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Books I've Actually Read & Recommend
62
items A growing collection of books I've personally read and genuinely recommend. From philosophy and existentialism to mythology, literary fiction, dystopia and the strange corners of human experience. No filler, just books I can actually vouch for. Happy...
Sections
7
The Fiction I Keep Thinking About
Books for the Terminally Curious
Wonderfully Weird Books To Read
Books That Will Make You Question Being Human
Dystopian Books That Feel Uncomfortably Relevant
Greek Mythology Without the Boring Bits
The Fiction I Keep Thinking About
Stories that refused to leave my head after I finished them.
One of the most humane books I have ever read. Vonnegut's wry humour reminds me of British wit
Slaughterhouse-Five: The Graphic Novel
This is a brilliant work of fiction. Please go and read. This is a short book, easy to read as this was written for children, do not let that deter you from picking this up. I always read this once every year.
Little Prince Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
A work of fiction that stays with you long after you have read. This is an amazing work of art, Steinbeck's writing is powerful, and human. It does not seem alien or far-fetched. Do give this a read.
East of Eden
The Plague by Camus is a brilliant work about a doctor in the midst of a pandemic. I read this during Covid lockdown and loved it. Give it a read, you cannot go wrong with Camus.
The Plague Albert Camus
A wonderful book by such a brilliant writer. One of the hidden gems from Vonnegut. This book shows the Socialistic side of the author. Please do give this a read, it has Vonnegut's wry humour as well. No reason to skip this.
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Kurt Vonnegut
Vonnegut's semi-autobiographical work, I say semi as this book defies any genre I know of. One of the hidden gems from Vonnegut, a brilliant book, that delves into his mind. This book is rife with his stylistic humour. You cannot go wrong if you love...
A Man Without a Country Kurt Vonnegut
My most favourite work of Camus, too bad he died before finishing this. This was an autobiographical novel, I would definitely recommend this if you want a glimpse into his life.
The First Man Albert Camus
Camus' first novel. Read it if you love absurdist literature.
A Happy Death
Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine is the best book to read when you want to remember your Summer days from childhood. This is a hidden gem, and a brilliant work of literature.
Dandelion Wine Ray Bradbury Barnes & NobleBookshop.org P Books Dandelion Wine Ray Bradbury
A book that pushes the medium of the written word. This book is phenomenal. I would recommend going in blind. This book is emotionally charged as it looks at grief from the perspective of a child. I have only read this work once, but it has left a de...
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Jonathan Safran Foer
I always loved how jazzy the work was. Please do read this book, this work is magical, and the prose is how I would imagine jazz would be if it were written down in English language.
On the Road
If you love British humour, you definitely have to read Douglas Adams. He is a genius of utilising paraprosdokian sentences (A sentence which start somewhere, but takes a sudden turn at the end). One of the best works of fiction I have read, of a dif...
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Updike has a certain way of writing that is alluring. Do read all of his books in the trilogy. This is the first part of the trilogy
Rabbit, Run
Books for the Terminally Curious
Dinosaurs, ants, whales, evolution, consciousness and everything else that makes the natural world weirdly fascinating.
A great insight into the political landscape of India that seeks to answer how the people's psychology works when it comes to voting. The reader will understand how India's voting scene is different from the rest of the world, particularly, the Globa...
Why India Votes?
An interesting take on the Indian epic "Mahabaratha' and how Guha reconcile's dharma and the ethics of the epic.
The Difficulty Of Being Good On The Subtle Art Of Dharma Gurcharan Das
A great book for people curious as to why religion and politics drive a wedge between people.
Righteous Mind Jonathan Haidt
An insightful look into love in the 21st century. This book is small enough to read through one sitting.
The Agony of Eros byung chul han
Hofstadter's views on identity and his polymathic digressions are definitely worth reading. This book is definitely heavy, and not easy to read, but worthwhile.
I am a strange loop Douglas R. Hofstadter
An insight into the mind of a brilliant person, who was imprisoned for homosexuality during the last days of his life. The book itself is short, written as a letter to his lover Lord Alfred Douglas
De Profundis
An insanely cool book about people who were once famous, but are now largely forgotten by people living in the 21st century. Highly recommended.
Banvard's Folly Paul Collins
A book that explores Linguistics, and Anthropology. This book argues that our ancestors first sang, which eventually evolved into language. A brilliant book that leaves you pondering long after you have finished it. If you a fan of Anthropology, plea...
Singing Neanderthals Steven Mithen
The Author argues for architects to design buildings for other senses apart from the eyes, that is, design should incorporate other senses as well. I have not personally read a lot on architecture for me to comment on this book, but I definitely look...
The Eyes of the Skin Juhani Pallasmaa
A book on ‘Cliodynamics’, this book is a must read for those who love Politics, and are curious to know how patterns exist all over the world when it comes to revolutions and revolts. Highly recommended.
End Times Peter Turchin
A great introduction to Science for people wanting to understand. This book does an amazing job of explaining (nearly) everything. I love Bryson's writing style, his British wit is always present and I enjoy that immensely.
A Short History of Nearly Everything
A touching book on pets, and how we have lived with them. An amazing book that shows how we have always loved and enjoyed keeping pets.
Barnes and Noble Bookshop.org Books The Animals Companion People and Their Pets in History John Bradshaw The Animals Companion John Bradshaw
Chalmers' book is a brilliant read that delves into Technophilosophy. Go in blind, I am sure you will enjoy this book. One of the few books that genuinely blew my mind. This books talks about the possibility of us living in a simulation and other goo...
Reality David J Chalmers
A book about Shani (Sani), a Graha and one of the deities of the Navagraha ( Nine planets) of Indian pantheon. This books delves into the Astrological significance of Saturn along Saturn's mythological origins. An intersting read. This is a niche rea...
The Greatness Of Saturn Robert E Svoboda
I always enjoy reading Graeber. He has written a book that we can all easily relate to, the scam that are jobs. Do read. The irony is that I read this while at work, 10/10 would recommend.
Bullshit Jobs David Graeber
A book I would recommend if you are interested in learnig more about bugs. This book was clearly written with love and passion, and I am here for it.
A Buzz in the Meadow
To consolidate the history is a tall undertaking, but the Durants have done a great job of it. My only gripe is that it is a Eurocentric view of history that they mostly portray. One of the short books that you can definitely enjoy and finish in a si...
Lessons Of History Will Durant
I have not read many books on ants, but this has to be the best. Wilson's passion oozes through his work. Highly recommend this if you love to read Science books. I can attest that Wilson's passion is contagious. I have a newfound respect towards ant...
Tales From The Ant World Edward O Wilson
An amazing book on whales. Read it if you are curious to know more about those wonderful gaints of the sea.
Spying on Whales Nick Pyenson
This book argues against Human intelligence, and I am here for it. A phenomenal read. This book has taught me alot, and I definitely recommend this. Get this if you love psychology, evolutionary biology, and philosophy. You would not be disappointed.
If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal Justin Gregg
Everyone should read this book that delves into our biases and heuristics. If you want to know why we are irrational, read this book, it is far more accessible than Kahneman's works. Highly recommended.
Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition
If you are a fan of Myhtology, please do read this. This is a wonderful scholarly wok on the mesoamerican mythology. This is a niceh book, only get if you are curious about Mythology.
Fifth Sun Camilla Townsend
A must read if you like dinosaurs.
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
This book delves into the cartographic history, as to how maps were made, and about explorers who mapped our world. Highly recommended, the maps in this book are gorgeous as well.
The Golden Atlas
A book that gives us reasons as to why to trust our ‘gut’ and insticnts. I would recommend this book to those who love psychology.
Gut Feelings Gerd Gigerenzer
A book that showcases how consciousness came about. This book is phenomenal and a treat to those who love psychology, and those who want to learn more about consciousness.
Metazoa
Have you ever wondered why everyone apart from you are annoying and people just want to get in your way? I did too, it is a very human phenomenon. Read this book to understand why we do that. Brilliant book for those who want to be more self-aware, a...
Mistakes Were Made (but Not By Me) Third Edition
Wonderfully Weird Books To Read
Strange, unsettling, fascinating books that made me wonder, "How did someone even think of this?"
Lovecraft is a master of cosmic horror. Do read if you are a fan of horror or want to begin reading cosmic horror. This is a collection of short stories, so you an read one or two per sitting. Highly recommended.
The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories
There is something off about the stories of Aickman. They are not in the strictest sense scary, but there is something that gets under your skin to make you uncomfortable. To do that in the medium of writing is no easy feat. This is one of the niche ...
A Cold Hand In Mine Strange Stories Robert Aickman
Ito is a master of horror. The medium of manga does not give a lot of space for exploring the theme of horror, but Ito proves us wrong. In particular, Tomie is a beautiful introduction to Ito. Tomie is a creature that makes men lust after her and eve...
I think this also talks about how women are commoditised by men who only look at them as objects.
Irrespective as to how you feel, this book is a masterpiece. Managakas have the tough job of even drawing out the story, and no one better than Ito when it comes to horror. Please do not think much about buying this if you like horror. Trust me, you ...
I think this also talks about how women are commoditised by men who only look at them as objects.
Irrespective as to how you feel, this book is a masterpiece. Managakas have the tough job of even drawing out the story, and no one better than Ito when it comes to horror. Please do not think much about buying this if you like horror. Trust me, you ...
Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition
Dan is one of my favourite podcast hosts (No such thing as a fish, and the cryptid factor). His humour is quintessentially British and his idiosyncrasies really shine in this book. Please go give this book a read if you want to learn obscure and weir...
The Theory of Everything Else
This is a wonderfully niche book on pineapples. Why are they called a variation of ‘ananas’ in many languages, as to how it cost as much as a carriage back in the day, and how it was a symbol of prestige and power. All about this simple fruit we all ...
Pineapple King Of Fruits Kaori O Connor
The niche book is lal about the history of handshakes. Why do we shake hands of people, and do other cultures do the same? This wonderful book has the answers.
The Handshake
This book is a horrifying read, one that would make us glad to be living in the 21st century. It is all about horrying and amazing medical cases and ailments and how people used to treat them before modern medicine. Truly eyeopening, and a fun read.
The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth
Books That Will Make You Question Being Human
Books that explore what makes us human, and what happens when we lose sight of it.
The Fall by Camus is a small treat you can read in one sitting. Do read this.
The Fall Albert Camus
My first foray into Kundera. This book is wonderful and written in a different way form most ficiton books as Kundera addresses you sometimes as a narrator directly by reffereing to himself in the first-person. He also brings certain philosophical th...
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Milan Kundera
My first foray into Japanese literature. Dazai's work is a fascinating glimpse into a troubled man's psyche.
No Longer Human
Nabokov's mother tongue was not English, but Russian. Perhaps that is why he was able to create prose that feels so remarkably close to poetry. This book is about obsession, and it is abhorrent. Only Nabokov could write something so sinister and, at ...
Lolita
Dystopian Books That Feel Uncomfortably Relevant
Imagined worlds that feel a little too close to our own.
A brilliant work of dystopian fiction that I would consider to be an OG Black Mirror episode. Highly recommended.
Brave New World Aldous Huxley
I can hardly think of an other smartly crafted book. Deliciously insidious, and the scariest part is how feasible the premise is. 10/10 would recommend. The first novel that I remember devouring, I finished it in one sitting as it was super gripping.
1984
A delicious book by Bradbury with the premise of firefighters burning books in a dystopian world. It was a pleasure to read this book. Relavent in this post-truth world we live in.
Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury
A book that harkens to the Hobbesian nature of man. This one kept me on my toes all the while. Do read.
Lord of the Flies
Greek Mythology Without the Boring Bits
Gods, heroes, monsters, betrayal and tragedy. Greek mythology at its most entertaining.
Anything by Sephen Fry is great, more so for his work on Greek Mythology. Definitely buy this without an afterthgouht if you love mythology. You cannot go wrong with this book.
Mythos
Anything by Sephen Fry is great, more so for his work on Greek Mythology. Definitely buy this without an afterthgouht if you love mythology. You cannot go wrong with this book.
Heroes Stephen Fry
Anything by Sephen Fry is great, more so for his work on Greek Mythology. Definitely buy this without an afterthgouht if you love mythology. You cannot go wrong with this book.
Bookshop Troy Stephen Fry
Books That Made Me Think About Death
Books that confront mortality, meaning, and the strangely brief business of being alive.
Camus' most famous work, and rightly so. It is wonderful, and the protagonist is detahed from everything, eerily so, which is evident from the first lines of the novel. Do give this a read.
Barnes & Noble The Stranger Albert Camus
I could name a only a few people in my life who has impacted me so much, and becker is one of them. This book talks about what it is to be human (Culture, Hero worship, Existentialism). It changed my perspective, I am sure it would do for you too.
The Birth and Death of Meaning Ernest Becker
This book talks about how cultures deal with death. One more book that has impacted me, and my view on life. Becker's books have altered how I perceive the world, and I always hold that to be a hallmark of an amazing book. A good book may be fun, but...
Denial of Death Ernest Becker
It is fascinating that humans have always been humans. The same trials and tribulations have been harassing us since we can remember. This book is a trail in silencing those demons, written by Marcus Aurelius, a stoic who practised what he preaced.
Meditations