Adult

Doyle is a wonderful author (check-out his The Woman Who Walked Into Doors, which is also under 250 pages), and I had to include this book as it was made into a magnificent film that won several British Oscars but was largely ignored in America. The story of the formation, rise and fall of a fictional white “soul” band in Dublin, The Commitments is just as great to read as it is to watch on the big screen.

Two things I am interested in: language and humor. Here the authors of The 776 Stupidest Things Ever Said present their favorite misuses of English from around the world, with gems like this one on a Japanese medical form: “do you run after your own nose?” A fun book for all ages.

If you have not read any of Sedaris's essays before, you are in for a treat. He is hysterical, and this book is broken up into very entertaining short stories. Great bathroom reading.

Just because this book is a little over 250 pages does not mean it does not read quickly. On the contrary, Koterba’s moving autobiography is a collection of highly personal observations and insights, along with intriguing sketches. I grabbed a copy because I love reading political cartoons (Koterba’s day job), but Koterba treated me to a look at his battles with Tourette’s Syndrome and using his art to escape his abusive father.

I try not to include too many titles over 200 pages, but this book is as easy to read as chocolate milk (or tequila, depending on your day) is to drink. It amazes me how the book, movie and TV show are all fairly different from one another yet so uniquely hilarious and touching.

I hate to admit this, but I read this book after seeing an excerpt in Parade magazine (yes, I read Parade; I am also addicted to Property Brothers on HGTV). Jennings, as you may recall, won 74 consecutive episodes of Jeopardy!, and I get a kick out of his random knowledge on EVERYTHING! He’s the real-life version of one of my heroes, Cliff Clavin, from Cheers. This is perfect bathroom reading, as Jennings debunks a number of old wives’ tales in very entertaining fashion.

Probably the greatest, truest American novel ever written. If this does not relax you, you’re in for a pretty miserable life.

All of us go through adversity, and some of us – like Sarah Plummer – choose to take those lessons and create something truly magical and meaningful. Sarah’s ‘SEMPER’ wheel of principles, grounded in faith, provides readers with a daily inspirational guide to lead truly ‘significant’ lives. You are truly blessed to read this magnificent book. Let Sarah help you accept yourself for all you are so that you may accomplish all that you are supposed to be.

One of the best books I’ve read this year. Haunting tale of two boys, born fatherless blocks apart in Baltimore with the same name, who follow very divergent paths. Thought-provoking and captivating.

Short anecdotes of inspiration, humor and philosophy. One of my favorites - and an excellent graduation gift!

A National Book Award Finalist (and rightly so), this book’s take on the Iraqi War captivated me in much the same way as Kathryn Bigelow’s film The Hurt Locker did. Powers – a veteran of the war – powerfully paints a picture of the effects of war that stirred me the way All Quiet on the Western Front did when I read it in ninth grade.

Honestly, the book is 288 pages, but the back is filled with book club questions – so I don’t count those! Normally I try to focus on first-time authors and lesser known works, but Boo’s National Book Award winner is truly beautiful modern day literature. Its Indian characters could be any of us, and I hope you treat yourself to a wonderful afternoon reading this treasure.

Before he started sleeping with his step-children, Woody Allen was a pretty funny writer. I chose this book over Without Feathers and Side Effects because it is the shortest (Without Feathers is my favorite, though).

Is it boiling where you live? Southern California recently experienced quite a heat wave, and I found myself spending a lot of time at the beach with my wife and kids. This is the perfect “beach book,” as it should take anyone less than a couple of hours to read (very tiny pages with very big writing, just as I like). I became interested in Anne’s diaries after reading about her in M. Scott Berg’s masterful biography of her husband, Charles Lindbergh, but it was not until picking up this little gem that I truly could appreciate what a wonderful writer Anne was. This book is almost as therapeutic to read as I am sure it was for her to write.

Who knew you could create an entire university course based on the mathematical concepts hidden within episodes of The Simpsons. This delightful book will reward you throughout.