I've written two books, the first a travel adventure story about my time in Europe with a backpack, skateboard and a tent, titled: For Joy and Wisdom. The second is Sci-Fi about robots replacing humans in the labor force, and the social/economic melt-down that could come from it, titled: Proxy. I wrote legislation to solve the robot/unemployment problem that a US Senator is taking seriously. I don't have an agent or publisher for either book, but would very much like to publish Proxy.
As far as reading, Brave New World in near the top of the list, The Grapes of Wrath is up there also. Call of the Wild was awesome when I was a kid. I just started Starship Troopers... I also watch a lot of movies, nearly one per day, and was told Starship Troopers the book is very very different, and similar with expressing political ideas to what I am doing in Proxy. So I am reading it... I like stuff that makes me laugh or think.