I've been told that I need to supply a list of books that people might buy me as presents.If anyone has any recommendations, I would be grateful...

If you're looking for easy-to-read fiction book...I'd recommend having a butchers at Anthony Horowitz Scorpa book which I found highly entertaining....ok so it is meant for teenagers but still found it an excellent book.........

Can you be specific about your favourite genres?

I'm long on SciFi, PolSci, military history, philosophy. Random science books including the mandatory Feynman's.So I'd rather diversify, though I've identified a gross hole in that my geology, which is absurdly out of date.I don't really get on with crime books, they just irritate me, and have enjoyed few biographies.People rarely buy me books, my house closely resembles a library and thus people don't even try, except for the occasional Dilbert and a Pratchett that was acquired by force. Though in general I hate fantasy, a lot. One life goal is to be rich enough to hire someone to hate Fantasy for me, since it consumes too much of my life

Hmm...so how about some decent fiction/literature?

Try the books written by Edward Rutherford:- London- Sarum- Russka- The Forest- DublinAlso an interesting book by a chinese guy who won a Nobel Prize in literature:Soul Mountain And why not all the books by Paulo CoelhoNoam Chomsky has written many interesting books, I would classify them between sociology and political science.If you are interested by political science, try "Democracy and its critics" by Robert Dahl

QuoteAnd why not all the books by Paulo CoelhoI read the Alchemist by Paul Coelho - I found it to be one of the most overrated, and pretentious books ever written. It put me off the rest of his work. I will second "Soul Mountain", as it was translated by an acquaintance of mine, and it was an enjoyable read.My 2cents...

Alchemist is a very good book except fort he ending which was well...least said about it the better............As forthe rest of his book............I'd give them a miss although his latest one is meant to be very good...

A fine balance by Mistry is also a classic read...highly recommended

i'll second soul mountain,but also under the frog, by tibor fischer. basketball, communism and romance - it nearly made me cry.

I'm not sure about your flavor in philosophy (vs. literature), but I'm quite a fan of Sartre's plays both from a philosophical and a dramatic point of view. Bonus if you can read French. Camus also wrote some nice stuff.Dostoevsky was more intense and I wasn't able to appreciate him as much after the age of 16.To this date, the only novel I have been able to read cover to cover has been "The Catcher in the Rye"If you like poetry, I have other ideas, depending on your more specific tastes.Language books can also be good reads, especially when they have lots of pictures...

Nahjul Balagha - Peak of Eloquence by Ali ibne Abu Talib (as)

QuoteTo this date, the only novel I have been able to read cover to cover has been "The Catcher in the Rye"My favourite novel as a teenager, nearly displaced by A Confederacy of Dunces. I would recommend both to DCFC if you have not already read them.

"I'm long on SciFi, PolSci, military history, philosophy. Random science books including the mandatory Feynman's.So I'd rather diversify, though I've identified a gross hole in that my geology, which is absurdly out of date."C.oDunces was quite good. I have recently read "Origins of the Crash", which was very good, and Derman's book, which was also very good.I actually just read a couple of Penrose's general books for the first time. "Shadows..." stands out.You mention SciFi, of which I am not a fan, but I always recommend Delillo's "White Noise". It isn't really SciFi, but it was great.So far as history, I have recently read the following, which I enjoyed: "Thermopylae" by Bradford, "Hannibal's War" by Lazenby, and "Michelangelo and the pope's ceiling" by King.