If you could only preserve 5 books, what would they be?

[seanrobertson]

The Complete works - William Shakespeare (unless that's a freebie, as it usually is)
Quite clearly the pinnacle of English Literature. Some of the most beautiful verse ever written.

Very true. You sound as if you speak from a literary background, Deborah.

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
More lasting than 1984, which will not survive modern culture. Highlights the danegrs of both relying too much on technology and rejecting it completely. The eugenics issue applies remarkably well to modern cloning.

Indeed. It's been ages since I read it. I think I had it, _Night_, and something else at the time; not surprisingly, the Wiesel work left me with the most lasting impression.

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Because there will always be trashy romance novels, lets keep one that actually does it well.

Beloved - Toni Morrison
Highlights the effects of slavery, and what happens when people are treated like property.

I actually avoided Austen in school, but _Beloved_ is good IIRC.

Very good list so far.

Dracula- Bram Stoker
Best. Horror. Novel. Ever.

My own favorite is The Fall of the House of Usher, but again, it's been many, many years since I read Drac.

I've thought a little more about what I'd include.

1--Joyce's _A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man_. Its effective use of stream of consciousness, plus the overall mastery w/ which the story is told, makes it one of the very best in the English canon.

2--collected works/Shakespeare. I was fortunate enough to take a course taught by world reknown expert on Shakespeare, Dr. Dennis Kay of Oxford. Dear, dear man...sadly he passed away a couple of years ago, aged all of about 48

3--_To Kill A Mockingbird_. Wonderful book!

4--collection of T.S. Eliot poetry. "The Waste Land," "J. Alfred Prufrock," and "The Hollow Men" are some of my very favorites.

5--collection of Hemingway short stories. Enjoyable, and a couple of the Nick yarns yield great perspective on how someone "picks up the pieces" after returning home from war/recovery from shell-shock.

So hard to choose.

[InnerBrat]

The Complete works - William Shakespeare (unless that's a freebie, as it usually is)
Quite clearly the pinnacle of English Literature. Some of the most beautiful verse ever written.

Very true. You sound as if you speak from a literary background, Deborah.

I'll let that go, but it's Debi, 'K mate?

And no, I'm a scientist. I just like reading

Dracula- Bram Stoker
Best. Horror. Novel. Ever.

My own favorite is The Fall of the House of Usher, but again, it's been many, many years since I read Drac.

That's technically a short story. Although a collection of Poe's short stories wouldn't be amiss.

[Durandal]

Since we still have CD-ROMs, my high school had the CD-ROM version of our calculus book with the answers to all problems and the solution to the odd problems

Ah yes, forgot about my calculus book's CD-ROM.

Physics for Scientists and Engineers I
Physics for Scientists and Engineers II

Is this the one by Serway?

Yes. I take it you use this series too?

My name is Damien Sorresso, and I'm a student.

What, this isn't an Apple Switch commercial?

No. Put down the joint, Damien

Unlike Ellen Feiss, I have no problems admitting that I film commercials stoned.

[seanrobertson]

I'll let that go, but it's Debi, 'K mate?

Aight

And no, I'm a scientist. I just like reading

Wait a second...a young woman--a nice-looking one, at that, from the "Pictures" forum I can see--who's a scientist?! One who no doubt likes science fiction as well?

Wow. You are unique

That's technically a short story. Although a collection of Poe's short stories wouldn't be amiss.

Agreed.

I've always been a sucker for short stories/collections thereof. I find them somewhat like a buffet or "variety pack": while the quantity of each selection is lesser, you have so many wonderful flavors from which you can choose

[phongn]

Since we still have CD-ROMs, my high school had the CD-ROM version of our calculus book with the answers to all problems and the solution to the odd problems

Ah yes, forgot about my calculus book's CD-ROM.

A very useful tool, especially when trying to learn some problems you just can't figure out.

Is this the one by Serway?

Yes. I take it you use this series too?

Yep. I find that it's a decent physics book. The answer guide they provide (only selected answers) is actually larger than the textbook itself!

Unlike Ellen Feiss, I have no problems admitting that I film commercials stoned.

[darthdavid]

Damn. I'm too messed up by the codine in me. Mabye later when i can spell properley. Nighty night.

[InnerBrat]

And no, I'm a scientist. I just like reading

Wait a second...a young woman--a nice-looking one, at that, from the "Pictures" forum I can see--who's a scientist?! One who no doubt likes science fiction as well?

Wow. You are unique

Yep. I'm a gamer as well

That's technically a short story. Although a collection of Poe's short stories wouldn't be amiss.

Agreed.

I've always been a sucker for short stories/collections thereof. I find them somewhat like a buffet or "variety pack": while the quantity of each selection is lesser, you have so many wonderful flavors from which you can choose

[/quote]

Me too - but I couldn't think of any collections that would qualify as a book and contain everything I wanted it to. Not that I'd probably pick iot over Stoker, mind.

[Pu-239]

Screw preserving classical printed literature. Much of that is in E-book form, since they are in public domain. Too bad Disney's infinite copyright extension law, AKA the 'Sonny Bono Copyright extension act' or something is a precedent that will be the end of public domain.

[Zoink]

I'd save these 'cause I use have to use them daily:

Military Handbook 5 - Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures

Bruhn - Analysis and Design of Flight Vehicle Structures

Beer & Johnson - Mechanics of Materials

Federal Aviation Regulations - Aeronautics and Space

Machinery's Handbook

... and if I could, I'd add some math books, and a good dictionary.