catch me if you can (2000)

Catch Me If You Can (Frank Abagnale)

everything as expected here. light, easy to read, and pretty interesting as abagnale recounts his experiences swindling money from individuals, banks, and countries. ripped through the book in an hour or two and while i didn't exactly take anything away, it builds upon the tales told in the movie. amazing how one man can do so much eh?

20 essays by 20something writers (2006)

Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers (Kellogg & Quint)

right up my alley. young people writing about whatever the hell young people write about: life, job, loves, disappointments, mustaches. these essays are the winners from an internet campaign run by kellogg & quint -- who were interns at random house, i believe. good stuff in here, and it's a shame the collection isn't larger.

doing our own thing (2003)

Doing Our Own Thing: The Degradation of Language and Music and Why We Should, Like, Care (John McWhorter)

It was all the rage a few years ago to read books about why the current state of written (and any other) English sucked so bad. Well, three years later, I've read a few of these books and my English still sucks. But hey, at least now I know why it sucks. I blame poor schooling personally. Overall, the book tends to read like a history/trivia-lite book more than anything that is actually applicable or revelationary. Having said all that, I love books like this. "Did you know..."

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.

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?

seven tattoos (1997)

Seven Tattoos: A Memoir in the Flesh (Peter Trachenburg)

the reason i picked up this book was because the author and i had the same number of tattoos. of course, his tattoos carry more significance, a bookful more in fact. trachenburg's book is more of a memoir and uses his tattoos to explore his life history and to muse on various related subjects. the writing is quite excellent and the book very absorbing. recommended for the tattooed and untattooed alike.

opening the xbox (2002)

Opening the Xbox: Inside Microsoft's Plan to Unleash an Entertainment Revolution (Dean Takahashi)

another niche book that may provide interest only to those in a certain industry. since i have a love (and a professional experience) with video games, i found this xbox book to be very interesting. however, george read it and didn't like it much. so i guess it depends on if you're a gamer eh? the author has a follow up book too, about the xbox 360.

here's an interesting complementary article about how sony is losing "the war" to xbox.

tales to astonish (2004)

Tales To Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and the American Comic Book Revolution (Ronin Ro)

if you're into comics -- especially marvel ones -- you'll find this book fascinating. while there are probably many books focusing on the origin of (marvel) comics, this is the first one i've read on the topic and i found it to be very informative. however, the style of the book isn't exactly engaging; especially for anyone who isn't a comic book reader and already a fan of the topics discussed.

collapse (2004)

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (Jared Diamond)

if you've read diamond's popular "guns, germs, and steel," you're ready for more of the same. with a gripping writing style and anecdotes and examples aplently, jared diamond is academic yet accessible -- and a few notches more scientific and educational than fare like "the tipping point" and "freakonomics." if you're unintimidated by the length of the book, read on and enjoy. for those of you not inclined to read so many words, here's the take home message: "we're (humans) fucking shit up."

friendship: an expose (2006)

Friendship: An Expose (Joseph Epstein)

i was already a big fan of epstein's "snobbery" so when i heard that he was turning his attentions to the topic of friendship, i was delighted. the book is not an exacting tome on friendship as much as it is a retrospective of epstein's friendships and subsequent personal observations. it makes for interesting reading and epstein throws in enough thought curveballs that everyone should gain something (or re-evalulate, re-categorize your friends) from reading this book.

self made-man (2006)

Self-Made Man : One Woman's Journey into Manhood and Back (Norah Vincent)

sure to provide fodder for any conversation , norah vincent's foray into the world of men is an easy read that (most of the time) transcends the gimmick of it all. despite vincent targeting what seems like very one-dimensional men, she does unveil some interesting tidbits about the difference between males and females. definitely worth the read and even better if you can discuss afterwards too.

never drank the kool-aid (2006)

Never Drank the Kool-Aid (Touré)

i found this gem of a book just browsing around in the bookstore. i currently lack the funds to buy any books but the cover and subject matter just drew me in. a collection of re-printed essays (mainly on hip hop personalities), touré was an unknown writer to me but his work appears in rolling stone, the village voice, vibe, etc. i'm a huge fan now of writing style and have definitely jumped (perhaps belatedly) on his band-wagon.

the april game (1973)

The April Game: Secrets of an Internal Revenue Agent (Diogenes)

taking his pseudonym from the cynic philosopher, diogenes reveals to us the inner workings of the IRS. seeing as this is tax season, this book served not only as a reason to wait until the last possible moment to file, but also provides an easy to read, conversational history of taxation.

the answer is never (2002)

The Answer Is Never: A Skateboarder's History of the World (Jocko Weyland)

i can't pretend to be a skater or know anything about the skating mentality. however, this book makes me wish that i was cool enough then to be cool enough now. jocko weyland is an amazing writer and he really brings skateboarding's history and thrills to life. if anything, the book is almost too detailed, but that's hardly a knock on this definitive work.

what should i do with my life? (2002)

What Should I Do With My Life? The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question (Po Bronson)

reading this book, you'll encounter scores of people who suffered quarter, middle, and late life crises. the uplifting part of the story is that many of these people succeed in finding an occupation that satisfies them. while i might have once mocked this book, now i understand it's true value as inspiration to disenchanted millions and a source of my pure jealousy for mr bronson.

and now bronson blogs too.

lies my teacher told me (1995)

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong (James Loewen)

this was one of our better non-fiction book club books. similar in style to "guns, germs, and steel," this is really a must read for anyone who went through a history course in the united states. makes you think, makes you question, and ultimately, it's incredibly interesting all the way through. hey, howard zinn liked it.

bobby fischer goes to war (2005)

Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time (David Edmonds, John Eidinow)

for you chess fanatics out there, yes, all three of you, this is a must-read. along with fred waitzkin's two books (searching for bobby fischer and mortal games) of course. similar to waitzkin's book, bobby fischer goes to war is just a story told through the prism of chess and not an instructional manual. in fact, even those who couldn't identify a rook versus a bishop should get sucked into the drama.

poplorica (2004)

Poplorica : A Popular History of the Fads, Mavericks, Inventions, and Lore that Shaped Modern America (Martin J Smith, Patrick J Kiger)

twenty or so short chapters about how things like nylon stockings, air conditioners, tv dinners, dr j's dunk, and the betty ford clinic started and have influenced our lives. incredibly interesting but in the end, not exactly a book you'd re-read or have reason to own.