What's on DUers' recommended reading list these days?

[Emit]

I have to make a Christmas list for the family member who drew my name, and I'd really like to get caught up on some reading. I can't tell you how many DUers have been an excellent source for recommending good books.

Any ideas and 'must haves'?

I'd like to know what others are reading these days, past and current titles.

[Idealism]

1. If you are into History and Economics heres two

The Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein

The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008, Paul Krugman

Both excellent books, Klein's should be compulsory reading.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

8. I second the Shock Doctrine

It really should be compulsory.

You will understand the last eight years before you get through 50 pages.

[Emit]

9. I have the Shock Doctrine

although, I'm ashamed to say, I haven't cracked it open yet. I borrowed it from a friend right in the heat of the election and have been too busy to read it.

Krugman's book, however, is going on my wish list. Thanks for the recommendation! :hi:

[Idealism]

13. Not a problem

Its a really intriguing book that will explain a bit about the recent economic problems that have occured in Asia in the 1990s and Latin America in the 1980s, with a nice section added about this most recent recession. These problems keep repeating themselves, you'll notice after reading more about it

[DoctorMyEyes]

26. My husband wanted Shock Doctrine

I bought it for him, read the first 25-30 pages before even giving it to him, and can't wait to finish it. I wish he'd finish! Arghhh..... that man can nurse a book...

[underpants]

2. How to Rig an Election. Allen Raymond

the guy who got busted in the 2002 New Hampshire phone-jamming operation.

Several direct contacts with Rove who basically used him and then discarded him later. Raymond should have seen it coming.

[barbtries]

3. i;m reading

http://www.amazon.com/Peoples-History-United-States-Present/dp/0060838655/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229209971&sr=8-1
a people's history of the united states 1492-present.

i have a wish list on amazon a mile long as well.

[Emit]

10. I received that as an Xmas gift a couple of years ago and I, too, recommend it

I was particularly pleased to see it on my daughter's AP history class' required reading last year.

[FloridaJudy]

4. Just finished "A Thousand Splendid Suns"

Do not start reading that book if you have any plans to sleep within the next few hours! It was six a.m., and the birds were chirping when I turned the last page. Almost fifty years of Afghan history seen through the eyes of two very different women. You sort of know what to expect - and yet you don't. This one should be required reading for any diplomat - or general. It makes a brilliant case that no one group has the corner on evil...or on decency.

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. ty for that info.

Book arrived in mail today and I have not had chance to look at it.
Will schedule accordingly.

[DoctorMyEyes]

25. I'm hoping to find that under my tree

The Kite Runner was SO good! And I've heard that A Thousand Splendid Suns is even better - which is kind of hard to believe.

[FloridaJudy]

28. I think it is

It's a more unified novel - takes place almost entirely within Afghanistan, and during a continuous stretch of time. I loved The Kite Runner, but felt like there was some discontinuity between the two halves of the book. Hosseini explores the same themes in A Thousand Splendid Suns - the consequences of betrayal, the thoughtless exploitation of the working classes, and the horrors of war, but I think he does it even better here.

Of course, that could just be that I'm a woman, and the horrific conditions for women in Afghanistan strike close to my heart. It's a blooming miracle that a male writer can capture that horror so completely, and yet write a novel that ends up being such a testament to the healing power of love.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Franklin and Winston.

A surprisingly good read. Meacham, of whom I'm no real fan, really distills both FDR and WSC well. And I've read tons about FDR.

[sofa king]

6. The Patrick O'Brian books are superb.

Starting with Master and Commander and going through something like twenty novels, the Aubrey-Maturin series is a lot of swashbuckling fun.

The stories center around Jack Aubrey, an English sea officer (usually) in the service of the Royal Navy, and his friend Dr. Maturin, a ship's doctor, spy, lost-cause revolutionary, laudanum and coca leaf aficionado, and naturalist. Aubrey is a master at sea and a buffoon on land, while Dr. Maturin is just the opposite.

Recently I was lamenting the tiny size of my once impressive library. But I still have all those O'Brian novels, and sure enough I'm reading one of them again.

[ananda]

7. OK

I'm rereading Childhood's End now due to the
fact that I'm in the process of writing a
long article or review for the website of the
radical bookstore where I volunteer.

Actually, the piece doesn't really say that
much about Childhood's End because it's more
focused on making a case for the realization
of Teilhard de Chardin's idea of the noosphere
as the internet... so that's why I'm delving
back into CE in order to beef up that connection.
It has to do with the concept of evolution
moving from the physical to the psychic and
spiritual level, a kind of synergistic melding
of mind or soul. The question that it raises
is the idea that perfect love is required for
it to work.. which is an idea that comes out
of Catholic theology. I try to work through
that idea and move into other ways of thinking
on it as well. Also...

I just finished Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, a great
read.

Ursula K LeGuin's book Lavinia is also a wonderful
book written as the autobiography of Aeneas'
second wife. I did along piece on that book for
the website, too.. I was so inspired.

Sue

[saltpoint]

12. enthusiastically second your rec for CAT'S CRADLE.

[saltpoint]

11. Here are a handful that held me close, page by page:

1 -- Marguerite Yourcenar's MEMOIRS OF HADRIAN
2 -- Mary Renault's THE NATURE OF ALEXANDER
3 -- Joan Didion's BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
4 -- Don DeLillo's LIBRA
5 -- Larry McMurtry's IN A NARROW GRAVE
6 -- Reynolds Price's THE TONGUES OF ANGELS
7 -- Patricia Henley's THE SECRET OF CARTWHEELS
8 -- Paul Horgan's WHITEWATER
9 -- John Irving's A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY
10 -- Mario Cuomo's WHY LINCOLN MATTERS
11 -- Kai T. Erickson's EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH
12 -- Erik Larson's ISAAC'S STORM
13 -- Mary Renault's THE LAST OF THE WINE

[Renew Deal]

14. The Bible

It should be on everyones reading list. O8)




:silly:

[ananda]

15. In my view..

.. the bible is just another book.

I do consider it important, though,
because of its influence on so many
great writers and so it's good to
have that knowledge which adds to
the pleasure and depth of reading
the greats like Steinbeck.

[eleny]

16. Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency by Barton Gellman

I'm a little more than halfway through it and can recommend it. He's a real piece of work. More than we imagined.

[gizmo1979]

17. Cat in The Hat

DR. Zuess.Just sayin.That's some pretty heavy lifting.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

19. A masterpiece

"Lincoln At Cooper Union: The Speech That Made Abraham Lincoln President." It sounds like the subject matter would be dry, but the author has done a dramatic and brilliant job of bringing Lincoln to life and showing the complete context of what our country was like when that famous speech was made. It's compelling.

http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Cooper-Union-President-Schuster/dp/0743299647/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229212611&sr=1-1

Also, in light of his recent passing, I'm re-reading all my Studs Terkel books: "Division Street," "Hope Dies Last," and "American Dream."

A book I read last year that I am still vigorously recommending is "So Wrong For So Long," if you're disgusted with how the media handled the rush to invade Iraq. It's an eye-opener, done so very well.

http://www.amazon.com/So-Wrong-Long-Pundits-President-Failed/dp/1402756577/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229212863&sr=1-1

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. If you like Rick Bragg, here's another author to check out.

Tom Franklin,
wrote "Hell at the Breech" 3 years ago. One of those very rare books I wanted to start reading over the minute I finished the last page. He is lyrical, his characters are mezmerizing, stories are a bit dark.
His newest book is Smonk. I can't put it down.
And Rick Bragg's latest is out, finishing the trilogy of his family.
Ava's Man was magnificent, is a keeper for re-reading, as is "All Over but the Shouting".

[Ernesto]

21. Finished "For the soul of Mankind" last week...

550 page history of the cold war. Melvyn Leffler shows that Gorbachev (not st. ronnie) should be credited for ending the 50 year struggle. http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Mankind-United-States-Soviet/dp/0374531420/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229214117&sr=1-1
Now I'm reading "Greenspan's Fraud"... What lying 'lil opportunistic creep of a man!
http://www.amazon.com/Greenspans-Fraud-Decades-Policies-Undermined/dp/1403968594/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229214273&sr=1-1

[endless october]

22. recently read "Just After Sunset,"

a new compilation of Stephen King short stories.

[globalvillage]

23. This is on my list

Bob Woodward's new book.

The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416558977/ref=s9subs_c1_14_at1-rfc_p-3237_p_si1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1PN102R1J9P703EE1PJQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463383351&pf_rd_i=507846

[DoctorMyEyes]

24. If you're looking for lighter reading

I took the summer off from heavy reading and spent my days off lazing in the porch swing with stacks of library books. Most of them, while enjoyable for the moment, I couldn't even name now. But, there were a few stand-outs that I can heartily recommend.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Mark Haddon

Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

The Soloist - Steve Lopez

Ellen Foster, and Charms for the Easy Life - both by Kaye Gibbons

[Cleita]

27. Very timely today, with everyone losing their jobs and the Repuke

crack down on unions:

"A People's History of the United States, 1492 - Present" by Howard Zinn.

It's not really long and the chapters on the struggles of the working class to pull us out of the age of the industrial revolution and of the robber barons are very pertinent to what's happening today.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

29. Rapture Ready: Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture

http://getraptureready.com/

The chapters about Christian Themeparks and "Jesus Junk" are incredible,

[Adsos Letter]

30. ...

This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust

Excellent book.