For a bit of fun and to get off the beaten trail of topics, here's a thought exercise/game for everyone's enjoyment.
If you could send books on up to five subjects of your choice to Thedas, what topics would you send and who would you send it to? And what do you think they would actually do with it- not simply what you would like them to do, but what do you think would be the practical impacts of it?
Most people are familiar with the 'Lost at Sea' exercise: you are stuck on a boat, and have to choose a certain number of items from a selection on the basis of what they could be used for. What you choose, and how you can use it, are a test of mental flexibility and survival skills. Think of this as the time-traveling science version of that, only with Thedas and modern knowledge.
Don't worry about how the knowledge arrives to the target: say the Black Emporium does a delivery service of the chest of books from 'anonymous benefactors,' or that the books 'were found on an abandoned shipwreck, like none made in Thedas.' Also assume that the books in question will be legible to the recipient.
But don't assume the recipient will understand the context or necessarily believe the source, though- you're just sending books, not a personal note saying 'hey, this is legit and real, believe it.' If you send a book on modern democratic governance that references the Magna Carta and Britain, for example, don't expect them to know who that is unless you also send books on British history to give them context. And if you send them something that they wouldn't have much reason to believe, such as an anti-supernatural creed that not only argues against gods but also that 'all magic is fake'... well, don't assume you have any more credibility than the merits of your books on their own. Books on real history might be considered well-written fiction, but case studies of fiction at best: not real.
Also, try to avoid books on military technology: too obvious. Strategy and theory are fair, but 'how to make guns' is a bit unbalanced and obvious, eh? Try to be creative.
Past that, try to stick to five focused topics. You don't necessarily have to have five individual books (though specific books are encouraged), but try to avoid overly broad categories. Pretend all your books have to fit in a big backpack, or a small suitcase.
Have fun! What do you think would most effect Thedas, good or ill?
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And to throw in some examples...
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Say I want to help the Qunari take over the world and build a better world in accordance to the Qun. I don't, but say I did. Here are some things I could send them.
#1
Topic: Naval Theory
Book: The Influence of Sea Power upon History, by Alfred Thayer Mahan. How navies support economic trade and military campaigns, vis-a-vis continental land powers. Mahan in particular outlines various conflicts and how land versus sea power competed, and could effectively wear down and overcome larger land-based powers by dominating the seas.
Intended goal: Help the Qunari advance/formalize a military doctrine for confronting the continent of Thedas: the importance of controlling sea lanes and strategic territory to choose when and where to fight, and profit/dominate the trade.
Foreseeable issue: Mahan outlines real world conflicts, but to the reader they would be fictional and not necessarily believable. There are also references to technological changes the Qunari don't have- coaling and refueling stations. Together these could see it viewed as fiction rather than historical lessons, even though the take-away lessons can be derived regardless.
Expected results: Mixed. The military/strategic lessons would be viable, but the implementation might not: the ideological tint of the Qun could overrule some things, and it's not clear the Qunari are even interested in mercantile trade, which is an important foundation for Mahan's reasoning. It might shape Qunari doctrine...but it might not be possible to tell until there's an actual war to practice with.
#2
Topic: Evolution (with a focus on genetics)
Books: Gregor Mendel's work on phenotypes, and Darwin's 'The Evolution of Species.' Collectively covering natural selection, but also the basics of unnatural selection and deliberate breeding. Both are written on levels of science relatively applicable and understandable to Thedasian standards, based more on observation than technical theory. Darwin in particular wrote for a non-specialist audience, making him more approachable for an outside reader.
Intended goal: help rationalize the Qunari's enforced breeding system and understanding of biology.
Foreseeable issue: A misunderstanding of genetic traits and non-genetic abilities. Entering into a pseudo-science of evolution, especially if the Qun perspective sees the entire social body as evolving.
Expected Outcome: An advancement of science, if not society: more effective and deliberate genetic engineering efforts. On a good side, this is better for agriculture and medical sciences. On a bad side, this may further enable eugenics.
#3
Topic: Counter-Insurgency (COIN) Theory
Book: FM 3-24, the US Army Counterinsurgency Field Manual.
Intended effect: Help the Qunari understand and devise more effective (and less needlessly harmful) counter-insurgency policies for their conquests. While the execution of COIN has been questionable in its effectiveness and execution, COIN theory is extremely methodical in buildinging an understanding of insurgent environments: who fights, why, and how they go about it. COIN is a fairly sophisticated analysis and model for understanding what a society is and how it works on a functional level, as well as how a particular resistance network supports itself.
Foreseeable issue: While US military FMs are very novice-friendly in terms of establishing and defining their terms and usage, there is a lot of anachronistic things as well. References to technologies and capabilities (and political history) that are alien and unreachable, though these do not dominate the message. These will create points of confusion, but not interfere with the overall message of the doctrine. There is also an issue about overly-flexible roles of soldiers and enforcers of COIN: various points of COIN (every soldier is a representative, an observer, an intermediary with the populace) would challenge the Qunari's strict division of roles and purpose. COIN is military, political, and economic all in one: it reaches across the three branches of Qunari society, the mind and body and soul, and would require greater flexibility/integration of efforts than we have seen.
Expected result: Practical application of the analytical aspects of the doctrine. I can see the Qunari really working on their analysis of the local area and resistance beyond the 'they seek purpose of the Qun' or 'they are too corrupt to see.' The big issue would be getting the Arishok and military to be flexible enough to multi-purpose, as well as work closely with the other branches. 'We are the soldiers, not the builders' could be a serious stumbling block to successful implementation as the various necessary parties see other aspects as 'not our role.'
And so on. What would you send: political theory? Practical sciences? History?
The book of world records, just to rub in how much better we are than them?
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