<p>On the subject of good physics books: I LOVED The Elegant Universe and Hyperspace. They're both quantum physics books that skim the line between science and philosophy: the types of books that make you question all that you "know"</p>
<p>read some Rothbard (online at mises.org), a lot of reasoning going on, fun to read. And he is the man, so thats a plus</p>
<p>lol the comment about trance music...not sure if it makes u smarter...but it's def good music to study to. just because it has automated arpeggiation and computer generated drum lines doesn't make it complex music however...anyway, listen to 1999-2001 stuff if u want quality trance...i'd also recommend minimal techno...not the cheesey commercial junk(124 bpm is the best)</p>
<p>ok, so for real suggestions, read Methods of Logic by Quine...really good stuff in there</p>
<p>I must say that a true intellectual should know as much as possible about religion because it is an important topic of discussion (especially with what is happening in the Middle east and everything). So I think it is necessary to read the koran (or Quran), bible, and the torah. I really liked reading all of them and it is interesting to compare them. Aside from these, there are many, right now I am trying to push myself through Ulysses.</p>
<p>I would truly have to agree with geniusgen, religion is very important. It may seem silly, but go through and read the old testiment (I found that a little more interesting...) They are among the oldest works. The oldest written story would have to go down to Gilgamesh, which while reading the bible you may be interested in reading Gilgamesh to see... certain similarities...</p>
<p>Seconding Brothers Karamazov and adding War and Peace. Teh Russians pwn. </p>
<p>Also, If you give a mouse a cookie...</p>
<p>If you can make it through Leviticus, consider yourself an intellectual. It's very complicated and really works your brain. Numbers is also a rough read.</p>
<p>leviticus isn't so bad... I don't know what you're talking about. Boring sometimes, but really drastically amusing at others...
I can eat camels and locusts but not pigs or squid...</p>
<p>the little prince (le petit prince) by antoine de saint-exupery.
not only is it full of valuable life lessons, but it has pictures too!
i actually gave a copy to one of my best friends for h.s. graduation. and i really want to get the french version even though i don't read or speak french that well/at all.</p>
<p>Fire on Earth by John Gribbin.</p>
<p>talks about comet and asteroid impacts in Earth's history, theories for various unexplained extinctions in the past, risks for the future, what can be done, etc. very eye-opening in the respect that the risk is much bigger than anybody thinks it is, all backed up with real science. w00t.</p>
<p>Don't drink to be an intellectual??? Eh, but then you miss out on cultivating the image. </p>
<p>Think Hemingway. Think seedy bar in Paris. </p>
<p>(Not that you should drink just to fit an image, of course.)</p>
<p>But eh, I don't think alcohol causes lasting harm to your brain. It impairs your judgement only in the moment. So like, don't try to read James Joyce while drunk. It won't work.</p>
<p>Other than that, you're good to go. Except maybe for some long-term liver damage. So, umm, watch out for that.</p>
<p>Ulysses. ugh.....I'm reading Portrait of the Artist in class right now and I can safely say that if I ever have to read Ulysses or Finnegans Wake I'd go crazy...</p>
<p>Never read Portrait.</p>
<p>Read part of Ulysses, though. It's EXCELLENT. Hilarious stuff--the guy's so witty!</p>
<p>You need a really good set of notes, though.</p>
<p>Oscar Wilde is funny/dark, depending on the work.</p>
<p>If you really want to be an intellectual just assume that your better than everyone else and talk down to the rest of the world. Oh, and never admit you are wrong, but only pretend to care about other views so that people don't think that you are closeminded. That seems to cover just about every self proclaimed intellectual I know.</p>
<p>Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
The Anti-Christ by Nietzsche</p>
<p>The Alphabet of Manliness</p>
<p>by Maddox</p>
<p>It will most likely change the way you live your life.</p>
<p>What is "The Bible?" You guys mean the Christian Bible, right?</p>
<p>(yes, I'm being facetious).</p>
<p>No, the Mormon Bible. :p</p>
<p>READ this, it's amazing: Gödel Escher Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, by Douglas Hofstadter</p>
<p>if you liked this, here's the other side:</p>
<p>The Emperor's New Mind, by Roger Penrose</p>
<p>Also...
The Elegant Universe, Brian Greene
Anything by Vonnegut
Anything by Douglas Adams</p>
<p>Things that aren't as "fun" but are certainly essential:
Crime & Punishment
Sound & Fury</p>
<p>Also try Richard Powers... he has some really amazing books that are enlightening and full of art.</p>