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Which Three Books?

9/16/2014

5 Comments

 
Picture
In the 1960 adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Time Machine an interesting question is posed at the end which was not in the original book, but it greatly added to the story. Per the actual screenplay by David Duncan it goes like this; 
After discovering that George had returned to the time he came from, 23 November, 802,701, Filby and Mrs. Watchett come into the parlor. 
FILBY: "But it isn't like George. - To return empty handed. To try to rebuild a civilization without a plan." (to Mrs. Watchett) "He must have taken something with him." 
MRS. WATCHETT: "Nothing." She looks around and discovers three empty spaces on the tightly packed book shelves. She walks to them. 
MRS. WATCHETT: "Nothing except three books."
FILBY: "Which three books?" 
MRS. WATCHETT: "I don't know. -- Is it important?" 
FILBY: (smiles) "No, I suppose not. - Only...what three books would you have taken?" 
Answer the question, which three books would you have taken to the year 802,701 where all books had decayed to dust? Which three books?




5 Comments
Dan
9/16/2014 11:44:50 pm

To restart a civilization with the Eloi I would take Chronicle Of The World by Jerome Burne, The Way Things Work by David Macaulay and The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker.

Reply
Milton jones link
9/17/2014 12:37:58 am

Flatland, a way of seeing the world through new eyes.
The Prophet, Kahil Gibran, relationships
The adventures of Tom Sawyer

Reply
charles forshew
9/20/2014 09:24:43 am

I would avoid books that detail the mechanics and principles of our own civilization since I'm not sure they actually work very well and I don't know enough science to know what would be of any real benefit in the age of the Eloi so I would focus on the "Human Spirit", and things I would enjoy reading for the rest of my life. So... I would take The Collected Works of William Shakespeare, my battered copy of the Norton Anthology of Poetry (one could spend years reading just TS Eliot), and for many hours of fun, the complete Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
Speaking of old TS here is a link to a great list of quotes. The final four are my favorites.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/26/ts-eliot-quotes_n_3996010.html

Reply
Thomas
9/29/2014 10:44:30 am

How about a copy of "Time Machines For Dummies"?

Reply
Bob Cravens
12/21/2014 02:24:57 am

I would take a range including Art of War, Dune and the Bible, Torah, Koran. These show a great "wide view" of human nature, ideas, philosophy and dreams.

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