Deserted Island Books

"Which five books would you bring with you if you were stuck on a deserted island?"

Seems like an innocuous question, but as every bookworm knows, it's anything but.

Five books? Only FIVE? Is that even legal?

But, if pressed, here is the answer I give:

How to Get Off a Deserted Island

by er... John Smith? (Some versions of this game state that the books can't help you survive on, or get off the island, so this wouldn't be allowed)

The Complete Works of Shakespeare

Yes, I am one of those people who reads Shakespeare in their spare time.  So far my favorite is Macbeth, but I think that they are all incredible.  Also, this book would have the advantage of being very long, which, let's face it, you would need if you were stuck on a deserted island.

The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse

This is a book that I've wanted to read for a long time now, but I never seem to be able to.  Either I can't find it in the library or I'm really busy or I have an important deadline...

But there are no deadlines on deserted islands.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Need I explain?

Encyclopedia Britannica

When I was younger I used to read encyclopedias for fun; I literally wore out two encyclopedias by the time I was about eight.  I would like to try that again sometime, and I could also use this book to figure out which fruits, plants and berries would be safe to eat.

If you had to choose five books to bring with you to a deserted island, which books would you bring?