Pick a Book

[lillibet]

A few weeks ago, an interviewer asked Jonathan Carroll to pick the one book he would give to aliens to explain humanity and the human condition. You can read his answer here.

What would you pick?

Comments

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

I'm way too pedantic. I might have said Encyclopaedia Britannica or something along those lines. That or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

[smacaski.livejournal.com]

The first thing that popped into my head was actually Hamlet, although I don't think I'd want to convey all those aspects of humanity right off the bat. :P But I like the idea of children's stories to convey humanity--it may not be the most accurate portrayal, but I think Horton Hears a Who does a pretty good job of explaining people in all their forms. Dr. Seuss FTW.

[gilana]

My first thought was the Bible, but I'm not sure that's the best idea -- a little more violent than I want to show to aliens right off.

[orbitalmechanic.livejournal.com]

I laughed when I saw his answer, and the word I would have used was "optimistic"--but I guess that IS what I would want to use. The comments above, while certainly more complete, are also more specific and therefore seem less informative. Too Western for one.

I suppose this is why space probes have pictures and music!

[melted-snowball.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

War is a Force that Gives us Meaning.

[trowa-barton.livejournal.com]

Ideally, the Declaration of Principles and JMS's screenplay of "The Parliament of Dreams"
Ironically, the Quor'an
Lightly, Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing"
Cynically, "King Lear"
Visually, Ken Burns' "The Civil War"

[starphire.livejournal.com]

I'd be torn between something that chronicled world history and something that'd be a primer into the less logical parts of human psychology and the common but non-obvious patterns of behavior - Games People Play comes to mind in that realm.

What would you pick? :)