Adult

If you know Quentin Tarantino, you may want to pass him along a copy of this hilarious and macabre tale of fencemakers gone awry. Leave it to the British to write the best deadpan humor in the world. This story makes Pulp Fiction seem tame.

Alan Alda is just one of my favorite actors of all time (not just because his name is great for a certain drinking game), as he made the character of Hawkeye Pierce my American idol. I had no idea that Alda almost died, and this book treated me to one of the best inspirational books I have read this year (and anyone who knows me knows that I read a lot of inspirational books). Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this wonderful and thoughtful account of how one man grapples with life’s eternal questions when given a second chance to live.

I wanted to give Steve Martin his props, as I was disappointed that he did not get to host this year's Oscars. I laugh at just about anything this man writes or says. This is a good book to cheer you up, and, at 128 pages, it should cheer you up quickly.

I am a sucker for good biographies, and this quick read on one of the most important people to change the world is a must for anyone interested in capitalism, perseverance or Big Macs. Ray Kroc must have been a fascinating person to know.

And_So_Can_You)

As far as I'm concerned, this Neil Simon classic is the funniest play ever written. Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar are two of the most delightful characters ever created in print.

Let me preface by saying this is not my favorite book. It is, however, a good, lazy read for those in the mood for an end-of-summer romance novel. I included this book when I learned a startling revelation: this was the bestselling non-religious book of the 1990s!

I do not know A.J. Jacobs, and yet I feel like he and I could hang together, as he has a similarly warped sense of humor. When I was younger I used to go on fake scavenger hunts to pass the time; Jacobs decides to try his hand at a variety of “lifestyle” experiments that lead to lots of laughs. Filled with ideas for the bored and boring.

In case you have not seen "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart, this book makes a great segue into the mind of the man all politicians should fear for his sharp wit. What surprised me was how great his parody translates into print, and I especially enjoy his Larry King interview with a kinder, gentler Adolf Hitler.

Droban’s True Story of the ATF's Infiltration of the Hells Angels is a page-turner that passes the time like an episode of a TV true crime show. Fascinating look at two worlds I knew very little about, the Hells Angels and the ATF.

The highly uplifting memoir of a Pulitzer Prize-winning critic who just happened to grow up with Asperger’s Syndrome (and nobody diagnosed it – which could be seen as a curse and a blessing). To me, this is essential reading for all teachers.

I typically choose cheerful books for the list, but this thriller kept me turning pages. A father’s “accidental” vehicular homicide provides the setting for this very compelling read.

My type of book. I read it because a friend told me that anyone who is a fan of Monty Python and/or Douglas Adams would find this book hilarious. It does not disappoint. The author wrote the book to impress a girl. He may not have gotten the girl, but he won over this reader. A lightning-fast read with pauses only for laughs. I highly recommend this wonderful book, and I am thrilled that Defoe has already produced a sequel.

If you have not had the pleasure of reading a Claire Cook book yet, you are in for a real treat as she always finds a way to make me laugh. Some call it chick lit, but to me Cook writes in a way that is accessible to anyone in the mood to smile.

Watch for this to become a movie someday, as it has three strong female protagonists. I can already visualize Woody Allen filming this book, with its glorious Buenos Aires backdrop. Would have been perfect material for Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.