1632 by Eric Flint - Very interesting alternative history, which really gets you thinking about what it takes to run civilization. It's a series, and 1632 is the first book.
I’m going to be “that guy” and not recommend books. I have read many (well 40-50) books and I wouldn’t say that books have taught me anything I couldn’t have learned by experiencing it.
I mean, of course, Computer Science has made me read a lot of books, articles, blog posts, etc. but from the personal point of view, experiences (traveling, meeting new people, moving to a new city, getting a new job) are the things that have taught me more.
I don’t know, maybe I’m an illiterate or maybe I was bad choosing books (I think the later could be true).
So, keep reading but also keep having new (healthy) experiences!
Brave New World, Huxley
Animal Farm, Orwell
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Persig
Cat's Cradle, Vonnegut
Catch-22, Heller
The first 3-4 books of the Foundation Series, Asimov
The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien