This is my recommended reading list. This was written in response to Fitter's request. It is a mixture of both fiction and non and covers a variety of topics and subject matter. These are not book reviews, per se, just a few of my favorites. Enjoy.

Actually, anything by Umberto Eco is great reading, but Foucault's Pendulum is my personal favorite. Long before all of the hype over Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code, Umberto Eco was writing about "the plan" for world supremacy and the Knights Templar...and Eco is much better at it, in my opinion.

I would imagine, Causaubon, the primary character, is relatable to many in the HubPages community, he is a researcher, a professional fact finder to be more exact, who stumbles upon the mother of all plans for world domination. Foucault's Pendulum is a wonderful mixture of comedy, drama, love story, and poetry, with the most beautifully sublime ending of any book I have ever read.

Simply Brilliant. As much as I love Iain Pears' art mystery novels, An Instance of the Fingerpost is probably his best work. It is a murder mystery set in 17th Century England, and told from the viewpoint of four principal characters. An Instance of the Fingerpost is what I would imagine a more literary The Alienist (by Caleb Carr) to be in that it perfectly incorporates recognizable historical figures into the fabric of the story in such a way that they become alive to the reader.

By the way, if you are a fan of mystery novels, any of Iain Pears' art mystery novels are tremendous page turners, not to mention quite educational. Flavia di Stefano and Jonathan Argyll are as dynamic a crime fighting duo as Batman and Robin, or Batman and Batgirl, I suppose. You won't be able to read one without having to read them all. You also get art history lessons in the process.

I am not a scientist, so for all of you scientists out there, I apologize in advace. However, Brian Greene's The Fabric of the Cosmos makes physics and cosmology comprehensible for amateurs. This is his follow up to The Elegant Universe which was a huge success and which PBS made into a television special: Nova: The Elegant Universe.

Both books are great reads, but if you are unable to read both, read The Fabric of the Cosmos for its breadth, or The Elegant Universe as an introduction. Neither will disappoint, and either will satisfy your math craving. And if you would rather watch the movie, you can watch the PBS special Nova: The Elegant Universe free online or get the DVD.

There have been many books written about the end times and Bible prophecy, but no Christian author is as thorough and doctrinally sound as Derek Prince. Promised Land: The Future of Israel Revealed in Prophecy is Derek Prince's entry into this category although it predates most by 20 years. Nonetheless, it is timeless.

If you are interested in global politics, particularly Middle Eastern politics, or Bible prophecy, Promised Land is an excellent introduction. Actually, Derek Prince was one of the most prolific Christian authors of our generation, maybe of all time, and any of his 50 or so books would be food for the soul.

I hope these keep you busy for a while. More will follow. And I would certainly answer any other requests along this line.