Master Author
Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry

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Updated December 10, 2005

Must Reads by the age of 24:
Masterfully Written Important Nonfiction

Masterfully Written Important Books TOP

The following resources are those that I recommend frequently. They are the few out of hundreds that I feel stand out. I tried to prioritize them but found it impossible. Just categorizing the list was a challenge. They are all equally excellent and important. Pick a title that satisfies your appetite. Click the links and read the reviews. Get copies from the library when you can.

Books below marked with an * are by authors on my philosopher page. Books without an * are equally excellent and important, they just weren't authored by a person on my philosopher page.

Philosophy

My most important lists. If you will read only one book, choose something from my philosopher page.

Education and Respect for People with Different Skill Sets

Social Issues

Religion

Masterfully Produced Important Videos and DVDs TOP

Titles are sorted by year of production. Click the links and read the reviews. Most of these are based on actual events and people, but some include the rare quality of "fiction with an important message" or satire with a message. Others are fiction based on real events or documentaries. Some of these movies are far from "romantic comedies" but they are VERY important and should be watched anyway. They are all excellent productions, otherwise I wouldn't put them on this list. Watch specifically for the movie's message. (CAUTION: In fiction, you may or may not get the intended message or you might get some completely different message! This inconsistency is a quality and limitation inherent in fiction, but then you already knew that.) Get copies from your local video store or the library if possible.

Social Issues

Religion

  • Inherit the Wind (1960)
    • This is a reenactment of the famous real-life 1925 Tennessee "Scopes Monkey Trial" where evolution was put on trial. Much of the movie script is from the actual trial transcripts. It is a fairly accurate depiction of what happened. This movie was remade in 1999 (EXACT same script) but I like the 1960 version better.
  • Devil's Playground (2002)
    • A rare glimpse into the life of the Amish. Very well done and a real eye opener. Here is a review.

Nuclear Power (The movies below are very educational. I find it odd that we rarely talk about these issues anymore.)

Nuclear War (The movies below are very educational. I find it odd that we rarely talk about these issues anymore.)

    • This is a fictional gem that successfully treats the possibility of nuclear war with, can you believe it, comedy! Peter Sellers and George C. Scott star in this excellent and interesting romp. It makes you laugh AND think!
    • A haunting journey through the dawn of the nuclear age and the man behind it--J. Robert Oppenheimer, the principal architect of the atomic bomb. Featuring archival footage and commentary from scientists and soldiers directly involved with the Manhattan Project, this gripping film is a fascinating look at the scope and power of the Nuclear Age.
  • The Day After (1983)
    • Audiences are briefly introduced to a representative cross-section of American life before an Atomic Bomb hits nearby Kansas City. The ensuing destruction is utterly horrific, but a few manage to survive to struggle vainly with rising radiation levels and the slow, inevitable collapse of society. As a protest vehicle, The Day After is a triumph--its scenes of nuclear devastation (much from actual government A-bomb test footage) remain the most powerful statements against nuclear armament ever depicted.
    • The film shows what happens to a suburban family in the Pacific Northwest after a nearby nuclear attack. As it turns out, those killed by the initial blast are the lucky ones; Alexander and her family must suffer through radiation poisoning and sickness, the daily diminution of life this causes, and the eventual deaths of those around her. Quietly powerful and never overstated.
    • In the sad days of nuclear-weapons testing, the United States detonated 331 atomic, hydrogen, and thermonuclear bombs. Many of those explosions appear in Trinity and Beyond, which utilizes a lot of declassified footage, most of it in color. This movie has excellent reviews.

Living Authors of Masterfully Important Books TOP

Larry Gonick

The master of Cartoon Guides that simplify complicated topics. They are excellent!

*Wendell Berry

Nonfiction, fiction, poetry, novels, essays, he does them all, incorporating important questions and answers, masterfully. I believe he is the single most important author living today.

*Jerry Mander

Helps you ask the hard questions, the ones you didn't think of on your own.

Howard Zinn

American history for grown ups.

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