My five favorites of all time are as follows.

1. Contact -CARL SAGAN
A beautiful book questioning whether there is life anywhere else in the universe, the best argument presented

is very basic and fundamental - If there isn’t any life other then on Earth then The Universe is an amazing waste of Space!!
Also describes the formation of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) though an array of radio telescopes. They also made a movie about it starring Jodie Foster but made an utter mess with too much emphasis on GOD!!!

2. BATTLE CRY - LEON URIS
I have always loved books events that shaped our history and WW II was a major one, this book is about a group of strangers and how they react once put in an vunerable situation such as the second WORLD WAR, it starts with a bunch of strangers and their ’’sarge’’ who has been serving for a long time but hasnt seen combat and how he looks after his platoon and the bonds that form between these men, which are in some cases stronger then family.
If you have seen the THE BAND OF BROTHERS (HBO) or The THIN RED LINE (which I thought borrowed a lot from this book   or band of brothers the mini series which premiered on HBO recently you’ll get the theme), the last part is hard to get over, I must have read this book an umpteen number of times.

3. Catcher in the Rye - S. D Salinger
While growing up each of us passes through the same phase where in we consider ourselves the smartest on the face of the earth, and nothing effects us emotionally or consciously, also if you have been in a boarding school, u would relate to this book in a way which makes you remenice about your teenage years.I don’t like book this because John Lennon’s assassin had it at the time he was caught

4. The Fountainhead -AYNRAND
During college we used to have long drawn out arguments about AYN R and her breed of heroes like Howard Roark & (JOHN GALT). The ambition of being a perfectionist. Being different but most of all ’’a man who is entirely original in thought as well as deeds’’.
In today’s world of remixes and mediocre or no originality to speak of. I think she should be lauded for this book, it is a great source of inspiration to young men and women who would like to think differently and follow their own thought process and defying the world at all costs (but at a price which too is depicted in harsh reality here).

5. The Ghosts of Everest - REINHELD MESSIENER.
Its a book about courage of taking on the biggest mountain on our planet why?? Because in the words of the legendary George Mallory who, when asked ’’Why Climb Everest?” He answered, ’’Because it is there’’. But this book is about another great man of our century who took on the hardest challenge that there was of climbing Mount Everest solo, without oxygen. A tale of courage and sheer will power and the determination to succeed, against insurmountable odds.
An astonishing deed which has made Messiener a legend at least in my terms, though he is not very well liked among climbers but still his feat was such that even his harshest critics could do nothing but applaud the tremendous achievement. If you can get hold of this one do read it for the sense of adventure and awe inspiring physical ability displayed by this man.

I don’t know whether anyone would agree with me in my choice of the 5 best books but that’s the thing about books and art in general, the appreciation lies in the eyes of the beholder..............................

Choose LIFE