Suppose you wanted to create a top ten reading list of non-fiction for a 12 year old boy. What would you put on it? Assume that he's of above average intelligence.
Here's my picks, in no particular order.
1. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/080701429X
2. Models by Mark Manson
https://www.amazon.com/Models-Attract-Women-Through-Honesty/dp/1463750358
3. Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder by Arnold Schwarzenegger
https://www.amazon.com/Arnold-Education-Bodybuilder-Schwarzenegger/dp/0671797484
4. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character
https://www.amazon.com/Surely-Youre-Joking-Mr-Feynman/dp/0393355624
5. Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn
https://www.amazon.com/Teenage-Liberation-Handbook-School-Education/dp/0962959170
6. How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
7. Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workplace by Ricardo Semler
https://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Success-Behind-Unusual-Workplace/dp/0446670553
8. Impro by Keith Johnstone
https://www.amazon.com/Impro-Improvisation-Theatre-Keith-Johnstone/dp/0878301178
9. The Undercover Economist by Tim Hartford
https://www.amazon.com/Undercover-Economist-Revised-Updated-Exposing/dp/0199926514/
10. Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
https://www.amazon.com/Selfish-Gene-Anniversary-Landmark-Science/dp/0198788606
My personal guidelines for choosing. Yours need not follow these.
1. Pick books that combine inspiration with some pragmatic information.
2. Pick books across a variety of fields (science, economics, entrepreneurship, theater). If I had more space, I'd add some books on art, politics, music, history, etc.
3. Pick books that are fairly gripping to read. There are books with more complete information from a pedagogic perspective. But they tend to be more dry, and I figure they will be more approachable, once he's more excited about the "why".
Here's my picks, in no particular order.
1. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/080701429X
2. Models by Mark Manson
https://www.amazon.com/Models-Attract-Women-Through-Honesty/dp/1463750358
3. Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder by Arnold Schwarzenegger
https://www.amazon.com/Arnold-Education-Bodybuilder-Schwarzenegger/dp/0671797484
4. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character
https://www.amazon.com/Surely-Youre-Joking-Mr-Feynman/dp/0393355624
5. Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn
https://www.amazon.com/Teenage-Liberation-Handbook-School-Education/dp/0962959170
6. How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
7. Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workplace by Ricardo Semler
https://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Success-Behind-Unusual-Workplace/dp/0446670553
8. Impro by Keith Johnstone
https://www.amazon.com/Impro-Improvisation-Theatre-Keith-Johnstone/dp/0878301178
9. The Undercover Economist by Tim Hartford
https://www.amazon.com/Undercover-Economist-Revised-Updated-Exposing/dp/0199926514/
10. Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
https://www.amazon.com/Selfish-Gene-Anniversary-Landmark-Science/dp/0198788606
My personal guidelines for choosing. Yours need not follow these.
1. Pick books that combine inspiration with some pragmatic information.
2. Pick books across a variety of fields (science, economics, entrepreneurship, theater). If I had more space, I'd add some books on art, politics, music, history, etc.
3. Pick books that are fairly gripping to read. There are books with more complete information from a pedagogic perspective. But they tend to be more dry, and I figure they will be more approachable, once he's more excited about the "why".