I've just been going over all the stuff I read in 2014 [1], one of which was a recommendation from HN: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I've found some great recommendations in the past in threads like this, so any idea for the HN demographics? Might be a good place to share what you read in 2014, too!
[1] http://danielhough.co.uk/blog/books-of-2014/
1. The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker
A treatise on how humans' awareness of their own mortality is the driving force behind their behavior. Artfully written and incredibly thought-provoking. Completely altered my conception of what it is I "want" out of life and why.
2. Escape from Evil by Ernest Becker
The sequel to The Denial of Death that expands Becker's thoughts on how awareness of mortality influences individual psychology to society in general, ultimately getting at the question of why individuals and societies are violent and oppressive.
3. Moral Mazes by Robert Jackall
A sociological and anthropological account of the worldview and moral systems of middle managers in large American corporations. Moral Mazes paints a clear portrait of how bureaucracy and the hierarchical structure of a corporation create a deeply toxic environment for both employees and consumers.