Book recommendations...

[DSM]

I used to be a huge reader when I was younger, but over the last few years, I have hardly read a thing, I genuinely haven't had time.

So, I was hoping some kind people could give me some recommendations in the following genres? I don't want to ask in RL as there are likely some classic, obvious ones that I don't want to admit to not having read

Maybe some non fiction on existentialism, environmentalism, philosophy and science, maybe some Chomsky, or Yeates, or Keynes? Though I don't know much about them.. Terribly embarrassing

As for fiction, well, I am not sure what I would like. Some essential classics possibly.

Basically just some interesting and not too taxing reading.

I have looked at '100 best' lists and things, but as I am not going to buy 100 books to find which ones I would like, and I don't like to judge a book by its cover I was hoping for some advice?

Thank you in advance

Go to charity shops and browse - that way you can buy cheaply so will feel less disappointed if you don't like the book.

Am not good on the genres you have listed, sadly. Although you could try to fight your way through read Sophie's World, a novel about the history of philosophy.

If you like sciency books, this one, Alternative Science, is a TOP read. I love it! All about how great inventions, such as planes, telephone, electric lights etc. were discounted as hoaxes... and newer ones of course.

Fiction - need more guidance on genre.

Thank you, I did look at books in a few charity shops, but they all looked terrible.. a lot of Jackie Collins type of thing (not my thing).

There are quite a few second hand bookshops that I have been to, but they aren't cheap so I don't really want to have to buy anything without more idea about it than what it says on the back, to be honest.

I will look into that one, thank you.

For fiction.. I am not sure. Possibly mystery-ish (based on the fact I enjoyed the Famous Five as a child ) but not really into detective stories, wouldn't mind trying out some fantasy, thiugh have attempted to watch LOTR film and did not enjoy it.. wouldn't imagine I would be greatly into romance but one never knows.

I love the wasp factory, and To Kill a Mockingbird, if that helps at all?

woo, not sure.

Well - books I really like are massively numerous and quite all over the place.

For fantasy, you can't really beat Terry Pratchett - a good intro is Good Omens, which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman and is a piss-take of the Omen storyline. V. funny. The Discworld books are good but it does rather help to start at the beginning (although not essential) and the first 4 are a bit hard going, until he hits his stride as a writer (imo).

For black humour, but is also detective-type stuff of the darkest and strangest, you could try Christopher Brookmyre - he is very Scottish, some dialect in there and some anti-English feeling. Good books though, with excellent titles. (e.g. boiling a frog)

For chicklit, I would suggest Marian Keyes - her stuff is pretty well-written and dances along without taxing the brain too much, but also without mulching it. Not heavy on the romance, more the opposite!

For classic humour, maybe P.G. Wodehouse?

Classic must-reads are a bit more difficult as I find some of them too much like hard work but did like Wilkie Collin's Moonstone (bit of a mystery book). Pride and Prejudice, despite the romance, is always a good one.

The Kite Runner is one of the must-reads of recent years - quite harrowing in places though.

Alexander McCall Smith - No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series is lovely - beautifully written. Less keen on his Edinburgh series but they're ok.

Well, there are a few ideas there - hope that helps!

Thank you very much thumbbunny.

Will attempt a Terry Pratchett. Might be taking it a bit too far for me, but I would like to try.

Christopher Brookmyre and Alexander McCall Smith sound interesting, I do enjoy Irvine Welsh so might be a good shout, will look that up. Like reading/watching anything about Edinburgh, gives me a sense of comfort

Will definitely try the Kite Runner, not seen the film but thought it looked interesting, so will read that.

Really not into chicklit, even tried some dodgy looking book a friend had in Ibiza last year, couldn't get past a few pages. However, people keep telling me to read this Marian bloody Keyes woman, so I will give it a go. I think my Mum has one of hers actually, so no need to buy!

I too find classics hard going, have tried a few and didn't enjoy it. Tried Moby Dick, couldn't get into it at all

Thank you for your suggestions so far!

I have some more thoughts.. I also enjoy more 'male' orientated reading, for example I mostly read music related books, and authors like Danny Wallace, which is apparently more aimed at men. Not sure if this helps with suggestions.

lol at Marian bloody Keyes woman - depends on which one your mum has, my favourite is actually Rachel's Holiday, which starts off standard chicklit but then moves along into drug/alcohol rehab. Extremely well written, and I thought very well researched until her first autobiog thingy came out and she confessed to being alcoholic, which explains it!

Moby Dick - I bought that as one of the Penguin classics when they were doing them very cheaply - couldn't get past page 10. Ditto Les Miserables, Don Quixote - all still waiting for me! Dumas' The Three Musketeers is better though.

Don't know Danny Wallace, so can't comment on those. Will keep thinking...

I enjoy Danny Wallace and Dave Gorman too and blokey books! Tony Hawks books are in that silly dare genre too and are quite a good read.

The rest of my suggestions are all a bit American even though I'm not!

Lunar Park by Bret Easton-Ellis is very good. It's a sort of fictional autobiography.

I'm thinking if you liked The Wasp Factory, Chuck Palahniuk might be worth a look if you can deal with the sweariness. I particularly enjoyed Choke and Survivor - not so much his later novels. Douglas Coupland is good if you don't mind geekiness. Jpod and Microserfs are fun.

The Phineas Poe stories are quite a dark, noir detective series that I enjoyed (not usually into detective stories!)

Erm.. I'm out of ideas. I really need to read more.

Environmentalism - Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

Bill Bryson books are easy non-fiction reads

Thank you everyone.

Will give this Chuck Palahniuk, sweariness is fine, nothing offends me

And Douglas Coupland, I will look for him, I like geekiness as well.

And will try Silent Spring, I love Bill Bryson so if you recommend him along with this book, I shall take heed!

Thank you all.

DSM - Why not try some Naomi Klein? She's populist and what everyone seems to read for anti-capitalist politics these days.

And for fiction you could try "Atomised" by Houlbeque (sp?), which is many years old but a bit shocking (still) and very easy to read.

And philosophy, well, this is a weird recommendation, it's not existentialism, or politics and may not be your cup of tea at all but "Being in Time" by Genevieve Lloyd is an odd little book about time and death and memory. It takes a bit to warm up but it is quite lovely. But maybe one to save for when you have more time. (And definitely one to borrow, not buy.)

For science and philosophy some to consider:

The moral animal, Robin Wright (US) or The Orignins of Virtue, Matt Ridley (UK) - basically the same book but I personally think the US version is a better read.

Darwin's Dangerous Idea, Daniel Dennett

The Blank Slate, Stephen Pinker

Freakonomics, Levitt and Dubner

I picked this up somewhere and just loved i - a collection of the great psych expts of the last centural with follow-ups: Opening Skinner's Box, Lauren Slater

For general philosophy I think you can't beat Sophie's world, J Gaarder - it's fiction really but a fantastic overview of general western philosophy.

If anyone reading recognises my taste and can recommend more reading - I've been too busy until recently and would love to pick up something.

Moby Dick is unreadable!

Deffo go for some Jane Austen.

Bill Bryson's 'Short History Of Nearly Everything'

Yes to Douglas Coupland - although he still hasn't written the utterly exquisite book that I think is inside him somewhere, he is still worth reading.

Chuck P's 'Lullaby' is v good but I must admit I haven't liked his others anywhere near as much.

Existentialism? Mmmm.....? Brighton Rock?
Pincher Martin?

Maybe some Camus or Kafka?

hmmph- microserfs is pretty near Janeite!

Near but not quite perfect, methinks! I pick up every new one of his with trembling fingers in the hope that this one will be THE one.

Got the book and mag this morning - thank you.

I have very much enjoyed several of Jared Diamond's books, particularly Guns Germs and Steel, and Collapse. They're very readable and thoughtprovoking, kind of a combination of science, environmentalism and economics exploring why some societies have been more successful than others in surviving long term.
I wouldn't recommend Keynes or Chomsky myself, I don't think that either are particularly easy reads.
JK Galbraith is good if you want some basic economics for a lay reader.
I wasn't particularly taken with Freakonomics, I think it is very basic stuff repackaged and pretending to be new. But its entertaining enough in its way.
If you are interested in political philosophy, The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin is a fabulous novel exploring how an anarchist society would work in real life.