Thanks a lot, Joe.
1. One book that changed my life: Woodward & Bernstein’s All The President’s Men. It’s unfortunate that so many journalists would cite this same book; most of them decided that journalism was all about bringing down Republican administrations. For me, the book symbolized the role journalism plays in keeping government honest — whoever holds the gavel.
2. One book I’ve read more than once: Huxley’s Brave New World. I suspect quite a few people would support that world if they had the opportunity. It’s a scary thought.
3. One book I’d want on a desert island: If the book was the only item of entertainment available, I’d cheat and take one of the Norton anthologies of great literature. If I could also take music with me, then my book would be Dave Marsh’s Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Marsh is sort of a loon, but his musical scholarship is great.
4. One book that made me laugh: Returning to P.J. O’Rourke, I’ll nominate Age & Guile Beat Youth, Innocence, & A Bad Haircut. The title alone brings a smile to my face.
5. One book that made me cry: James Joyce’s Ulysses. Yes, it hurt when that tome fell on my big toe.
6. One book that I wish had been written: Spinal Tap: The Unauthorized Biography. Oh, the stories Derek Smalls would tell.
7. One book I wish had not been written: Mein Kampf, for obvious reasons.
8. One book I’m currently reading: American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia. At two entries per day, I might finish by Christmas.
9. One book I’ve been meaning to read: Steven F. Hayward’s Age of Reagan 1964-1980. I enjoyed his book Greatness, which compared Reagan to Churchill. I hope I’ll read the earlier Reagan bio in preparation for his forthcoming volume on the Great Communicator’s presidential years.
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