Only one book.

My favorite is the Count of Monte Cristo -- but I don't know if it would translate well to alien. Originally Posted by pjorourke

It depends on whether or not the alien was unjustly imprisoned on this celestial orb and lost everything because of it.

It depends on whether or not the alien was unjustly imprisoned on this celestial orb and lost everything because of it. Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

...or if the alien lost everything because he invested in one of our bubblesque markets, you could give him a copy of this:

Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay, first published in 1841(!)

Then he might be more able to understand what drives some "investment" behavior on our planet and be better equipped to avoid the next speculative craze.

The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Gracian

War of The Worlds by HG Wells. But I would tear out the parts that explained that our Pathogens would be their demise because of their lack of immunity. (Only if they were the evil aliens like in 99% of alient movies). If they were here for good probably - Contact by Carl Sagan

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein Originally Posted by SlowHand49

Or 1,001 Gross Jokes. "Man is the animal who laughs." Valentine Michael Smith finally figured humans out when he grokked that.

Battlefield of the Mind.

It does seem ATL, that there are a few posters on here that prefer to jump into the snipe...rather than even feign an attempt at staying on the subject matter. It does bore me. Originally Posted by Rudyard K

We're just trying to beat you to it.

...but to stay on topic...2001 Space Odyssey or Beyond Freedom and Dignity

Operating Manual For Spaceship Earth - R. Buckminster Fuller

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein Originally Posted by SlowHand49

My initial reaction was to put up a Heinlein as well (Job: A Comedy of Justice specifically) but I think I would end having to give them Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Just in case.

Gray's Anatomy

"It's a cook book!"

Cheers,
Mazo.

Actually, I changed my mind.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - IV

They should be warned about what they're getting into.

Cheers,
Mazo.

Blood Meridian
Cormac McCarthy

The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman. I know of no book that can tell you more about human nature.

My initial reaction was to put up a Heinlein as well (Job: A Comedy of Justice specifically) but I think I would end having to give them Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Just in case. Originally Posted by SillyGirl

Betweeen the Heinleins, I guess I'd go with Job - it is a most interesting analysis of human nature and human religion. But it's tough to pass up on a chance to turn anyone on to Mike.

I would be too afraid of getting an autograph on the Bible, even if it were a case of plagiarism.