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Crawling: A Father's First Year

Crawling: A Father's First Year

By Elisha Cooper 176 pages Adult

Danny Says

Being the father of a daughter who turns three this month and a year-and-a-half-old son, I totally related to this funny narrative about fatherhood. Cooper shares the same attitude I had about my children being born: it was not miraculous as much as it was totally freaky. This is the perfect gift for any dad.
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The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories

The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories

By Susanna Clarke 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

This is Clarke’s follow-up to her wonderful debut, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. That book is over 1000 pages long and has no place on this list. To whet your appetite, though, this latest book (which is actually a compilation of several of Clarke’s previously published short stories) highlights why Clarke is an author to be reckoned with, as she takes us into the fantastical world of magic and fairies set in 19th century England. A wonderfully witty writer who crafts extremely gratifying tales.
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Botchan

Botchan

By Natsume Soseki 112 pages Adult

Danny Says

How had I never heard of this book? I stumbled across this hundred-year-old book while scanning the Classics at Barnes & Noble, and I could not put it down. When you think about Japanese literature, you do not often think “hilarious.” I devoured this book in a couple of hours. Soseki reads like a Japanese version of Voltaire or Camus. I am pleading with high school English teachers to recommend this book to their students, as it is just a wonderfully entertaining treasure.
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The Book of Courage

The Book of Courage

By Hans Wilhelm 128 pages Adult

Danny Says

A children’s book author and illustrator best known for his tear-jerker I’ll Always Love You, Wilhelm offers bits of wisdom meant to inspire people of all ages. I think this is the perfect gift for all occasions, including graduations and bar mitzvahs. An excellent book to read to start off the new year right.
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The Royal Ghosts

The Royal Ghosts

By Samrat Upadhyay 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

I was in Tibet in the summer of 2001 when I discovered that the entire royal family of Nepal had been assassinated by the Crown Prince Dipendra. This collection of short stories by Nepali writer Upadhyah takes place in Kathmandu during this tumultuous time, and its depictions are both stirring and shocking.
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The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye

By Toni Morrison 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

I have an unwritten rule that I do not usually promote Oprah’s Book Club books, as these books need no help from me (if Oprah ever wants to talk about my books on her show, though, I’d gladly make an appearance). I do feel it is important from time to time to get people reading important authors. Toni Morrison is a Nobel Prize winner, and this book affords lazy readers a glimpse at her genius in a lot fewer pages.
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Macho!

Macho!

By Victor Villasenor 240 pages Adult

Danny Says

If you have not read Villasenor’s Rain of Gold, you have ignored one of the great books of the later half of the 20th century. Villasenor captures the Mexican-American experience better than perhaps any other author. This book describes the migrant worker experience in a way that has not been duplicated since Edward R. Murrow’s Harvest of Shame.
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The Secret

The Secret

By Rhonda Byrne 198 pages Adult

Danny Says

The perfect relief to those of you rushing through your lives in a constant state of stress (i.e. “me”). Easy-to-read wisdom from a number of contributors helps anyone focus on what is really important in life, even if you have to put it down to answer your cell phone, e-mail a client and/or lead a videoconference. I need books like this to keep me going while I am on the road, feeling lonely and guilty about not being with my family.
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Plum Lovin'

Plum Lovin'

By Janet Evanovich 288 pages Adult

Danny Says

If you have not yet rewarded yourself with one of Evanovich’s fantastic tales of Jersey bond enforcement agent Stephanie Plum, you are in for a real treat. Nothing gets me reading like a funny mystery, and Evanovich reminds me of a female Gregory MacDonald (author of the Fletch series).
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Book of Longing

Book of Longing

By Leonard Cohen 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

A renowned songwriter, Cohen is a natural poet. Poetry is one of my favorite tools to motivate students to read and write, and Cohen expresses himself beautifully in this book that will transport you to a nicer place. Best read on a beach or in front of a fireplace.
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Its Not Over Until You Win

Its Not Over Until You Win

By Les Brown 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

Do you need a pep talk? I always try to read as many inspirational books with positive messages that I can, as too often we are subjected to all of the negatives in the world. Believe it or not, there are a lot of amazing people with amazing stories out there; they just do not make the nightly news. Les Brown is a speaker I must meet now, as this book touched me in a very personal and positive way. By the way, as an African-American male, Les Brown also serves as an excellent example to share with students seeking role models (I have shared anecdotes from his life with many of my students). 
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Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire

Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire

By Rafe Esquith 243 pages Adult

Danny Says

I constantly seek inspiration from great teachers, and I would cut off a limb if it ensured my children could attend Rafe Esquith’s class. Perhaps the Secretary of Assessment (there seems to no longer be a Department of  “Education” since “No Child Left Untested” took effect) should read this book about how create students who are lifelong learners. This book pumped me up. It should me mandatory reading for anyone interested in becoming a teacher.
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The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

By Robin Sharma 198 pages Adult

Danny Says

A touching fable about a lawyer who, prompted by a heart attack, re-examines his priorities. He gives up the fast life in search of spiritual enlightenment in the Himalayas. If it sounds a lot like Somerset Maughm’s The Razor’s Edge, it is. By the way, I love that book (at 320 pages, however, it does not qualify as a “lazy reader” selection). Do my book selections this month adequately demonstrate to you how much I am seeking inspiration and re-examining my own life?
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Like Water for Chocolate

Like Water for Chocolate

By Laura Esquivel 256 pages Adult

Danny Says

I had not realized that I had never included this beautiful book on a previous list. Thanks for the nudge from my friend Evan. This is one of the loveliest and most gratifying books that I have read. It was one of the few books that I read for pleasure in college as an undergrad. It was also made into a wonderful movie, for the truly lazy reader.
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Staying Sane When You're Planning Your Wedding

Staying Sane When You're Planning Your Wedding

By Pam Brodowsky,Evelyn Fazio 272 pages Adult

Danny Says

This is actually part of a series of “Staying Sane” books. I have not read any of the others, but I will. This is my kind of book, filled with collections of short stories from different authors describing their wedding trials and tribulations (and the occasional triumph). Funny and easy reading.
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