Books: Walter Mosley

Known for his Easy Rawlins series of detective fiction ( " Blonde Faith " ), the author shows off his philosophical side by stacking his list with works that " most greatly impacted the intelligence, potential and humanity of the people of the world. " Drumroll, please.

My Five Most Important Books
1 "The Theory of Relativity" by Albert Einstein. His sense of human rights makes it the 20th century's foremost writing.

2 "On the Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin. A close second. Displays a deep understanding of the fluidity of all life.

3 "Das Kapital" by Karl Marx. I laud it not as a precursor to communism, but as a way to understand human nature by our economic relations and by how we organize labor.

4 "The Interpretation of Dreams" by Sigmund Freud. Unconscious instincts influence our ideas without our awareness.

5 "The Philosophical Investigations" by Ludwig Wittgenstein. Shows us our limits even as we seem to be progressing.

A certifiable major book you haven't read: "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes. It's not "The Three Musketeers."

A book you hope parents would read to their children: "Winnie-the-Pooh" by A. A. Milne. A wonderful series, empowering to children.

© 2007