I think I'm getting dumber. What are some good books to read?

Neil Stephenson’s Cryptonomicon or Anathem or Snow Crash ftw!

Mind Hacks

The Philosophy Gym

Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

“The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

“Candide” by Voltaire.

I love to locate and read The Guinness Book Of World Record. most of the older books are at Goodwill stores and cost $3–4 dollars. the books are interesting and informative. each page is different and contains different information of records held around the world.

No sense of being dull here. each page holds your interest and keeps those brain cells alive.

Also, try playing bingo. its good for your brain and eye to arm and hand contact.

My favorite book is The Painted Bird.

The Dune series by Frank Herbert. It touches upon all the subjects mentioned in your question.

Long and good: The Lord of the Rings
Short and good: Anything by Terry Pratchett

Margaret Atwood is awesome. Her books aren’t too taxing and they’re incredibly good.

sounds like we enjoy the same topics; i like science writing and you might too…the collector and ravens in winter were pretty awesome.

“Fingerprints of the Gods” by Graham Hancock
“God and the New Physics” Paul Davies
“The Foundation Trilogy” Isaac Asimov
“The Prophet” Kahlil Gibran
“Timeline” Michael Crichton

I’m sorry, but I only came here to confirm your suspicion. If you ask this crew for book recommendations, and then follow up on those, then all your friends will be confirming that suspicion of yours, too.

But since I’m here…

I very much enjoyed Ghosts of Vesuvius by Charles Pellegrino. Really fascinating, and an entertaining, fast read for non-fiction (history, cosmology, geology, biology, astronomy, religion and the Titanic, all collected).

Dumbness for Dummies

Oh, you do make me laugh, pd!

Anything by Ray Bradbury seems like it would suit you well according to your description.
I know he suits me well.
You could start by reading the Martian Chronicles by Bradbury. It’s like a collection of short stories but they’re all connected into one plot. It’s a great read. And his writing style is beautiful without being difficult.

Anything by Malcolm Gladwell will make you think. :D

Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen.

First thing I would do is raise the bar….go for a book a week which should be doable. Secondly throw yourself at the mercy of a local librarian as they know books and they know people and could help you find a book or ten or twenty you should enjoy reading.

Take some time off from the internet. Seriously. We’ve been conditioned to believe it’s enlightening, but its killing more brains than television and crack combined.

That being said, I recommend Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.

Read Patricia Cornwell. You won’t be bored.

Anything by Samuel Becket. I love this quote, “The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new.” from, “Murphy”.

Read Lord Acton’s, The History of Freedom In Antiquity. He’s the fellow who gave us this quote, “Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Compare and contrast The Communist Manifesto with The Wealth of Nations.

Research pivotal social changers like Thomas Paine, John Cartwright, John Horne Tooke, William Godwin, and William Blake.

Looks like I’ll be busy reading for a long time. If you don’t see me on here for a while, it’s your fault! :)

catch 22 or zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance i would also recommend.

I LOVE to suggest things!!
***Camouflage – Joe Haldeman (If you only choose one book out of this list you should choose this one!!!)***
Animal Farm & 1984 – George Orwell
The Golden Compass Series
The House of The Scorpion by Nancy Farmer is less difficult to read but it’s VERY interesting
Lord of the Flies you probably read in school