pasbesoin

Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance": For letting me know I was/am not alone (even in my alone-ness).

Kidder's "The Soul of a New Machine"

Brooks' "The Mythical Man Month"

I picked up William Gibson's "Pattern Recognition." I wasn't sure what I thought of it, at first, but it became increasingly interesting and I finished it.

"Contact", by Carl Sagan. It's not "light" and "easy", but it ties our current world to future promise. And it has some wonderful storytelling and writing putting this into context. The main character, Ellie, is a superb and rich portrayal. Friends to whom I've recommended the book agree on this.

I'm finding Gibson's latest trilogy giving me new eyes on all this.

Heinlein: He presents a characterization (or characterizations), but some of his core points soak in over time, as one gains one's own life experience.

Where the Wizards Stay Up Late