Must Read

[LonelyGhost]

okay, I have read every book in my own library and more than a few in the university and public libraries and if I had to pick one "Must Read" book to recommend to anyone else it would be Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield.

This book recounts the tale of the 300 Spartans and other Greeks who fought off the invading Persian Army of purportedly 100,000 (including the 10,000 Immortals) for almost a week! The book has well developed characters, intrigue and suspense and some of the best battle scenes ever described.

I have always been an avid reader of both Greek history and mythology and got my start with the Illiad/Odyssey and had always used that story as the benchmark for any book I read thereafter ... Gates of Fire is a new benchmark.

What is the one book that you would recommend as a 'Must Read' of any genre and why? I will try to read everything recommended here if I haven't already read it.

 

[Swguy]

"Neuromancer" by William Gibson. Book one of his Sprawl series. The defining book of the Cyberpunk age.

"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel."

Book two is "Count Zero" and book three is 'Mona Lisa Overdrive". All 3 are excellent, but Neuromancer is the best.

Also worth a read by Gibson is his compliation of short stories called "Burning Chrome". At least one of the stories is set in a ner future Vancouver (Gibson lives here). Also include the story Johnny Mnemonic which was the basis for the movie wih Keanu Reeves. The story is much better than the movie.... MUCH better.

 

[Hit Man]

I think a "must read" is whatever book one happens to be reading at the time. I'm about 2/3 through Journey into Darkness (John Douglas) and, while disturbing, it's a great read. If I had to choose a single "must read" I think it would be Shakespeare, The Complete Works simply for the variety.

 

[OTR2]

I'm busy working my way through Wilbur Smith's series of books set in South Africa.

 

[Oldfart]

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn brilliantly explains how our civilization got so screwed up we're literally driving ourselves into extinction, and suggests how we might be able to save ourselves. The main character, Ishmael, is a huge gorilla who communicates by telepathy. After you read it you will likely be moved to read Quinn's other novels, The Story of B and My Ishmael.

 

[bill clinton]

"Killing Pablo" by Mark Bowden. the story of the hunt for Pablo Escobar.Bowden,s narrative style of writing puts you in the"Hunt".

"Hells Angels at war" by Yves Lavigne. Lavigne is the foremost on the Angels,his insight into the gang makes for a good summer read.

enjoy.