Dan Brown, Author, #1 New York Times bestseller, The Da Vinci Code

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Dan Brown's favorite books:

1. The Golden Ratio: The Story Of Phi, The World's Most Astonishing Number by Mario Livio
   
   
   "If you had a book club, what would it be reading — and why?
   The Golden Ratio: The Story Of Phi, The World's Most Astonishing Number (Mario Livio) — Admittedly, to imply that a book club could get excited talking about a "number" probably sounds far-fetched, but this book ties together themes of art history, nature, mathematics, philosophy, and religion in an accessible and eye-opening way. Sure to spark great discussions. "
   
   


2. Doomsday Conspiracy
   
   
   "What was the book that most influenced your life?
   
   Until I graduated from college, I had read almost no modern commercial fiction at all (having focused primarily on the "classics" in school). In 1994, while vacationing in Tahiti, I found an old copy of Sydney Sheldon's Doomsday Conspiracy on the beach. I read the first page...and then the next...and then the next. Several hours later, I finished the book and thought, Hey, I can do that. Upon my return, I began work on my first novel -- Digital Fortress -- which was published in 1996. "
   
   


3. The Elements of Style
   
   
   "Because who can possibly remember all the rules of grammar and punctuation? "
   
   


4. The Puzzle Palace: Inside the National Security Agency, America's Most Secret Intelligence Organization
   
   
   "Although dated, this book is still one of the most captivating inside looks at the covert world of America's premier intelligence agency."
   
   


5. Codes Ciphers & Other Cryptic & Clandestine Communication by Fred Wrixon
   
   
   "A phenomenal encyclopedia of the art, science, history, and philosophy of cryptology. "
   
   


6. Gödel, Escher, Bach
   
   
   "The 3 percent I actually understood was fascinating. "
   
   


7. Wordplay: Ambigrams and Reflections on the Art of Ambigrams
   
   
   "Artist and philosopher John Langdon is one of our true geniuses. His book changed the way I think about symmetry, symbols, and art. "
   
   


8. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
   
   
   "I didn't understand how funny this play truly was until I became an English teacher and had to teach it. There is no wittier dialogue anywhere. "
   
   


9. The Bourne Ultimatum (Bourne Trilogy, Book 3)
   
   
   "Ludlum's early books are complex, smart, and yet still move at a lightning pace. This series got me interested in the genre of big-concept, international thrillers. "
   
   


10. The Bourne Supremacy (Bourne Trilogy, Book 2)
    
    
    "Ludlum's early books are complex, smart, and yet still move at a lightning pace. This series got me interested in the genre of big-concept, international thrillers. "
    
    


11. The Bourne Identity (Bourne Trilogy, Book 1)
    
    
    "Ludlum's early books are complex, smart, and yet still move at a lightning pace. This series got me interested in the genre of big-concept, international thrillers. "
    
    


12. Plum Island by Nelson DeMille
    
    
    "He remains the master of substance, wry humor, and controlled point of view. "
    
    


13. Kane and Abel
    
    
    "I was amazed how well Archer handled the long time spans without ever losing the narrative pulse. The ultimate novel of sibling rivalry. "
    
    


14. Of Mice and Men
    
    
    "Simple, suspenseful, and poignant. Better yet, the first paragraph of every chapter is a master class in writing effective description. "
    
    



Source:
http://www.danbrown.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Dan Brown Who?

Dan Brown wrote the The Da Vinci Code, a runaway bestseller and one of the most-talked-about novels of 2003. The book follows the dashing Harvard "symbologist" Robert Langdon as he investigates a murder at the Louvre Museum in Paris and delves into a confounding world of religious secrets and ancient mysteries; the title alludes to hidden messages allegedly concealed in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. Brown grew up in Exeter, New Hampshire and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1982. After graduating from Amherst College, Brown tried his hand at songwriting before becoming an English teacher at Phillips Exeter. In 1996 he turned to writing fiction full-time, and in 1998 his first novel, Digital Fortress was published. The book became a bestseller and was followed by Angels and Demons (2000), Deception Point (2001) and The Da Vinci Code. Most of his books share Brown's signature mix of secret societies, international intrigue, scholarly puzzles and fast-paced action. A feature film version of The Da Vinci Code is due in 2006, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon.

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