What Good Books Have You Read in 2007? (vanity for those who have gift cards to redeem)

self | 12/24/07 | randita

[randita]

Merry Christmas, all!

I already have in my possession gift cards to bookstores given to me by students of mine. After tomorrow, others will no doubt have bookstore giftcards burning holes in their pockets, as well.

I thought this might be a good time and reason to solicit advice as to what good books you have read this year.

Please post books you would recommend.

Thanks!

[randita]

Two I would recommend-"Shadow Divers" and "The Last Place on Earth":

http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Divers-Adventure-Americans-Everything/dp/0345482476/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198505940&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Place-Earth-Modern-Library-Exploration/dp/0375754741/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198506009&sr=1-2

[VA_Gentleman]

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

[theDentist]

Still reading “The Ronald Reagan Diaries”, and just began “First Man” which is the biography of Neil Armstrong.

[shekkian]

“Infidel” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
“Never Again” by John Ashcroft
Currently working on “America Alone” by Mark Steyn

[Alberta's Child]

I'm about halfway through The Predators' Ball (it's about Michael Milken and the junk-bond industry in the 1980s), and when I'm finished with it I'll start Clarence Thomas' My Grandfather's Son. Both of these have come highly recommended.

George Gilder's Wealth and Poverty -- the book that served as the foundation for "Reaganomics" -- was one of the most influential books about economics I've ever read.

[Oclan]

Anything written by Vince Flynn!

[California Brown Girl]

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
& Lucky by Alice Sebold

[hoe_cake]

The Time Traveler’s Wife
The Kite Runner
My Sister’s Keeper

[Greg F]

“Orthodoxy” by G.K. Chesterton. One of the great works of the 20th Century.

[oh8eleven]

"Downtown" by Pete Hamill. A nostalgic look at Manhattan's history and the people who made it happen. A great read.

[gate2wire]

The Mitch Rapp books by Vince Flynn.

[Clemenza]

"The Great Upheaval" by Jay Winnick.

"The Black Swan" by Nassim Taleb.

The last book in particular was excellent. It basically shows the limits of human perception as regards forecasting. Basically, it details how the unexpected always causes disruptions that negate all forecasts, and that human beings have a natural tendency to rationalize after the fact and play "Monday Morning Quarterback." 9/11 and the recent Mortgage Meltdown were two examples of "Black Swans."

[codercpc]

I was running short on time the last time I went to the bookstore. I also go into panic attacks if I don't have a book to read at night, so on that day I ran in, looked at the bestseller rack, and picked up John Grishams "The Innocent Man". Because I generally love John Grishams style of writing, and usually breeze through his books, I didn't even bother to read the synopsis of the story.

I was surprised when I started reading that night to realize that this was actually a non fiction book written about the life and crimes of Ronald Williamson. It told the story of his conviction and time on death row for a murder he didn't commit.

I am one of those staunch Crime and Punishment conservatives, but this story (and the story of the corrupt Ada,Oklahoma justice department, just trying to "solve" a crime, with two suspects that were basically "handed to them".

It is an excellent book that really made me think twice.

[day10]

“Quiet Strength” by Coach Tony Dungy was surprisingly good and enjoyable.

[ml/nj]

The Reagan Diaries (Reagan) - Awesome view into the man and a behind the scenes look at the history of the 80s. You'll see firsthand how small and petty the "amiable dunce" appellation of the left is; and as you turn the pages you'll come back to events that you once considered important but have since been displaced from your thoughts.

Because They Hate (Gabriel) - Gripping first hand account of the Civil War in Lebanon from the perspective of a young Christian girl who grew up during that war. As she grew up she learned that she had only learned lies about Israel (You won't forget the ambulance story!), and now she warns the West about the Islamic menace.

The Camp of the Saints (Raspail) - Amazingly politically incorrect French novel in English translation about the impending takeover of France by refugees from India. The French debate and discuss what should be done as millions of unwashed drift toward their shores. As is the case with Rand's Atlas Shrugged, the intellectual villains on the left are very real.

ML/NJ

[stockstrader]

Atlas Shrugged. I loved it—although dated in many respects,,,the big govt ‘looters’ are more of a scourge today than ever.

[reg45]

Double ditto.

[alwaysconservative]

“America Alone” by Mark Steyn
“Rescuing Sprite” by Mark Levin
“Unstoppable Global Warming” (Authors names escape me)
I’m waiting for my copy of “Cool It” by Bjorn Lomborg
“Everyday Grace” by Marianne Williamson
“Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver

Best mystery-science adventures (not recently released): “The Rule of Four”, “The Genesis Code”, “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco, and “The Red Fox”.

[reg45]

The books by Vince Flynn are great, but they need to be read in the order they were written.

1. Term Limits (1997) - ISBN 0-671-02317-9 (contains some of the characters from the Mitch Rapp series, but Rapp himself does not appear).
2. Transfer of Power (1999) - ISBN 0-671-02319-5
3. The Third Option (2000) - ISBN 0-671-04731-0
4. Separation of Power (2001) - ISBN 0-671-04733-7
5. Executive Power (2002) - ISBN 0-7434-5395-6
6. Memorial Day (2004) - ISBN 0-7434-5397-2
7. Consent to Kill (2005) - ISBN 0-7432-7036-3
8. Act of Treason (2006) - ISBN 0-7432-7037-1
9. Protect and Defend (October 30, 2007) - ISBN 978-0743270410

[nina0113]

Witness, by Whitaker Chambers. It's the most important book I've read in years; much more of the last half of the 20th century makes sense now.