Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking [0]. This is surprisingly full of citations and references.

Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb [1]. Stock fantasy at its best.

Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke [2]. Been stuck at halfway for too long, it gets boring in places.

[0]: http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/d...

[1]: http://www.amazon.com/Assassins-Quest-Farseer-Trilogy-Book/d...

[2]: http://www.amazon.com/Rendezvous-Rama-Arthur-C-Clarke-ebook/...

Rendezvous with Rama has a lot of back story involving early solar system exploration/settling, and the main plot is exploration of an unknown object. One of my all time favorite books, but the sequels are mediocre at best.

http://www.amazon.com/Rendezvous-Rama-Arthur-Charles-Clarke/...