On Tue, 29 Dec 1998, Alexander 'Sasha' Chislenko wrote:
> I am trying to suggest some good book to a 16yo correspondent
> with a religious background who is trying to find interesting ways
> to look at the world and see what's out there.
>
> Do you have any suggestions of books that could open somebody's
> mind to the marvels of science, provide interesting new views on
> science, religion, world, and humans, or generally inspire, without
> being too specialized, or difficult?
>
> What books impressed you most when you were in high school?
What's your friend's opinions on evolution? If your correspondent is a creationist, I highly reccomend _Climbing Mount Improbable_ by Richard Dawkins.
As far as science goes, I was in raptures over Drexler's _Engines of Creation_. I bought a copy for my mother. (She still hasn't read it, unfortunately...)
The computer/mind paradigm was also very interesting and important in my own development. There are a variety of good books on this topic. I'd reccomend Godel, Escher, Bach but I don't think it would be all that compelling unless one was already somewhat convinced of the computational theory of mind in the first place. To this end, I might instead reccomend Steven Pinker's _How the Mind Works_.
Similarly, studying ethical philosophy was another turning point for me; however, this subject is sufficiently broad as to consume all of the other reading combined. :) Having taken excellent courses which dealt with the question of ethics, I can only really advocate taking a good class with a good teacher.
I may think of some more later.
-Dan