Francis Bacon 
New Atlantis 

Journey to the utopian island of Bensalem in this novel by the influential English philosopher and scientist.A group of Europeans leave South America by boat and, after a bout of dangerous weather, find refuge on an island where a society like none other exists. Here, the travelers find themselves welcomed by a people who, thanks to a long-ago miracle, received the message of Christ, and practice the virtues neglected by so many others. They also practice the scientific method (established by Sir Francis Bacon himself in real life), using empirical knowledge for human advancement. This work by one of the geniuses of his time reveals his vision of what our world could be—and makes for a thought-provoking journey for the modern reader.