Seminal Volumes
Asimov's "Physics" volumes occupy space on my special thirty inch bookshelf, right beside Hume, Russell, and Bronowski. Although a bit dated from a contemporary physics standpoint, they still contain a lucid and easy to read exposition of the fundamentals of how the world works, something that young people, in particular, need to ward off the constant press of Sagan's demons. The books were key to my development as a young man, and helped me build a firm, objective, and rational foundation for my life.