going back to the first chapters of book II, where the emotions, the various types of human character and the gifts of fortune that may influence them, are examined and discussed in the typical Aristotle way, that is systematic, detached, clear and down to earth. A very useful legacy 2300 years old, in plain English, pure gold.