CHUD's 500 must-read books - Page 2

Catch-22 was going to be my next pick, actually, although I haven't read it since high school. Still, seems like bad form to edit the list midway through.

1. Watership Down - Richard Adams
2. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon.
3. 1984 - George Orwell
4. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
5. The Dead Zone -- Stephen King
6. The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
7. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
8. Ender's Game -- Orson Scott Card
9. House of Leaves -- Mark Z. Danielewski
10. Homicide: A year on the Killing Streets--David Simon
11. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
12. The Call of the Wild- Jack London
13. Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
14. Henry V -- William Shakespeare
15. The Rules Of Attraction - Brett Easton Ellis
16. Animal Farm-George Orwell
17. Lord of the Rings-J.R.R. Tolkein
18. 8 Million Ways to Die--Lawrence Block
19. The Friends of Eddie Coyle--George V. Higgins
20. Master and Margarita--Mikhail Bulgakov
21. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
22. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
23. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
24. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
25. The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Choke - Chuck Palahniuk
27. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Dee Brown
28. Gravity's Rainbow - Thomas Pynchon
29. Swag - Elmore Leonard
30. The Satanic Verses- Salman Rushdie
31. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
32. Einstein's Dreams - Alan Lightman
33. Shella - Andrew Vachss
34. The Lords of Discipline-Pat Conroy
35. I, ROBOT - Isaac Asimov
36. The Good Soldier Švejk - Jaroslav Hašek
37. Replay - Ken Grimwood
38. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
39. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
40. The Book of the New Sun- Gene Wolfe
41. The Inferno - Dante
42. A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking
43. Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
44. The Black Dahlia - James Ellroy

Ellroy at his best. Greater than even LA Confidential. With none of the pretensions that have marred his latest works. The movie doesn't hold a candle to this.

1. Watership Down - Richard Adams
2. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon.
3. 1984 - George Orwell
4. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
5. The Dead Zone -- Stephen King
6. The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
7. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
8. Ender's Game -- Orson Scott Card
9. House of Leaves -- Mark Z. Danielewski
10. Homicide: A year on the Killing Streets--David Simon
11. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
12. The Call of the Wild- Jack London
13. Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
14. Henry V -- William Shakespeare
15. The Rules Of Attraction - Brett Easton Ellis
16. Animal Farm-George Orwell
17. Lord of the Rings-J.R.R. Tolkein
18. 8 Million Ways to Die--Lawrence Block
19. The Friends of Eddie Coyle--George V. Higgins
20. Master and Margarita--Mikhail Bulgakov
21. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
22. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
23. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
24. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
25. The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Choke - Chuck Palahniuk
27. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Dee Brown
28. Gravity's Rainbow - Thomas Pynchon
29. Swag - Elmore Leonard
30. The Satanic Verses- Salman Rushdie
31. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
32. Einstein's Dreams - Alan Lightman
33. Shella - Andrew Vachss
34. The Lords of Discipline-Pat Conroy
35. I, ROBOT - Isaac Asimov
36. The Good Soldier Švejk - Jaroslav Hašek
37. Replay - Ken Grimwood
38. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
39. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
40. The Book of the New Sun- Gene Wolfe
41. The Inferno - Dante
42. A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking
43. Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
44. The Black Dahlia - James Ellroy
45. The Prestige - Christopher Priest

A cleverly scripted novel that is compelling and haunting 'til the final page.

1. Watership Down - Richard Adams
2. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon.
3. 1984 - George Orwell
4. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
5. The Dead Zone -- Stephen King
6. The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
7. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
8. Ender's Game -- Orson Scott Card
9. House of Leaves -- Mark Z. Danielewski
10. Homicide: A year on the Killing Streets--David Simon
11. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
12. The Call of the Wild- Jack London
13. Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
14. Henry V -- William Shakespeare
15. The Rules Of Attraction - Brett Easton Ellis
16. Animal Farm-George Orwell
17. Lord of the Rings-J.R.R. Tolkein
18. 8 Million Ways to Die--Lawrence Block
19. The Friends of Eddie Coyle--George V. Higgins
20. Master and Margarita--Mikhail Bulgakov
21. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
22. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
23. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
24. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
25. The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Choke - Chuck Palahniuk
27. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Dee Brown
28. Gravity's Rainbow - Thomas Pynchon
29. Swag - Elmore Leonard
30. The Satanic Verses- Salman Rushdie
31. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
32. Einstein's Dreams - Alan Lightman
33. Shella - Andrew Vachss
34. The Lords of Discipline-Pat Conroy
35. I, ROBOT - Isaac Asimov
36. The Good Soldier Švejk - Jaroslav Hašek
37. Replay - Ken Grimwood
38. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
39. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
40. The Book of the New Sun- Gene Wolfe
41. The Inferno - Dante
42. A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking
43. Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
44. The Black Dahlia - James Ellroy
45. The Prestige - Christopher Priest
46. The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand

1. Watership Down - Richard Adams
2. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon.
3. 1984 - George Orwell
4. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
5. The Dead Zone -- Stephen King
6. The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
7. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
8. Ender's Game -- Orson Scott Card
9. House of Leaves -- Mark Z. Danielewski
10. Homicide: A year on the Killing Streets--David Simon
11. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
12. The Call of the Wild- Jack London
13. Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
14. Henry V -- William Shakespeare
15. The Rules Of Attraction - Brett Easton Ellis
16. Animal Farm-George Orwell
17. Lord of the Rings-J.R.R. Tolkein
18. 8 Million Ways to Die--Lawrence Block
19. The Friends of Eddie Coyle--George V. Higgins
20. Master and Margarita--Mikhail Bulgakov
21. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
22. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
23. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
24. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
25. The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Choke - Chuck Palahniuk
27. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Dee Brown
28. Gravity's Rainbow - Thomas Pynchon
29. Swag - Elmore Leonard
30. The Satanic Verses- Salman Rushdie
31. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
32. Einstein's Dreams - Alan Lightman
33. Shella - Andrew Vachss
34. The Lords of Discipline-Pat Conroy
35. I, ROBOT - Isaac Asimov
36. The Good Soldier Švejk - Jaroslav Hašek
37. Replay - Ken Grimwood
38. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
39. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
40. The Book of the New Sun- Gene Wolfe
41. The Inferno - Dante
42. A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking
43. Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
44. The Black Dahlia - James Ellroy
45. The Prestige - Christopher Priest
46. The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand

47. Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace

It's probably the best novel of the last 20 years, written by an author unafraid to take any chances and who plays with the page like a great director plays with a camera.

1. Watership Down - Richard Adams
2. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon.
3. 1984 - George Orwell
4. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
5. The Dead Zone -- Stephen King
6. The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
7. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
8. Ender's Game -- Orson Scott Card
9. House of Leaves -- Mark Z. Danielewski
10. Homicide: A year on the Killing Streets--David Simon
11. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
12. The Call of the Wild- Jack London
13. Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
14. Henry V -- William Shakespeare
15. The Rules Of Attraction - Brett Easton Ellis
16. Animal Farm-George Orwell
17. Lord of the Rings-J.R.R. Tolkein
18. 8 Million Ways to Die--Lawrence Block
19. The Friends of Eddie Coyle--George V. Higgins
20. Master and Margarita--Mikhail Bulgakov
21. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
22. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
23. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
24. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
25. The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Choke - Chuck Palahniuk
27. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Dee Brown
28. Gravity's Rainbow - Thomas Pynchon
29. Swag - Elmore Leonard
30. The Satanic Verses- Salman Rushdie
31. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
32. Einstein's Dreams - Alan Lightman
33. Shella - Andrew Vachss
34. The Lords of Discipline-Pat Conroy
35. I, ROBOT - Isaac Asimov
36. The Good Soldier Švejk - Jaroslav Hašek
37. Replay - Ken Grimwood
38. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
39. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
40. The Book of the New Sun- Gene Wolfe
41. The Inferno - Dante
42. A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking
43. Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
44. The Black Dahlia - James Ellroy
45. The Prestige - Christopher Priest
46. The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
47. Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace

48. Watchmen - Alan Moore

Might as well get it out of the way. I would explain, but since this is Chud, I will just say that this is the superhero comic everyone should read, even if you hate comic books and superheroes.

1. Watership Down - Richard Adams
2. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon.
3. 1984 - George Orwell
4. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
5. The Dead Zone -- Stephen King
6. The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
7. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
8. Ender's Game -- Orson Scott Card
9. House of Leaves -- Mark Z. Danielewski
10. Homicide: A year on the Killing Streets--David Simon
11. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
12. The Call of the Wild- Jack London
13. Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
14. Henry V -- William Shakespeare
15. The Rules Of Attraction - Brett Easton Ellis
16. Animal Farm-George Orwell
17. Lord of the Rings-J.R.R. Tolkein
18. 8 Million Ways to Die--Lawrence Block
19. The Friends of Eddie Coyle--George V. Higgins
20. Master and Margarita--Mikhail Bulgakov
21. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
22. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
23. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
24. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
25. The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Choke - Chuck Palahniuk
27. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Dee Brown
28. Gravity's Rainbow - Thomas Pynchon
29. Swag - Elmore Leonard
30. The Satanic Verses- Salman Rushdie
31. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
32. Einstein's Dreams - Alan Lightman
33. Shella - Andrew Vachss
34. The Lords of Discipline-Pat Conroy
35. I, ROBOT - Isaac Asimov
36. The Good Soldier Švejk - Jaroslav Hašek
37. Replay - Ken Grimwood
38. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
39. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
40. The Book of the New Sun- Gene Wolfe
41. The Inferno - Dante
42. A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking
43. Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
44. The Black Dahlia - James Ellroy
45. The Prestige - Christopher Priest
46. The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
47. Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace
48. Watchmen - Alan Moore

49. Geek Love - Katherine Dunn

I'd read some classic horror books before, but it wasn't until I picked up Geek Love that I really started to wonder what else was out there. It's a strange story of an albino hunchback whose parents experimented with all sorts of drugs in order to produce their own freak show. Haunting look at the twisted things people get up to- and very reminiscent of Freaks. One of my faves.

1. Watership Down - Richard Adams
2. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay by Michael Chabon.
3. 1984 - George Orwell
4. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
5. The Dead Zone -- Stephen King
6. The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
7. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
8. Ender's Game -- Orson Scott Card
9. House of Leaves -- Mark Z. Danielewski
10. Homicide: A year on the Killing Streets--David Simon
11. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
12. The Call of the Wild- Jack London
13. Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
14. Henry V -- William Shakespeare
15. The Rules Of Attraction - Brett Easton Ellis
16. Animal Farm-George Orwell
17. Lord of the Rings-J.R.R. Tolkein
18. 8 Million Ways to Die--Lawrence Block
19. The Friends of Eddie Coyle--George V. Higgins
20. Master and Margarita--Mikhail Bulgakov
21. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
22. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
23. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
24. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
25. The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Choke - Chuck Palahniuk
27. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Dee Brown
28. Gravity's Rainbow - Thomas Pynchon
29. Swag - Elmore Leonard
30. The Satanic Verses- Salman Rushdie
31. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
32. Einstein's Dreams - Alan Lightman
33. Shella - Andrew Vachss
34. The Lords of Discipline-Pat Conroy
35. I, ROBOT - Isaac Asimov
36. The Good Soldier Švejk - Jaroslav Hašek
37. Replay - Ken Grimwood
38. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
39. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
40. The Book of the New Sun- Gene Wolfe
41. The Inferno - Dante
42. A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking
43. Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
44. The Black Dahlia - James Ellroy
45. The Prestige - Christopher Priest
46. The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
47. Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace
48. The Watchmen - Alan Moore
49. Geek Love - Katherine Dunn
50. The Alienist-Caleb Carr

A great piece of crime fiction set in 1896 New York with various cameos including Theodore Roosevelt and JP Morgan. Probably one of the few books I actually reread on occasion because of the setting and atmosphere.

I don't think we'll be able to post more than 500 lines to cut and paste.

Then we'll split the lists in to parts. So after 1-50. The first line will be 51.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling

A writer of incredible style, intelligence, and dexterity. This is a great introduction and overview of his work. Lots to enjoy and much that will send you off looking for more. He fancied himself as one of, if not the, best writers of the 20th Century. He wasn't far wrong.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert

What else to say ? It's the one of the best book ever written, putting human matters before anything else.
Ecology, religion, evolution, philosophy, name it.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert

53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington

Freaks meets Bull Durham is the usual pitch I hear for this book but that doesn't even come close to doing it justice. It's about a baseball game between sideshow freaks and a religious cult for the right to live in a town. Really great character work, some nice laugh out loud moments and fantastic atmosphere. (Actually I'd also recommend Logan In Overtime and Whale Song by the same author)

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington


54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway

His first novel, and his own personal favorite. Different from all of his other stories in that the male narrator is literally emasculated. Fun and tragic.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway


55. Gorgias - Plato

greatest work on ethics ever.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry

Many more people know Mistry than when he started writing 15 years ago (Thanks, Oprah!); those who have read A Fine Balance would do well to read his first novel, not as polished but as always, with the most terrific characters.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving

Irving has stated that this wasn't intended to be a "religous" novel. Nonetheless, it is hard to read this wonderful work without feeling the importance of faith and friendship.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving

59. The King James Bible

While it would be silly to say that reading one Holy Book in a vacuum will bring you up to speed on millenia of religious thought and conflict, it's a place to start. And any book that millions of people base their lives around has to be worth a look (well, except Dianetics). As a collection of fables and mythologies it's interesting, as a guide to life and morality it's all the fuck over the place, but the most striking thing about reading it is realizing just how clueless many people who claim to live by it are of what's actually in it.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. The Trial by Franz Kafka.

A bit late to the table, so my top 2 picks are gone (Crime & Punishment and 1984). This is as dense as they come, but incredibly rewarding. A very dark look at the smallness of the individual in the face of an indifferent bureaucracy.

53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. The Trial by Franz Kafka.
61. Hyperion - Dan Simmons

An original and thrilling sci-fi novel that I think is the best sci-fi book of the past twenty years. While all of Simmons' sci-fi and horror novels are good, this is the best of the bunch. Sweeping science fiction on a grand scale.

Let's get some nonfiction on here:

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind

A must for any real film fan. Equal parts gossipy-tell-all-about- and love-letter-to the 70s New Hollywood directors. Caveat: large chunks of the tell-all stuff are claimed to be bullshit by those involved. But the book's too good for that to keep it off of the list.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake

Beautifully written 'Fantasy' that will change the way you view the genre.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

I hate to girlie up this list, but this book is fantastic and heartbreaking. Edith Wharton is the writer Jane Austen could have been if she had only left the house. And the Scorsese film is pretty damn good too.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

Yeah, I know, Beloved gets all the attention, but this is one of the only books I read in college that totally blew me away. I think it's the flying imagery that really got to me. And please, jonvoight's car, there is no shame in putting Edith Wharton on a must-read list, although I'm more partial to The House of Mirth.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

Even though everyone reads it in high school, it is a story that you understand better as you gain life experience. It is a Modern day Greek tragedy, and just a all great story.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton

The start of a nine volume series for the anti James Bond set.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton

69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

There was some talk of adding this book earlier in the thread. and I'll be damned if it doesn't make it onto this list. Still one of the greatest, weirdest most touching books ever written about war.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton

The book is wonderful. I have never read a novel that captured the tone of rural North Carolina both in dialogue and tone so well.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland

72. Dispatches by Michael Herr

A seminal work in "new journalism" and one of the best Vietnam books ever. Many scenes and scenarios in movies like Full Metal Jacket (which Herr co-wrote) are pulled directly from Dispatches.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr

73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli

As relevant today as it was when first published in 1515, the advice contained in this book is designed to keep the monarchical ruler in power, whether it be through discouragement of policical activism among his subjects, or through judicious use of violence. The whole text is available online here.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli

Since "The Prince" was mentioned, something else that is still effective today...


74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu

Arse, I'm crap at multi-tasking. And good replacement choice.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson

I'm surprised with such often quoting of the movie and book it would be already mentioned. But here you have a book not only detailing what may or may not be a drug fuled rampage through circa-'71 Las Vegas but also a book detailing the burnout and the inability of the 60s Counter-Culture to keep it together long enough to actually make real change.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson

76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

It's fucking beautiful.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. The Years of Rice and Salt- Kim Stanley Robinson

Follows two people through various incarnations following a 'what if' scenario where Europe is completely wiped out by the Black Plague and instead of the world developing through the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution and onward with a Western dominant society, it develops with an Eastern dominance. India, China and the Muslims in the Middle east dominate the world.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. The Years of Rice and Salt- Kim Stanley Robinson
78. The Stranger - Albert Camus

Cause I just can't sit here and not see the book on the list any longer...

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
===
Don't let the length put you off - in the same span of time, would you choose to read three average books or one great one?

W&P is, first and foremost, a great read. When you get to the end of a "peace" section, you want to skip the "war" and see what happens next in "peace." When you get to the end of a "war" section, you want to skip the "peace" and see what happens in the next "war."

More than that, W&P is a brilliant meditation on philosophy, family, history, and leadership. It gives the reader a lifetime of material on which to chew, and it richly rewards subsequent readings.

If I were going to spend the next twenty years on a desert island and I could bring only one book, this would be the one.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
===
With Fear and Loathing, Catch-22, the Stranger, and the Prince all snatched up today (you guys are good), I'm going to go with...

78. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

It's iconic, it's horrific, it's pure gothic (the good kind) and pure science fiction (again, the good kind). It's also the template for a thousand stories (Terminator, the Matrix, the Stand, Jurassic Park, 2001, Maximum Overdrive) about man's unique fear of his own ability to create.

This list needed more horror, anyway.

Great work everyone, just fixed the list to include a couple of omissions.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. The Years of Rice and Salt- Kim Stanley Robinson
78. The Stranger - Albert Camus
79. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
80. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. The Years of Rice and Salt- Kim Stanley Robinson
78. The Stranger - Albert Camus
79. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
80. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
81. The Devil in the White City - Eril Larson

A fascinating, yet terrifying read about the planning, designing and construction of the Chicago's World Fair and a mad doctor who used the fair to kill.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. The Years of Rice and Salt- Kim Stanley Robinson
78. The Stranger - Albert Camus
79. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
80. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
81. The Devil in the White City - Eril Larson

82. The Long Goodbye - Raymond Chandler
Shocked this has not been mentioned yet it's Noir-tastic. Plus I love what Altman did with it.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. The Years of Rice and Salt- Kim Stanley Robinson
78. The Stranger - Albert Camus
79. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
80. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
81. The Devil in the White City - Eril Larson
82. The Selfish Gene- Richard Dawkins.

Thank God for Mr Dawkins!!!

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. The Years of Rice and Salt- Kim Stanley Robinson
78. The Stranger - Albert Camus
79. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
80. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
81. The Devil in the White City - Eril Larson
82. The Selfish Gene- Richard Dawkins.
83. Absalom, Absalom! - William Faulkner

The history of the Old South in all its glory and all its shame told through the rise and fall of one Thomas Sutpen. Faulkner's greatest and most difficult novel, but so worth the effort of decoding page-and-a-half long sentences. Seriously.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. The Years of Rice and Salt- Kim Stanley Robinson
78. The Stranger - Albert Camus
79. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
80. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
81. The Devil in the White City - Eril Larson
82. The Long Goodbye - Raymond Chandler
83. The Selfish Gene- Richard Dawkins
84. Absalom, Absalom! - William Faulkner
85. City of Quartz - Mike Davis

A wonderfully written book about the overall history and creation of L.A. Full of details and stories I'd never heard before. Extremely well organized and a blast to read. I picked this up shortly after moving from L.A. and it served as a great farewell, memoir, indictment, and eulogy for a city I never could fall for.

(Note the list repair.)

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. The Years of Rice and Salt- Kim Stanley Robinson
78. The Stranger - Albert Camus
79. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
80. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
81. The Devil in the White City - Eril Larson
82. The Long Goodbye - Raymond Chandler
83. The Selfish Gene- Richard Dawkins
84. Absalom, Absalom! - William Faulkner
85. City of Quartz - Mike Davis
86. God Emperor of Dune - Frank Herbert

since someone already beat me to Dune . . . The God Emperor Approves!

I would >highly< recommend that everyone read the Pevear and Volkonsky translation of Crime and Punishment, even if you've already the book before. It pops. It pops hard.

51. Just Enough Liebling - A.J. Liebling
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Home Game - Paul Quarrington
54. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
55. Gorgias - Plato
56. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
57. Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry
58. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
59. The King James Bible
60. Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
61. The Trial by Franz Kafka
62. Hyperion - Dan Simmons
63. Easy Riders and Raging Bulls - Peter Biskind
64. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
65. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
66. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
67. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
68. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
69. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
70. Raney - Clyde Edgerton
71. MicroSerfs - Douglas Coupland
72. Dispatches by Michael Herr
73. The Prince by Nicolò Machiavelli
74. "The Art of War" - Sun Tzu
75. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-Hunter S. Thompson
76. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
77. The Years of Rice and Salt- Kim Stanley Robinson
78. The Stranger - Albert Camus
79. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
80. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
81. The Devil in the White City - Eril Larson
82. The Long Goodbye - Raymond Chandler
83. The Selfish Gene- Richard Dawkins
84. Absalom, Absalom! - William Faulkner
85. City of Quartz - Mike Davis
86. God Emperor of Dune - Frank Herbert

87. The Choirboys - Joseph Wambaugh

Funny, ugly, politically-incorrect, tragic and the best book about cops I've ever read.