I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this one yet: "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion", by Jonathan Haidt [0]. This book fundamentally changed how I think about religion and politics. It helped me understand a lot of behaviors which I'd previous considered absolutely incomprehensible.
[0] https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Relig...
I just finished reading this and it is definitely incredible. It put in to words the many jumbled and foggy thoughts I've been having on the subject for a long time. I feel as if I can perceive people's motivations so much more clearly now, and so many people's apparently contradictory behaviors are suddenly explained and obvious. Fantastic and very important book.
Completely agree on this one. Almost every conversation I have over religion or politics brings to mind the lessons I learned from The Righteous Mind.
I'm part way through this now. But definitely recommended reading for sure.
Have you read any of his other books? I loved his TED talks and few lectures that are up on YouTube.
The Coddling of the American Mind which he co-wrote with Greg Lukianoff is an important book about problems faced by the current college-age generation and the effects that social media, helicopter parenting, and certain ideologies have had on them. The Atlantic article it started as is also good, but the book expands and improves on the argument.
It’s less of a classic as the Righteous Mind because it’s more focused on a topical issue. I think it pairs well with Laura Kipnis’s Unwanted Advances.
This book is amazing! It has influenced the way I think about people, culture, beliefs, and politics.