(Also, as side-notes: a) The Golden Compass is part of a trilogy. You’ll definitely have to read all 3 of those. b) the Seamus Heaney translation of Beowulf is phenomenal. Or, stu also has some weird gaelic version you could read.)

For a good understanding of the Climate Change issue.

The Hot Topic, by Sir David King and Gabrielle Walker.
This book is a short, easy to read, easy to comprehend explanation of climate change. What is going on? How did it start? What are the goals? What can we do?

Cradle-to-Cradle, by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
This book will change your life. Guaranteed. It’s such an amazing look at ways we can use technology to help us live cooperatively with the world, and deal effectively with climate change. It doesn’t say go to primitavism…back to the days before medicine. INSTEAD, redesign our power network and transportation so that EVERYONE can live well. Just watch this short vid and tell me you’re not sold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoRjz8iTVoo

These two books give a good picture of the problem of climate change, its effects on EVERYTHING (population, disease, sustainability, education) and some potential ways to deal with it.

Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond.
First off, this guy’s name is awesome. Secondly, this book is phenomenal. If we really want to understand the way some of these major health problems have arisen, we need to look at the big picture. What are the contributing factors of agricultural shift? For example, the Tze Tze fly of Southern Africa killed more people because it was shifted southward by cattle migration, caused by war. Which caused more poverty, famine, problems…etc.
This book outlines much of this, and it’s a fascinating read.

Travels with Charley, John Steinbeck. Excellent journal of laugh-out-loud Steinbeck as he maunders through a roadtrip across America in the 70s, with his dog (which he talks to) and his truck named Roccamatio–after Don Quixote’s horse. Awesome.

Virgin Suicides, Middlesex, and My Mistress’s Sparrow is Dead. Jeffrey Eugenides. Novel, Novel, and collection of short stories, respectively. Eugenides has a strong voice for sorry and humanity, even if it is a bit far fetched. Virgin Suicides has been touted as a bit grotesque and girly at the same time, but I think it’s a fine work of fiction. Short stories might not count in this list, but if they do, you’ll want to read “My Mistress’s…”; it’s an omnibus of some great love stories. Middlesex is a must.

Harold Brodkey Jr. Since his best work are arguably his short stories, he might not belong on your list. But if you do allow short story collections. Highlight is First Love, and Other Sorrows. I think he’s sort-of a Proust-meets-Salinger sort of writer. Get’s the 50’s perfectly.

A Prayer for Owen Meaney, John Irving. It’s widely recognized as one of the finest works of fiction. The character depth and development are astounding, and the plot comes together oh-so-nicely.

100 Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Indelible account of the lifespan of a family. Humorous, heart-rending, and sharp. The work that one him the Nobel Prize in literature.

Netherland, Joseph O’Neill. Wow. It’s been hailed as the new “Great Gatsby”. Incredible book. O’neill is a master of the english language and well-captures the ethos of post 9/11 NY.

Haven’t read yet, but are supposed to be amazing: Blindness (Jose Saramago); Clash of the Fundamentalisms (Tariq Ali); Omnivore’s Dilemma (Michael Pollan)

Them’s the one’s that jump out.