Here's what I'm reading now:
I also like The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a philosophical story beloved by children and grown-ups alike.
Vernor Vinge on the Singularity. Here's the abstract: “Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended. Is such progress avoidable? If not to be avoided, can events be guided so that we may survive? These questions are investigated. Some possible answers (and some further dangers) are presented.”
Don't fall prey to a fallacy.
I think public radio is awesome. My favorite program is This American Life.
I highly recommend you see the movie Contact. Based on a novel by my idol, Carl Sagan, it is the story of a scientist's much-assailed search for extra-terrestrial intelligence. I highly recommend this movie, along with all of the late Dr. Sagan's books--especially Cosmos, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space, and The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark.
I fancy myself an amateur astronomer, although I lack a telescope or the ability to identify any constellations other than the Dippers and Orion's belt. Ultimately, though, I'm a supporter of space exploration and a member of the Planetary Society. Of course, that's not exactly rare among people who work in the space industry. :)
Scientific American magazine has a rich web site including selections from past and current issues, interviews, and exhibits. One of my favorite parts is the Ask the Experts section, where scientists answer intriguing questions, including these examples: