Quicksilver, by Neal Stephenson

The first book in the epic Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson spans one of the most tumultuous eras in human history, giving equal time to wars, intrigue, the calculus, and the birth of commerce and weaving cameos by Benjamin Franklin, Louis XIV, and other historical figures with the story of Daniel Waterhouse, a close friend and compatriot of Isaac Newton. This book (along with the other two books in the Cycle, The Confusion and The System of the World) represents part of the EAS orientation process for new consultants.

What is especially humbling about the titanic achievement that these books represent is that Stephenson finished what most people would consider a life's work in the course of a decade. The books - all 2400+ pages - came out bam-slam-bang in six month intervals in 2003 and 2004. Stephenson's equally titanic Cryptonomicon, which features descendants of characters from the Baroque Cycle, came out in 1995, and he has stated that the impetus for the Cycle came about as a result of his research on that book. Don't talk to me about busy.

Truly magnificent wordplay hooks up with deep truths about life, love, and math. We'd say more, but A) we'd just sound like crazed fans, and B) there is no higher praise than "we make our consultants read this."