Neil deGrasse, an American astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, and science communicator, when asked which books should be read by every single intelligent person on the planet, listed the following eight books:
To learn that it’s easier to be told by others what to think and believe than it is to think for yourself.
2.The System of the World by Isaac Newton
To learn that the universe is a knowable place.
3.On the Origin Of Species by Charles Darwin
To learn of our kinship with all other life on Earth.
4.Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
To learn, among other satirical lessons, that most of the time humans are Yahoos
5. The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine
To learn how the power of rational thought is the primary source of freedom in the world
6.The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
To learn that capitalism is an economy of greed, a force of nature unto itself.
7.The Art of War by Sun Tsu
To learn that the act of killing fellow humans can be raised to an art.
8. The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli
To learn that people not in power will do all they can to acquire it, and people in power will do all they can to keep it.