Talking Science sounds like a good one and nothing religious for me no thanks

That's way too much responsibility for me.

Um, Freakonomics-- so the world would understand how to think critically about stuff and human nature, a concept we still didn't grasp yet fully. This should cover the non-technical human nature stuff.


Some technical math explaining Greak mathmatical reasoning book to help us build primitive computers

Some book that would teach us calculus.


From then on, inventing matrix algebra and all the other bullcrap and how to build governments would be on them

"A Brief History of Time" by Dr Stephen Hawking.
"Working" by Studs Terkel
A tie between "Freakonomics" by Steven D. Levitt & "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich

I'd have to research this...

See the link in the explanation.

Oh jesus. I don't know. I'll have to see other replies.

Moby Dick, Catch-22, and The Brothers Karamazov - I've read the first two. Moby Dick because so many people say it's great and I know there's a lot in it that I missed. So, reading it again (and again) would likely yield nuances. Catch-22 because I really liked it and it seemed filled with great themes and humor. I've never read Brothers Karamazov or any Dostoevsky. And, to be honest, I may never. But, if I had nothing else to read, I would and I think I may get a lot out of it (it's suppose to be excellent). I think the common thread with all of these is that they are complex in some way, so reading them more than once and really thinking about them a lot would work. But, honestly, taking 3 books would suck, because I mostly like to read things I've never read before.


....oh, crap, I misread the question. I answered as if the books were just for me.... how selfish!

OK, um, rebuilding civilization, hm.... The Way Things Work by David Macaulay, the collected works of Shakespeare (is that cheating?), and Histories (Herodotus).

Ah I'd take Water ship down, a dictionary and the last one would be ... something I'll remember some other time.

> OK, um, rebuilding civilization,
> hm.... The Way Things Work
> by David Macaulay

I have that! It's a really cool book. Sometimes me and Mary look through it instead of the normal bedtime book.

No idea

I think David Macaulay lives near me... He has made some other books that are suppose to be good, but I haven't seen them yet.

Probably some kind of construction or engineering reference books.

Plant identification - my best recipe book - a good dictionary

> |> OK, um, rebuilding civilization,
> |> hm.... The Way Things Work
> |> by David Macaulay
>
> I have that! It's a really cool book. Sometimes me and Mary look through
> it instead of the normal bedtime book.
>
>
I have that book too - I just gave it to my Grandson Nico. He's a little young but he'll read eventually!

> Moby Dick, Catch-22, and The Brothers Karamazov - I've
> read the first two. Moby Dick because so many people say it's great
> and I know there's a lot in it that I missed. So, reading it again
> (and again) would likely yield nuances. Catch-22 because I really
> liked it and it seemed filled with great themes and humor. I've never
> read Brothers Karamazov or any Dostoevsky. And, to be honest, I may
> never. But, if I had nothing else to read, I would and I think I
> may get a lot out of it (it's suppose to be excellent). I think the
> common thread with all of these is that they are complex in some way,
> so reading them more than once and really thinking about them a lot
> would work. But, honestly, taking 3 books would suck, because I mostly
> like to read things I've never read before.
>
>
> ....oh, crap, I misread the question. I answered as if the books
> were just for me.... how selfish!


I misread the question too but I still won't change my choices...

I tried reading Catch 22 when I was 15 and I just couldn't get into it. I think I'd like to read it now...

I actually "read" it on tape (an unabridged version), years ago now. It was mostly filled with ironic/satirical humor, but also bits of philosophy and a looming horror, all intertwined and associated with war. There's a movie version with Alan Arkin which I think I saw when I was a kid, I need to see it again, I think it's also good.

I was just reading any info about the book / movie and I'd really like to read it now! Sounds like this book may have inspired some characters in M.A.S.H. too! I've always used the expression 'catch 22' knowing where it originated, so...

I know I'm supposed to come up with something intelligent and enlightening, but Harry Potter is my answer (the second, the sixth, and the seventh books).

> Moby Dick, Catch-22, and The Brothers Karamazov -
i'm reading the brothers karamazov now and i love it. it is just a little hard at times to get through.

I have a major distaste for long books. Maybe I'll get over it someday. I have read a few, but they take so long to get through... But, if I only had 3 books, then maybe longs books would be for the best.

The Time Machine

War and Peace, the old version. War and Peace, the new version and um...pppllllbbbb I don't know, I really big book on gardening with lots of pictures.

I did that too, but I quickly thought about how War and Peace would influence the new world. I convered my ass really quick...you still have time!
I am sure those three would be a great start to a new civilization.