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Fantastic Books for Avid Readers
22
items This is a list of books I've read throughout my lifetime that have left both an impact and a yearning to read more, no matter the age. Unlike certain boring reads we were assigned to go over in the declining U.S. education system, these books are mea...
Sections
9
Broadcasting
Contemporary
Faith
Fantasy
Finances
History
Broadcasting
Anyone born/raised in the U.S. has an idea of who Al Michaels is. The 80 year old broadcaster is still calling NFL games, though he's on Thursday night. But before Michaels was the broadcasting face of American football, he was known for calling base...
You Can't Make This Up: Miracles & Memories
Contemporary
Educational detailed books on issues taking place today in global societies.
This short, easy-to-read and well written book touches on contemporary issues from the Ferguson, MO. protests to Palestine's resistance against colonialism. Much of what came out with this book nearly a decade ago still applies today.
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle | HaymarketBooks.org
My favorite book in adulthood so far. Helen Yaffe took a long time to study, visit, theorize and piece together how the 1959 Cuban revolution has shaped the nation, region, and relations with the United States. While there's emphasis on how Cuba's ev...
We Are Cuba! - Yale University Press
Faith
A quick, small read that helps one build up inner confidence, reinforce positive thinking, and empathize with readers that what's going on in life will both get better while giving oneself grace.
Dear Me, Thank You For Existing by Hogoè Elimiera
Fantasy
Novels focusing in fictional worlds. This section will have a number of series and include a lot of creative, fun universes anyone can become obsessed with.
I heavily debated putting these up. Despite controversies with author J.K. Rowling, this was a great series both two decades ago and now. The magical wizarding world has a lot of good creativity and its long-running and well-known themes on current s...
Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)
A good number of us have read at least one of the books (or one of the movies) throughout our lifetime. The consistent messaging about taking the high ground even in troubling times, should reinforce a lot of people should use introspection on even t...
The Chronicles of Narnia
My all-time favorite fantasy novel series. The creativity in language, species, violence, story-telling and world building makes this a great and long reads. Young adults wanting something fresh, fun and realistic should make this a priority to read.
The Inheritance Cycle
Finances
Books with financial information and education. While some might be outdated, they should make you think about what else we can all improve on; from budgeting to getting out of bankruptcy.
An easy book to read given how David Ramsey asks great questions to start almost every page and gives full, detailed answers on how people can stay ahead, get out of debts, budget better, and what financial tips/accounts help most. Given when this bo...
The Money Answer Book - Ramsey Store
History
Historical books from almost any time period. Most books in here are educational and carry valuable lessons.
One of the best books written on the British empire's rule in colonial days. Focusing on Nigeria, the Caribbean and India, Peter Fryer presents the grim reality of how awful brutal colonization was by Great Britain.
Black People in the British Empire - Pluto Press
An educational, fascinating and gruesome read on the Belgian Congo. Starting with King Leopold II's obsession to be a great power, the book explores how central Africa became an awful, corporate state due to Leopold privatizing the region and making ...
Red Rubber: King Leopold II's Regime
Piers Paul Read puts together a great, chronological order of how The Templars came to be, the history of the Crusades leading up to the founding of the order, and what happened to the Knights after/at the end of the crusades. This is a great book th...
The Templars: Read, Piers Paul
James Reston Jr. wrote an excellent book that focuses on both the Christian, British King Richard the Lionheart and the Muslim Sultan Salah ad-Din Yusuf. The book bounces back and forth between Richard and Salah's lives, how they got to lead their em...
Warriors of God: Richard & Saladin
People
Books touching on people who've had a significant impact on history around the world. They range from sports figures to political revolutionaries.
The now deceased co-founder and creative brain behind mega company Microsoft, Paul Allen lived a very interesting and full life. From hilariously wild phone calls from NBA stars on the Portland Trailblazers, to all-out screaming matches with best fri...
Idea Man: A Memoir by Paul Allen
If you ever watched professional ice hockey, the name Mike “Doc” Emrick has been said at some point. Although he retired five years ago after Tampa Bay became COVID-Cup champions, Emrick was the voice of the National Hockey League for almost two deca...
Off Mike: A Kid from Indiana's Journey
Science Fiction and Space Fantasy
Books set in space with magic or science elements.
Considered book zero of the Star Wars series, James Luceno's awesome novel about Darth Sidious' master Darth Plagueis is a fun, great read. The main mastermind of conflict in the prequels trilogy, Plagueis' genius planning, patience, cunning and (som...
Darth Plagueis (novel) |
Anyone wanting to get into the famous Star Wars series or diehard fans of the first six movies should get and learn more about what's expanded on in the movie novels. Not everything written can be put in a movie, but many questions will be answered w...
Amazon.com: Star Wars Boxed Set: Episodes I-VI
Philip K. Dick's dystopian novel set after an alternative ending to World War 2 is an interesting read. Some points brought up will make one think, “What If?” at certain areas, while other points are just silly due to how things went after the war wh...
The Man in the High Castle
While I did read this in high school, I technically chose and wanted to. Therefore it's not one the system forced on me. Regardless of what you think of H.G. Wells, this quick read from 1895 leaves one stunned, horrified and curious about how time mo...
The Time Machine
Sports
Great books that touch on specific sports topics such as rivalries, golden years and times of turmoil
The Battle of Alberta is about the rise of the NHL's Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. Set back in the 1970s, the book chronicles how both teams came to be, their inevitable, nasty, and glorious rivalries in the 1980s and early 1990s, their champio...
The Battle of Alberta: Historic Rivalry
I heavily debated which category to put this in. The former famous American football, broadcaster and video game creator could've gone in several categories, but sports makes the most sense. From the beginning of the book to the day he died in late 2...
Amazon.com: Madden: A Biography
This was another book I struggled to pick which genre it should go in. Sports was appropriate due to how it never strays from its core points. There were two chapters I either didn't agree on or found close to useless (that's because this book is a b...
Forty Million Dollar Slaves: Rise and Fall
The NFL's current oldest head coach has a philosophy unlike other. A branch from the storied, old days of Bay area American football, Pete Carroll's mindset of always competing on-and-off the field has made him one of the rarest head coaches of any t...
Win Forever: Live Like a Champion eBook