MY TEN FAVORITE BOOKS by Daniel Kuttner
Come along as I roll back the years to list, in chronological order, the books that most influenced me.
1. The Complete Works of William Blake by William Blake
Around the age of ten, I stumbled across Blake’s paintings while browsing the dusty stacks of the library. I found them all mysterious and fascinating, especially those involving his own invented mythology.
2. “The City”
In fifth grade, I read “The City,” a story within a science-fiction anthology. It hooked me on sci-fi for life. “The City” is about an astronaut stranded on a far-off planet with no hope of rescue. He finds an ancient, abandoned city designed for an extinct alien race. Can it help him survive? The ending is a beautiful, quick twist. Sadly, I don’t recall the author’s name.
3. 1984 by George Orwell
I borrowed this dystopian social science fiction novel from the library out of curiosity after reading Animal Farm in high school.
4. The Odyssey by Homer
The Odyssey follows the Greek hero Odysseus, King of Ithaca, in his journey home after the Trojan War. Between the book and the film with Kirk Douglas, I gained a role model.
5. The Norton Anthology of English Literature by Stephen Greenblatt (General editor)
This was just two volumes of English literature when I was in high school, now it’s six. The collection begins with the old English epic, Beowulf. Browsing the contents online is itself a treat and a reminder of what the mind of humans can conceive and impart.
6. The Matt Helm Series by Donald Hamilton
The series centers around a retired hit man in his late forties reluctantly called back to duty. There’s an English lesson tucked into each story, such as the correct use of the word “presently.”
7. I Jan Cremer by Jan Cremer
A Dutch artist tells his story from childhood during WWII until then-present-day 1967. A modern-day Papillon—almost.
8. The Annotated Alice by Martin Gardner
A new look at the images and humor of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. It even explains the poems, including 'Jabberwocky' and my favorite, 'You are Old, Father William.'
9. Winning Through Intimidation by Robert Ringer
The title is a 70’s version of click-bait, though still a fascinating and fun read. Ringer is an icon of the success-failure-success paradigm and imparts his lessons with humor and succinctness. It’s also a helpful tool to recognize con games. My favorite is “The Expert from Afar.” This book introduced me to the philosophy of libertarianism.
10. The Bible and The Talmud
The Bible, which I read in a weekly study group, is a vivid compilation of texts linked by the belief they are revelations of God.
The Talmud is a widely misunderstood collection of commentaries on the Five Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy). The analysis by various Rabbis of old applies Biblical lessons to everyday activities and quandaries.
