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Victor Siu's avatar

Fantastic list. I would add any of C.S. Lewis’ classics - e.g. Mere Christianity is one of the most profound books I have ever read.

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Sanjay Thakur's avatar

It is impossible to read all these books in the list but good to see the least for saving time while looking for some

New book . Many in the list personally did not like at all with few I could

Not even comprehend so one should always not get swayed by such list but make own decision keeping in mind likings and inclination towards subject or author. My bit of advice but yes I like listening to Jonathan for sure and he is an amazing communicator with great sense of fashion 👍

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Jones's avatar

fvck your reading list, fool

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Last Man's Blog's avatar

Cool list. Try some of the more niche Nietzsche like 'Human, all too human'

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Alex Gadbois's avatar

Great list. I added some of these to my wishlist. I would like to add The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. That is the book that began a personal awakening for me. It made me realize that everything I had been taught was wrong. I was raised to be a sheep, but I was a lion all along. Now I am reading On the Genealogy of Morals by Nietzsche. Books like these have helped me to become more independent and remove toxic people from my life. Thank you.

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Javad Soltanov's avatar

You have to be joking.

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Alex Gadbois's avatar

Not joking. I stumbled on the 48 laws which led me to reading more about the dark side of human nature. This path led me to reading about psychopathy. A light bulb went off and I realized my mother is a psychopath. She kept my away from my father, abused, and brainwashed me since I was 5. She turned everyone against me. Ultimately, she threw me away and left me homeless. However, I was so brainwashed that I thought it was all my fault. Reading about the dark side woke me up. Now, mother is blocked and all those toxic people are gone from my life. These books gave me awareness which led to my freedom.

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Tem Noon's avatar

I saw Robert Thurman speak about Vimalakirti at RPI while I was studying phenomenology there in 1982. SInce I've tried to keep an extra copy around, so I can give it away to someone who need to read it. I've been devoted since to synthesizing Phenomenology (Husserl) Deconstruction (Derrida) and Buddhism (Nagarjuna) into what I have referred to as "Heart Sutra Science".

It's a fine reading list, but it needs more Husserl. Don't bother so much with Heidegger, but Derrida and Merleau-Ponty would help, especially how they make some important course-corrections on Husserl.

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Tem Noon's avatar

I saw Robert Thurman speak about Vimalakirti at RPI while I was studying phenomenology there in 1982. SInce I've tried to keep an extra copy around, so I can give it away to someone who need to read it. I've been devoted since to synthesizing Phenomenology (Husserl) Deconstruction (Derrida) and Buddhism (Nagarjuna) into what I have referred to as "Heart Sutra Science".

It's a fine reading list, but it needs more Husserl. Don't bother so much with Heidegger, but Derrida and Merleau-Ponty would help, especially how they make some important course-corrections on Husserl.

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Raymond Cole Hautamaki's avatar

Great list. I just got done perusing your substack and man do I wish I found it earlier! Anyone have a good reading plan for the great books of the Western world + some others on this list?

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Daniel Toba's avatar

Great list! I’m curious if you kept track of how the list evolved and how you decided the ranking.

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Nathan Huang's avatar

I love most of the books you listed.

Thumps up!

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Jack Sprat's avatar

You missed the most important one, the Urantia Book.

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Jul 12, 2024
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