 ochoin  | 21 Jan 2015 7:23 a.m. PST |
An eclectic range (like the previous list) I'd suggest your choice speaks of who you are rather than the intrinsic worth of your chosen five. |
| Winston Smith | 21 Jan 2015 7:38 a.m. PST |
A lot of dodgy unreadable stuff there. |
 Parzival | 21 Jan 2015 10:03 a.m. PST |
The Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and Common Sense are *not* books. They are a formalized statement, a government charter, and a pamphlet. Yes, everyone should read them (if you wish to understand America and its influence on the world), but they aren't books, and should not be on the list. The Federalist Papers should be read by every US official (repeatedly, apparently), but I wouldn't expect that of everyone. On the other hand, it's like the world's greatest Internet debate, minus the idiocy, before there was an Internet!  As for the rest, I will always select those works that have influenced most greatly how we arrived at where we are, or that best capture the human condition on the widest scale, so as to understand why we think the way we think. Others are really only "must reads" for the sort of people who like to read those sorts of books! (Even the sort I like to read.) |
| Old Contemptibles | 21 Jan 2015 10:22 a.m. PST |
As Parzival says the "U.S. Constitution" and the "Declaration of Independence" are not books and should not be on the list. You can make the case that the "Federalist Papers" should not be on this list. |
 Stosstruppen | 21 Jan 2015 11:04 a.m. PST |
I agree on the D of I its not a book by any stretch. However the Federalist Papers, Common Sense, and the Constitution have been in book form for quite some time now. |
| Pictors Studio | 21 Jan 2015 12:33 p.m. PST |
Being in book form and being books are two different things. Common Sense might be a book, although it is really a pamphlet, the Constitution is not. I'm surprised that those scored as well as they did while two of the books that served as much of the philosophical underpinning of them, Harrington's Oceana and the Discourses by Machiavelli, did so poorly. |
| pmwalt | 21 Jan 2015 5:51 p.m. PST |
As much as I enjoy the Declaration and Constitution, they shouldn't have been included in the poll (nor should we see Magna Carta when we get to the M's |
| Mute Bystander | 21 Jan 2015 6:18 p.m. PST |
Whatever, I voted based on what is listed. |
 Jlundberg | 21 Jan 2015 8:25 p.m. PST |
I would have included the Federalist papers if it was for US readers |
| Who asked this joker | 22 Jan 2015 7:08 a.m. PST |
You should read all those books that interest you honestly. I could suggest but you might end up not being interested in my suggestions. "No opinion" is the closest for me. |
 Flashman14 | 22 Jan 2015 11:29 a.m. PST |
Was there a collection of the Anti-Federalist Papers in the first poll? Those are in some ways better as they anticipate many of the problems we fave today. |
| Maddaz111 | 22 Jan 2015 5:00 p.m. PST |
again too many great reads to make a good decision… |
| Alfred Adler does the Hobby | 23 Jan 2015 5:16 a.m. PST |
When I saw the Hemingway choice it immediately reminded me of that hilarious scene in 'Silver Linings Playbook'… |
| Tom Bryant | 26 Jan 2015 8:39 a.m. PST |
I',m surprised Machiavelli's Discourses scored so lowly. Anybody who hasn't read that really should. Its in many ways superior to The Prince. You really get a sense that old Nick didn't care for despotism in that read. |
find wargaming inspiration in his DNA results? Probably!
