Adult

Written almost 2500 years ago to teach Chinese military strategy, this book is essential reading for anyone aspiring to lead. A great, quick read to begin the year in proper fashion.

I love travel books. I especially love travel books about America. What I love about this book is how an immigrant poet from New Orleans learns to drive so he can see America as a driver. Even though the book was written in the 1990s, it could now be considered a history book. When you read it, you can tell your kids about the good ole days when cars were smaller than starter homes and a tank of gas cost less than a mortgage payment.

Tired of politics? To me, the perfect antidote is always a funny read, and Gethard will keep you laughing and cringing as he shares his personal tales of “seriously poor judgment and stunningly awkward adventure.”

I am just obsessed with psychology, and this book will hold a prominent and permanent place on my bookshelves besides titles by Martin Seligman, Carol Dweck, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the Bronstein and Heath brothers, Kevin Hogan and, of course, Robert Cialdini (who, incidentally, co-wrote this dynamite work). A GREAT READ!

If you have a daughter, wife, mother or niece who is graduating from anywhere, this is the perfect gift. The book of terrific photographs from Clay Blackmore of 58 women documents their aspirations as children before succeeding in other areas (e.g. former secretary of state Madeline Albright, the chess champion; Olympic gymnast Dominic Dawes, the Supreme Court Justice; etc.). I love books like this.

The perfect purchase for those of us (and I include myself in this group) who take it upon ourselves to write down New Year's resolutions. The trick is not going to the gym in January; it's continuing the visits in April! Not only are Crum's suggestions practical, they are manageable!

Every now and then I read a book that just captures my heart. Sorry if I sound like a school girl, but I was giddy reading this memoir of Montgomery’s loveable pet pig. Montgomery is such a strong writer, as she manages to make me laugh throughout the book at her pig’s celebrity status in her hometown. The book’s real strength, however, is in the lessons this charming pig teaches a community. This is one of the best-written books I have read in years.

It bothers me that people are so uptight about discussing religion in this country. I understand that my friends and I have very different faiths, and I am curious to always learn more about different points of view. Ehrman came to my attention on a piece on CBS Sunday Morning and on a National Geographic special about The Gospel of Judas. From what I know of the man, he is one of the most learned Biblical scholars alive, and I enjoyed this book for its readability. Readers can dispute the book all they want: to me, any good book should create discussion. If I lived in North Carolina, I would jump at the chance to take one of Ehrman’s classes at Chapel Hill. This is a quick and compelling read.

Before he wrote that religious book with the volcano on the cover, L. Ron Hubbard was a pretty good science fiction writer. I read this book when the cover advertised the quote “the scariest book I’ve ever read” by a guy named Stephen King.

Subtitled “Highlights from the Golden Age of Parenting Advice,” this hilarious book features wisdom from the “good ole days” that is guaranteed to draw smiles from any parents that feel like they are failing. Grab a copy of this book and read real ads that featured “delicious” baby laxatives or advice like this gem: “The nursing mother should cleanse her nipples before and after each feeding with boric acid solution.” This book is a perfect coffee table conversation piece.

Okay, so it’s a little over 200 pages. This book will make you laugh, make you cry and make you think. One of the most banned books in America because he uses the “f” word once.

Part travelogue, part beachcombers’ guide. Moody provides accounts of her run-ins with flotsam and jetsam that can be at times funny and fascinating. Where does the stuff that reaches our shores come from? This book sparked my curiosity about debris that litters our oceans. Any book that sparks a curiosity is worth the read.

His only book written based on a screenplay, Asimov almost inspired me to become a surgeon with this fascinating tale that takes place inside the human body.

Alright, so it’s a little over 250 pages. The print is big, and the reading is easy. A great airplane self-help read, as I enjoyed how Ciaramicoli, a clinical psychologist, provides clear steps for achieving greater balance in one’s life and not being obsessed with others’ approval. I think it is worth recommending to middle and high school students, too.

One reviewer called this book “absorbing,” and I would concur, as it devotes a chapter to each of the final 10 days of 1941 and New Year’s Day of 1942. Weintraub does a masterful job of giving the reader a human glimpse into the minds of Allied leaders in the early days of America’s entry into World War II. Not just a book for history junkies – a very compelling read.