Hip Hop Books: Good Book Recommendations

  The Art of Seduction

People like J.F.K. and Tupac Shakur are two examples of mass seducers of the public. This book tackles the subject of seduction in a take-no-prisoners fashion. Touted as a "handbook on the most subtle and effective form of power" and "an indispensable primer on how to take what you want from whomever you want," this book is more than a little creepy. It will have real appeal for power mongers, gold diggers, and heartless manipulators everywhere. But of course that is not our recommended use of it. 

  Asimov's Chronology of The World

From the beginnings of agriculture to the rise of industry, from the origins of tribal societies to the construction of modern democracies, from the harnessing of fire to the discovery of nuclear fission, Isaac Asimov narrates the world's history, with wit and style. This book is a history of the World from It's origins to 1945. The book begins at 15 billion years ago and surprisingly is able to go beneath the surface in many instances, though it does keep a more western perspective throughout.  

  Blink

In his landmark bestseller The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell redifined how we understand the world around us. Now, in Blink, he revolutionizes the way we understand the world within. Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant--in the blink of an eye--that actually aren't as simple as they seem. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error? How do our brains really work--in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen and in the bedroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others?. Blink answers those questions and will help you better understand your own "instincts" which may lead to better decision making. 

  Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes

Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002), who taught biology, geology, and the history of science at Harvard University for over thirty years, left an unmatched legacey of writing about science. Among the first to be chosen as a MacArthur fellow, Gould wrote more than twenty books and served as a president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His works, often national and international bestsellers, have received a number of prizes, including the National Book Award, and have sold millions of copies worldwide. In this book he beautifully and enjoyably describes a handfull of life's peculiarities and breaks down the fascinating science behind existence itself. A great book perfectly suited for the devoted intellectual. 

  Oxymoronica

This book contains 1,400 of the most provocative quotations of all time. From ancient thinkers like Confucius, Aristotle, and Saint Augustine to great writers like Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde Oxymoronica celebrates the power and beauty of paradoxical thinking. All areas of human activity are explored, including love, sex and romance, politics, the arts, the literary life and more. The wise and witty observations in this book are as highly entertaining as they are intellectually nourishing and are sure to grab the attention of language lovers (Hip Hop anyone?) everywhere. 

  The Wu-Tang Manual

The Wu-Tang Manual is a guide to the Wu-Tang Clan written by founder and principle producer, RZA. It is divided into 4 books each containing 9 "chambers" totaling 36 chambers. Included are biographies of each member, an explanation of influences (including chess, comic books, drugs, and martial arts), RZA's views on music and producing, and a guide to the meanings of several songs. A must for Wu-Tang fans and a curiously interesting book for hip-hop fans in general.