why big fierce animals are rare (1979)

Why Big Fierce Animals Are Rare: An Ecologist's Perspective (Paul Colinvaux)

i love this book. as soon as you read one chapter (any chapter will do), you'll love it too -- if you have any interest in the world of nature around you. it provides some easy to understand ideas about basic ecology and how nature interacts. the title is simply thrilling by itself isn't it? i learned so much about plants, animals, and really, the world. ridiculous book.

the historian (2005)

The Historian (Elizabeth Kostova)

i'd be pissed if i were kostova. working ten years on my debut novel and then to have the da vinci code explode right before my tour-de-force was to be released. while kostova still made millions, her book seems like a (much longer) knock-off of dan brown's epic. i found myself flipping through this giant tome just because the set-up was so similar, and despite the subject matter being interesting (the "dracula code"), it was just too much -- or, i guess, not enough.

no plot? no problem! (2004)

No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days (Chris Baty)

chris baty is the creator of nanowrimo (national novel writing month), which happens to be november. i thought at first i would attempt to write a novel this month, but alas, i didn't. but i read the book! it's got some helpful tips and some good ideas to get you started on your 50,000 word journey, but it's best to just start writing!

the japanese mind (1984)

The Japanese Mind (Robert Christopher)

remember when japan was kicking our ass and we had no clue why (not "our" ass since i wasn't a citizen yet)? well, this book strives to explain to dumb americans why the japanese are (were) so good at what they do. fascinating look into japanese society and how it compares to the united states. of course, the book is a bit dated, so i have to go find a book now about why the japanese economy collapsed -- maybe this one -- but it's good to know how they got near the top first right?