Attention scientists and science minded folks - what books would you consider "essential reading?"?

The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan. This is a must read for any scientist. It discusses the scientific method, skepticism, and the many irrational ways in which the human mind works to draw incorrect conclusions from its experiences.

I would have to say no unless you consider ones will to be paranormal. Wait, now that I think of a somewhat recent scenario concerning will...hmm...this question is making me think harder than expected! BAH! Quick story part 1: I hear that generic Darvisets(?) are mostly placebo pain pills. Darvisets never ever relieved any pain I ever had after a couple surgeries. Was I actually relieved of pain, and the pain I actually felt an imaginary pain or did they actually not work? Part 2:After 1 surgery, I woke up from anesthesia and was shivering. The nurse grabbed my foot and applied pressure to a certain point and the shivering went away...briefly. I started shivering again and she quickly pressed on that point again and it went away, this time the shivering stopped completely. In hindsight, I had faith that the pain pills would have helped and they didn't(matter over mind I guess). Also, at the time, if someone would have told me that a pressure point would stop me from shivering, I would not have believed it(mind over matter? Someone else's mind over my matter?). I do believe that the mind is capable of many things that are considered paranormal. Maybe it is just the individual in question that determines whether it is paranormal or not. I don't know if I answered your question but there you go anyways ;)