Intro to Humanity 101: What books would you recommend?

[Nerys Ghemor]

I remember those episodes of DS9 where we find out Garak and Bashir have been swapping books with each other and that they seem not to be quite "connecting" with each other in terms of taste.

But it occurred to me that at least in the case of the Cardassians, Bashir could've done some better selection to ease Garak into Earth literature. I have this feeling, based on Garak's description of Cardassian literature, that the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky would've been a much better choice. Just look at Crime and Punishment--aside from the religious aspect, which I think Garak could be told to compare to the role of the Cardassian state, the themes are SO much more similar: you know Raskolnikov is guilty right from the start. It's all about him coming to justice and coming to face the truth of his crimes. The redemption aspect at the end would probably be the most stereotypically "human" part...but the buildup, I think Garak might relate better to than some of the stuff Bashir was giving him.

Assuming heavy enough annotations to make human cultural references clear, what books would YOU give Garak?

What about people from the other Trek races? What would constitute recommended reading for a Vulcan, Klingon, Romulan, or Ferengi looking to find out about human culture? (Or any other race that pops into your head.)

 

[USS Triumphant]

Klingons: If I were to give them a book to understand humans, it would probably be a copy of the NIV (New Interstellar Version ) Holy Bible, along with a copy of Asimov's Guide To The Bible for reference. But I probably wouldn't give a (non-Worf) Klingon a book. I'd hook up a game console with Mortal Kombat 2. Brutal fatalities, taunting, but the ability to end a combat with a "Friendship" - it's almost like Cliff's Notes for our whole species.

Romulans: A good American History book - one with a focus on the reasons the settlers left Europe and follows their story up to the Eugenics Wars. I'd annotate the whole thing to make comparisons with the reasons the Romulans left Vulcan and their history leading up to the Earth-Romulan War.

Ferengi: A copy of Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations". And I'd teach 'em to play Monopoly.

Vulcans: The latest version of the Encyclopeadia Britannica, since they'd absorb that pretty quick, and whatever the latest version of the game "Sid Meier's Civilization" is, since they like chess.

The Borg: Copies of the Principia Discordia and The More Than Complete Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, in hopes of doing what Picard and crew failed to do in "I, Borg" - or, at least, giving them a sense of humor.

Cardassians: Mein Kampf, and an objective biography of Hitler, with a note to compare and contrast the reality of the situation with what Hitler perceived it to be. Also, "Sid Meier's Civilization", but not for quite the same reasons. Might introduce them to the Vulcan and get 'em into LAN play.

Voth: Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton

Binars: I'd give them copies of all of the distros of Linux ever made.

Pakleds: The Complete Dr. Seuss

 

[JNG]

The complete Shakespeare (preferably Riverside) for all. Okay, it's a lot of reading, but, you know, big subject.

 

[USS Triumphant]

The complete Shakespeare (preferably Riverside) for all. Okay, it's a lot of reading, but, you know, big subject.

In the original Klingon, or no?

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Triumphant...

It's interesting--it seems that some of your choices are geared towards teaching other races something about themselves just as much as they are a lesson about humanity. Your choice for the Cardassians and Voth definitely seem geared that way.

There's one I'm curious about your rationale for: giving a Bible to the Klingons. What is it you think would be the most relatable/most informative, and why the Klingons in particular?

 

[USS Triumphant]

It's interesting--it seems that some of your choices are geared towards teaching other races something about themselves just as much as they are a lesson about humanity. Your choice for the Cardassians and Voth definitely seem geared that way.

I figure that the best way to start is to give them something that is about humans, but also provides something they can relate to, maybe even use some of, right away. After they get through that, it can be used to bridge to human stuff that is farther yet from their comfort zone.

There's one I'm curious about your rationale for: giving a Bible to the Klingons. What is it you think would be the most relatable/most informative, and why the Klingons in particular?

Wrath, war, fire, and brimstone - and plenty of stories of basic human interactions. And very similar in ways to Shakespeare, which I already know Klingons can relate to, since they wrote it. Also, an introduction to why some of us might have chosen to keep our gods rather than kill them like the Klingons did, in the second half.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Well...we actually tried killing God. Only it turned out God was a lot smarter than we were about that--it kind of blew up in the face of those who tried it!

As for some of the other picks...I guess I thought starting a Cardassian on something like Crime and Punishment might be easier. It would seem very similar in theme--but then the discussions of state vs. God, of morality and so on creep in. Some things...like guilt and innocence, would be very similar, but what's different is the source of that compass or anchor, if you will, in Dostoyevsky's works.

I actually think that I would provide your selection later, after something to ease them in: those Cardassians that really bought into the state's official line seemed to be very sensitive to anything that might seem like an affront.

 

[USS Triumphant]

I actually think that I would provide your selection later, after something to ease them in: those Cardassians that really bought into the state's official line seemed to be very sensitive to anything that might seem like an affront.

Well, yes - Crime and Punishment probably would be better to start with. But I didn't want to "me, too", so I made my offering.

And I really hadn't thought about us trying to kill god quite that way, but you're right, and really it's kinda amusing. I've got this whole visualization going of Jesus, Judas (Duras?), and Roman soldiers with bat'leths.