The 100 greatest non-fiction books

jgaiser · 06-14-2011, 08:29 PM

A list of 100 non-fiction books put together by the Guardian newspaper. Some interesting titles.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011...-fiction-books

Namekuseijin · 06-15-2011, 11:12 AM

I see some 20th century pop best-sellers labeled under science, but not the groundbreaking works. A list lacking Newton's "Principia" in science can only be joking.

Music too few (1?), philosophy about right...

JSWolf · 06-15-2011, 11:15 AM

Again with a list like this, some are trash and some that should belong are left out. But there are also some good ones there too.

jgaiser · 06-15-2011, 11:44 AM

Yeah.. Not a great list. Comments on the site I originally found the link are trashing it pretty hard.

Penforhire · 06-15-2011, 12:13 PM

What, no Hunter S. Thompson?

Freud but no Jung? No Carl Sagan?

I can see where this list is impossible to get much agreement on but it still represents a decent reading list if someone doesn't know where to start.

JSWolf · 06-15-2011, 12:16 PM

It's overall trash.

Ransom · 06-18-2011, 09:11 PM

Rather amazing that anyone would put Plato's Symposium on a list like this and yet leave off The Republic.

Xanthe · 06-19-2011, 02:53 AM

It may not be a good list for those of you who regularly read non-fiction, but for others who never do and don't know where to start, it's a good jumping off point to introduce them to the subjects.

These type of lists aren't directed at people who read non-fiction; they are directed a people who never read it. And since reading is so subjective, what some people consider essential is not always considered in the same light by others.

JSWolf · 06-19-2011, 09:49 AM

To be honest, that list is a bit dull overall.

DiapDealer · 06-19-2011, 10:05 AM

How in the world is Nietzsche's Thus Spake Zarathustra considered non-fiction? It's a novel featuring a fictional prophet.

Ransom · 06-19-2011, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

How in the world is Nietzsche's Thus Spake Zarathustra considered non-fiction? It's a novel featuring a fictional prophet.

Hah! Good catch!

TGS · 06-19-2011, 10:44 AM

Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is a great book. Hands up if you've read it or have it on your TBR list.

wyndslash · 06-19-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is a great book. Hands up if you've read it or have it on your TBR list.

TBR, but i've yet to get to that yet *sighs, eyeing her TBR list*

TGS · 06-19-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyndslash

TBR, but i've yet to get to that yet *sighs, eyeing her TBR list*

I'd say it's pretty impenetrable on your own - I spent a year reading it with three hours of one-to-one seminars a week and grew to love it. Henry Allison has a very good commentary.

wyndslash · 06-19-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

I'd say it's pretty impenetrable on your own - I spent a year reading it with three hours of one-to-one seminars a week and grew to love it. Henry Allison has a very good commentary.

actually, i do enjoy those types of books more if i can discuss it with someone and understand it better xP

06-14-2011, 08:29 PM	#1
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	The 100 greatest non-fiction books A list of 100 non-fiction books put together by the Guardian newspaper. Some interesting titles. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011...-fiction-books

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06-15-2011, 11:12 AM	#2
Namekuseijin affordable chipmunk Posts: 1,290 Karma: 9863855 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brazil Device: Sony XPeria ZL, Kindle Paperwhite	I see some 20th century pop best-sellers labeled under science, but not the groundbreaking works. A list lacking Newton's "Principia" in science can only be joking. Music too few (1?), philosophy about right...

06-15-2011, 11:15 AM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,226 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Again with a list like this, some are trash and some that should belong are left out. But there are also some good ones there too.

06-15-2011, 11:44 AM	#4
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Yeah.. Not a great list. Comments on the site I originally found the link are trashing it pretty hard.

06-15-2011, 12:13 PM	#5
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	What, no Hunter S. Thompson? Freud but no Jung? No Carl Sagan? I can see where this list is impossible to get much agreement on but it still represents a decent reading list if someone doesn't know where to start.

06-15-2011, 12:16 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,226 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	It's overall trash.

06-18-2011, 09:11 PM	#7
Ransom Banned Posts: 242 Karma: 51054 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belleville, IL Device: Kindle-3	Rather amazing that anyone would put Plato's Symposium on a list like this and yet leave off The Republic.

06-19-2011, 02:53 AM	#8
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	It may not be a good list for those of you who regularly read non-fiction, but for others who never do and don't know where to start, it's a good jumping off point to introduce them to the subjects. These type of lists aren't directed at people who read non-fiction; they are directed a people who never read it. And since reading is so subjective, what some people consider essential is not always considered in the same light by others.

06-19-2011, 09:49 AM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,226 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	To be honest, that list is a bit dull overall.

06-19-2011, 10:05 AM	#10
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,375 Karma: 203720150 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	How in the world is Nietzsche's Thus Spake Zarathustra considered non-fiction? It's a novel featuring a fictional prophet.

06-19-2011, 10:44 AM	#12
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is a great book. Hands up if you've read it or have it on your TBR list.

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