List of 19..

Here is a list of English non-fiction books I want to read. I am happy that they made to the number 19 - a favorite number of mine. (Some links point to German Amazon website where as others point to the US-website)

Color code - Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Philosophy, non-cateorized,

1. Selfish Gene [LINK]
   
   What is selfishness? A vice... or a virtue ... or a trait? I had read a good portion of this book some months back; had to break. Now, I am reading it again... from start.
   

2. The First Three Minutes: A Modern View of the Origin of the Universe [LINK]
   
   The title explains everything... doesn't it? This book too is in my night stand. I might need 2-3 more sessions to finish this.
   

3. Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs, from Communism to Al-Qaeda [LINK]
   
   Again, the title says it all. This too is in my night-stand. I would take a month to finish this huge-volume.
   

4. Physics for Future Presidents [LINK]
   
   The simple physics we need for day-to-day life - to find out the way the media is fooling us (eg.). And many other interesting stuff.
   

5. Astonishing Hypothesis: The Scientific Search for the Soul [LINK]
   
   Brain theory.... I don't know much to give an explanation.
   

6. How to Calculate Quickly: Full Course in Speed Arithmetic [LINK]
   
   I guess, I am pretty fast at doing math in mind. Still I could try to improve a little. Why not? Right?
   

7. The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe [LINK]
   
   This is probably the largest and most difficult of the books here - half mathematics and rest physics - I would have to break my head to understand this (eg. Riemann surface and stuff like that).
   

8. Consciousness Explained [LINK]
   
   Well.. Philosophy? I don't know! :(
   

9. The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design [LINK]
   
   Anti-GOD. And the title explains it again.
   

10. Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon [LINK]
    
    Partly culture, partly biology, partly philosophy and psychology - this is what I would say. A study about/on religionS - not a specific one.
    

11. God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything [LINK]
    
    I don't dare to explain it in other words, when the title says it very crisp and clear.
    

12. The Last Lecture [LINK]
    
    The book by Late. Mr. Pausch - the professor who died of Pancreatic Cancer. Inspirational, I would say.
    

13. Bookless in Baghdad: Reflections on Writing and Writers [LINK]
    
    Again, vague idea. I like this author - Mr. Tharoor.
    

14. Quantum Mechanics and Experience [LINK]
    
    Again physics - need to get QM clarified.
    

15. Woman: An Intimate Geography [LINK]
    
    After all, I need to know the *important* stuff. Shouldn't I?
    

16. The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Cell Phone: Reflections on India: The Emerging 21st-Century Power [LINK]
    
    India .. India .. India! and Mr. Tharror.
    

17. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything [LINK]
    
    Some basic stuff I wanted to learn - for a better living in these times of financial crunch.
    

18. Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions [LINK]
    
    This could perhaps be the most imaginative stuff; or rather abstract. This could help me understand relativity better.
    

19. The Modular Brain How New Discoveries in Neuroscience Are Answering Age-Old Questions [LINK]
    
    Again, in the same class of Astonishing Hypothesis from above.
    

Well, I am not sure - when will I be able to finish all these books. Assuming, that I finish 2 books/month ... or may be 3 books in 2 months, I'd need about a year+.

Let me see.

There is a list of papers (Math and CS) which I want to read; I might have to forget fiction for a while. Or once in a while, pick up an easy-airport-read and finish it in a couple of days.

Signing off, Sands.