Mike – thanks for playing along… I enjoy seeing your reading list. One of my reasons for tagging people on this one, is to see what you’re reading. I love being influenced by those I respect.

Mark

Here goes. You will probably find you have gotten more than you wanted. From a very young age, I have been an insatiable reader. I was an English major all through school and worked in libraries. I have been a reporter, editor, and feature writer. Now I am a business research analyst – sometimes it seems like all I do is read! It was hard to come up with just one book in most of these categories. We are leaving on a trip soon and I don’t have a lot of time to think about it, so I just put in the first things that came to mind.

One book that changed your life:
Rush to Judgment
The day I realized that governments, my government, lies. I was in high school.
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
A tiny book with a huge impact. It inspires me.

One book that you’ve read more than once:
Best Evidence, by David S. Lifton.
Holy Blood, Holy Grail, Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln
This one probably won’t be well accepted here, but what the heck – I have read it, or parts of it a number of times.
Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
My favorite plays by the master.

One book that made you laugh:
Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys, by Dave Berry
My (unknowing) mentor, the king of written comedy. I nearly wet myself laughing over this book. I wish I had his talent.

One book that made you cry:
First: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
Most recent: Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, by Thomas E. Ricks

One book that you wish had been written:
Fighting Insurgencies for Dummies

One book you wish had never been written:
Mein Kampf, by Adolf Hitler

One book you are currently reading:
Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, by Thomas E. Ricks
Fire and Ashes: On the Front Lines Battling Wildfires, by John N. Maclean – I live in Southern California three to four blocks from the San Gabriel Mountain foothills. During the time I’ve lived here, I’ve seen three bad wildfires race these foothills. As a reporter, I’ve interviewed pilots who fly the retardant dropping planes and helicopters, and talked to firemen all along the foothill communities. Fire is a regular part of life here, especially in the Fall, beautiful and terrifying.

One book you’ve been meaning to read:
Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I just started reading this one, and I’ve read just enough to want to read more. But, since I am already reading the two above, this one will have to wait a bit.

I am very curious to see what others have to say. I’ll bet I get some good ideas for future reading!