Well the one I have read the most often would have to be: the 1977 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia (best gift my parents ever gave me other than thier love).
I know its dated, but for me it is a hell of a lot easier.
I allways reach for it way before the internet (especially wikipedia).

As far as favorite books go, I supose it is a close tie between Uhuru by Robert Ruark and For Whom The Bell Tolls by Hemingway.