1001 Nonfiction Books That D&Ders will want to read.

[Holy Bovine]

I was reading the thread about starting a smithing business, and someone recommended a few books. So I thought, why not make a thread where we can all recommend nonfiction books that will be of interest to DMs and players? I'll start.

9. The Sacred Cow and the Abominable Pig by Marvin Harris

You just put this here to get my attention didn't you Buttercup?

BTW, the Cow wins in the end (and gets to eat the pig )

Anyway I would recommend the following

104. Into the Wild, John Krakauer (about Krakauer's adventures tracking the movements of a young man found dead in an abandoned bus in the Alaskan bush)

105. Into Thin Air, John Krakauer (about the 1996 Mount Everest distaster)

106. Looneyspoons, Janet & Greta Podleski (a cookbook but a damn good one)

107. Under the Black Flag, David Cordingly (a very in depth look at the life and times of pirates from 1500 to the mid 18th century)

 

[mac1504]

108. The Lucifer Principle: A scientific Expedition into the Forces of History by Howard Bloom.

You may not agree with everything he says, but some of it makes for generating good ideas.


-mac1504

 

[William Ronald]

A good thread, with several of my recommendations already on it.

109. The Power of Myth Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers (based on the great PBS series.)

110. The Mythology of All Races (an encyclodia series from the early part of the 20th century. Available in some good reference libraries.)

 

[sword-dancer]

111 The far Mirror from Barbara Feintuch

112 Die Legionen des Augustus Prof Junkelmann

113 Die Reiter Roms I-III Prof Junkelmann

114 Warfare, Srate and Society in the Byzantine World 565 1204 by John Haldon

115 Die Völkerwanderung Felix Dahn

116 Die Samurai Kuno Mauer

117 King Arthur Graham Philipps, Martin Keatman

 

[Holy Bovine]

Just thought of one more;

118. Campus Non Mentis, authour unknown (possibly the funniest book I have ever read - a professor's collection of 'unique' answers to exams he has collected over the years - my favourite part is the map of the world with such interesting locals as 'Beyond' and 'Back-of Beyond' )

 

[Tyler Do'Urden]

119. The Hiram Key

Often available in the discount section at B&N, this book traces a reconstructed (fictional?) history of secret societies in Europe and the Levant, from Egypt to the Templars to the Freemasons. A feast of plot hooks and campaign ideas.

120. Serpent in the Sky: The High Wisdom of Ancient Egypt, by John Anthony West

An archaeological study of Egyptian science, philosophy, and religion.

121. A Short History of the World, by J.M. Roberts

Exactly what it says.

122. The Hermetica: The Lost Wisdom of the Pharoahs, edited and translated by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy

A small introduction to Egyptian philosophy- a great introduction to the thinking that shaped both the ideas of the Greeks and the Hebrews.

123. Ancient Egyptian Religion, by Henri Frankfort

Exactly what it says.

124. Techgnosis: Myth, Magic, and Mysticism in the Age of Information, by Erik Davis

A fantastic book for science fiction and cyberpunk roleplayers. If you dig novels by Vinge, Broderick, Stephenson, etc- you'll love this.

125. The Future of the Body: Explorations into the Further Evolution of Human Nature, by Michael Murphy

Another one the Sci-fi gamers will love- and the fantasy gamers can mine for ideas as well. It's practically an encyclopedia of paranormal human functioning.

 

[ptrpete]

126. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Okay, its a web site, but I though this was interesting:

http://www.halcyon.com/blackbox/hw/wipp/wipp.html

The WIPP is the US sttempt to bury its radioactive waste in such way that it won't be dug up by archeologists 1000 years from now.

"The tomb of (really bad thing)" is a bit of a cliche, but if you're going to run it, this site has lots of ideas for doing it right.

 

[Buttercup]

I can't believe I forgot this one!

127. The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millenium by Robert Lacey

Or this one!

128. Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney

 

[Kilmore]

129. The Prince Machiavelli
130. Castles Sydney Toy
131. The Book of the Courtier Baldasarre Castiglione, a book for 16th century courtiers by a 16th century courtier.
132. A World Lit Only by Fire William Manchester, considered a bit opinionated by some, still a good reference.
133. History of Architecture Banister Fletcher. This book is filled with fantastic pen and ink illustrations and is an unrivalled source of medieval and ancient (and modern up to a point...) floor plans.

 

[Theron]

134: The Medieval Soldier: 15th Century Campaign Life Recreated in Colour Photographs, by Gerry Embleton and John Howe. A splendid coffee-table book consisting of photos of top-quality medieval re-enactors photographed in appropriate settings (castles, towns, in the field). Wonderful as a visual reference, particularly for high-medieval-feel campaigns, but also chock-full of useful details for a mercenary or soldier campaign.

Mr. Howe is also a well-known fantasy artist, and worked along with Alan Lee as a production designer for Lord of the Rings (notably in the area of weapons and armour design).