The beginning of a new century seems to inspire the desire to verify the story. On the one hand, appeared in the short 21. Century, many historical studies, on the other hand, publications that deal with the changes in life forms. Whether Serious or Entertaining – the interest in books has increased in recent times solid. This is certainly also a consequence of the increasing complexity of the contemporary world. The reader looking for the inside and the reader Overview and orientation in difficult terrain.

20. Giulia Enders: “intestine with charm” (2014)
The surprise success of the last years was “intestine with charm”. How could it happen just that such a fabric that appeals to millions of readers? The Doctor Giulia Enders has done it with Humor, to us, the process of digestion appetizing closer to. The increased interest in topics such as nutrition and health has certainly contributed to the success.

19. Christopher Clark: “The sleepwalkers” (2013)
The subtitle of “The sleepwalker” shows what the Australian historian: “As Europe moved into the First world war”. In his eyes there was a guilty, but various destructive forces, which led the continent in the first disaster of the young century.

18. Peter Bieri: “the craft of freedom” (2001)
Who does not want to fantasise only about freedom, but advice from a competent page searches, reaches for the book of the Bernese philosopher Peter Bieri, who is under the name Pascal Mercier as a writer active. “The craft of freedom” before the eyes, as it may be less foreign and more self – determined.

17. Larry Siedentop: “The invention of the individual” (2015)
The American political scientist and philosopher, emphasizes in “The invention of the individual” the importance of Christian faith for the formation and development of Western liberalism. A long-overdue Rehabilitation of the Religion. To The Meeting.

16. Ian Kershaw: “Hitler” (2000)
Not uplifting, but a worthwhile read. Like no other biographer, the British historian brings us closer to almost frightening way, the “leader”. Competently and without the shrill sound, the white in the hindsight, everything is better before he goes in the standard work “Hitler”.

With the pedagogical Rigor to the success of Amy Chua. Photo: PD

15. Amy Chua: “The mother of success” (2011)
just as important as the nutrition education is today. Here, too, stand at the beginning of the change, the realization that much of what was in the past, it is today. In “The mother of success” is the story of the controversial Chinese-American lawyer Amy Chua, as you educate with Rigor.

14. Marcel Reich-Ranicki: “My life” (2000)
So vividly in the autobiography of the famous literature critic Marcel Reich-Ranicki is the 20. Century described rarely. Accessible and understandable written, is “My life” from the time when Europe was a continent of cruel wars. The Holocaust, which the author escaped, marked the low point of the contempt for people.

13. Michael Tomasello: “The origins of human communication” (2009)
During the neo-liberal ideology makes us believe that all progress is based on competition and competition, the American scientists in “The origins of human communication” on the basis of experiments on chimpanzees and children, that without the cooperation and consideration no further development is possible.

the philosophy best sellers warranty: Richard David Precht. Photo: Epa

12. Richard David Precht: “Who am I, and if Yes, how many?” 2007
No other German philosopher understands it as well as Precht, to convey complex materials in a way that you understand them also. With his main work, “Who am I, and if Yes, how many?” he sensitized an audience of millions for questions of philosophy. If that is not a success!

11. Malala Yousafzai “I am Malala” (2013)
The Nobel peace prize laureate of 2014 for her book “I am Malala” is a theme, the power to create, especially women: The Taliban take the fight to them, because they stand up for the right to education. The IS and the Taliban are a scourge against the Yousafzai dared to fight back.

10. Orlando Figes: “Natasha’s dance” (2002)
Russia is in a peculiar way both near and remote at the same time. In “Natasha’s dance”, writes the British historian, has due to the Brexit recently, the German passport, a fascinating cultural history. It makes clear why the Russians our soul are related.

9. Jakob Tanner: “history of Switzerland in the 20th century. Century” (2015)
How has our country developed in the last century? What are the drivers of the movement were? Where is the process? The historian Jakob Tanner in “history of Switzerland in the 20th century. Century,” a captivating recording of inventory. We detect in the history as well as the identity of a Nation converts.

The quick thinker: Daniel Kahneman. Photo: Keystone

8. Daniel Kahneman: “Thinking, Fast and slow” (2012)
The Nobel laureate, explored in his award-winning work “Thinking, Fast and slow”, the conscious and unconscious processes behind each decision. When we hesitate, when we act? As the author argues with experiments, we are challenged: How could I self-judged or decided?

7. Peter von Matt: “The intrigue” (2006)
What did Odysseus and Medea, Iago and Tom Ripley have in common? They are all Schemers. Peter von Matt, the Doyen of the Swiss German language and literature, leads us in “The intrigue” scores from the European history of literature. Reading enjoyment and experience at the same time.

6. Syria: “The stolen Revolution” (2015)
What began as the Arab Revolution, ended most tragically. In “The stolen Revolution” travels the Syrian author by their destroyed home, a country that has been at the mercy of international interests. The powerful Nations of the once flourishing country is a battlefield line, with countless deaths and refugees.

5. Nassim Nicholas Taleb: “The Black Swan” (2008)
The book is of things that are very unlikely, but not impossible. The stock market trader with the hard-hitting write in the Socratic Tradition, and shows that we can not know what we know. With this blind spot we have to expect without being able to calculate it.

4. Yuval Noah Harari: “A short history of humanity” (2013)
“A short history of humanity” went through the ceiling. The Israeli historian did not understand it, to define the major historical lines, but to combine them so that all those interested were able to understand this also. Harari describes the rise of Homo sapiens to the Lord of the world – a Chance and a risk at the same time.

romance is also capitalism: Eva Illouz. Photo: Jonas Opperskalski/laif

3. Eva Illouz: “consumer romance” (2003)
In their study, the Israeli sociologist unmasked our last illusions of love. Because it shows with a sober view, that the seemingly private moments of romantic love feelings are subject to the dictates of capitalist exploitation. No coincidence that during the Tête-à-Tête, a good wine plays a Central role.

2. Jonathan Safran Foer: “eating animals” (2010)
reading this harrowing book has changed the lives of many people, and in particular: eat less or no meat. Haunting and uncompromising American writers criticized the fact that we kill just as regularly as a matter of course living things, to consume them.

It’s going up, not down: Steven Pinker. Photo: Bloomberg Finance LP

1. Steven Pinker: “education now” (2018)
The canadian psychologist used in this Tome, that the people, overall, better than in times past. The constant reports of bad events distorted the overall positive picture of the development of civilisation. Bill Gates praises a little exuberant, but to the right: “My absolute favorite book of all time.” To The Meeting.

This selection and their order is of course subjective. What books would you have chosen? Please enter below.

Here you will find all of our Top 20

Created: 30.11.2019, 12:55 PM