From a transcendental near-death experiences to inappropriate food consumption, go deep into the inner depths of depravity to find horror in comedy, and comedy in horror.
Now if you don't have time to travel, then maybe a travel book like Bob Shacochis's will do. He talks about land that's untainted by modern human civilisation, and the vast expanse of land that is Mustang Town in Nepal. Definitely a must-read, because not only does he wax lyrical about the beautiful place, he talks about his challenges and feelings as he makes the tough, arduous journey to the area.
Here's to building up mental muscle when it comes to logic and arguments. Dan Fox's Pretentiousness might be all about the culture and psychology surrounding the need to be hoity toity and the underground cult scene that is seen as "pretentious" But Fox makes a brief, elegant case for why this is super essential for society.
No time? Then having small, compact pieces of information is the way to go. Thought-provoking and hugely compelling, this collection of bite-size thought-experiments is a fascinating insight into the instinctive beliefs of some of the most brilliant minds today.
If you find yourself busy and running out of hours most of the time, then maybe it's time to rethink your working strategy. Peter Bregman shows us how to replace negative patterns with energy boosting and productive behaviors. To thrive in our fast-paced world all it takes is to pause for as few as four seconds. Or to just quickly read this book so you get all the right methods.
How's this for combining math and pop culture? Simon Singh shows us how the writers of The Simpsons hid plenty of mathematic jokes, equations and facts into the episodes. With wit, clarity and a true fan's zeal, Singh analyses such memorable episodes as 'Bart the Genius'' to offer an entirely new insight into the most successful show in television history.
Self-help books are our favourite to read when we're busying — because learning is forever. Drawing on a wide range of great writers, from Philip Roth to Antonin Scalia to Jane Austen and beyond, Fish’s How to Write a Sentence is much more than a writing manual—it is a penetrating exploration into the art and craft of sentences.
You know, we think we're so busy, but sometimes we're just spending half the time wondering. And so it begets the question — why is it so hard to stay focused? Rooted in neuroscience, psychology and evolutionary biology but written with Corballis's signature wit and wisdom, The Wandering Mind takes us into the world of the 'default-mode network' to tackle the big questions. What do rats dream about? What's with our fiction addiction?
New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman has been hailed as one of the best crime fiction writers in America today, winning virtually every major award in the genre. And Pony Girl is the one immersive read full of poignance, but always filled with delightfully unanticipated twists and reversals.
The perfect thing for those who lack time? Short stories? Finish one on the trainride to work, and finish another on the way back, and you won't even have to worry about trying to remember where you left off.
Ken Liu's The Paper Menagerie is an award-winning sci-fi short story, and together with a whole bunch of others, this collection manages to tug at heartstrings and move like no other.
