What are your top 5? (there is more to this question)

[blu333y3s]

Hey guys, what would you put in your top 5 reads? I.e. if you were on a deserted island or survivour in an apocalypse (clichés I know) what books would you have with you?

To get the discussion started, off the cuff I think mine would be in no particular order:

The Magus, The catcher in the rye, The Celestine prophecy, Captain Corelli’s mandolin, and A collection of Poe's short stories.. (may be cheating - something like "Edger Allen Poe - selected tales")

I think there are a bunch more out there that I haven’t yet had a chance to read like, Moby Dick, The great Gatsby, lady Chatterley’s lover and a plethora of other worthy contributions.

THE RULES (guidelines): Consider NOT ONLY great books/worthy literature, but pieces of writing that you would read again and again, and with each read get something new/different from the experience ( something that grows and evolves with you as a person). I know I have from the first three or four in my list, reading each one multiple times in the last 15 years.

I can’t wait to hear your contributions

[bunnyema]

1. dictionary.. it could be useful :) and it newer ends when you start to read it.. :P
2. star trek philosophy - have it, but didn't find the time to read it..
3. physic for dummies, computers for dummies, everything for dummies - could be useful
4. art of war
5. cooking guides

a hard one I must say..

[Lisa2408]

1. Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince), Terre des hommes [(Wind, Sand and Stars) - Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française], L'Aviateur, Courrier Sud (translated into English as Southern Mail), Vol de nuit (Night Flight) ..... all novels from Antoine Jean-Baptiste Marie Roger de Saint Exupéry. He was a French writer and aviator, who died in WW II.
2. Feuchtgebiete is Charlotte Roche's debut novel. Partly autobiographical, it was first published in German in 2008. For supporters it is a piece of erotic literature; for critics it is cleverly marketed pornography.
 3. All novels from James A. Michener  (The Source , Chesapeake, Tales of the South Pacific and many more)    

that are more than 5 novels 

[Stuart]

I would have five different survival manuals. Printed on absorbent paper.

[bunnyema]

I would have five different survival manuals. Printed on absorbent paper.

Ultimate survival with Bear Grylls?

[blu333y3s]

I would have five different survival manuals. Printed on absorbent paper.

Ultimate survival with Bear Grylls?

  - only if it comes on a notebook (with a solar battery) as I think it looses something if your not actualy watching him doing the crazy stuff and eating anything that moves (or doesn't)

[Stuart]

I would have five different survival manuals. Printed on absorbent paper.

Ultimate survival with Bear Grylls?

You know his nickname was actually Teddy Grylls because his first name is actually Edward?

[bunnyema]

  I didn't know that.. but so funny.. :) lol..

[blu333y3s]

1. Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince), Terre des hommes [(Wind, Sand and Stars) - Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française], L'Aviateur, Courrier Sud (translated into English as Southern Mail), Vol de nuit (Night Flight) ..... all novels from Antoine Jean-Baptiste Marie Roger de Saint Exupéry. He was a French writer and aviator, who died in WW II.
2. Feuchtgebiete is Charlotte Roche's debut novel. Partly autobiographical, it was first published in German in 2008. For supporters it is a piece of erotic literature; for critics it is cleverly marketed pornography.
 3. All novels from James A. Michener  (The Source , Chesapeake, Tales of the South Pacific and many more)    

that are more than 5 novels 

Really opens my eyes seeing your responses Lisa, I hadn't even considered all the other text in other languages... I'm intrigued.

[blu333y3s]

[/quote]

I like the idea of the dictionary and collection of the "fore dummies" but you would have to be selective, as I'm not sure that computers for dummies would be useful in that type of environment. 


I have just bought the art of war and am looking forward to reading it!

For me as I indicated in the earlier post I considered it about my growth, but I love the approach you have taken with the dictionary, dummies and bear grills.. Nice one!

[bunnyema]

computer for dummies was only an example.. :) But if it's an post apocalyptic  world, it could be useful if you encounter one computer that still works, or if you would need to fix it .. Or if you would need to reprogram the T550 terminator that is about to crush you  ..

Ok.. now 4 real.. you really need to be selective in "4 dummies".. :) lots of books there :)

[blu333y3s]

  I hadn't thought of the Terminator option... just hope that there is a Sarah Connor type person around to help..

[Padraig]

Well, if I were stranded on a desert island, my first choice would of course be Boat Building and the Army survival manual. But to answer the question as I know I should...
1.Army survival manual.
2.Tain Bo Cuailnge, or in English, the Cattle Raid of Cooley.
3.The Robert Louis Stevenson Collection.
4.The Gallic Wars, by Gaius Julius Caesar.
5.The Little Book of Iron Age Skills 1 and 2.
-Padraig

[Superpan]

1. Peter Pan- The greatets book of all time!
2. The Bible- My second favorite.
3. Men of Tomorrow- Great book on the early history of American comic books.
4. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz-Also love this book!
5. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen- Every fictional creation rolled into one.  Endless creative fun.

[blu333y3s]

1. Peter Pan- The greatets book of all time!
2. The Bible- My second favorite.
3. Men of Tomorrow- Great book on the early history of American comic books.
4. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz-Also love this book!
5. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen- Every fictional creation rolled into one.  Endless creative fun.

The greatest book of all time? Really?