Time for a list of book recommendations!
This site has been around since the end of November 2021 and there has not been a single book recommendation list.
Fire up your favorite e-reader and be prepared to enjoy the following books. I've picked out 12 non-fiction books, one for each month of the year. This selection has a fairly wide range of topics. I'll admit that there are books that I wanted to add, but I thought they were either a little too dry for the first book list or wouldn't be of wide interest or something along those lines.
If you are not a regular reader, but want to be, I suggest reading for a half-hour before bed. Have your Alexa or whatever give you a reminder. Soon it will become a habit. If you dislike reading at night, try reading for a half-hour in the morning - perhaps while you eat breakfast and enjoy that first cup of coffee.
The Ultramodern Futurist: The Expanded Manifesto by Jessie Desmond, January 2022
This is where you should consider starting because this is what the website is all about. This isn't terribly long, but it covers the basic ideas behind being an Ultramod and how to go about living the lifestyle.
Parallel Worlds by Michio Kaku, January 2006
This is a very interesting book that discusses some quantum mechanics, specifically parallel worlds (as the cover states), cosmology, and the future.
The Grand Biocentric Design by Robert lansa and Matej Pavsic, November 2021
This book discusses consciousness and physics. What is reality? What is consciousness? What is biocentrism? This can really take you down a rabbit hole.
Rationality by Steven Pinker, November 2021
This is a book on rational thinking and our perceptions of it. When I picked it up, I told myself "perfect timing for this because everyone is losing their minds". What is rational thinking? What is irrational thinking? How can we be subjected to both? You might find some answers with this book.
Economics of Star Trek by Rick Webb, February 2019
This was an interesting read. I remember reading the article that Rick Webb had previously written about this and really wanted to see what he expanded on in his book.
Trekonomics by Manu Saadia, May 2016
Before Webb's book, Manu Saadia wrote 'Trekonomics'. Since it was mentioned so many times in Rick Webb's book, I decided to pick this up to see what the differences in thought were. I highly recommend reading both books.
Star Trek: Designing The Final Frontier by Dan Chavkin and Brian McGuire, August 2021
This book is all about the design work that went into the original Star Trek series, which is based on mid-century modern design. This is a new book that I have not finished. For any artists or designers out there, this may be of interest.
The Skeptics' Guide To The Future by Dr. Steven Novella, September 2022
This is another new book for me. What made me pick it up is the fact that it looks at possible futures based on what we have previously devised in the past through science, science fiction, etc. What did we get right? What did we get wrong? What are we currently working on?
How To Avoid A Climate Disaster by Bill Gates, August 2022
We want to avoid a climate disaster if we can. That means we need to rethink things, use more sustainable materials, recycle, take care of the planet. Bill Gates lays it out pretty well. Right now, we ONLY have Earth to live on, so let's take care of it.
Cyberspace/Cyberbodies/Cyberpunk: Cultures of Technological Embodiment, edited by Mike Featherstone and Roger Burrows, April 1996
A boring cover, yes. This is a collection of academic papers that focus on what we tend to refer to as "cyberpunk". It's a little outdated, but still worth the read. It covers virtual reality, prosthetics, cyborgs, technology, etc.
A Big, Fat Crisis by Dr. Deborah A Cohen, January 2015
Health is a major social issue and this book discusses the subject of obesity. I found this to be a fairly quick read. As Ultramods, we try to look after ourselves, but not everyone is on-board with that. Once we can fully understand the issues, we can start solving them. Healthy diet + Exercise should equal the easiest solution, though sometimes there are other factors at play.
The Coddling of The American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, August 2019
This book is on the social and psychological issues that have been pressed onto students in recent years, resulting in inappropriate responses/outbursts, psychological issues, polarization, and dysfunction.
Readers
If you have read any of these, please share your thoughts in the comments. If you have follow-up recommendations, include those. If you hated the book, what book (in the same scope) would you recommend?