If Books Could Kill..

[Coll]

I'm an avid reader and am leaning ever increasingly to the thought that well read is associated with intelligent.

I was just wonder what some of you blokes liked to read.

War and Peace, Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Art of War, Machiavelli, A Wrinkle in Time, Wheel of Time, The Killer Angels, Animal Farm, and 1984 are some of my favorite reads of all time. I'm also a big fan of history (obviously) and frequently scourge the library of any history books involving some of my topics.

[Cattraknoff]

Catch-22, The Art of War, A Song of Ice and Fire (mid-way through book two now :)), and a few others... I've not read fiction in the past as much as I have more recently. I've come to gain something from it, so long as that continues, I'll continue reading it. I've always read a lot about history though, and I can say without pride or arrogance that I know a good deal more about the workings of history, human nature and politics as a result than most. Although that's saying very little in truth, as most don't care to know absolutely anything about those subjects. Ignorance is bliss, it seems. Too bad they don't know or care that it means their own enslavement.

[Locke]

Against the Day was a great book (penned by Thomas Pynchon).
As well, Neuromancer (William Gibson); Shikasta (for that matter, any Doris Lessing book whatesoever); Lord of the Rings; Shakespeare (I revere him); Isaac Asimov (any piece of literature he authored); Tad Williams' Otherland series; and many others (comprised predominantly of sci-fi.)

I was wondering, has anyone here read A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking? And if so, what was gathered from it by you?

Edit: Ender's Game and subsequent sequels were brilliant.

[oboehart]

I don't read much fictional material anymore, but I used to really enjoy it. My favourite books are usually those that let you escape into another world; allow you to get a glimpse of another person's life experience. I also really enjoy complex books about relationships, and the interaction between people. For me, if a book doesn't have any character development, I don't like it. It can have the greatest plot in the world, but I don't get engaged unless I get to know the characters.
Recently, I've mostly just been reading the newspaper, as well as MacLeans and Time magazines. (As well as a few books for research: I read one about nuclear power, one about economics, and one about Free Trade.) I don't find these nearly as enjoyable to read, but like Catt said... "Too bad they don't know or care that it means their own enslavement" I'd rather be well versed on topics, than be left in the dark.