- The Americans, by Robert Frank. The essential American photo journal – a peak at the real America in brilliant black and white. Each picture a frame of humanity, its celebrations and struggles. Very inspirational (see my poem “Elevator Musings”).
- An Officer And A Spy, by Robert Harris. I love historical fiction, especially when it really captures a time and its people, immersing you in the past (think “The Killer Angels” by M. Shaara or “The Plot Against America” by P. Roth); and this novel, so far, does exactly that. Great read about the Dreyfus Affair at the turn of the 20th century.
- The Consolations of Philosophy, by Alain de Botton. Brilliant set-up and delivery: Botton takes everyday human struggles (unpopularity, not enough money, frustration, inadequacy, etc.) and shows how great philosophers (Plato, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, etc.) provide a practical and thoughtful framework to mediate and soothe our human struggle. Makes philosophy practical, useful (see my essay “Putting Philosophy to Work”).
- Letters, by Kurt Vonnegut, edited by Dan Wakefield. Great snippets of literature in the form of letters (thank God there was a time before email, before facebook) from Vonnegut to his friends, family, colleagues, etc. Great and thoughtful and funny missives by this totally distinctive American.