Thinker102 wrote:
I have to say, despite considering myself well read, I've only read a handful of those works, and there were several I hadn't even heard of.
Same here. I read about half of the more recent ones (published in the last 40 years).



Thinker102 wrote:
I also wonder at the emphasis on modern physics and biology with the books on that list.
Me too. I got that list from the magazine New Scientist where it was published, which would explain a lot. I also provide a link to the site in my second post on this thread.



Thinker102 wrote:
I do have to agree with Iris: given the conflict and progress it has spawned, the bible should be on such a list, along with the Koran. 'The Art of War' should also be included. Maybe Freuds masterpiece (the title of which escapes me at the moment). Argument could be made for Shakespheres plays as well (which I'll have to get to some day). 'Uncle Toms Cabin' would be another one.
Uncle Tom's cabin would definitely be culturally biased. Shakespeare is a stronger case, but I don't see a strong case. How did it change the world? Which single book?

If we don't confine ourselves to recent books, one could include:
     Euclid's The Elements, or
     Aryabhatta's Aryabhatiya (outlines for the first time the decimal number system - basically most of the math we learn in school up to grade 7 or 8) or,
     Al Khwarizmi's Al Jabr (outlines all the algebra up to quadratic equations that we do in high school. The English word Algebra is from that book).

When I pointed out that religious books were absent from the list, I had something like Fritjof Capra's bestseller, The Tao of Physics a book on pseudo-scientific quackery in mind. The Bible (or the Koran) may have changed the world, but was it change for the better? I don't think so.

Personally, if we confine ourselves to the last 50 years, I would include Luca Cavalli Sforza's The History & Geography of Human Genes.
   



As I have said before, You are just fooling yourself, it is not what either the Bible or the Bible knockoff the Qur'an actually say,
OFF TOPIC CUT & PASTE NONSENSE!



No other book was written over such a period of time, nor remained consistent from beginning to end.
This is not a popularity contest.

The Bible is for retarded morons, just like the most popular magazine, Playboy, is for the those who lust. Same applies to other crappy books on religious nitwittery.