Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
My very first thought.
And every congressional hearing on UFOs should start with “Space is big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely…”
Came here to say this.
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
This from the restaurant at the end of the universe is the most apt beginning of any religion.
Carl Sagan’s Demon Haunted World
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Any book that teaches logic or critical thinking skills.
There is one called “The Scout Mindset” by Julia Galef. It’s an amazing resource when it comes to teaching critical thinking, because it gradually introduces the reader to the virtue of being able to change your mind/opinion based on new information. I think that’s a fundamental skill everyone needs in order to use critical thinking in a meaningful way.
Lord of the Rings. Kind of already has! Plus it has the morality along with the narrative, which is a key feature of religious works.