Thread: I want to learn everything about the world - what to read?

I have a thirst for knowledge. I want to know what was behind the greatest movements and the most horrible wars. I want to know how it was possible for the great religions to come to be and why nationalism was so popular in the 19th century. Basically, I want to learn everything I can about how the human mind works and what makes it tick. I want this partly because that would be helpful for me as a writer but also because recently this thirst has just grown expotentially.

So, what I want from you is suggestions. Have you read any good books (fiction or non-fiction) that have broaden your perspectives?

Shaara writes some great non-fiction war books. American Gospel is a cool non-fic. Biographies can be enjoyable. I've got loads of those on the shelf.

Is your name Sylar by any chance?

I just took a Western Civilization course at my college and I loved it. If you have the money you should enroll in one, but make sure that the professor is good first (ratemyprofessors.com). He/she will be able to direct you to all the good books. In fact if your professor is cool he/she will probably loan you them for free. The only thing that sucks is that the semester is too short to get in depth, but it will give you enough knowledge to know where to start looking.

Now I want to enroll in an Eastern Civilization course.

All the essential information is in "Eleanor's little book of interesting facts" on my associated content page, or will be in the coming chapters.

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

All the essential information is in "Eleanor's little book of interesting facts" on my associated content page, or will be in the coming chapters.

This sounds suspiciously like a modern version of "1066 and All That".

You want to know everything? Read the internet. It's available in book form too.

Go to University.

Originally Posted by Mike C

You want to know everything? Read the internet. It's available in book form too.

Can you give me a link to download the latest version of the internet?

Too bad you aren't one of those people who think they already know everything.

Actually the last person who was able to learn everything probably lived about 600 years ago, when the amount of transmitted, written knowledge was limited by printing not yet having come into existence, and that's talking about the knowledge of the Western world. The Arabs still held Greek knowledge before we got it back through the Moorish occupation of Spain and there were unknown civilizations in the Orient and South America with their own knowledge stores.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

This sounds suspiciously like a modern version of "1066 and All That".

No, far more erudite, check out my associated content page listed below.

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

Actually the last person who was able to learn everything probably lived about 600 years ago, when the amount of transmitted, written knowledge was limited by printing not yet having come into existence, and that's talking about the knowledge of the Western world. The Arabs still held Greek knowledge before we got it back through the Moorish occupation of Spain and there were unknown civilizations in the Orient and South America with their own knowledge stores.

Thank you. I actually said pretty much the same thing on another forum.

I stand by my university comment. It's the closest you will get to learning everything, though you will be nowhere near total knowledge.

That rainman guy (the real one, not the movie) is pretty close. He sits in the library all day speed-reading everything he can get his hands on and memorizing it all immediately.

Kim Peek