What kinds of books should I read?

It is hard to advise you since we come from different cultures. Access to books has always been easy for me because of local libraries. If one requested, local libraries could obtain books from other libraries in the nation. So, the problem for someone as fortunate as I for obtaining books was which of those to read,

I read the books assigned in my classes, but also read books according to my own inclinations, which have become quite broad in scope as years have passed. I happen to read speedily and only retain a general sense of many books. Certain books that mattered to me upon reading them became more memorable for me.

I remember being fourteen and looking around my city library shelves. I knew close to nothing of any of the subjects there. In years to come, I could skim university shelves with a good eye for what interested me.

If you try to buy all the books that may ever interest you, you cannot do it, unless you have vast money, and even then one is not guaranteed discernment.

Book reviews can help, if you have access to them. I will try to come back with some links for you.

Xizi--

Why not ask your friends for recommendations?

Nothing makes a man more popular than asking for advice.

Besides getting recommendations and respect, you'd be able to talk about the books with the friends who recommended them.

Personally, I read a great deal of science fiction and fantasy, but I'm not sure what books or magazines would be available to you in China.

Xizi -

There are many good books available on-line (which may help to solve problems of availability).

Many of the "classics" dating from antiquity to modern times are available at Project Gutenberg

More recent offerings might be found at ebooksclub (registration is required to get the links to free download sites).

Mortimer Adler has compiled a list of these "classics" which some US schools (List of schools) use as the basis of their liberal arts education.

While most of the books on this list are written by authors in western cultures (and are representative of the foundational philosophies of Western culture), many are of Asian and other Eastern cultural origin.
See Great Books Lists FAQ

For a list of these selected works, see:
[URL=http://]The Great Books[/URL]

Tailbone--

Great list. Thank you.

Welcome to A2K.

The single greatest thing about graduating from university is the abilty to sit down and read a good book simply because it is a good book.

Thanks for the welcome Noddy.
I visit frequently but seldom post.

I don't have shelf space for thousands of books so collecting ebooks has become something of a hobby (obsession) for me. Much easier to transport in digital format than a backpack.

Tailbone--

We all have our little quirks and treasure chests. I'm getting more ruthless about which of my possessions are worth dusting on a regular basis. After all, I don't want to be buried with a backhoe.