313: Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) by Richard Feynman

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)

A best-seller since it was published in 1985 this collection of essays covers a wide range of topics. Some funny, some poignant. Feynman was a Nobel prize-winning physicist noted for his wide-ranging curiosity and his ability to make complex ideas understandable. The world would be a much better place if we had more Feynmans in it.

Why this is liberal/progressive: Progressive political philosophy is deeply influenced by the scientific method. The best government is a government based on facts, not faith. Feynman has a way of cutting through the BS and getting to the facts of the matter. These humorous essays show how a scientist looks at the world.

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333: My Life with the Chimpanzees by Jane Goodall

My Life with the Chimpanzees by Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall has been writing about her research with chimpanzees for over forty years. It's difficult to choose just one book to represent her work, but My Life with the Chimpanzees is as good an introduction as any. Plus, it's a kids book, so it makes a perfect gift for the curious pre-teen in your life. (Her more substantive The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior is out of print. If you would like something written for an older audience check out Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe.)

Why this is progressive/liberal: This book helps explain why progressives want to protect endangered species. It also provides an introduction to the life of a scientist and importance of expanding your intellectual horizons.

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