Which 3 Books?

[Castle]

I recently watched The Time Machine (1960) again with Rod Taylor and at the end of the movie he leaves back for the future but takes with him 3 books, presumably, to get the Eloi on their feet after being raised like sheep by the Morlocks (who were eating them).

This led me to thinking , if given the same situation and you chose to return to that Eloi future... Which 3 books would you take with you?

I know, I would take more than three books! But hey, that's the fun part. Besides, there's not much room in that time travel contraption.


Now imagine it's a one way trip and you're dead set on going anyway because, you know, Weena is waiting for you

So which 3 books would you take. It's a foregone conclusion that you packed your favorite guns and supplies 'Somehow' on the time machine.

For that matter, let's include a 'Which 3 Guns' also.

[Zee]

Bible
The Art of War
Watership Down

[Castle]

Bible
The Art of War
Watership Down

There's a lot going on there besides rabbits in Watership Down. It reminds me a bit of Animal Farm, which isn't just about Farm animals.

The first book on my list would be The Bible. I think it's a good solid choice. The Eloi will eventually ask important questions that aren't readily answered by science alone.

I think my second choice would be a medical textbook. I wouldn't want to drop off just because of a paper cut.

My third choice would probably be my university level Physics book. I may not want to run around in the dark forever. Lots of stuff can be eventually recreated once you know basic principles.

There's lots of books not listed (including farming, food preservation, etc) but those above are 'must have' for me.

[Zsarvashere]

Encyclopedia of Country living
The way things work
A Pocket Ref

[Castle]

Encyclopedia of Country living
The way things work
A Pocket Ref

The Encyclopedia of Country Living is an excellent choice.

If it weren't for the constraints, I'd have quite a few books added to the list. No point arriving in the future only to starve because there's no Morlocks to feed you.

[jaywapiti]

Since i'm going into a hostile environment where i might be someone diner and have no idea what might be available to protect myself,
1) Improvised Munitions Handbook ( US Army TM-31-210 )
2) The lost way
3) A good book on Natural Medicine

JAY

[breamfisher]

If I ratchet strap all my Foxfire books together, does it count as one book?

[Wambli Ska]

My iPad with my whole book and music library preloaded…. I can figure out how to recharge it when I get there.

[Castle]

My iPad with my whole book and music library preloaded…. I can figure out how to recharge it when I get there.

That was literally one of my first ideas, a pre-loaded iPad, my roll-out solar panels and a charging cable but that would be 3 things, not 3 books.

My next idea was build a bigger time machine and take more stuff! But I'm sticking to the 3 books idea just for fun.

[Wambli Ska]

My iPad with my whole book and music library preloaded…. I can figure out how to recharge it when I get there.

That was literally one of my first ideas, a pre-loaded iPad, my roll-out solar panels and a charging cable but that would be 3 things, not 3 books.

My next idea was build a bigger time machine and take more stuff! But I'm sticking to the 3 books idea just for fun.

I refuse to think inside the box

[Castle]

Since i'm going into a hostile environment where i might be someone diner and have no idea what might be available to protect myself,
1) Improvised Munitions Handbook ( US Army TM-31-210 )
2) The lost way
3) A good book on Natural Medicine

JAY

Hurdle #1: my first act would probably be to teach the Eloi the concept of fighting back so I can get a decent night's sleep. The first things I would reinvent would be the spear then the bow and eventually black powder. Since I always carry 2 knives and a Leatherman on me at all times (in Eloi country I would have them always), it shouldn't be too hard to reinvent a lot of simple things.

I'm with you on some kind of medical textbook but who knows what kind of plant life will be available in 80,000 years. The Eloi were raised as sheep and would only be of limited help until you educate them. At least, they could tell you what's edible and where to find shelter but that's about all.

Then again, Weena did tell you about the 'Talking Rings' so there's probably a whole library of usable knowledge just sitting there waiting to be rediscovered. This could be the reason George only takes 3 books.

[Castle]

If I ratchet strap all my Foxfire books together, does it count as one book?

If all the pages have the same glue in common it counts as one book.

[breamfisher]

then it will have a duct tape spine.

[Castle]

then it will have a duct tape spine.

[Zorba]

I recollect having to answer this question in high school English class - but I don't remember my reply back then. It certainly would NOT be the Bible, Koran, or any other monotheistic BOOK.

The 1960 movie had the absolute coolest take on the time machine, but the 2002 remake was VERY well done. I don't generally like remakes, but this one paid homage to the original.

[Castle]

I recollect having to answer this question in high school English class - but I don't remember my reply back then. It certainly would NOT be the Bible, Koran, or any other monotheistic BOOK.

The 1960 movie had the absolute coolest take on the time machine, but the 2002 remake was VERY well done. I don't generally like remakes, but this one paid homage to the original.

I enjoyed the Guy Pearce remake. Linearly, they captured very well the time travel paradox that would exist in a single universe model. That was the bread and butter of the entire movie and they did a great job.

In a multiverse model, there's no paradox at all.

Anyway, before I get sidetracked, what 3 books would you take with you? To survive, to help educate the Eloi or just to teach Weena a few moves from this century

Don't worry, you're not being graded.