The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels Between Modern Physics, by Fritjof Capra

Wow.. the book was great, at least for clearing up for me the difference in between the westing mind-set, and the oriental one. We as westerners are born to think in precise terms, atheism is on our lips everyday, and most of us do not find any difference in between spirituality, religion, love. We take life really mathematical, adding and multiplying people with apples, and animals with colors; our world is economy, profit and the mathematics of it.

Orientals think in a different way, the world is an abstract being, the economy, social structure, and life are just some manifestations of the "abstract being".

Thus for westerners will be tempted to conclude that two clapping hands create a kid-game, or an applause; while the orientals will view the the same event as a complex metaphor in the koan "Two hands clap and there is a sound; what is the sound of one hand?"

This is just a brief of what one will find in the book, probably for the physics addicts, there is even more.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

An excellent book, an attempt to write about almost all fields of research, their history, and their status now. It is impressing how, after all this time, we are still unable to answer some very basic questions about ourselves and the world around us: take the global temperatures as an example, subject brought in the world attention by Malthus, around 1800, and reiterated again and again thought the years by several writers, arguing for the "warming" or the "cooling" of the earth.

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

Getting in the possession of this book, was like reading a quote of the intro of the book itself. I just returned from Singapore, and was interested in Buddhism and spirituality, and one close friend of my father, and soon to become a friend of mine, made this book a gift..

The story takes us in South America, where the discovery of some ancient texts bring enlightenment to the main characters. I did not enjoy the tale as much as the teachings, or better to say, I appreciated a lot the new perspective on life, human interaction, children raising, self teaching, etc.. that the book brings.

I would associate the book to the same current of ideas as the ones present at Huxley in "Doors of Perception", or Carlos Castaneda.

Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley

A must read book for any "The Doors" band fans.. :)

As a university student, the book was one of the first to open up my curiosity for spirituality, other means of communication between the people, other means of understanding and seeing life, the beauty of life. Probably there has to be some kind of balance for my IT/engineering professional life.. :)

Briefly the Huxley presents his thoughts and perceptions on life while being drugged with mescaline, a traditional Indian drug made out of a cactus.
Starting from this, the book is an essay on other means of perception.

I would recommend in the same category, readings from Wade Davis, Carlos Castaneda, Fritjof Capra, James Redfield, and of course other suggestions from Amazon.. :)

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Other than the great presentation of the theories of the universe in common words, I especially enjoyed the continuous reminder of the possible place for God in our new world, on a theory to theory basis.. :)

Also the modesty of the writer is impressive, I find amazing Hawking's openness to new ideas, and his ability to change minds in the name of science, even if that means to give up fighting for his own theories.