quick, easy, at least slightly thought provoking books

[ashlesha]

I really miss reading and thanks to the internet my attention span is shit. but I got a library card last weekend and I've been reading the Gates by John connolly with some success! only other books I've been able to complete in the last couple years are: Clive barker - cabal (short stories), Camus - the stranger, and the story of b by Daniel Quinn.

so with those books in mind please recommend me some of your favorite books that are short and easy to read but not mindless. trying to get back in practice.

[FDG]

Immanuel Kant - die Kritik der reinen Vernunft

[Gilly]

Anything by Herman Hesse, the Glass Bead Game is longer but his others are all around 200 pp or less.

[PistolShrimp]

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman.

[redbaron]

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman.

I loved that book. (I think I read it like 20 years ago, lol)

[marooned]

Ray Bradbury's short stories? (i mean short as in not a novel)

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach?

I didn't know Ray Bradbury recently died.

[fen]

My favorite book is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. It is comfortable to read, but not short....normal book length I guess.
If you are into fantasy at all I mend The Legend of Drizzt...it's about a dark elf who turns away from his amoral society. Also a light read, but really great. Though it is a long series.

[Gilly]

OH MY GOD RAY BRADBURY

/me jerks off furiously

The Illustrated Man is the best compilation of short stories I've ever read by MILES

[mu4]

Zhuangzi/Chuangtzu translated preferably by Lin Yutang

One of the classics of Chinese philosophy as historical fiction and comedy.

[Capitalist Pig]

Pro-tip: If it's shorter than a novel, but longer than a short story, it's called novella.

[Absurd]

Damn, this is scary, I just realised something.

[GuavaDrunk]

Three Men In A Bummel - Jerome K Jerome

Light and entertaining, very english humour. Also sounds suspiciously Alpha to me fwiw. If you like it he wrote a little series of Three Men, including on a tandem and in some moutains.

Not sure about thought provoking, possibly makes one think about human organisational nature and the little absurdities of life?

[ashlesha]

Not sure about thought provoking, possibly makes one think about human organisational nature and the little absurdities of life?

I'm not really particular about this ftr, I was just trying to avoid people seeing "quick and easy"and recommending Jennifer crusie or something. but I do like books that make me think about stuff not explicitly related to the plot.

[Radio]

you should totally read this because it's like pretty cool

[PistolShrimp]

you should totally read this because it's like pretty cool

I second that this book is cool stuff, though I'm not sure if 600 pages of A+ surrealist mind-fuck fits lungs' criteria of "quick and easy."

[Radio]

I second that this book is cool stuff, though I'm not sure if 600 pages of A+ surrealist mind-fuck fits lungs' criteria of "quick and easy."

ahah i guess. this thing took me 1.5 years to read in its entirety. i might have momentarily overlooked the "quick and easy" part.

[PistolShrimp]

ahah i guess. this thing took me 1.5 years to read in its entirety. i might have momentarily overlooked the "quick and easy" part.

Heh, took me ridiculously long to get through it, too, but it is definitely worth the read!

[Pa3s]

I don't know if it's somthing you'd like, but I thought that "The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli was quite interesting and definitely thought-provoking, even if I did not necessarily agree with his opinions. It's also short and to the point.