Political Ideals - Bertrand Russell.
i read this first when i was a young'un and although i didn't grasp some of the concepts at work it retains a powerful place in my memory; it was the first time i began to think about Isms, Ogies, Cracies and other various politico-socio-intellectual categorisations. underlying it all was this sense of imperturbable moral gravitas, a feeling that what was Right would triumph if only we could apply ourselves diligently.
The Outsider - Albert Camus.
i was in a terribly pretentious self-involved protogothic teenage stage when i happened upon Camus. in the spirit of the time i read these stories entirely at face value, with no sense of deeper understanding. knowing a bit more about his life, a lot more about my life, and beginning to realise how little i know about life in general, revisiting it was a Wonderful Thing. the story about the artist who locks himself in his attic still spurs productivity when i'm in the studio
Carlo Ginzburg - Ecstasies: Deciphering the Witches' Sabbath
the first time i began to appreciate the freedom of thought for thought's sake, the benefits of non-linear approach to historical investigation, and perhaps the joy of history itself. Ginzburg floats from thought to thought, unconcerned with many of the inconveniences of traditional scholarship, bouncing ideas around a refractive chamber of inquiry, gleaning just a hint of continuity from what appears to be one long ramble. this is a brilliant book.
Gabrielle Spiegel - The Past as Text: the Theory and Practice of Medieval Historiography.
when i first discovered Spiegel, courtesy of a journal article, i had no idea that medieval historiographical work would soon become my major intellectual interest. it's of no interest to non-medieval-historians though, so no further fanboy dribble on my part :D