Neil deGrasse Tyson's Reading List

Astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium; popular science communicator. Posted his recommended reading list on Reddit AMA in 2011.

Eight Books Every Intelligent Person Should Read (2011)

Tyson's response in his 2011 Reddit AMA when asked which books should be read by every intelligent person.

King James Version · 1611 · Buy on Amazon

"to learn that it's easier to be told by others what to think and believe than it is to think for yourself."

Isaac Newton · 1687 · Buy on Amazon

"to learn that the universe is a knowable place."

Charles Darwin · 1859 · Buy on Amazon

"to learn of our kinship with all other life on Earth."

Jonathan Swift · 1726 · Buy on Amazon

"to learn, among other satirical lessons, that most of the time humans are Yahoos."

Thomas Paine · 1794 · Buy on Amazon

"to learn how the power of rational thought is the primary source of freedom in the world."

Adam Smith · 1776 · Buy on Amazon

"to learn that capitalism is an economy of greed, a force of nature unto itself."

Sun Tzu · -500 · Buy on Amazon

"to learn that the act of killing fellow humans can be raised to an art."

Niccolo Machiavelli · 1532 · Buy on Amazon

"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."