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Recommendations from past Reading Clubs

Andre Aciman, Out of Egypt. Biography/Aciman
I learned a great deal about Jewish life in Egypt during the covered years. The characters were vividly drawn and charming.

Andre Agassi, Open.  Biography/Agassi
Agassi’s story is captivating; the reader can really come to understand him and the profession of tennis. One of the best autobiographies I have read in years.

Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie. 371.1023 Alb
One of the best books I’ve ever read. It is very inspiring, full of honest emotion, and very thought provoking. It is a real tribute to Morrie Schwartz.

Stephen Ambrose, Citizen Soldiers. 940.5421 Amb
Ambrose’s book focuses on the combat experiences of ordinary soldiers. This book not only describes American troops during World War II, it inspires faith and justification to democratic ideals.

Christopher Andersen, An Affair to Remember. Biography/Hepburn
This portrait of Hepburn and Tracy, on screen and off, is a beautiful love story that reads like a romance novel.

Karen Armstrong, The Spiral Staircase. Biography/Armstrong
A great insight into the life of a nun. Armstrong is a brilliant author and teacher who has shown great courage in the face of adversity and an illness few could cope with.

Harry Bernstein, The Invisible Wall. Biography/Bernstein
A wonderfully charming memoir written when the author was 93 that brings to life early 20th century relations between Jews and gentiles in England.

Roy Blount, Alphabet Juice.  818.54 Blo
A potpourri of comments on words and the English language. Blount’s conversational style is easy to read and his wit is refreshing. He makes some valid yet hilarious connections and his fascination with words and their meanings and histories is remarkable.

Kate Bornstein, Gender Outlaw.  305.3 Bor
Witty and perceptive, Bornstein debunks gender, encouraging readers to recognize how confining, defining and maligning gender is. A very worthy and necessary read.

Noel Botham, Book of Useless Information. 031.02 Bot
The information was beneficial to everyday life and practicality so it was ironic that they would call it useless.

Bruce Catton, Waiting for the Morning Train. 907.202 Cat
The story of Catton’s childhood in the lumber town of Benzonia, Michigan, near the shores of Lake Michigan. Wonderfully written and Catton expresses many of his environmental concerns that are still relevant today.

Lynne Cox, Swimming to Antarctica. YA Biography/Cox
Great story about a long distance swimmer and what she accomplished with support from her family.

Vicki Croke, The Lady and the Panda. Large Type Biography/Harkness
I really enjoyed this true story of a remarkable woman, Ruth Harkness. She was the first person to bring a live panda out of China. This lovable panda ended up in Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. An amazing feat of the 1930s.

Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene. 576.82 Daw
A classic work on evolutionary biology. Dawkins has an amazing way of making even complex processes easy to comprehend.

Frank Deford, Alex, the Life of a Child. Biography/Deford
Chronicles the very short life of Deford’s daughter, who suffered from cystic fibrosis. Witty and touching, this is the kind of book that leaves an indelible imprint on the reader.

Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi. Biography/Dumas
A memoir of the author who was born in Iran but moved to America when she was only seven. With humor she describes the trials and tribulations her family faces while adjusting to a new culture.

Jim Dwyer & Kevin Flynn, 102 Minutes. 974.71 Dwy
An account of the last 102 minutes of the World Trade Center. Harrowing to read but full of heroism. Great reporting about what went wrong that day.

Nora Ephron, I Feel Bad About my Neck.  814.54 Eph
Ephron lends humor and truthfulness to many of the problems women face: hairstyles, maintenance routines, raising children, empty nesting, reading glasses, cooking, purses, living in New York City, aging, and the death of good friends.

David Hackett Fischer, Paul Revere’s Ride. 973.3311 Fis
Relates how the ride has been viewed in different eras of American history—sometimes ridiculed, disbelieved or considered unimportant, and at other periods exaggerated in patriotic times. A fascinating look at pre-war Boston and the attitudes and events that led to the war and descriptions of the battles.

Thomas Friedman, Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution. 363.70525 Fri
Friedman does a great job of bringing together all of the various problems we are facing. It makes you think about the future and how important decisions need to be made now.

Jeff Gammage, China Ghosts.  362.734 Gam
A heartfelt look at a father’s journey of adoption from China. Personal reflections are interspersed with factual information about China’s “lost” girls and the society’s approach to their problem.

Gilbert Geis, Crimes of the Century. 345.07 Gei
An in-depth look at the details of prominent criminal cases that have been tried over the years by high profile attorneys. It highlights and analyzes the outcomes and their effects on society.

Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success. 158.1 Gla
A fascinating book that attempts to explain the factors that have led people from various sectors in life to success.

Jane Glover, Mozart’s Women. Biography/Mozart
It gave me an appreciation of how much of Mozart’s vocal music was written especially for the voices and personalities of the women in his life. Glover adds a whole new dimension to our understanding and knowledge of Mozart’s life and music.

Laura Hillenbrand, Seabiscuit: An American Legend. 798.4 Hil
The story of an amazing longshot racehorse and the cast of characters surrounding him. A beautiful story with an insight into the world of horseracing.

Janet Horn, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife & Beyond. 613.04244 Hor
This book contains interesting and informative tips to improve your lifestyle, both mentally and physically. It also gives simple suggestions for realistic goals and exercises to do without drastically changing your habits.

Francine Jay, The Joy of Less: How to Declutter, Organize and Simplify Your Life.   646.7 Jay
A fun, lighthearted guide to minimalist living. During these economic times, less is more. If more North Shore people followed this advice, the kids would be better off.

Peter Jenkins, A Walk Across America. 917.304 Jen
Peter Jenkins’ story of his 1973-75 walk from New York to New Orleans shows the diversity of the people who make up America.

Lynne Rossetto Kasper, The Italian Country Table. 641.5945 Kas
This wonderful book of recipes collected from home cooks living in the Italian countryside also contains interesting vignettes about Italian cooking and traditions.

Michael Lewis, Next: the Future Just Happened. 303.4834 Lew
A nice and entertaining informative insight into technology and everyday life. Portrays an approach to technology that is rather insightful and scary/threatening.

Tori Murden McClure, A Pearl in the Storm. 797.123 McC
A riveting survival adventure and an inspiring story of a woman whose fierce determination to avoid helplessness finally leads to understanding and acceptance.

David McCullough, 1776.  973.3 McC
A forceful story told with drama that instills in the reader a new appreciation for the courage and sacrifice of America’s founders. He shows all sides in a fair manner, and evokes new perspectives from his reader and a reminder of the horrors of war.

Christopher McDougall, Born to Run. 796.42 McD
The author investigates many facets of long distance running. He interviews scientists, runners, and visits the Tarahumara Indians of Copper Canyon to write a wonderfully readable account of his adventures and conclusions.

Michael Ruhlman, The Soul of a Chef. 641.5023 Ruh
A wonderful glimpse into the culinary world. It was great to read about people with a true passion that drives them to attempt perfection.

Tim Russert, Big Russ and Me. Biography/Russert
Tim Russert writes about his father in this entertaining and warm-hearted memoir. A “feel good” book of love and values.

Mark Seal, Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa.  333.95416 Sea
A haunting biography of Joan Root, who brought the wildlife of Africa to the world through film. She devoted her life to conserving Africa’s natural balance and beauty until she was brutally murdered in her home. An enlightening look into the wonder and turmoil of Africa.

David Shaw, The Sea Shall Embrace Them. 910.91634 Sha
The Arctic was an American competitor of the British Cunard Line. It collided with a smaller vessel in 1854 with a frightful, and unnecessary, loss of life. This tragic story was filled with detailed research, including reliance on published documents of the era.

Michael Tisserand, Sugarcane Academy. 372.9763 Tis
The story of how a New Orleans teacher and several families provide a school for some homeless children. It describes the difficulties of Katrina’s aftermath and provokes thinking about the “what ifs.”

Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle.  362.82 Wal
This is a great book to prove you have to work hard to not raise your kids. Just when I think I’m being a bad mom, this book tells me I could be so much worse.

Lauren Winner, Mudhouse Sabbath. 248.246 Win
Winner compares Judaism and Christianity and notes the practices that could benefit people of both faiths.