Adult

Discussing books by Philip Roth will make you look intelligent. I really enjoyed Roth’s The Plot Against America, but this is a great book to introduce you to Roth’s writing style (nice and slim for the lazy reader). This book, in particular, spoke to me about life’s “unfulfillments.” Am I the only person who does not feel like I have reached my potential? Roth is a good person to read if you are suffering from a mid-life crisis (as I do every three years).

I am always fascinated by how clever authors are. This book is literally “the only book you’ll ever need,” as it includes a variety of pages that can be used immediately. For example, one page can be assembled into a sun dial for those who do not have a watch. Maps of the world, “No Parking” signs, charts with measurements and a variety of other useful information fill this spiral volume, which could be deemed the “MacGyver” book. Cool idea.

Paula Thompson wrote me and insisted I read this short gem. I receive 100-200 emails a day from folks with book picks, but there was something insistent in Paula’s email that spurred me to grab a copy of this largely pictoral “diary.” I was stunned by how quickly I absorbed the book and finished wanting more. Beckerman tells her life story through clothes, and it works. Must read.

Made into an Oliver Stone film with Tom Cruise in 1989, the book is pretty grim. If you’re too lazy to read it now, check it out over Memorial Day next year. If you’re still too lazy, rent the video at Blockbuster.

Not that Randy Pausch needs any help from me, but I could not live with myself if I did not recommend his book. I am a sentimental sap who loves inspirational books, and this “lecture” touched me the same way Tuesdays with Morrie did. Trust me: if you are one of the three people who have not read this book, get it.

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).

By the way, the title is so long, the whole thing wouldn't fit above, so here it is in its entirety:

Clearing the Bases: Juiced Players, Monster Salaries, Sham Records, and a Hall of Famer’s Search for the Soul of Baseball

Reading this book is akin to watching a Terry Gilliam film: the story may often confuse the reader, but the characters and situations throughout keep audiences glued. It’s the end of the world, and two cops try to determine what happened to New York’s biggest party animal, Manuel Gozalez, in this memorable debut science-fiction mystery. Quite a trip!

I read this in the bookstore while I waited for my wife to get her nails done. Very easy to read, and a great reminder of the power of freedom.

I just began taping the first episodes of my local TV show People Make a Difference, which highlights the positive contributions of people in my community. In this book famous clothing designer Cole has collected 90 stories from various authors that should inspire people from all walks to get out and make the world a better place. I love books like this.

This book, probably more than any other, defines modern politics. Even though it was written in the 16th century, it is amazing how much of it applies to the 21st century. Not the most interesting book to read, but people are impressed when you say you’ve read it.

As summer winds down I thought it would be fun to include a title for you to delight in others’ misery. Torkells is the editor of Budget Travel magazine, and this collection of anecdotes submitted by readers range from outrageous to  improbable, sometimes dull to mostly hilarious. A good way to end one’s day.

July represents the middle of the summer, and one of the best forms of summer relaxation is fishing. I encourage everyone to read this book, as the writing is simply beautiful. Robert Redford's brilliant movie is grand, but the book is sheer poetry.

One of my goals for my students is that they look at various points of view. I don’t ask them to agree with any points of view; I want them to think critically. This is the perfect book for asking students to re-examine 9/11 from various perspectives. Hamid has created a deeply moving story that is the perfect antidote to the mindless squawking of television politico-shock jocks.

I don’t usually include education books among my selections, as I try to make my picks appeal to as broad of an audience as possible (and, being an educator, I don’t want folks to think this is just an education-related site). I must commend Tough, though, on creating a book that challenges the powers-that-be to move from their obsession with testing kids to a model that emphasizes on teaching values in early childhood. This is a fascinating examination that adds a lot to our dialogue about positive education reform in America.

Books that challenge the way we think about everyday items always delight me, and Wired editor Wolman does a superb job of causing readers to pause and ponder the usefulness and wisdom of physical currency. What would a cashless society look like? Wolman manages to make this a fascinating page-turner.