Rich's Reading List Below are some of my favorite books, most I have read in high school or college but some of them I have read on my own. I recommend purchasing these books from Half.com because you will be able to find them 50-90% off the cover price (used). If you prefer to purchase from small local businesses, I recommend shopping at the First Edition Book Store in Norwich. Zen and The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig is, without a doubt, my favorite book that I have ever read at this point in my life. It is original, creative, and intellectual. Pirsig is extremely introspective and insightful, and as a reader, you can not help but have some of that rub off onto you. This is THE book to read. The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger is quite a unique book. It is definitely worthy of the title "classic", and is one of the most original and authentic books that I have ever read. If you have never read The Catcher In The Rye, you are really missing out. For more information and notes about this book, you may want to check out ClassicsNotes: The Catcher In The Rye. Animal Farm by George Orwell is a book about a farm that is overthrown by it's overworked and mistreated animals and details their struggles and triumphs. Though Animal Farm is actually an attack on the Russian revolution, the same concepts can be applied to any social injustice. An American reader can also see the resemblance to our Revolutionary War and our modern day society. Definitely worth reading. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is one of the most creative and ingenious books that I have ever read. It is rooted in science fiction, but it goes far beyond that. It probes into the depths of the human mind and life as we have always know it, and always will know it regardless of what planet we are on. It is a very deep book, and one that has many levels of perception. Read this book! To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is by far one of the most touching novels that I have ever read. It is so purely and elegantly written that the reader can not help but place himself in the experiences of the characters. In a sense, the reader grows up right alongside Scout and turns the last page with a renewed sense of respect and admiration for those whom we know are truly worthy of it. Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James Loewren calls the bluff of many popular history textbooks and exposes the coversups, fallacies, and "padding" that corrupts the truth in American history. I have not completed reading this book yet, but in just the first couple of chapters you learn quickly that education does jnot end with graduating from school. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is a classic that captures the reality of politics from the raw honesty and wisdom of Machiavelli. Though it is easy for the reader to disagree and even be offended by his cold hard truths, one can not help but be drawn in by the full disclosure style of this book. The scary thing is not this book, but that there are many "Machiavelli's" in every form of business and our government.  A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer is a horrifying look into the real life of a severely abused child told from his own perspective. Learn of his tortures, tragedies, and eventually him triumphs. This book is excellent to help learn about child abuse from the viewpoint of the abused. It is also a great idea to read The Lost Boy (see below) afterwards so see his progress. Excellent book! The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer is an inspiring book about an abused child (the sequel to A Child Called It) turned into foster care and his search for love and acceptance. He is bounced around from foster home to foster home, feeling that he is to blame for his abuse and mistreatment. This book is a great insight into the mind of a "lost boy" during his teenage years.