I am asking my children to read at least ten of the books on their individualized list before August 18, 2008. I will take each child who does so out to eat to the restaurant of his choice, and I will also buy a book for each child who finishes the challenge. This list is for Computer Guru Son, age 20, who is a sophomore in college. Computer Guru Son chose some of the books on this list himself, mostly the ones I haven’t commented on because I haven’t read them.
The Bible. Romans.
The Bible. I Samuel.
Eifelheim by Michael Flynn. Review by Elliot at Claw of the Conciliator. I read this one and liked it very much, but I never reviewed it here because it was so weird that I couldn’t get a handle on my thoughts well enough to write about it. But it’s a good book. And Computer Guru Son likes weird.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.
Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder. This book was published in 1981 and won a Pulitzer Prize and an American Book Award. It’s the true story of a bunch of maverick computer geeks at a company called Data General and their dedication to designing and debugging a new computer.
Perdido Street Station by China Meiville.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
A Scanner Darkly by Philip Dick.
Never Let Me Go by Kashuo Ishiguro. Semicolon review here plus links to other reviews of the book.
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. Semicolon review here.
1984 by George Orwell. Classic, futuristic fiction, in spite of the dated title.
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.
Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. I’ve heard good things about this book written by the twin brothers of author and pastor Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Good-bye).
Ask Me Anything by J. Budziszewski. Professor Theophilus gives provocative answers to college students’ questions. The book is written by a professor of government and philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin.
Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey.
A Long Way Gone by Ismael Beah. Memoir of a boy soldier in Sierra Leone.
48 Days To the Work You Love by Dan Miller. Recommended by Dave Ramsey.
All those books sound scary, But I’m sure you’ll enjoy them!
Soul of a New Machine is one of my all time favorite books.
I was thrilled to find a hardback copy at the library sale last year.
In my former life (when I worked in Organization Development…B.C.– Before Christopher), my boss had all the managers read that book.