Non-Fiction

Biography

Titan by Ron Chernow

 A well researched biography that deals with myths and legend of John D. Rockefeller. It details the building of empire of Standard Oil. In his day richest man probably next to or equal to Carnegie.           " There is a crime behind every big empire".

Computer Books

Palm Programming for the absolute beginner by Andy Harris

Learn to Program with Visual Basic 6 by John Smiley

 

Religion

A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
by Karen Armstrong
The book that clarifies, summarizes and explains the origins of major religions in a historical context. If there is one book you want to read, this is it.

The Masks of God : Creative Mythology
by Joseph Campbell

The common origins of all religions are explored in this remarkable book that points to similarities in mythological origins of religions supported by research.

The Future of an Illusion -- by Sigmund Freud

The father of psychoanalysis, gives an illuminating view of psychological necessity of religion making the claim that all religions demand that you check your intelligence before entering a house of worship.

The Analyst and the Mystic : Psychoanalytic Reflections on Religion and Mysticism
by Sudhir Kakar

An Indian Psychoanalyst gives a cohesive view of Hinduism in context of psychoanalysis.

 

Social Sciences

The Great Disruption : Human Nature and the Reconstitution of Social Order -- by Francis Fukuyama; Paperback

A George Washington University professor details the disruptive impact of modern society.

High Tech/High Touch: Technology and Our Accelerated Search for Meaning -- by Nana Naisbitt

Our fascination with technology as a solution to our search for meaning explores the attempts and impact of technology on the search for meaning. An interesting exposition is also included of the current artist's exploration of the human body.

The New New Thing: A Silicon Valley Story -- by Michael Lewis

The silicon valley is explored in its early heady days

The Eye of Spirit : An Integral Vision for a World Gone Slightly Mad -- by Ken Wilber

A masterful attempt at organizing the eastern and western thought.

Flow : The Psychology of Optimal Experience -- by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

The meaning of happiness explored and a practical ideas of acquiring happiness in your life!

The Lemming Conspiracy : How to Redirect Your Life from Stress to Balance (Includes Bibliographical References)
by Don Hutcheson,

Written by a salesman and a psychologist going through a mid-life crisis

Understanding Men's Passages : Discovering the New Map of Men's Lives
by Gail Sheehy

Men going through midlife crisis are interviewed and their attempted solutions

Science

Consilience : The Unity of Knowledge
by Edward O. Wilson,

Pulitzer prize winning author of ANTS makes an attempt at a scientifically informed basis of social sciences and political ideas

The science of the mind
by Owen J. Flanagan
What is all the fuss about the new discoveries of modern neuroscientists? From Descartes to Freud to modern neuroscientists, a large ground is covered by a philosopher of science!

Biotechnology Unzipped : Promises & Realities
by Eric S. Grace
Everything you want to know about the promises and facts of biotechnology

 

 

 

Fiction

The Cairo Trilogy : Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, Sugar Street (Everyman's Library)
by Naguib Mahfouz

A masterful trilogy by the Egyptian Noble Prize winner of life in 20's Cairo offers a fascinating glimpse of the view of Muslim society and a view behind the veil.

Moors Last Sigh
by Salman Rushdie

A lyrical novel that travels from India to Spain

A Man in Full : A Novel
by Tom Wolfe

Tom Wolfe considers himself in a class with Mark Twain and Charles Dickens gives a fascinating account of Real Estate Moguls in Atlanta.

Ascetic of Desire: A Novel -- by Sudhir Kakar

The author puts himself in the context of learning from Vatsayana, the author of Kama Sutra

 

All the King's Men -- by Robert Penn Warren

The only novel by the poet gives a disguised account of Huey Long, Governor of Louisiana in 20's. A masterful piece of fiction to be read a few pages at a time.

The Emperor of Ocean Park
by Stephen L. Carter

The highest pay out for a first novel in publishing history and well deserved. The first novel about African American elite that is a chess game and a murder mystery all at the same time. Brilliantly written.

Audio Books (audible.com)

No ordinary time

by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Private life of FDR and Eleanor explored in the context of WWII. interesting tit bits of FDR and Eleanor's affairs.

Understanding Islam

by Thomas Lippman. A lengthy and contemporary view of Islam with historical references from the time of Prophet Muhamed. Some discussion of Koran and an attempt at explaining the current problems.

Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

The beginnings of beat generation.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Simple and straightforward money management.

Jazz by Ken Burns

The easiest introduction to Jazz

Maestro by Bob Woodward

Alan Greenspan depicted in political light

Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Life of rich in NY Upper East Side viewed by Nannies