Thread: The 8 books Neil DeGrasse Tyson recommends smart people read.

For me, I don't think you have to read the Bible to reach the same conclusion, and so I would replace it with The Prophet by Khalil Gibran, to remind us that poetry can be found everywhere.

I hope this ist did not come from some shared facebook post and it has been verified as not some clickbait

Originally Posted by Maanaam

The 8 books Neil DeGrasse Tyson recommends smart people read

No Robert Ludlum?

meh

Mein Kampf by Hitler should be on the list so that history does not repeat itself and a 80 million people around the world did not die in vain.

Funny that he didn't mention "Cosmos".

Of this grouping, only one volume is truly worthy.
# 7

#7 is definitely a good one, but have you considered his reasons to read the books?

7 is needed on here

^ Keep your enemies closer than your friends?

I' ve read most of them. Prefer John Grisham.

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Mein Kampf by Hitler should be on the list so that history does not repeat itself and a 80 million people around the world did not die in vain.

Ditto: Karl Marx

Type of list pretentious college freshmen quote to their dates - having read none of them. I doubt anyone has read them. Other than #7, which I own. There's probably a #1 around here someplace, as well.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Type of list pretentious college freshmen quote to their dates

A bit of a superior statement that. Would you call being superior "pretentious"?
Perhaps not.... if the cap fits.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I doubt anyone has read them.

But you own 25% of them. Why would you own them if you don't want to read them? Talk about pretentious!
I bet The Art of War is subtly displayed somewhere, or prominently on a bookshelf where visitors will see it. Do you have MENSA Bulletin or MENSA Magazine also casually thrown on a coffee table?

I assumed everyone has read Swift.

I think you miss the point of the list. Of course almost nobody is going to read On The Origin Of Species unless they're a biology/history researcher. Almost nobody is going to read The System of The World, ditto but physics history.
I hadn't even heard about 2 of the titles, and have only a Bible at home, out of that list.
It's all about the import of what they're about.

Neil deGrasse Tyson's 6 favorite books

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I doubt anyone has read them.

Required reading for some college majors.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

A bit of a superior statement that. Would you call being superior "pretentious"?

Originally Posted by Maanaam

But you own 25% of them. Why would you own them if you don't want to read them? Talk about pretentious!

You're really grasping with this stuff. Not really sure at what though....

Originally Posted by uncle junior

Required reading for some college majors.

I have a double major in International Affairs/Government and English Literature. I never had any of them on a required reading list. I read Gulliver's Travels as a kid, I have a Bible around someplace from 6th Grade Sunday School, and a copy of The Art of War that someone gave me in one of my bookcases somewhere. I am aware of the themes of the other five, but have never read them, nor do I plan to do so.

Originally Posted by redhaze

You're really grasping with this stuff. Not really sure at what though....

I appear to have touched a nerve by not raving over these selections; no idea why.

Originally Posted by redhaze

You're really grasping with this stuff. Not really sure at what though....

Just noticed he started the thread; that must be it.

I tried to read the Bible once. Shitty implausible plot and inconsistent character development.

*Boom tish*

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Keep your enemies closer than your friends?

I know the quote has been credited to Sun Tzu,…….and I’ve read 3 interpretations of the book but could not find that quote (my signature). However you can hear it here,……

I'm still cautious as to what passes as connected independent intelligence.

Originally Posted by redhaze

You're really grasping with this stuff. Not really sure at what though....

Hmmm, no, It's just a topic for discussion. I didn't endorse, in fact I offered my own replacement of one title, which I notice you didn't.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I read Gulliver's Travels as a kid,

But said you doubt anyone has read any of the titles while asserting it's pretentious to claim to have read them.... then claimed to have 2 out of the 8!
C'mon, Davis, don't do a Dr Bob on me.
I can't be bothered pointing out the other Bobish BS you're posting here.....be gracious, or not.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

I’ve read 3 interpretations of the book

Davis might argue with you on that because he doubts anyone has read even one interpretation. Three is Impressive! Kudos to you.

I am intrigued about the quote and your assertion; It's going off topic for the thread, but I would be interested to know who you attribute the quote to.