I've been finishing about one book per week every week for the last 3 years. It's probably my favorite hobby. I read mostly non-fiction and take lots of notes.
While these 10 books aren't about current events (most of them are pretty old) they all deeply apply to what's happening now. I've read a lot of good stuff and a lot of crap, but these 10 are the best time investments I've made when it comes to reading. I think they're very important and relevant.
The books by topic:
Political Psychology
The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind By Gustave Le Bon
The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer
Thought Reform And The Psychology Of Totalism by Robert Jay Lifton
Max Weber on Charisma and Institution Building; Selected Papers
History & Culture
The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature by C. S. Lewis
The Pagan Temptation by Thomas Molnar
Political Philosophy
The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis
The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy by Carl Schmitt
Fascism Viewed from the Right by Julius Evola
King of the Castle: Choice and Responsibility in the Modern World by Gai Eaton
I have a college degree in Bible studies, and I agree, there is nothing more embarrassing than the lazy unthoughtful response of "The Bible said it, I believe it, and that settles it." This mentality is a reason why the younger generation is abandoning Biblical view point in droves.
I'll bet 99% of those with such as a simplistic view have no idea on what year the books of the new testament were canonized, who in particular selected the books of the New Testament, which books were received with opposition and why, which books of the New Testament were considered and were rejected.
I also read and studied the Bible many times and I wish I could down vote that comment a thousand times.
Hmmm, me too, and Jesus Christ answered every single time with "for it is written!" He is the example I'm surprised you didn't pick up on that in College.