I need a book!

[Blackmage]

I've not had a decent book in years. I think the last time I did read a book, was when I was 15. Now when I was younger (9/10) I used to love roald dahl. I also use to read the encyclopaedia.

I do prefer books based on science, like the structures of atoms or information on planets. I also do like books based on theory's, Like something based on the world, becoming under rule of one government.

Now this would be the first Personal book I've read in 6 years, so I really need something to capture my mind.

Why now? your probably thinking. well I just realised that I spend about 4 hours on transport travelling a day and i'm wasting them.

So what would you recommend?

[Salazaar]

There are hundreds of great books out there, I can recommend a few good ones I've read recently (all fiction BTW)...

In no particular order:

Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Dune - Frank Herbert (but less so the sequels)
The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
Watchmen - Alan Moore
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke

[SiM]

Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

[Mithrandir]

Any books by Enid Blyton or H G Wells.

Sorry, I too have not read too many books lately so my suggestions are limited. I used to play the DS and 'brain' games. Mind you I saw a new title out for the DS which has 100 classic books.

[Steve B]

I do prefer books based on science...

Try Cryponimicon by Neal Stephenson.

Like something based on the world, becoming under rule of one government.

How about Orwell's 1984, or Huxley's Brave New World?

[Gerrard]

I read a friend's book back at uni called "In Search of Schrodinger's Cat" by John Gribbin, which was a brief summary and explanation of Quantum Physics/Mechanics. Didn't follow it all, but was I thought it was a good read. I think there were also others about time travel, but never got around to finding those.

[Moby-Dick]

"blind Faith" by Ben Elton

[GAteKeeper]

Hyperspace - That will get you thinking in circles
Anything by Aurther C Clarke - I like the RAMA series

Easy reading:
Harry Potter series

[Saracen]

Well, one perhaps slightly obscure book would be "Longitude" by Dava Sobel and William Andrews.

This is NOT a novel ...... exactly. It's the story of the search for longitude, which required the development of an accurate clock for use on ships, because without that, accurate navigation was more guesswork than science. So it IS a book about a critically important aspect of science (and a rather interesting one at that), but at the same time, it's about the competitiveness, the political intrigue, international warfare, and so on. It's not just the actual science they cover, but the social context in which the hunt took place, and the £20,000 prize the British Government offered, which in 1714 was a LOT of money!!!

It's not a dry historical treatise, and in places, in reads like a novel. Indeed, it's quite a page-turner. But at the end of the day, it's both fact-based, educational and a damn good read.

The original book was by Dava Sobel. The version I prefer is the "Illustrated" one, with William Andrewes' illustrations, because they make it come alive.

This is not a book I thought I'd enjoy, but a friend lent it to me and it was captivating. If you just want a novel for the train, it may not be for you. But if you want something as captivating as most novels, but factual and scientific (as opposed to sci-fi) as well, then give it a look.

[educatedfool]

Bill Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything

Reading this at the moment and so far its great.

[JK Ferret]

The Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy
The Da Vinci Code (as SiM said), Digital Fortress, Angels And Demons - all by Dan Brown
Harry Potter is a damn good read, even if initially aimed more towards younger people.

[hibby]

For some good Sci-Fi reads try Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Ian M. Banks and Frank Herbert. Peter F. Hamilton does a good space opera too.

Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels are always good for a laugh, plus have some great insights into society.

Depends how much you want to wade through, but I'd definitely recommend The Count Of Monte Cristo to anyone who enjoys reading - although at 1200 pages it's quite hefty. Other classics can also be found on the Project Gutenberg website, all out of copyright and thus free to download (if you can cope with long .txt documents).

I'll stop there before this post triples in length with the addition of other genres.

[tibbsey]

All the Terry Pratchett Discworld books.

[Dareos]

I tend towards fantasy rather than anything else, and have a ton of recommendations that side of things, but to steer away from that for the moment.

Iain Banks - Espedair Street or The Crow Road

Ian Rankin - Mortal Causes or any other of the early Rebus books, the later ones are just as good, but you want to get a feel for the character.

and on the fantasy track..

Robin Hobb - Assassins Apprentice

George Martin - A Game of Thrones

David Gemmell - Waylander or Legend

[finlay666]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Choke-Chuck-...4715693&sr=1-4

Same guy that wrote Fight Club, it's meant to be really good

[megah0]

Try Richard Feynman's autobiography