This is a curated list of books that I recommend to people coming from
computer science, engineering or other quantitative backgrounds and looking to
deepen their understanding of some important themes of knowledge.
I organized the list using a bottom-up approach, starting with what I consider
are building blocks (Themes 1-5) for thinking about more complex questions
(Themes 6-10).
Under each theme I used a double asterisk (**) to mark books which I think are
absolute must-reads. Items marked with a single asterisk (*) I thought were
interesting and/or important and those unmarked I thought were less important
and therefore only recommend as supplementary (this is all very subjective,
naturally).
Many of the weak positions and widespread misconceptions I've encountered
within the scope of themes 6-10 I thought were deeply rooted
in poor understanding of core ideas from themes 1-5. I therefore recommend
coming to grips with themes 1-5 before moving on to the rest.
Theme 1: Cosmology and Theoretical Physics
The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time and the Texture of Reality
Brian Greene
Cosmology, Space and Time, Ontology
The Elegant Universe
Brian Greene
Cosmology, Theoretical Physics
A Brief History Of Time: From Big Bang To Black Holes
Stephen Hawking
Cosmology, History of Science, Classic
A Universe From Nothing
Lawrence M. Krauss
Cosmology, Theoretical Physics
Theme 2: Natural Selection
The Selfish Gene
Richard Dawkins
Natural Selection, Classic
Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution
Nick Lane
Natural Selection
The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene
Richard Dawkins
Natural Selection
Theme 3: Epistomology and the Scientific Method
The Fabric of Reality
David Deutsch
Epistomology, Pancomputationlism
The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World
David Deutsch
Epistomology, Pancomputationlism
Bad Science
Ben Goldacre
Epistomology
A Short History Of Nearly Everything
Bill Bryson
History of Science, Classic
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: 50th Anniversary Edition
Thomas S. Kuhn
Epistomology
Theme 4: Neuroscience
In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind
Eric R. Kandel
Neuroscience, History of Science
The Man who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
Oliver Sacks
Neuroscience
Fundamentals of Computational Neuroscience
Thomas Trappenberg
Computational Neuroscience
Theme 5: Cognitive Science
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Daniel Kahneman
Cognitive Science, Classic
Irrationality
Stuart Sutherland
Rationality, Epistomology, Cognition, Cognitive Biases
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari
Anthropology
Theme 6: Strong AI and Functionalism
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Douglas R. Hofstadter
Intelligence, Functionalism, Strong AI, Classic
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies
Nick Bostrom
Artificial Intelligence, Strong AI
How to Create a Mind: The Secret of Human Thought Revealed
Ray Kurzweil
Artificial Intelligence, Strong AI
Theme 7: Philosophy of Mind
Brain-wise: Studies in Neurophilosophy
Patricia Smith Churchland
Philosophy, Neuroscience
Consciousness Explained
Daniel C. Dennett
Consciousness, Functionalism
Theme 8: Theology
The Invention of Religion
Alexander Drake
Cognitive Science, Theology
Cognitive Science, Religion, and Theology: From Human Minds to Divine Minds
Justin L. Barrett
Cognitive Science, Theology
Theme 9: Morality
The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values
Sam Harris
Morality
Theme 10: Ontology
Our Mathematical Universe: My Quest for the Ultimate Nature of Reality
Max Tegmark
Ontology, Pancomputationalism