4.29 avg rating — 210 ratings

"The reason such a mind-numbing and next-to-impossible-to-understand book would be the first choice made for this list should be a given. I chose this book because I just.don't.get it! And what better choice to have on a desert island than a book you would have to spend hours upon hours of constant pondering and thought to get around the basic idea surrounding this perplexing work of philosophical science. Not that it is hard to read. Hofstadter educates and postulates as if he is that really down-to-earth professor you tend to like to talk to after class about music and artwork and all that, but it is the subject matter that is a demanding task. I feel like if I had this book with me on a desert island, I'd walk out a genius."

3.96 avg rating — 3,970 ratings

"Granted, the study of Hofstadter's book could very well affect my overall sanity on a desert island and I would need to vent out my frustrations somewhere. Rather than hurt myself by bashing my skull in on the next available palm tree providing me shade and relaxation, I would turn to this documentary of the 1980s hardcore scene and the music that spawned a very odd but associative cultural movement. If frustrated I would just have to take a look at the words to certain songs I enjoy and let the aggression channel through me, leaving room for inspiration and creativity as well. It is also a lighter read in contrast to Gödel, Escher, Bach."

4.13 avg rating — 44,955 ratings

"Surely enough, if the creative juices start flowing, this would be the book to have if you want to actually formulate something memorable even if you are the only one entertaining the idea for yourself. This book can be used to produce something far more epic and retell-able if you actually made it off this desert island alive. Or even if you went to this island of your own accord, you can immerse yourself in the tradition of storytelling and mythos and generate a superb creative influx that will guarantee some good time passed on interesting thoughts and musings."

3.90 avg rating — 118,574 ratings

"An interesting choice here, but I know that if I was trapped on a desert island I would be questioning/praying to something to provide an answer or a way out of this hopeless situation. And rather than focus on Dawkins or Hitchens' scientific explanations which would only make my situation worse I would turn to Miller's wit and associativity with this book. Definitely one to check out, Blue Like Jazz offers opportunities to examine what faith is in a world of disbelief. And that is something that still sticks with me to this day. Also, the humorous and interesting approach to a Christian book makes not all Christian look like they are Bible-thumping maniacs but people with actual problems and temptations just like the rest of the world, only we are more scrutinized for daring to believe in something."

4.18 avg rating — 54,074 ratings

"Like Donald Miller, I would need something to provide some laughs. And David Foster Wallace is one of those writers who I highly respect and find many similarities in thought on certain views and incredulous situations. Despite the hilarity of some of the material in this book collecting essays from 1996-2005, Wallace also has a lot of heart, providing not only sympathetic and sometimes tragic instances where he reports something as ludicrous as a "demand-to-be-taken-seriously" adult video awards ceremony, Wallace expertly delivers his writing with wit and sarcasm. A good accompaniment to have if you want to have a sense of humor about some things, especially while alone on an island."

4.09 avg rating — 171,932 ratings

"The whole Hero with a Thousand Faces selection can apply to this choice as well. My favorite work of epic poetry I always loved following Dante through his intense dream of going through Hell, then up through Purgatory and finally his encounter with God and redemption in Paradise. Also, if being trapped on a desert island, I sure would love to know that my deceased lover is worriedly looking down from Heaven and worrying about my eventual outcome in the afterlife. What fun it would be to have such a story to tell. This cultured work is not so much a work of fiction but a show of how strong our wills must be to face the mountains we are presented with."

3.86 avg rating — 182,210 ratings

"Keeping in line with the oral and epic tradition, Paradise Lost is the other piece of poetry I would take along with me specifically because this one takes years to fully get through with actual resolution and fulfillment. Like Dante, Milton illustrates the crises of faith and the longing for redemption just as well, only instead of a Florentine translation, it is originally in English. I am fascinated with the medieval writers and their religious quandaries, as well as their fascination with the Devil. With whom I'm sure I'd be struggling with on a desert island (personally and mentally I guess). This is another choice that I'd have with solely for the fact that I would spend a lot of time working on it."

3.81 avg rating — 5,493 ratings

"I realize that a majority of these books are far from entertaining and people probably think I'm crazy enough for bringing books on scientific research, Christian faith, poetry and storytelling. But these are things that entertain and stimulate my thoughts. However, I do agree that there are hardly any real 20th-century entertaining books. So I would go with Neil Strauss' cultural examination of the ways certain people deal with their time and resources. I know it sounds like another boring as hell book, but you have never read Neil Strauss. He writes with such sarcasm and biting wit that his books are highly entertaining. The illustrations are hilarious and not overtly serious. Also, provided I nix the idea of bringing an SAS Survival Handbook for aesthetic reasons, this book has some alternative methods of getting out of tough situations, so maybe I can actually find a way off of the stinkin' island some other way."

4.25 avg rating — 101,268 ratings

"There isn't any fiction on this list (unless you count the two epic poems that occupy 6 and 7). And I would deem this one a very good choice to bring with me anywhere. The thickness of this book is intimidating, but once you get into it, you see how amazing this work of fiction truly is. I like to call it literary athletics. You feel like you are playing a heavily tasking tennis match while reading this book and it makes you feel both smart and worked out by the end. It is a true accomplishment and the only entry where the same author appears on this list twice."

4.39 avg rating — 384,954 ratings

"The thing about Dostoyevsky is that his fiction echoes a cynical reality that just seems too real sometimes. This monster of a book is time-consuming and dense. But what a read it is. And once again, if I were alone and stranded, this would be an excellent work to stimulate my thoughts while I sit around, hopefully certain hopeless issues in the book won't cause me to get too depressed."