Book Nook Cafe discussion

5 of my all-time favorite books


Stranger in a Strange Land
Best introduction to grownup sci-fi: Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein. Paul Allen and I fell in love with Heinlein when we were just kids, and this book is still one of my favorite sci-fi novels of all time. It tells the story of a young man who returns to Earth after growing up on Mars and starts a new religion. I think the best science fiction pushes your thinking about what’s possible in the future, and Heinlein managed to predict the rise of hippie culture years before it emerged.


Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story
Best memoir by a rock star: Surrender, by Bono. This book came out this month, so it’s the most recent one I’ve read on my list. If you’re a U2 fan, there is a good chance you already plan to check it out. Even if you’re not, it’s a super fun read about how a boy from the suburbs of Dublin grew up to become a world-famous rock star and philanthropist. I’m lucky enough to call Bono a friend, but a lot of the stories he tells in Surrender were new to me.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Best guide to leading a country: Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. I can’t read enough about Abraham Lincoln, and this is one of the best books on the subject. It feels especially relevant now when our country is once again facing violent insurrection, difficult questions about race, and deep ideological divides. Goodwin is one of America’s best biographers, and Team of Rivals is arguably her masterpiece.


The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
Best guide to getting out of your own way: The Inner Game of Tennis, by Robert Gallwey. This book from 1974 is a must-read for anyone who plays tennis, but I think even people who have never played will get something out of it. Gallwey argues that your state of mind is just as important—if not more important—than your physical fitness. He gives excellent advice about how to move on constructively from mistakes, which I’ve tried to follow both on and off the court over the years.


Mendeleyev's Dream
Best book about the periodic table: Mendeleyev’s Dream, by Paul Strathern. The history of chemistry is filled with quirky characters like Dimitri Mendeleyev, the Russian scientist who first proposed the periodic table after it allegedly came to him in a dream. Strathern’s book traces that history all the way back to its origins in ancient Greece. It’s a fascinating look at how science develops and how human curiosity has evolved over the millennia.

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5 of my all-time favorite books

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I loved Stranger in a Strange Land when I read it. I always think of it when the work "grok" appears anywhere (crosswords, mainly).

Everyone who mentions Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln says that's it's a wonderful read. I've been meaning to read it for years. I should make it a priority.

Mendeleyev's Dream sounds interesting, too.

Thanks, Alias, for another interesting list of books.

Petra wrote: "I loved Stranger in a Strange Land when I read it. I always think of it when the work "grok" appears anywhere (crosswords, mainly).

Everyone who mentions [book:Team of Rivals: The Poli..."

Yes, I read Team of Rivals and it's good.

I have to remember "grok" for when I do my mini NY Times crossword ! Thanks.

I echo the Team of Rivals recommendation.

Stranger in a Strange Land was a favorite when I was a youngster. You used to come across the word ‘grok’ in everyday speech and writing, but I rarely see it now. Team of Rivals, of course, is great. I never heard of, and certainly wont ever read the rest.

Ditto on Team of Rivals!

I agree with Petra, Medeleyev’s Dream sounds intriguing. I cannot recall whether or not i read Stranger or not. I read a number of his sci-fi pieces, though. I’ll have to check. Good list, Alias.