BOOKLIST - AN INCOMPLETE EDUCATION

[SeekHer]

In the old forum we had this thread and it generated quite a bit of hits and controversy, so I've resurrected it here...The question was raised about the quality of today's education and if there was a number of books that would bring you to the level of a late 19th century Renaissance man--knows lots of different things just not a lot about any one subject...sort of a jack of all trades and a master of none to coin a phrase...and I just happened to have a list of books (that unfortunately were destroyed)!

AN INCOMPLETE EDUCATION

These are presented for stimulation of your senses and would be considered to be the necessity of a Renaissance [strike]Man[/strike] person…

Knowledge
Conway….., Chad….., Instant Intellectual: The Quick And Easy Guide To Sounding Smart And Cultured
Mental Floss Mag….., Mental Floss Presents: Forbidden Knowledge: A Wickedly Smart Guide To History’s Naughtiest Bits
Mental Floss Mag….., Mental Floss Presents: Instant Knowledge
Pearson….., Will….., Condensed Knowledge: A Deliciously Irreverent Guide To Feeling Smart Again
Zacks….., Richard….., An Underground Education
Zacks….., Richard….., History Laid Bare

Knowledge - series
Burke….., James….., Connections
Burke….., James….., Connections ll
Burke….., James….., The Day The Universe Changed
Burke….., James….., The Knowledge Web
Burke….., James….., The Pinball Effect
Burke….., James….., Twin Tracks: The Unexpected Origins Of The Modern World
Davis….., Kenneth C.….., Don’t Know Much About W. W. ll
Davis….., Kenneth C.….., Don’t Know Much About History
Davis….., Kenneth C.….., Don’t Know Much About The Bible
Davis….., Kenneth C.….., Don’t Know Much About The Universe
Wood….., Tim….., What They Don’t Teach You About History
Wright….., Mike….., What They Didn’t Teach You About The American Revolution

Misinformation
Ayres….., Thomas….., That’s Not In My American History Book: A Compilation Of Little-Known Events And Forgotten Heroes
Burnam….., Tom….., More Misinformation
Carnes….., Mark C.….., Past Imperfect: History According To The Movies
Cheesman….., Clive….., Rebels, Pretenders And Imposters
Daniel….., Glyn….., Myth Or Legend edited by:
Dickson….., Paul….., Myth - Informed
Franklin….., Benjamin….., Fart Proudly
Kortum….., Sarah….., The Hatless Man: An Anthology Of Odd & Forgotten Manners
Loewen….., James W.….., Lies Across America: 100 Monuments, Museums And Markers For Bogus History
Loewen….., James W.….., Lies My Teacher Told Me
Pool….., Daniel….., What Jane Austin Ate And Charles Dickens Knew
Shenkman….., Richard….., Legends, Myths And Lies Of American History
Shenkman….., Richard….., Legends, Myths And Lies Of World History
Shenkman….., Richard….., One Night Stands With American History

General Trivia
Dickson….., Paul….., What’s In A Name: Reflections Of An Irrepressible Collector
Garraty….., John A.….., 1.001 Things That Everyone Should Know About American History
Kleinfelder….., Rita Lang….., When We Were Young: A Baby Boomer Yearbook
Montagu….., Ashley….., The Prevalence Of Nonsense
Wallace….., Irving….., The Book Of Lists 2
Wallechinsky….., David….., The Book Of Lists
Cowley….., Robert….., What If? Edited by:

The Civil War
Davis….., Kenneth C.….., Don’t Know Much About The Civil War
Wright….., Mike….., What They Didn’t Teach You About The Civil War
Bishop….., Chris….., 1.400 Days: The Civil War Day By Day
Botkin….., B. A.….., A Civil War Treasury Of Tales, Legends And Folklore edited by
Bowman….., Johm S.….., The Civil War Day By Day
Davis….., Burke….., The Civil War: Strange And Fascinating Facts
Garraty….., John A.….., 1.001 Things That Everyone Should Know About The Civil War
Garrison….., Webb….., Civil War Curiosities: Strange Stories, Oddities, Events And Coincidences
Garrison….., Webb….., Civil War Trivia And Fact Book: Unusual And Often Overlooked Facts About America’s Civil War
Gragg….., Rod….., The Civil War Quiz & Fact Book
Lang….., J, Stephen….., The Complete Book Of Confederate Trivia

The Wild West
Wright….., Mike….., What They Didn’t Teach You About The Wild West
Slatta….., Richard W.….., The Cowboy Encyclopedia
Walker….., Dale L.….., Legends And Lies: Great Mysteries Of The American West
Terraine….., John….., Smoke And Fire: Myths And Anti-Myths Of War 1861 - 1945

Science & Invention
Felton….., Bruce….., The Best, Worst And Most Unusual
Giscard d’ Estaing….., Valerie Anne….., The Second World Almanac Book Of Inventions
Giscard d’ Estaing….., Valerie Anne….., The World Almanac Book Of Inventions
Hooper….., Meredith….., Everyday Inventions
Hooper….., Meredith….., More Everyday Inventions
James….., Peter….., Wonders Of The Past, Ancient Inventions
Panati….., Charles….., Panati’s Browser’s Book Of Beginnings
Panati….., Charles….., Panati’s Extraordinary Endings To Practically Everything And Everybody
Panati….., Charles….., Panati’s Extraordinary Origins Of Everyday Things
Panati….., Charles….., Panati’s Parade Of Fads, Follies, And Manias

Questions
Bloom….., Howard….., Global Brain: The Evolution Of Mass Mind From The Big Bang To The 21st Century
Bloom….., Howard….., The Lucifer Principal: A Scientific Expedition Into The Forces Of History
D’Epiro….., Peter….., What Are The Seven Wonders Of The World And 100 Other Great Cultural Lists - Fully Explicated
Feldman….., David….., Do Penguins Have Knees
Feldman….., David….., How Do Astronauts Scratch An Itch
Feldman….., David….., What Are Hyenas Laughing At?
Feldman….., David….., Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise? And Other Improbables
Feldman….., David….., Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses? And Other Improbables Of Everyday Life
Feldman….., Donald….., How Does Aspirin Find A Headache?
Juno….., Andrea….., Pranks!
Morgan….., Hal….., Rumor!
Newman….., Stanley….., 10,000 Answers
Prospero Books….., 1.000 Questions And Answers
Trefil….., James….., 1.001 Things You Should Know About Science
Worth….., Fred….., Trivia Encyclopedia

Philosophy
de Botton….., Alain….., How Proust Can Change Your Life
de Botton….., Alain….., The Consolations Of Philosophy
Frost….., S. E., Jr.….., Basic Teachings Of The Great Philosophers
Honderich….., Ted….., The Oxford Companion To Philosophy
Paine….., Thomas….., Common Sense
Paine….., Thomas….., The Rights Of Man
Strathern….., Paul….., Aristotle In 90 Minutes
Strathern….., Paul….., Descartes In 90 Minutes
Strathern….., Paul….., Nietzsche In 90 Minutes
Strathern….., Paul….., Plato In 90 Minutes
Strathern….., Paul….., Socrates In 90 Minutes

Etiquette
Drobot….., Eve….., Class Acts: Etiquette For Today
Isaacs….., Florence….., Just A Note To Say.....
Martin….., Judith….., Miss Manner’s Guide {To The} Of The Millennium
Post….., Emily….., Etiquette
Stasi….., Linda….., Boomer Babes: A Woman’s Guide To The New Middle Ages
Thorton….., James….., Your Most Obedient Servant
Vanderbilt….., Amy….., Amy Vanderbilt’s Everyday Etiquette
Vanderbilt….., Amy….., Amy Vanderbilt’s New Complete Book Of Etiquette: The Guide To Gracious Living

Mythology
Axelrod….., Alan….., Penguin Dictionary Of American Folklore
Ayto….., John….., Brewer’s Dictionary Of Phrase And Fable
Briggs….., Katherine M.….., An Encyclopedia Of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies And Other Supernatural Creatures
Cavendish….., Richard….., Mythology: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
Grant….., Micheal….., Gods And Mortals In Classical Mythology
Guiley….., Rosemary….., An Encyclopedia Of Ghosts And Spirits
Guiley….., Rosemary….., An Encyclopedia Of Witches And Witchcraft
Jordan….., Michael….., Nostradamus And The New Millennium: A New Guide To The Great Seer’s Prophecies
Larousse….., World Mythology
Room….., Adrian….., Brewer’s Dictionary Of Modern Phrase And Fable

Dictionary
Blowdryer….., Jennifer….., Modern English
Burchfield….., R. W.….., The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage: Third Edition
Evans….., Bergen & Cornelia….., A Dictionary Of Contemporary American Usage
Fowler….., W. H.….., A Dictionary Of Modern English Usage
Macmillan….., MacMillan Contemporary Dictionary
Webster….., New Merriam - Webster Dictionary
Glazier….., Stephen….., Random House Word Menu
McCutcheon….., Marc….., The Wordsworth Word Finder
Lynch….., Jack, Prof.….., Dr.Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary
Bowler….., Peter….., The Superior Person’s Book of Words
Buckley….., William F., Jr.….., The Lexicon: A Cornucopia Of Wonderful Words For The Inquisitive Word Lover
Ehrlich….., Eugene….., Highly Selective Dictionary For The Extraordinarily Literate
Hellweg….., Paul….., The Wordsworth Book Of Intriguing Words
Lederer….., Richard….., The Superior Person’s Book Of Words
Lederer….., Richard….., The Superior Person’s Second Book Of Weird And Wondrous Words
Lederer….., Richard….., The Superior Person’s Third Book Of Well Bred Words
Smith….., William….., The Wordsworth Classical Dictionary

Thematic Dictionary
Bloom….., Jeffrey & Carol….., Bloom’s Bouquet Of Imaginary Words
Bragonier….., Reginald, Jr.….., What’s What
Corbeil….., Jean - Claude….., Facts On File Visual Dictionary
Corbeil….., Jean - Claude….., Visual Dictionary In Five Languages
Elster….., Charles Harrington….., There’s A Word For It
Grothe….., Mardy….., Viva la Repartee: Clever Comebacks And Witty Retorts From History’s Great Wits And Wordsmiths
McCutcheon….., Marc….., Descriptionary: A Thematic Dictionary Second Edition
Pheby….., John….., The Oxford - Duden Pictorial English Dictionary
Rheingold….., Howard….., They Have A Word For It

Anecdotes & Quotations
Hastings….., Max….., The Oxford Book Of Military Anecdotes
Hirsch….., E. D.….., The Dictionary Of Cultural Literacy
Ousby….., Ian….., The Cambridge Guide To Literature In English
Ousby….., Ian….., The Wordsworth Companion To Literature In Language
Magnusson….., Magnus….., Chamber’s Biographical Dictionary
Pound….., Ezra….., ABC Of Reading
Augarde….., Tony….., The Oxford Dictionary Of Modern Quotations
Bartlett….., John….., Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations
Partington….., Angela….., The Oxford Dictionary Of Quotations
Manser….., Martin H.….., The Wordsworth Dictionary Of Bible Quotations
Sherrin….., Ned….., The Oxford Dictionary Of Humorous Quotations
Sutherland….., James….., The Oxford Book Of Literary Anecdotes
Oxford….., The Oxford English Reference Dictionary
Webster….., Webster’s New International Dictionary

Folklore
Axelrod….., Alan….., Penguin Dictionary Of American Folklore
Ayto….., John….., Brewer’s Dictionary Of Phrase And Fable
Briggs….., Katherine M.….., An Encyclopedia Of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies And Other Supernatural Creatures
Guiley….., Rosemary….., An Encyclopedia Of Ghosts And Spirits
Guiley….., Rosemary….., An Encyclopedia Of Witches And Witchcraft
Room….., Adrian….., Brewer’s Dictionary Of Modern Phrase And Fable

Thesaurus
Garraty….., John A.….., The Reader’s Companion To American History
Doubleday Books….., The Doubleday Roget’s Thesaurus In Dictionary Form
Ehrlich….., Eugene….., Highly Selective Thesaurus For The Extraordinarily Literate
McCutcheon….., Marc….., Roget’s Super Thesaurus

They have gone to the great bonfire of the vanities and are slowly being replaced; Shenkman, Burke, Davis, Wright, Loewen’s series have almost all been completed!

James Burke’s books are an almost mandatory read for anybody and everybody...Am only missing the first book, Connections and looking in all the used bookstores for a copy…

[Rumpshot]

Damn, now I gotta start reading again.

Actually I read a lot, have a lot of books, and sell books part time. But this list brings up a new group for me to peruse.

[MarkD]

In a similar discussion on the old forum either Kim or the Mrs recommended The Western Canon by Howard Bloom, I bought the book and at the back was a LOOONG reading list. Well, I found most of the books (everything in the public domain) on two CDs in both plain text and Kindle formats.

Because it's a commercial site I don't want to post the link without permission from the mods.