Must Read

There are some books that are so important, so timeless, so true, so rich, so insightful, and/or so influential that one must read them to have proper and valid mindset. Other books are certainly worth reading; these must be read. Incredibly, the essence of human intellectual achievement can be stored on a single bookshelf.

In generally no particular order:
 

• The Bible
The book of instructions that comes with your life. Read it.
• The Lord of the Rings (including The Hobbit)
One of the finest tales ever told.
• The Complete Works of Shakespeare
Rich literature and great insight into human behavior.
• The Republic of Plato
The finest analysis of designed government.
• The Art of War
You vs. them - how to win.
• Mein Kampf
Evil people have great influence. Know thine enemy.
• Beowulf
Among the greatest and oldest tales in English poetry
• Meditations on Hunting
Great insight into the much-maligned human instinct to hunt.
• The Art of the Rifle
The rifle is one of the most important modern machines. Know how to use it.
• The Top 500 Poems
Allusions to poems pervade society: know the original content, meaning, and beauty.
• The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm
The epitomie of bedtime stories, which influence the foundation of all minds.
• The Book of Virtues
More great stories to mold young minds.
• Relativity
The greatest single insight into universal mechanics.
• The Watchmen
Comics (funny or serious) are an underrated art form. Read the best.
• The Timeless Way of Building
The fundamental paradigm of building things right.
• Tao Te Ching
Living simply.
• Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Finding the paradigms linking the greatest minds in math, art and music.
• The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Envisioning Information
Visual Explainations
A trilogy on communicating via pictures.
• How To Lie With Statistics
Figures don't lie, but liars do figure. Statistics rarely say what you think they do.

Suggestions, comments and criticisms welcome. This list is a work in progress, with much to do.