Adult

I have said it before, and bear with me as I say it again: CBS Sunday Morning is one of the finest shows on television. One of the reasons I TiVo it is because of Bill Geist, a remarkable, Will Rogers-like correspondent whom I idolize (could there be a better job than traveling America and getting to meet all the diverse, silly people that make our country so great?) You do not buy this book; you make it an annual gift for anybody you encounter who takes life too seriously. My world is a better, happier place because of people like Bill Geist.

I am looking at my list for this month, and it is more eclectic than the Munsters. This wonderful play reminds me a lot of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" because it deals with all sorts of major issues: race, class, modern society's morals. More than anything, I appreciate the play's twists, which I could not see coming (for a change).

Since art is no longer taught in schools across the country, I thought I’d include this helpful gem for your summer reading enjoyment. Even though Strickland is an academic, she does a superb job of bringing the history of art to life in an informative, interesting and often humorous way. Read this, and you’ll have plenty of Cliff Clavin art facts to cite around your friends.

Written by a former president of Amherst, this book has received mixed reviews. That surprises me because I found the novel deeply touching and wonderfully narrated. The prose is almost lyrical; to me, it reads a lot like Norman MacLean’s beautiful A River Runs Through It. Check it out, and tell me what you think.

Sometimes I include books on this list to direct readers’ attention to a particular author. Louis L’Amour was one of America’s most prolific authors, and I especially appreciate his cowboy westerns because he used to write above the saloon at the Strater Hotel in my hometown of Durango, Colorado. His books make for great lazy reading.

Nothing brings down page counts and increases reading speed like cartoon collections. If you want to begin your day with a smile, look no further than the daily Dilbert cartoon appearing in your local newspaper. There is nothing particularly unique about Adams’s latest Dilbert book; I just believe everyone should be reminded of how great Dilbert is. It never ceases to amaze me how some corporate executives still do not see how Adams is mocking them.

This collection of essays is a great introduction to Angelou’s work, as it showcases her ability to make readers laugh, cry and think. If you ever get a chance to see her in-person, jump at the opportunity. She ranks up there with David McCullough as one of my favorite voices in contemporary literature (meaning she is as gifted as a speaker as she is as a writer).

Start the new year off with a laugh. If you have never read anything by black nor seen his comedy shows, you are in for a real treat.

Nothing can be more thrilling than to read a first time novelist who rocks. This story hits every emotion, as it chronicles a convicted drug dealer’s last night on the town with his two best friends before he heads to prison. Plenty of twists ensue, including a biggie that I never saw coming. Fantastic first effort!

I’ve enjoyed Black’s demented sense of humor since his glorious days on the underappreciated show The State. Now I only seem to get to see him whenever he turns up on VH1. Thankfully, this book gives me plenty to enjoy while I await Michael Ian Black’s next great project.

What does the world need more than anything? Less posturing and more understanding. Albom’s beautiful story of a clergyman and rabbi is one of those simple tales that causes one to pause, block out the madness of the world and re-focus on humanity.

I am one of those people who watches the 24-hour marathon on TBS of the modern holiday classic A Christmas Story, which is largely based on this book. Jean Shepherd was a masterful storyteller who makes me laugh on nearly every page of this and any other of his wonderful nostalgic looks at his always enjoyable and sometimes not-so-innocent childhood in the Midwest.

Christie Mellor has provided the perfect antidote to any parent who has had one of “those” days. I hate to sound cliché, but this is “laugh out loud” funny (or, for those of you under the age of 25, “lol”).

Buckley is exactly the author to turn to if you are in a bad mood and want a hearty laugh. I wish he had written this book before I attended college in Washington, D.C., as I completely relate to the hidden treasures – and humor – lining the streets of our nation’s capitol. A fun and informative read.

I am trying to tackle some Classics this summer that I have never read, and it was with pleasure that I tackled the gifted writer Anaya’s lauded coming-of-age story. A beautifully-written book.