As many of you know, the Grand Master really likes to read. Carol will tell you that he likes it too much. He will say that it is impossible to read too much. His taste in books is highly variable, ranging from popular fiction to science fiction to classical literature to history. Even some classic poetry gets into the mix. Below are some recommendations.
Note: I have categorized the books loosely. However, many of them cross the categorical boundaries, so don't take the categorization too rigidly.
Volumes of Sacred Law
The Holy Bible, King James Version
The Koran
I cannot say anything more about these that hasn't already been said.
You can read them from the links above.
The Talmud is available
at this link.
History
Stephen E. Ambrose, Undaunted Courage
A fascinating description of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery as
they plan and execute their amazing journey to the Pacific Ocean.
Stephen E. Ambrose, Nothing Like It In The World
An interesting and compelling description of the building of the
transcontinental railroad. Describes the politics, the business, the
technology, the mechanics, and the personal aspects of this continent expanding
task.
Richard Rhodes, The Making of the Atomic Bomb
Beginning with the revolutionary advances in physics in the early 20th century,
transitioning to the planning and execution of the Manhattan project, and
finally, the use of the bomb to hasten the end of WWII, this book is an
interesting combination of science, history, and literature.
Thomas Paine, Common Sense
This is not, technically, history. Rather, it is a historical commentary.
It as a defining pamphlet describing why the colonies should separate themselves
from England. And of course, it does embody a great deal of Masonic
Philosophy at the same time. Read it
HERE.
Science
Brian Green, The Elegant Universe
This is an amazingly accessible description of String Theory, a scientific
attempt to reconcile and combine the proven scientific principles, Quantum
Theory and General Relativity. It includes the most understandable
description of Relativity, both Special and General, that I have ever read.
Kip S. Thorne, Black Holes & Time Warps
This book provides a very readable and fascinating exploration of General
Relativity, and some of the counter-intuitive behavior of black holes.
Roger Penrose, The Road to Reality
Math haters, beware, this book is not for you. Penrose starts with an
introduction of Pythagoras, and a description of the Platonic concept of beauty
and reality. Then it gets really interesting. Starting with numbers
(integers, reals, imaginary, etc.), Penrose rapidly expands to Reimann surfaces,
Tensors, manifolds, and other mathematical concepts. And this is all in
the first 10 percent of the book. And then the physics really starts.
A truly great book, but not for everyone.
Jared Diamond, Chaos, Why Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
This book explores the reasons why societies such as the Easter Islanders, the
Anasazi Indians, the Mayans, and the Norwegian colonies on Greenland and
Newfoundland, all failed, while other societies facing similar problems
succeeded. They all faced problems from changes in one or more common
area: environment, trading partners, and enemies. In each case, the
result was determined by their recognition of a problem, their willingness to
effect change, and the appropriateness of their selected change.
Frequently, the change needed to be significant, in a society altering way.
Sometimes the paradigm change was determined to be less acceptable than the
failure of the society. Hmmmm. See any parallels? That's right.
There are major lessons to be learned for our fraternity from the pages of this
book. Read it!!!!
Fiction
Ian Pears, An Instance of the Fingerpost
This is a murder mystery, set in England, shortly after the restoration or the
monarchy. Characters include many real-life personages, the most
interesting (to me) of whom are some of the early members of the Royal Society.
The story is actually told four times, each be a different participant in the
drama. And of course, at the end of each section, the person who obviously
committed the murder is somebody totally different than the obvious culprit in
the earlier sections. This sounds like it would be boring, but believe me,
it is not. (Pears also has a series of books involving an Italian
policewoman from the department which investigate crimes involving art, usually
the theft thereof. Again, this sounds uninteresting, but is actually
fascinating.)
Neal Stephenson, The Baroque Cycle
This is actually three books: Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System
of the World. Collectively, they take you on a earth-wide journey spanning
the age of enlightenment. Real life characters are prominent, including
Isaac Newton. Primarily focused on the development of modern economics, it
revolves largely around an interconnected group including members of the Royal
Society, Peers of the Realm, and a bunch of absolute rapscallions and ruffians.
Gives incredible insight into the development of modern western civilization in
a brisk and highly readable story.
Matthew Pearl, The Dante Club
Set in Boston right after the civil war, this serial killer mystery pits the
police and a group of real literary personages, include Longfellow, against a
killer who models his killings after the penalties that Dante describes in
The Inferno. Of course, Longfellow is creating the first English
translation of The Divine Comedy, so guess where the suspicion falls.
Nobody else in Boston knows anything about Dante, or do they?
Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
Possibly the greatest novel ever written, certainly one of the longest.
Many translations are available, including a new one that I am currently
reading. (I read an abridged version in college.) One of the MAJOR
characters in this book becomes a Mason, and is largely guided by that
throughout the rest of the book. Read an excerpt
HERE.
Nonfiction
Erik Larson, The Devil in the White City
The combines the stories of Daniel Burnham (architect and Freemason) and Dr. H.
H. Holmes in Chicago, circa 1893, during the years leading up to and during the
Chicago Worlds Fair. Burnham was the architect and Director ofWorks who built
the "White City", a.k.a. the Worlds Fair grounds. Dr Holmes was a serial
killer, preying on young women who came to the city for work. Burnham has
a wonderful quotation, "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's
blood."
Classical Poetry
Homer, The Illiad, Translation by Robert Fagles
Homer, The Odyssey, Translation by Robert Fagles
I don't need to write anything about either of these books. I will say
that Fagles' translation captures all the grit and dirt and blood and guts of
the story.
unknown, Beowolf
I love this story. Mighty warriors fighting against terrible monsters
for glory and gold and lots of beer and mead. Why else would I have named
my new dog Beowolf. 'Nuff said. Available in several translations.
It is short enough to read several translations and see which one you like.
(You can read one translation HERE.)
I also have a very speculative theory about the origins of the Hiramic Legend. I
propose that it is actually based on Norse Mythology and is largely taken from
the Poem Beowulf. Read my paper on the topic
HERE.
Milton, Paradise Lost
The poetic story of creation, Satan's fall from grace, Adam and Eve in the
Garden of Eden, the temptation, and finally the loss of Paradise. Powerful
language, great story, incomprehensible references (to the typical modern
reader), and a moving experience. (You can read this, and Paradise
Regained,
HERE.)
Dante, The Inferno
How did Dante escape being burned at the stake for writing this book.
Mighty powerful stuff here. (You can read a translation of the entire
Divine Comedy HERE.)
Freemasonry
Christopher Hodapp, Freemasons for Dummies
This is an excellent description of Freemasonry. It is suitable for the
Mason and non-Mason alike. It provides both a basic description of the
craft and a more detailed view for those who want to read deeper.
Buy two. Read one and keep it for your reference. Loan the other one
out to anyone who might be willing to read it.
Robert Lomas, Freemasonry and the Birth of Modern
Science
OK, OK, Lomas and Knight have written some highly questionable books about the
craft. This is not one of them. This is a solid book that explores
the creation of the Royal Society in England, its significant contributions to
modern science and the scientific method, and the close ties between its
originators and the craft. Excellent. (This book could have been
categorized as history, science, or Freemasonry, but it had to go somewhere.
And since this is a Masonic site, I figured, lets go with the flow.)
Joseph E. Morcombe, History of Grand Lodge of Iowa, Volume
1
William F. Cleveland, PGM, History of Grand Lodge of Iowa, Volume 2 (parts
1 and 2)
Ernest R. Moore, PGM, History of Grand Lodge of Iowa, Volume 3
Ralph E. Whipple, History of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, Volume 4
This multi-volume work is highly recommended. It
describes in riveting detail the creation of the Grand Lodge of Iowa from its
roots, directly but not solely from Missouri. The first volume,
written by Morcombe, a historian, is filled with the passion that obviously
infected the craft at that time. It covers the period from pre-1844
through 1865. Both Cleveland and Moore were PGMs of Iowa. Their
volumes extend the history through 1938, and exhibit a passion and quality
similar to Morcombes. Unfortunately, Whipple, who was Grand Secretary,
lacked either the passion or writing skills, and possibly both, of his
predecessor authors. The final volume, which extends the history through
1969, and actually contains the names of a few people I know, is lackluster and
uninteresting, despite the fact that it does contain some interesting
information.
Keith Arrington, Freemasonry in Iowa
Why, oh why, didn't Brother Arrington make this book longer. The material
is fascinating; his writing style is excellent. And while I have heard a
few who will dispute some of his facts, the book is still outstanding.
Read it and ask for more.
John Robinson, A Pilgrim's Path
This is one of the first books on Freemasonry I ever read. It is still one
of my favorites. Every Mason should read this book. This book talks
about some of the history of the craft. It talks a lot about the
detractors and attackers of the craft. And it is written by a man who was
not a Freemason when he wrote the book, although he became one shortly
thereafter. Recommended. Highly recommended. Just go read it,
OK.
Carl Claudy, The Master's Book
This is on the MUST READ for any Worshipful Master, or any Warden who aspired to
be Master someday. Although it was written in 1935, the message is
timeless, and the techniques proven. It is short. You can read it
HERE.
These are also included in the education section, but I will repeat them here.
Carl Claudy, Introduction to Freemasonry
These three booklets are commonly given to new Masons as they complete the three
degrees. As such, they provide a significant enhancement to the education
of the candidate. You can read them here:
Entered Apprentice
Fellowcraft
Master Mason
Carl Claudy, The Lion's Paw
This is a MASONIC NOVEL. What a concept. It is thought provoking,
interesting, and entertaining.
Here is an excerpt of some passages that are more educational than novelish.
Mackey, Masonic Jurisprudence
This is a classic on Masonic Jurisprudence. I may not agree with all of
his "Landmarks", but none-the-less, this book provides a wealth of information.
Read it HERE.
unknown, Regius Manuscript
This is the earliest known Masonic document. It is definitely interesting.
However, the history it contains is clearly not to be taken seriously, since it
is most certainly fabricated. Read it
HERE.
Beyond Categorization
Francis Bacon, The New Atlantis
Is this pure fiction? It is based on the Freemasonry? Or is modern
Freemasonry based on this story. Even the experts will argue about this.
Just read it and decide yourself. Read it
HERE.
Francis Bacon, The New Organon
This is Bacons interpretation of Nature. Interesting stuff. Read it
HERE. Not for
the casual reader.
Francis Bacon, The Advancement of Learning
More Bacon Philosophy. Worth a look. Read it
HERE.
Also not for the casual reader.
Don Mosier, God, The Observer/Creator of Our Entangled
Universe
This is a paper I wrote speculating on the origin of the universe and the
ramifications it may have on our responsibilities to ourselves and to God.
Read it HERE.
Other
These are not technically "books". However, they are very, very important. Every Mason in the United States (every Person in the United States for that matter) should read and be familiar with these documents.
United States Declaration of Independence
Thomas Paine, Common Sense, the article that helped incite the American Revolution.
Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, a book by Paine setting out his thought on the subject.
Patrick Henry: Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
To Read List:
Stephan Bertman, The Eight Pillars of Greek Wisdom, Appears to have
Masonic Relevance (to the philosophy, not the fraternity)
Refer to my thoughts on the differences HERE.
Thomas Paine: Common Sense and Other Writings, Ditto See link above.
Kant: The Philosophy of Law, Defines "Rights" and other concepts. Read it
HERE.
John Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,
This may find its way onto the Leadership Training Page
John Maxwell, Developing the Leaders Around You,
This may find its way onto the Leadership Training Page
John Kotter, Leading Change,
OK, OK, This is getting repetitious. You get the idea.
Goethe, Faust (You can read that
HERE)
On-Line Book: For those of you who are interested, there is a web site that points to a large number of e-books which are available online. Here is the link to ON-LINE-BOOKS.
Controversial
While we're at it, let's stir up some controversy. I have not read any of the following books. I own a copy of Collins' book, but have not yet found time to read it. If anyone has read any of these books, drop me an email and let me know what you think.
Francis S. Collins, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence For Belief
Richard Dawkins, The GOD Delusion
Carl Sagan, The Varieties of Scientific Experience
Thomas Paine: The Age of Reason
Paine, the author of Common Sense, which helped incite the American
Revolution, was a flaming Diest. He he believed that all should have the
right to worship as the wished, he also believed that all the organized
religions were balderdash, based on superstition at best and with evil intent at
worst. This book describes that belief, and provides an extensive argument
trashing the Bible. Read it
HERE.
Note: This page provides links to .pdf versions of several books. They are all believed to be in the public domain. If that is not true, please notify the webmaster at once, and they will be removed from this site.