Books I would recommend
Disclaimer here folks! I think these are worth a read and I intend linking in some reviews & loads more books (when I get round to it) but for now....
The Periodic Table by Primo Levi
The Innocent by Ian McEwan
Liars Poker by Michael Lewis
The Gooseberry Fool by James McClure
Revolution in the Head by Ian MacDonald
The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse
Ragtime by E L Doctorow
Republican Party Reptile by PJ O'Rourke