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The Restraint of Beasts

The Restraint of Beasts

By Magnus Mills 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

If you know Quentin Tarantino, you may want to pass him along a copy of this hilarious and macabre tale of fencemakers gone awry. Leave it to the British to write the best deadpan humor in the world. This story makes Pulp Fiction seem tame.
Grinding It Out

Grinding It Out

By Ray Kroc 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

I am a sucker for good biographies, and this quick read on one of the most important people to change the world is a must for anyone interested in capitalism, perseverance or Big Macs. Ray Kroc must have been a fascinating person to know.
The Bridges of Madison County

The Bridges of Madison County

By Robert James Waller 208 pages Adult

Danny Says

Let me preface by saying this is not my favorite book. It is, however, a good, lazy read for those in the mood for an end-of-summer romance novel. I included this book when I learned a startling revelation: this was the bestselling non-religious book of the 1990s!
Being John Malkovich

Being John Malkovich

By Charlie Kaufman 160 pages Adult

Danny Says

Whenever I am busy at work and cannot find time to read books, I turn to screenplays. You can read most screenplays in 2-3 hours, and it is interesting to see how a director’s vision may differ from that of the writer. Charlie Kaufman should have won the Oscar for this script, as it is the most original screenplay of the last decade.
Utopia

Utopia

By Thomas More 84 pages Adult

Danny Says

I decided to throw in a piece of literature to sound intelligent. Actually, More’s classic is just as applicable today as it was back in the 15th century. It reads a lot like Plato’s “The Republic,” only this one gets to the point. I’d recommend it to any politician in search of clarity.
Bag the Elephant

Bag the Elephant

By Steve Kaplan 188 pages Adult

Danny Says

There seems to be a proven rule that the shorter the business book, the better the information. That certainly proves true in the case of this gem that is great for anyone interested in developing winning strategies and attitudes (while the book is business-oriented, the principles can be applied to all sorts of areas).
Happy Anniversary!: A Guide to Fun and Romantic Anniversary Celebrations

Happy Anniversary!: A Guide to Fun and Romantic Anniversary Celebrations

By Robin A. Kring 200 pages Adult

Danny Says

This month my parents celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary. That’s about 35 years longer than the typical American marriage, and I know my brother, sister and I are so happy that our parents decided to get together (we wouldn’t be here without them). I like this book because it is the perfect coffee table book: you don’t have to read it cover to cover, as you can take your time and read a random couple of pages from time to time.
Goodbye Mr Chips

Goodbye Mr Chips

By James Hilton 64 pages Adult

Danny Says

Before Mr. Holland has his opus, this classic (also turned into a great Oscar-winning movie with Robert Donat) followed Mr. Chips, who dedicated his life to education after the untimely death of his wife. A heartwarming story that should be required reading for beginning teachers (even though I am opposed to required reading).
Fear Strikes Out: The Jim Piersall Story

Fear Strikes Out: The Jim Piersall Story

By Jim Piersall,Al Hirshberg 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

As the summer leaves us, I had to include at least one baseball book. This is one of the best. Piersall’s autobiography has less to do with his incredible fielding exploits for the Red Sox in the 1950s and more to do with his nervous breakdown (later made into a mediocre film with Anthony Perkins). Quick and captivating reading.
The Areas of My Expertise

The Areas of My Expertise

By John Hodgman 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

Do not let the page length fool you, as there are lots of photos, graphs and blank pages. Perfect for lazy readers! I always like funny books, and I have my good friend Rob Schwartz to thank for loaning me this hilarious “compendium of complete world knowledge.” I found myself laughing throughout, and I especially enjoyed Hodgman’s sections on failed palindromes and hobo poetry. Demented and a riot.
Lanterns

Lanterns

By Marian Wright Edelman 208 pages Adult

Danny Says

Amazon lists this book as 208 pages, but they must be including the 30 pages of photos, too. I devoured this memoir. I had the honor of meeting Marian Wright Edelman at a Town Hall meeting in Los Angeles a few years ago, and she was one of the most eloquent and amazing speakers I have ever seen. She is also a warm and genuinely “interested” person. Author Jim Collins said that some of the best advice he received from his mentor at Stanford, John Gardner, was to “be less interesting and more interested.” Edelman has had such a tremendous impact on America by being interested in the futures of every child in this country. You will be a better person just by reading this book.

The Five Love Languages

By Gary Chapman 203 pages Adult

Danny Says

It should not take a holiday to get your loved one roses or write a card or make a nice compliment. I confess: I saw this book in the front of the bookstore, and I was intrigued. The book deals with spirituality as well as romance, and I am glad to have read it if, for no other reason, to remind me how much I love and adore my wife.
Letters to a Young Mathematician

Letters to a Young Mathematician

By Ian Stewart 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

 I grabbed this book at Border’s the other day and read it from cover to cover before leaving the store. This is the way to get people interested in math. Stewart beautifully captivates the imagination with fictitious letters to his niece about why math matters. He gets you thinking about how math is in every basic item of our daily lives, even in the vegetables we eat. With a teacher like this, I may have pursued a degree in math, as Stewart does a superb job of showing math’s benefits (intellectually, professionally and financially).
Clearing the Bases

Clearing the Bases

By Mike Schmidt 208 pages Adult

Danny Says

Baseball season is back! It just seems to work out this month that a lot of the books I have been reading are new releases. Mike Schmidt was one of my favorite players when he played third base for the Phillies, and I greatly respect his opinion. If you are a really lazy reader, you can always get the gist of this book simply by reading the title. Schmidt’s publisher must have thought of this as a dissertation. Still, I agree with almost everything Schmidt says, and I believe Roger Maris still holds the home run record (the non-steroid mark, that is).
Flavor of the Month: Why Smart People Fall for Fads

Flavor of the Month: Why Smart People Fall for Fads

By Joel Best 222 pages Adult

Danny Says

So what if this book just came out, and I tend to always read books that are sent to me from publishers for free? While Joel Best can often bore with statistics (he wrote the wonderful Damned Lies and Statistics), his point of this book is intriguing: Americans often fall for scams. He is not talking about the guys that buy Ab Rollers sold on late night infomercials (which I own, pitifully). Best is talking about how smart people in business, medicine and education cling to the next 7-step approach or easy-to-use carb diet. Education, in my opinion, suffers from this disease more than any other profession, as the pendulum has swung most recently to drilling letter sounds and endlessly assessing students as a part of the government’s No Child Left Untested program. If nothing else, this book will get you thinking. I’ve attached an anecdote from my own teaching experiences on this month’s blog (click here).

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