Top books in the occupation History, Society, & Big Ideas:

1
2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey

Arthur C. Clarke

A science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke exploring themes of artificial intelligence and human evolution, set against a backdrop of space exploration and the mysterious monoliths.

2
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Yuval Noah Harari

An analysis of today's most pressing issues, exploring the technological, political, and existential challenges facing humanity.

3
Animal Farm
Animal Farm

George Orwell

A satirical allegorical novella by George Orwell that critiques totalitarianism, depicting farm animals rebelling against their human farmer in a dystopian setting.

4
Losing the Nobel Prize
Losing the Nobel Prize

Brian Keating

A memoir by astrophysicist Brian Keating detailing his journey in cosmology, the challenges of scientific research, and the pursuit of a Nobel Prize.

5
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Yuval Noah Harari

A book exploring the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century.

6
Simulacra and Simulation
Simulacra and Simulation

Jean Baudrillard

A philosophical work exploring reality, symbols, and society in the era of simulation and hyperreality.

7
Simulation Hypothesis
Simulation Hypothesis

Nick Bostrom

A work discussing the hypothesis that our reality might be an artificial simulation created by an advanced civilization, exploring its philosophical and technological implications.

8
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies

Nick Bostrom

An examination of the future of AI and the potential risks of superintelligent machines.

9
The Bible
The Bible

Various

The sacred scriptures of Christianity, comprising the Old and New Testaments.

10
The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood

A dystopian novel that explores themes of totalitarianism, patriarchy, and individualism through the story of women in the oppressive society of Gilead.

11
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Douglas Adams

A comedic sci-fi novel where Earth is a supercomputer designed by mice to find the ultimate question of life.

12
The Republic
The Republic

Plato

A philosophical dialogue discussing justice, the ideal state, and includes the famous Allegory of the Cave.