What Book would you leave behind?

[Saul]

In the TOS episode 'A Piece of the Action' the Enterprise crew discover that the population of Sigma Iotian II have modeled their society on the Earth book 'Chicago Mobs of the Twenties' which was left behind by another Starship 100 years prior. That got me thinking. What book would you leave behind on that planet? Or what book would you definitely NOT leave behind?

Tempted to leave a book on Buddhism or Jedi but again anything about religion could be a two edged sword. Same with anything related to Star Trek as most Trek books have battles and action in them and don't always convey the optimism of the Federation.
Maybe The Diary of Anne Frank, an important message about the dangers of discrimination and intolerance but also to point out how important the voice of youth is.

 

[fireproof78]

Victor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning." or "Raising a Secure Child."

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Hotel Royale

 

[BillJ]

A MAD Magazine.

 

[Orphalesion]

The obvious answer is that I wouldn't leave any book behind in order to purposefully alter a civilization, since that would be grossly irresponsible. I have no idea to what kind of developments this might lead, no matter how much I might think that the values presented are sensible or positive.

However if we engage in a whimsical "what civilization that's just like your favorite book" type of speculation (which is of course totally fun)...
It's difficult...a lot of my favourite book either have supernatural elements that the alien society would not be able to replicate (they can't turn their planet into Disc World, no matter how many Terry Pratchett novel I throw at them) and/or describe societies that would not be very nice to recreate (I wouldn't leave The Handmaid's Tale behind and risk the aliens recreating Gilead, for example)
I guess I'd leave a book on Ancient Greece behind to create a Hellenism planet?

 

[Qonundrum]

This one -- naturally:

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

At the risk of an entire planet turning into Prince Edward Island (it could certainly be worse), Anne of Green Gables.

 

[F. King Daniel]

50 Shades Darker.

 

[C.E. Evans]

To Kill A Mockingbird

There's quite a few lessons to be learned in there, IMO.

 

[Jayson1]

Write a book about the God Jason and how the Jason is all powerful and loving and when he comes you should worship the Jason. Then show up 3 years later!


Jason

 

[marlboro]

Strictly for the articles, of course.

 

[1001001]

Write a book about the God Jason and how the Jason is all powerful and loving and when he comes you should worship the Jason. Then show up 3 years later!


Jason

Almost worked for Ardra.

 

[JoseNoodles]

A Japanese Gunpla Magazine.

 

[publiusr]

Anything by James Randi
—or the Necronomicon


Just kidding. It would be HOW TO AVOID HUGE SHIPS

 

[Agony_Boothb]

Lord of the rings

 

[Joanna McCoy-Kirk]

I would not leave any of the "Hunger Games" books behind.

 

[The Wormhole]

Dune

 

[Saul]

50 Shades Darker.

Is that how we got Risa?

Write a book about the God Jason and how the Jason is all powerful and loving and when he comes you should worship the Jason. Then show up 3 years later!


Jason

kind of like Lister with the Cat people.

 

[Vger23]

A really kickass cookbook.

 

[CommanderTrip]

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

I want a world of pure imagination both literally AND figuratively.