books i've READ

	Books I've read since January 2000. (I've also created a subset of books pertaining to food, nutrition, and the food industry.) The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger I loved this book! As the title implies, it's a novel about the relationship between a time-travelling man and his wife. A unique and interesting story; one of those books I had difficulty putting down. I'm already looking forward to re-reading it. Highly recommended. Build Me An Ark: A Life with Animals - Brenda Peterson An informative, but sobering, read on the plight of animals and wilderness areas in the U.S. The author spent her formative years growing up in national forests where her park ranger father lived, and as a result developed a close relationship with the animals around her. This book contains both childhood rememberances as well as tales of her later work to preserve wild places and creatures. Highly recommended. Gerald Durrell - My Family and Other Animals A fun, lighthearted memoir about a boy and his explorations of the natural world around him. He was one of those kids who had a menagerie growing up, often resulting in amusing stories. Recommended. Don't Look Behind You: A Safari Guide's Encounters with Ravenous Lions, Stampeding Elephants, and Lovesick Rhinos - Peter Allison This Aussie-born adventurer tells tales of his years working in Africa guiding tourists to wildlife encounters. It's fun reading about many of these "behind-the-scenes" moments showing what it's really like living and working in the bush. Recommended for those who love wildlife and/or travel. Victory of Eagles - Naomi Novik This is the fifth book in the Temeraire series. I've enjoyed the earlier books in the series but this one just didn't grab me. Maybe the premise is getting old, maybe the plot wasn't particularly interesting, or maybe it's a combination of those. I finished this book but don't feel the need to read the the rest of the series. Sea Salt - Memories & Essays - Stan Waterman We had the honour of recently spending a week on a dive boat with pioneer underwater filmmaker and shark diver Stan Waterman. He is a charming, gallant man who regaled us with tales and anecdotes from his 50+ year diving history. After returning from that trip I purchased this cope of Stan's memoirs in order to learn more about him, and as I read the book I couldn't help but hear it in his voice. Sea Salt is interesting and engaging and I very much enjoyed reading it. Recommended, especially for divers and those with an interest in the history of underwater videography. Wild Blue: A Natural History of the World's Largest Animal - Dan Bortolotti This is the first book I've red about blue whales, and if nothing else it taught me just how little we know about them. For being the largest animals on earth they are incredibly mysterious. Bortolotti covers not only the (known) natural history of these immense creatures, but also gives a sad and detailed history of their interactions with humans; for instance, did you know humans killed more than 99% of the Antarctic blue whale population during the first 60 years of the 20th century? Today's blue whale population is still not in the clear, and the final chapter tells us the reasons why. Recommended. Dark Banquet: Blood and the Curious Lives of Blood-Feeding Creatures - Bill Schutt This vampire bat biologist delves deeply into the worlds of various bloodsucking creatures, and provides of wealth of information about a dozen different vertebrate and invertebrate sanguivores. Bats, mites, candirus, leeches--they're all here, and the bedbug chapter in particular will give you the heebie-jeebies. Recommended. Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously - Julie Powell A tale of a New York secretary who decided to cook every one of 524 recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year. This was a fun vacation read. The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific - J. Maarten Troost A fun tale about two years in the life of the author and his girlfriend, as they decide to take a break from living in the modern world and move to the Republic of Kiribati in the South Pacific. It is interesting to see how they eventually acclimated to a lifestyle that at first seemed so primitive and, at times, downright icky. Funny, and recommended. Animal Skulls: A Guide to North American Species - Mark Elbroch One of the best books I have seen for reading and identifying skulls. The book begins with the anatomy of the skull, explaining the different bones and what it means when they vary in size between species. Next up is "Understanding and Interpreting Form" which teaches you to look at different portions of the skull and determine age, sex, how the animal lived its life, what it ate, and in some instances, what sort of problems it encountered. There is some information about preparing skulls here, but there are other books that cover this topic much better and more in-depth. The final 600 pages are filled with photos and extremely detailed identification information for hundreds of mammals, birds, and amphibian & reptile species. Highly recommended. The Farallon Islands: Sentinels of the Golden Gate - Peter White A fantastic history of San Francisco's Farallones stretching back from the original Native American inhabitants to today's incarnation as a National Wildlife Refuge. Recommended, particularly if you like SF history. The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss - Claire Nouvian A fascinating book that talks about eh incredible creatures inhabiting the deep oceans. Filled with gorgeous photos, you begin to get a feel for the vast array of bizarre fauna that exist in the abyss, while at the same time realizing not only how vast that habitat is, but sadly, how much of it we've already destroyed. Highly recommended for those interested in the sea, conservation, photography, as well as the creatures themselves. Bones: The Unity of Form and Function - R. MacNeill Alexander Gorgeous photographs of bones from a variety of animals accompanied by text describing how and why particular bones came to be, and the differences between similar bones in different animals. The text is written in a way which is very easy for non-scientific-types to understand, but is explanatory at the same time. Recommended for those interested in bones as art and/or science. Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo - Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence This really was an incredible book showing how so few people with so little can do so much if they put their minds to it. The author's descriptions of war-torn Baghdad give you a little bit of insight into what people (residents and soldiers) were going through there, but more importantly, they leave you amazed that any animals survived. It is hard to read about just how poorly animals are kept and cared for in some parts of the world, but if anything that goes to strengthen my commitment to conservation and animal welfare. Highly recommended. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (reread) Excellent tale of revenge. A timeless classic which I had difficulty putting down. Highly recommended. Spineless Wonders: Strange Tales from the Invertebrate World - Richard Coniff Coniff delves into the details and intricacies of 12 different types of invertebrates (although technically one type, the hagfish, is not an invertebrate) from worms to cuttlefish. It's actually quite interesting, learning little tidbits about these overlooked groups. The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite - David A. Kessler, M.D. Kessler is a physician and former FDA commissioner who has had his own struggles with overeating. This book attempts to explain why we overeat, how meals (and appetites) have changed in the last several decades, and offers some suggestions to help overcome "conditioned hypereating." It sounds great in theory, but I had some issues with the book's structure. More than half the 250 pages discuss how the food industry tricks us into eating more by adding large amounts of sugar, fat, and salt to prepared food. He discusses in detail practices used by restaurants like Chili's. The trouble is I never eat at restaurants like Chili's (or Applebee's or what have you), and I typically avoid the types of prepared foods he talks about. Furthermore, the first half of the book seems disconnected from the second half; some of the concepts crossover, but other than that they are two separate books. He should have summed up the concepts in a chapter or two and then gone on to the psychology of overeating, which is where the real problems lie. Finally, many of the chapters in this book are just a page or two long. That seems odd, and combined with the above about the first half of the book, it makes it seem like they were just trying to make the book long enough to look substantial. Seeress of Kell - David Eddings (reread) Final in the Malloreon series. A fun story, albeit predictable. More good vacation reading. Sorceress of Darshiva - David Eddings (reread) Fourth in the Malloreon series. More good vacation reading. Demon Lord of Karanda - David Eddings (reread) Third in the Malloreon series. More good vacation reading. King of the Murgos - David Eddings (reread) Second in the Malloreon series. More good vacation reading. Guardians of the West - David Eddings (reread) First in the Malloreon series. More good vacation reading. The Silent Deep: The Discovery, Ecology, and Conservation of the Deep Sea - Tony Koslow This was my first read on deep sea oceanography and conservation, and I found it both interesting and scary--scary because there is apparently no place on this planet that mankind has not touched or exploited. The deep seas, roughly defined as where no light penetrates, make up the majority of our oceans, yet humans seem to think that since we can't see it we therefore cannot harm it. I came away from this book realizing how important the deep seas are to us, and how crucial their conservation is. Recommended. Eye of the Whale - Douglas Carlton Abrams This is a novel about a SF Bay Area biologist studying humpback whales, but then but the biologist and an individual whale get into trouble and there the drama gets thick. You'd think I would like a book like this, especially since it references the Marine Mammal Center, but I think I'm too close to the situation for it to seem "right." To me the plot seemed a bit forced. Enchanters' End Game - David Eddings (reread) Last in the Belgariad series. Good vacation reading. Castle of Wizardry - David Eddings (reread) Fourth in the Belgariad series. Good vacation reading. Magician's Gambit - David Eddings (reread) Third in the Belgariad series. Good vacation reading. Queen of Sorcery - David Eddings (reread) Second in the Belgariad series. Good vacation reading. Pawn of Prophecy - David Eddings (reread) First in the Belgariad series. Good vacation reading. Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time: My Life Doing Dumb Stuff with Animals - Richard Conniff The title of this book is a bit misleading as it is not strictly about the author's adventures with wildlife, but more like his encounters with wildlife and the people that study animals. He goes into detail about various researchers and their subjects, but I do wish he had included more amusing/amazing anecdotes. Field Days: A Year of Farming, Eating, And Drinking Wine in California - Jonah Raskin And interesting account about a Sonoma County foodie and his experiences with such, including visiting and working on different local farms and ranches. You get a real appreciation for the wealth of food grown within a couple hours drive of San Francisco, and in turn learn something about the people providing such delicacies. Recommended. The Surgeons: Life and Death in a Top Heart Center - Charles R. Morris Another book I picked up to satisfy my need to read case studies about patients, doctors, and life in the medical profession. Unfortunately this book had few case studies, and too much babbling about politics and health care. Naked in Dangerous Places: The Chronicles of a Hungry, Scared, Lost, Homesick, But Otherwise Perfectly Happy Traveler - Cash Peters Travel-related anecdotes by a guy who was going around the world filming a adventure-type tv show. Fun and easy to read. Recommended. A Lion Called Christian - Anthony Bourke and John Rendall The tale of two young men who bought a lion from a London department store, and the lion's eventual release back into the wild. A cute story and a quick read. Beluga Days: Tracking the Endangered White Whale - Nancy Lord Written by an Alaskan salmon fisherman who has watched her local population of belugas fall, Beluga Days talks about the Alaskan and Hudson Bay whales, the problems they face, and the natives that still hunt them. It gives some insight into why substinence hunting still exists, although for me that is not reason enough. Righteous Porkchop - Nicolette Hahn Niman Righteous Porkchop is very similar to The Face on Your Plate, which I just finished reading, but it is also an entirely different book. The similarity lies in that R.P. really does tell you the truth about food; you learn about the major types of animal foods--milk, eggs, beef, pork, chicken, and fish--as well as specifics about how the animals are housed, fed, drugged, and treated. It goes in-depth on subjects such as how "old-fashioned" traditional farms actually improve the soil in their environment, and how "modern" industrialized factory farms pollute and destroy not only the land in their immediate vicinity, but also water sources many miles away. The difference between these two books lies in how they are presented. Righteous Porkchop is extremely well-researched and written. Some eight years in the making, the author has done her homework. She has a similar mindset to the author of The Face on Your Plate (she does not eat meat nor tolerate animal suffering), but unlike him she never demands the general population stop consuming animal products, and in fact, counts combatative militant vegans as a liability against the crusade for animal welfare. At 278 pages (plus an additional 32 pages of references and notes) R.P. packs a tremendous amount of information into a small size, including a chapter about "Answering Obstacles to Reform" which both addresses and dismisses the fallacies that "industrialized farming is necessary to feed the world," and "there is not enough land to support the amount of traditional farming needed to replace factory farming" (both statements are used by the factory farming industry as a way to drum up support for their industry). This book is highly recommended for everyone--omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans-- and especially for people who don't care much about where there food comes from. There's a lot to be learned. The Whale Warriors: The Battle at the Bottom of the World to Save the Planet's Largest Mammals - Peter Heller Part lesson in species preservation, part adventure on the high seas, and part sad reality, The Whale Warriors is a real-life account of one of the world's most dedicated ocean conservationists. Paul Watson is the head of the Sea Shepherd organization, and each Antarctic summer he and an incredible team of volunteers take to the Southern Ocean in an attempt to stop (at least some of) the whaling that still happens there. In defiance of international anti-whaling treaties the Japanese kill about 1000 whales every season, including significant numbers of endangered species, and Watson is one of the few people on Earth who has the cajones to confront the whaling fleet. I couldn't put this book down. Highly recommended. The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food - Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson Well, I suppose this book does live up to its title as it gives you the truth about what animals go through in order to be the food on your plate, but it doesn't do it well. The author is a militant vegan and his writing is biased thusly. Don't get me wrong - I'm a vegetarian who tries to be as ethical as possible about my animal-based food choices, but after reading this I get the feeling that he won't let up until everyone else is vegan as well, which just isn't going to happen. He anthropomorphizes animals to the point of ascribing feelings to them, such as claiming a pig, whose tail has been cut off, will continue to feel phantom tail pain. How does he know? The pig didn't tell him, and there were no references proving such. His "data" is poor, in one chapter saying mice and humans share 97.5% of their DNA, and in another stating it is 90%. Masson also claims, "Vegans don't have to worry about high cholesterol," which is incorrect. Oh, and his writing is crap as well, with awkward paragraph structures that can, at times, be confusing. To be honest, I only read about half the book and just paged through the rest. Even though I agreed with the sentiment I couldn't take it anymore. Save your time and money for one of the better-written, less biased, more accurate books out there. The Shark Watcher's Handbook: A Guide to Sharks and Where to See Them - Mark Carwardine and Ken Watterson A fabulous, comprehensive book detailing two dozen species of sharks, and when and where in the world you can go to see them. Also includes chapters on biology, conservation, and more. HIghly recommended for divers and others who like sharks. Golden Gate Gardening - Pam Peirce An excellent book for coastal Californian vegetable gardeners, especially those in San Francisco. This book contains everything from when to plant what, to what sorts of plants should be started from seed versus purchased as seedlings, and what veggies grown best in which neighborhoods. Now I just need to make those raised planter boxes and then start growing! HIghly recommended. Mud, Blood, And Gold: San Francisco in 1849 - Rand Richards The dust jacket says it best: "There have been many books on the Gold Rush, but MB&G is the first to focus solely on San Francisco as it was at the peak of the gold frenzy." It was fun finding out about the people whom our streets were named after. Recommended for anyone with an interest in SF history. Squee's Wonderful Big Giant Book of Unspeakable Horrors (reread) - Jhonen Vasquez Sick and twisted and brilliant. Alive (reread) - Piers Paul Read I read this book as a kid and recently saw the same paperback edition for sale so I grabbed it to reread it, as I all but forgot the story over the years. It is the true story of a Urguayan rugby team who, after their plane crashed in a remote section of the Andes, were forced to eat their dead teammates in order to survive. It's an interesting story that makes you realize their ordeal was as much mental as it was physical. Recommended. Tell Me Where it Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing, and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon - Dr. Nick Trout I've read and enjoyed so many "day in the life" books written by people in the human medical field that it was just a matter of time until I found one written by a veterinarian. (Surely this can't be the only one out there?) This was well-written, and because it was about animals, caused me to tear up a few times. That never happens when I read similar stories about humans. Recommended. Shadow Mountain: A Memoir of Wolves, a Woman, and the Wild - Renée Askins As an undergrad the author worked with captive-bred wolves and had an intense emotional experience with one wolf in particular. She makes a promise to that wolf (and herself), goes on to form the non-profit organization Wolf Fund, and plays a key role in bringing wild wolves back to Yellowstone National Park. This book is as much a story about the reintroduction of wolves to the West as it is Askins' life. Recommended for those interested in this sort of environmental work. On Call: A Doctor's Days and Nights in Residency - Emily R. Transue, MD Yet another in a series of books I've read by doctors describing their cases and personal experiences. I don't know that there is anything in here to differentiate this book from others of its ilk, but it is well-written and makes a good read. Recommended. Modoc - Ralph Helfer A biography of Modoc, a female Indian elephant, and her human. It is supposed to be a true story, save for some bit of artistic license, and if that's the case then it is simply amazing. To think there lived an animal so amazing, who had been through so much in her life, is incredible. And what's more incredible is the lifelong, intense emotional relationship Modoc had with her human, Bram. Recommended for animal lovers. Rescue 471 - A Paramedic's Stories After all the stories I've read about doctors, emergency rooms, and the like, this is the first book I've ever read from the viewpoint of a paramedic. It was quite interesting, especially since a paramedic and/or ambulance is usually the first on the scene in the case of an accident or emergency situation. Hey Ranger! - Jim Burnett A collection of funny stories put together by a career National Park ranger. Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash - Elizabeth Royte Written by a New Yorker who wanted to see what happened to the garbage she generated, Garbage Land follows trash, recycling, compost, and sewer waste through processing plants and to their ultimate destinations, wherever they may be. This book confirms the fact that Americans generate unfathomably huge amounts of trash, and the amounts are staggering. It describes many of the problems inherent with recycling programs, and talks about why plastics, for example, are rarely actually recycled. (The take-home message here is: Reduce your consumption of plastics!) Garbage Land is a scary read, but if there is any positive side to the book, it is the section describing San Francisco's recycling and compost programs, and the fact that the City is serious about their Zero Waste goal. The Animal Dialogues: Uncommon Encounters in the Wild - Craig Childs I've never read a book like this before, but I'm very glad that I read this one. The author is an adventurer and naturalist who has spent most of his life outside, hiking, trekking, and even spending years living in a tipi in a rural mountainous area. As a result of that he's had countless encounters with wild animals - some scary, some puzzling, and others quite touching. This is a collection of encounters with three dozen different species that have taken place over the years, and I found them all quite interesting and enjoyable. Recommended. The Zookeeper's Wife - Diane Ackerman An incredible, true story about the director of the Warsaw Zoo and his wife which takes place between 1939 and 1945. The couple were lucky enough to be able to keep their home on the zoo grounds through most of World War II, and they used the grounds to house about 300 refugees as they moved through the Polish underground. This book is well researched and written, and does a very good job of conveying what happens to an occupied city during a war (something I hope to gawd I will never experience). It also attempts to explain how the Nazi attitudes were in relation to certain animals and nature in general, and how that contrasted with their feelings about non-Aryans. Highly recommended. Fish That Fake Orgasms and Other Zoological Curiosities - Matt Walker As the title implies, this is a compilation of zoological facts, some weirder than others. For instance, did you know that in addition to having four types of eyes and four parallel brains the box jellyfish (Tripedalia cystophora) also has 64 anuses? (I bet you didn't!) And while most mammals have just two types of chromosomes, males possessing XY and females XX, the duck-billed platypus has ten chromosomes. Males are X1Y1X2Y2X3Y3X4Y4X5Y5 and females are X1X1X2X2X3X3X4X4X5X5. If you find that sort of thing interesting, you'll like this book. Zamba: The True Story of the Greatest Lion that Ever Lived - Ralph Helfer Helfer is the animal behaviourist who pioneered what is now known as affection training for captive wild animals. Because he bonds with his animals he never beat them into submission like other trainers of years past, and therefore was able to develop a loving, trusting relationship with Zamba, the male African lion he raised from a cub. Zamba really does sound like an amazing animal, and the story makes for a cute, if sometimes heartbreaking, read. Recommended for anyone who loves animals. The Daily Coyote - Shreve Stockton The book by the author of the "Daily Coyote" website, where she posts a photo a day of the coyote she raised from a pup. This is the biography of Stockton and her coyote, Charlie, and tells of how this big city girl came to live in rural Wyoming and love it. More than it, it is also the story of how she came to raise Charlie, and the challenges he presented. An enjoyable, well-written book. Recommended. The Hunter's Breath: On Expedition with the Weddell Seals of the Antarctic - Terrie M. Williams, Ph.D. A great account of a summer spent on the Antarctic continent, doing research on Weddell seals. This biologist gives you details on what it is like to travel to and survive on Antarctica for months at a time; it is cold, desolate, hostile, beautiful, and did I mention cold? What's more incredible are the seals they are studying - 9 feet long, 800-1000 pounds, they thrive in temperatures that never rise above freezing, and most amazingly, they regularly swim miles under the ice searching for breathing holes. I learned a lot both about the seals, and about what it is like to spend time in the Antarctic. Highly recommended. No Bone Unturned - Jeff Benedict This book is as much a biography of its main subject, Dr. Doug Owsley, as it is a chronicle of anthropology case studies. Owsley is the head of the Physical Anthropology Division at the Smithsonian Institute of Natural History, and as such is often called to consult on forensic crime and historic cases. My specific interest is in forensic case studies and I enjoyed reading about those, but it was also interesting to read about some of the historic anthropologic work that has been done. A large portion of this book is devoted to telling the story of the court battle surrounding Kennewick Man, a 9600-year-old skeleton that is significant for many reasons. However, I believe the author (a lawyer) spent a little too much time relaying insignificant conversations surrounding the case. Recommended. Beyond the Body Farm: A Legendary Bone Detective Explores Murders, Mysteries, and the Revolution in Forensic Science - Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson More tales from the world's top forensic anthropologist, along the same lines as his first book Death's Acre. I find this sort of thing fascinating, and highly recommend this book for others interested in the topic. The Rhino with the Glue-On Shoes and Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and Their Patients - edited by Lucy H. Spelman, DVM and Ted Y. Mashima, DVM A collection of stories written by doctors about their patients, but this time the docs are veterinarians and the patients are animals! Tales range from cute to heartbreaking, but all are interesting. Three of the authors are (current or former) Marine Mammal Center vets, so I really loved reading those. Highly recommended for anyone who loves animals and/or veterinary medicine. Intern - Sandeep Jauhar This book was a little different from the other case study books I've read because it was written to specifically describe the experience of a Medical Doctor's internship. Yes, we all know it's hard work and long hours, but Juhar goes into detail here about how that causes interns to become brain-dead and yet they are still expected to save lives, even when they have no time to look over their patients' case histories. This book is highly recommended, especially for people thinking of entering a medical career or patients who want to know what is happening with their own health care. We Bought a Zoo - Benjamin Mee A cute story about a family who buys an actual zoo in England, and turns it around from a dated dump into an up-and-coming conservation facility. It was refreshing to see how "regular" folks with barely enough money (but a lot of drive and the right people to help) could purchase and improve a zoo complete with beautiful and toothy animals. Recommended. Disrobe Completely: Real Life Cases Reveal the State of American Medicine - Jeffrey M. Thurston, MD, FACOG Another collection of interesting and amusing stories from a doctor's point of view. However, this book looks at things in a practical, insurance-oriented light. Dr. Thurston shows, with real-life examples, how HMOs and other insurance limitations do negatively impact the health care a person receives in America. He talks about the need to reform this, and put the patient's health and well-being above corporations' desire to save a few dollars. This book is recommended not so much for the anecdotes, but more so that you can learn to be aware of what goes on behind the insurance paperwork, and use that information to make better health care decisions. Just Here Trying to Save a Few Lives: Tales of Live and Death from the ER - Pamela Grim, M.D. True stories from both American emergency rooms, as well as treatment centers in Nigeria and Macedonia. These are often not pleasant to read, and many do not have a happy ending, but they certainly convey the excitement, heartache, and dedication that goes into being an ER/trauma doctor. Recommended. Making Money - Terry Pratchett The latest in the Discworld series, this time about taking over the Royal bank of Ankh-Morpork. Recommended for light reading. Brisingr - Christopher Paolini This is the third book in the four-book Inheritance series (quadrilogy?). I found I didn't like this book quite as much as the first, Eragon. Maybe it was a little too wordy, but I think part of the reason was that it seemed more of a "young adult" book than the previous ones. Nevertheless, I remained engaged enough to finish this book, and I'll probably read the final book when it comes out, if for no other reason, just to wrap things up tidily. The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents - Terry Prachett This is one of Prachett's childrens' books. Although it takes place on Discworld, it contains none of the characters we've come to know and love in the Discworld series. The real difference between this book and Prachett's novels for adults ("adult novels" doesn't sound quite right) is that the childrens' books lack the subtle humour and jokes that are prevalent in the novels. it's a cute story, nonetheless. Pet Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine - Marion Nestle Nestle is a respected professor of Nutrition and has written several books on human nutrition and the food industry (a couple of which, in particular, I'd love to read). Here she takes on the daunting task of unravelling what happened with the pet food disaster of 2007, where thousands of cats and dogs died because of kidney failure caused by the illegal addition of melamine into the pet food supply. There are a lot of problems with pet food. While this book only looks at facts directly connected with the melamine tragedy, it brings up many more questions, including issues with the source of protein in pet foods, problems with the safety of foods imported from China (reiterated in the recent problem of melamine-tainted infant formula imported from that country), and the fact that in the U.S. the pet food and human food industry are very closely tied together. The melamine tragedy really was a case of the "Chihuahua in the coal mine," and should be a wake-up call to everyone, not only pet owners. Now I wish someone would write a book informing the general public of what goes on in the pet food industry in general, because that is something I really want to know. Highly recommended. Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer The book about the experiences of Christopher "Alexander Supertramp" McCandless, upon which the movie of the same name was based. The author goes into detail examining the last couple of years of McCandless' continent-wide explorations, attempting to discover what the young man was thinking during his time on the road, and in the backcountry. However, rather than point fingers and make accusations, the author simply outlines parallels and presents possible reasons, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusion. I found the book to be quite engaging, especially after having seen the movie. Dragons of Autumn Twilight - Dragonlance Chronicles Volume I - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman More swords, sorcery, and dragons in the age-old fight of good against evil. This book was interesting enough that I finished reading it, but not captivating or engaging enough to make me want to read any of the other books in the series. Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab - the Body Farm - Where the Dead Do Tell Tales - Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson Here we see a return to forensic anthropology cases, this time as written by the man who completely revitalized the field. Bill Bass worked for about 50 years as an anthropologist and as such consulted on hundreds, if not thousands, of cases. It was he who, after realizing that crime investigators really had no idea what happened in the decay of a body after death and when, created The Body Farm to study this very thing. It is because of his and his student's work that we now can look at a dead body - and the insects, bacteria, and decay associated with it - and can accurately estimate the time of death. This book contains many very interesting case studies, and is highly recommended for people who like reading about this sort of thing. Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner - Michael M. Baden, M.D. with Judith Alder Hennessee Another book about dead bodies and the people that examine them, except this time written by an actual medical examiner. The forensics books I've read to date have all been written by anthropologists, who work in a slightly different capacity than medical examiners, who are medical doctors. While a forensic anthropologist is only called in when there is a question about the cause of or circumstances surrounding a death, and is apparently only called in when the body is no longer "fresh," an M.D. or M.E. is required to examine each and every dead body and sign off as to the cause of death. This is an interesting book, and recommended if you are interested in this sort of stuff. Sellevision - Augusten Burroughs Burroughs' first book (and his only novel to date) which focuses on a group of people working at a home shopping network. It's light reading, but amusing and engaging enough to keep your interest. A Wolf at the Table - Augusten Burroughs When I first started reading Burroughs I likened him to David Sedaris. After all, they were both gay men who, after a dysfunctional childhood, were now writing humourous autobiographical stories. However, this book is not humourous. It is a sad story of a horrible childhood, and begins to explain why Burroughs' teenage years (chronicled in Running with Scissors) was so bloody messed up. If you enjoyed Burroughs' other books and want to learn more about him as a person, this book is recommended. Just don't expect to be laughing through it. Barrel Fever - David Sedaris I was 0 for 2 on Sedaris books this time around. Barrel Fever is another collection of short stories, but three-fourths of the stories are fiction again, and unfortunately I didn't realize this when I bought the book. The four autobiographical essays are fine, but I really wish they had been published separately from the fiction. Holidays on Ice - David Sedaris A collection of six holiday-themed stories. Unfortunately, not all of them are Sedaris' trademark autobiographical essays; several stories are fiction, which is not what I expected, nor what I wanted to read. To top it off, three of the stories (two true, one fiction) were previously printed elsewhere. If you like Sedaris, don't bother with this book. Michael Tolliver Lives - Armistead Maupin The seventh book in the Tales of the City series, and the first one to take place in the 21st century. While these books are light and easy to read, they are also engaging enough that it's quite difficult to put them down. Recommended. When Science Goes Wrong - Simon LeVay An interesting book about different, major screw-ups in various branches of science. This was written by a scientist and goes into some detail about what actually happened to cause the problem. While the book could easily stray down the path of sensationalism, luckiliy it does not, and instead makes for a semi-intelligent read. Twinkie, Deconstructed - Steve Ettlinger If you've ever wondered why "processed food" is called that, then this is the book for you. The author looks at each one of the ~30 ingredients that make up Twinkies, and traces them back to their origins. You learn about the scale on which commercial food companies operate, and the hurdles individual ingredients go through before they even make it to the bakery. Two-thirds of the ingredients found in Twinkies aren't even found outside of commercial kitchens. While this book may not be an exhaustive list of all processed food ingredients, but it's certainly enough to make you want to do all your own cooking. Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris Another collection of short autobiographical stories, just as funny as his other books. Recommended. Elephants on Acid and Other Bizarre Experiments - Alex Boese Information about an assortment of experiments that were performed (presumably) in the name of science, but make you ask "why?" They range from somewhat plausible, to why bother?, to ohmygawd why?! Somewhat interesting and amusing. Naked - David Sedaris (reread) A collection of short memoirs that often have me laughing out loud. Recommended. When You Are Engulfed In Flames - David Sedaris His latest selection of autobiographical essays ranging from amusing to downright funny. This is the kind of book where you just want to read "one more chapter" before setting it down for the night. Highly Recommended. Thud! - Terry Pratchett The last book in the Discworld series. I've finished the 28 book series (at least until he writes another book)! Fun reading. Going Postal - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Mister B. Gone - Clive Barker Clive Barker is the best horror author I've ever read. His short stories are novel and twisted, and I've found myself reading them over and over. During the past decade or so Barker has moved out of horror short stories and on to fantasy novels; they ranged from okay to good, but I missed his old style. Needless to say, when I picked up his most recent book and the jacket advertised a "return to the classic horror story," I was thrilled! But sadly, this book didn't do it for me. Maybe it was the style in which it was told (part first person narrative, part speaking directly to the reader), or maybe my expectations were too high, but it left me disappointed. Monstrous Regiment - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Born Free - Joy Adamson This is the 40th anniversary edition of this classic book, and it contains a new forward. I remember seeing this movie as a child, and it had a very sad ending that made me cry. This book, however, did not end on a sad note; now I think the movie may have included part of the storyline from the book's sequels. Born Free is a cute, bittersweet story of a couple in Kenya and their lioness, raised from a cub and successfully returned to the wild. It took place in the late 50s and retains a tiny bit of the cultural attitude that was prevalent at the time. Nevertheless it is highly recommended for anyone who likes animals. Bones: A Forensic Detective's Casebook - Dr. Douglas Ubelaker and Henry Scammell Dr. Ubelaker is the curator and senior scientist at the Smithsonian InstitutionÕs National Museum of Natural History, as well as a forensic consultant to the FBI. This book is a collection of case histories he has been privy to, and contains a lot of information on the sorts of things forensic scientists look for when examining a case. Recommended for anyone with an interest in that sort of thing. Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance - Atul Gawande Dr. Gawande has written this insider's look at the field of medicine, but from a different viewpoint. He looks at several specific areas of medicine, and singles out what makes a particular person or facility in that area better. And, more importantly, he looks at what others - other physicians, people in general, and specifically, himself - can do and what it takes to improve yourself. Night Watch - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Marley & Me - John Grogan A cute story about a man and his wife, and how they decided they wanted a dog ... and Marley ended up being the the worst dog in the world. But for all his faults, Marley had them tightly wrapped around his little claw. Recommended for animal lovers. An Anthropologist on Mars - Oliver Sacks Another book of neurological case histories from this neurologist; similar to his best-seller The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Interestingly, one chapter in this book is devoted to an autistic scientist whose work I have read - Temple Grandin. The Truth - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Inside the Not So Big House - Sarah Susanka and Marc Vassallo This is a book designed to bring out the importance of built-in architecture in a house - details such as interior rooflines, trim, cubbyholes, bookcases, etc. It's a very important design point, but unfortunately almost every example they have in this book is of a house whose architectural style I do not like. Changeling - Roger Zelazny I liked Zelazny's Amber series, so I picked up this book to see what his other books might be like. This was a simple sci-fi book that didn't have enough depth to the plot and I found it a bit boring. Characters make major life changes and take drastic measures for reasons which do not seem significant. Don't bother. In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto - Michael Pollan This is Pollan's follow-up to The Omnivore's Dilemma which showed us some of the harsh realities present in the world of food. For years I have studied nutrition. I've spoken with Registered Dieticians, taken science and nutrition classes, and read book after book after book. And I have to say, In Defense of Food does an excellent job of summing up everything I have learned in just seven words: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." The two hundred pages inside simply explain what he means. That being said, I have to state that I'm not a total Pollan devotee, and everything he writes is not perfect. For example, this book is divided into three sections. He spends the first section discussing what is wrong with the state of "nutritionism" today - how so many present-day food "facts" (like how many servings of a certain food we "should" eat on a daily basis) are based on studies biased by the organizations which funded them, and how so many nutrition studies are contradicted by other studies. Those are valid points. However, reading that chapter leaves me a little gunshy about believing any other nutrition studies. So when Pollan cites other studies in later chapters, I can't help but wonder if I can trust them. If you're going to read just one section of this book it should be the third. This final section tells you, in plain and simple terms, what you should eat to stay healthy, avoid diet-related illnesses such as diabetes, and circumvent the psychological distress that comes from modern-day Western culture ("eat more food", "diet", "eat", "you're too fat", etc). Highly recommended. Possible Side Effects - Augusten Burroughs More of the funny, and occasionally touching, autobiographical stories I came to love in Magical Thinking. Highly recommended. Dry. A memoir. - Augusten Burroughs An alcoholic's chronicle of hitting rock-bottom, entering rehab, and the road to recovery. He does such a good job describing the life of a hard-core alcoholic (of which most people are not aware, I'm guessing) that even having a beer was the furthest thing from my mind as I read this. Highly recommended. Running with Scissors - Augusten Burroughs This is Burroughs' first memoir, chronicling his tumultuous and decidedly un-normal childhood. If the stories in here are even half-true then you wonder how he emerged sane enough to become a successful adult. Reading this book is like watching a slow-motion train wreck; you can't put it down. Highly recommended. Empire of Ivory - Naomi Novik Fourth in the Temeraire series. I am still enjoying the series, and this book has ended in a bit of a cliffhanger. I just hope the next book doesn't get too carried away with itself. Recommended. Dateline Mongolia - Michael Kohn Part travelogue, part memoir, this book was written by an American who spent three years working for an English-language newspaper in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He writes about the many things that he researched in the course of his reporting, and provides a wealth of information that the average Westerner wouldn't otherwise know about past and present-day Mongolia. I just wish he had written more about his experiences acclimatizing to Mongolian life. Recommended. Magical Thinking: True Stories - Augusten Burroughs Short, autobiographical, and often hilarious stories from this ad man-turned-author. Burroughs writes in a style reminiscent of David Sedaris, but its possible that the former may be even better than the latter. Highly recommended. Images of America series, San Francisco's Glen Park and Diamond Heights - Emma Bland Smith I am quite interested in historical San Francisco, so it was neat reading this book about the early days of the neighborhood in which I have been living for the past 4.5 years (Glen Park). Too bad there are no photos of our house in here. Recommended. Images of America series, San Francisco: A Natural History - Greg Gaar and Ryder W. Miller San Francisco's natural landscape, its flora, fauna, and landscape, were completely different than they are today. Just a few decades after Europeans settled here The City took on an entirely new face, and it is extremely interesting to read about what SF used to look like. Highly recommended. A Year in the Merde - Stephen Clarke An account of a Brit moving to France for his new job, and the trials and tribulations he encountered. Although this is fiction, it nails the experience others have had in moving to France, and also had me giggling on several occasions. Recommended. Thief of Time - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. I've read all the Pratchett books we have on-hand. Time to order the last few in this series! The Fifth Element - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Carpe Jugulum - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. The Last Continent - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Jingo - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Hogfather - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. A great book for the Xmas season! Feet of Clay - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. As you can tell, we've been on a Pratchett kick. They're fun books. The Color of Magic (reread) - Terry Pratchett Since I've been reading so many of these books, I wanted to reread the first one in the series. His style has evolved since the beginning, and while the books are kept light, they're now more sophisticated. Maskerade - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. As you can tell, we've been on a Pratchett kick. They're fun books. Interesting Times - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. This was my favourite of the Pratchett books I've read recently. Soul Music - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. As you can tell, we've been on a Pratchett kick. They're fun books. Sure of You - Armistead Maupin A sixth book, which extends the Tales of the City "trilogy." I'm still enjoying watching the characters move through their lives. Significant Others - Armistead Maupin A fifth book, which extends the Tales of the City "trilogy." I'm still enjoying watching the characters move through their lives. Men At Arms - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill - Mark Bittner I'm of two minds about this book. On one hand, I was thrilled to be able to learn more about San Francisco's wild parrots, whom I've occasionally seen flying around town. And part of me thinks that it's wonderful the way the author has chosen to bare his feelings and emotions in this book. But the cynical critic in me thinks negatively about a guy who goes through most of his adult life without a proper job, and who projects his own thoughts onto a flock of parrots and then reacts to those projections. This book is recommended as an interesting slice of local somewhat-natural history, but take the author's lifestyle and emotional projections with a grain of salt. Lords and Ladies - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. As you can tell, we've been on a Pratchett kick. They're fun books. Babycakes - Armistead Maupin A fourth book, which extends the Tales of the City "trilogy." I'm still enjoying watching the characters move through their lives. Small Gods - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. The first book of his I didn't like. You can safely skip this one. Human Bones: A Scientific and Pictorial Investigation - R. McNeill Alexander and photographer Aaron Diskin A book which does a wonderful job of combining the art and science of one of my favourite subjects - bones. In addition to providing a quick & easy overview of human skeletal anatomy, physiology, and evolution, as well as a primer on comparative anatomy, the bones herein have been photographed and presented as art pieces. Highly recommended. Zoology - Ben Dolnick A (fictional) story about a guy who drops out of college to work at a zoo. I got this book because it struck a chord, with me being a zoology student and all. The book turned out to be not so much about the zoology thing as it was a nice little story about the transition from being a child to an adult. Witches Abroad - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution - Richard Dawkins This is one of those books that everyone should read. The Ancestor's Tale traces our heritage all the way back in time down the evolutionary tree, meeting up with such groups as the rest of the primates, mammals, birds & dinosaurs, all the way back to the bacteria (some of which we carry in our cells to this day). It not only outlines the similarities and differences between different branches of the tree as they meet up with us, but also has in-depth sections describing major elements of evolution. And speaking of evolution, there is so much evidence in this book to support evolution (probably as close to "proof" as we're ever going to get) that you wonder why creationists persist in their beliefs. My only criticisms are that Dawkins can be a bit wordy at times, and the drawings included should really be larger and more detailed. Highly recommended. Further Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin Third in the trilogy. I found this book to be the best of the series, so far. I really did have trouble putting it down, as there's always so much happening. The Sapphire Rose - David Eddings Third and last in The Elenium series. This was a good series of fantasy books. A little predictable, although that's the norm for the genre (unless you're George R.R. Martin!). Nonetheless, it kept me entertained through the series. The Ruby Knight - David Eddings Second in The Elenium series. I'm still enjoying this series. It's better than The Tamuli, but not quite as good as The Belgariad, which is my favourite set of books by this author. More Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin Second in the trilogy. A fun, albeit slightly soap opera-y, story about a group of friends and acquaintances living on Russian Hill in San Francisco. The books began as a serial newspaper column back in the 70s, and it's fun to read about all the streets and places in your hometown. Recommended for light reading. Lord of the Flies - William Golding I had never read this classic book before and felt I needed to. It makes a very good point regarding things inherent in human nature, although all the more subtle symbolism and metaphors went over my head (I usually find it more fun to enjoy a story for what it is, rather than analyzing it to bits). Recommended. Black Powder War - Naomi Novik Third in the Temeraire series. Set in the 18th century, this is a historical novel and a new take on dragon stories. Recommended. Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin A fun, albeit slightly soap opera-y, story about a group of friends and acquaintances living on Russian Hill in San Francisco. The books began as a serial newspaper column back in the 70s, and it's fun to read about all the streets and places in your hometown. Parts of the book are slightly dated, since it was written 30 years ago, but it's a fun read nonetheless. Recommended, but prepare to read the sequels to discover the surprise plot twist. The Diamond Throne - David Eddings First in The Elenium series. This series is a prequel to his earlier Tamuli series and fills in a lot of information that was referred to in the later books. However, many of the plotlines have already been given away in the earlier-published but later-occurring books. It's starting off as a good series, and I'd recommend you read this series first before moving on to The Tamuli - there's more suspense that way. Reaper Man - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Moving Pictures - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Eric - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Pyramids - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Mutants: On Genetic Variety and the Human Body - Armand Marie Leroy This is a very interesting book about different common, and some not-so-common, mutations found in our species. However, I found that the book went too into the science and genetics behind the mutations (a very odd criticism from me!) when I really wanted to hear about more examples. And sadly, this book contained very few photos, and what pictures it had were of poor quality. Ideally, this book would have contained many large-size, good quality photographs. Wyrd Sisters - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Strapped: Why America's 20- and 30-Somethings Can't Get Ahead - Tamara Draut For years I've been wondering why so many smart, educated, responsible, working people in my peer group have difficulty making ends meet. This book does a good job of answering that question. The sad part is there are many intertwined answers, and none of them are easily fixed. But it certainly shows you where we need to look in order to begin to repair our society. Recommended if you're wondering why no one can get ahead in life. Not So Funny When it Happened - edited by Tim Cahill A collection of short stories about travel and misadventure. Some parts are so funny they had me laughing out loud. Recommended for quick, light reading. Throne of Jade - Naomi Novik Second in the Temeraire series. Set in the 18th century, this is a historical novel and a new take on dragon stories. Even though it's a sequel this book seems to hold its own. I hope the third is as enjoyable. Recommended. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test - Tom Wolfe This was one of those books I had heard of, but never knew exactly what it was about. Turns out it's about the group of friends who started the LSD/hippie movement in the SF Bay Area in the mid-60s. The book takes you on an incredible (non-fiction) trip through some amazing stuff; things that you cannot believe they got away with. Highly recommended. Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Serpent's Silver - Piers Anthony and Robert E. Margroff This sequel turned into one of those books where Our Hero does everything just right, all the pieces fall into place, and everyone lives happily ever after. I'm not going to bother reading the third book in this series. Dragon's Gold - Piers Anthony and Robert E. Margroff A simple story about a boy who inadvertantly grows up to be a hero. Although it doesn't seem to have been marketed as such, it's really a book for kids. The Bridge On The River Kwai - Pierre Boulle Oh my, this book has a different ending than the movie, and it really changes the meaning of the whole thing! It's a story of WWII British prisoners in a Japanese POW camp being used as forced labour, and the results of their efforts. Recommended. S is for Silence - Sue Grafton (Part of her Alphabet series.) I bought this book at the airport because I needed something to read, and ended up being quite pleased with it. A good mystery that has enough twists and doubts to keep you wondering until the end. His Majesty's Dragon - Naomi Novik First in the Temeraire series. Set in the 18th century, this is a historical novel and a new take on dragon stories. I think the author does a good job of weaving the dragons into the events of the day. Recommended. Sourcery - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Mort - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Quite amusing fantasy/scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. The Hidden City - David Eddings Final book in The Tamuli series. Another one of those books where Our Hero & Co. accomplishes everything necessary just in the nick of time. I was ready for this book to be over before it actually was. Oh well. The Shining Ones - David Eddings Second in The Tamuli series. Domes of Fire - David Eddings First in The Tamuli series. Fantasy novel about kings, queens, and mighty warriors, plus some intrigue and magic in there as well. This series includes some interesting relationships, insofar as who the characters really are. Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside - Katrina Firlik Stories about this neurosurgeon's experiences as a woman in a particularly male-dominated field, as well as interesting tales about some of the cases she has worked on. I enjoy reading these sorts of "medical memoirs" as they feed my interest in the medical field. Recommended. Murder by the Bay - Charles F. Adams Stories of some of the most famous and infamous murders that have occurred in and near San Francisco over the past 150+ years. Recommended if you have an interest in San Francisco history. Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World's Premiere School for Exotic Animal Trainers - Amy Sutherland A great book that follows a group of students through the two-year exotic animal training program at Southern California's Moorpark College. You begin to understand just how demanding and competitive this field is. I found it very interesting, especially because a friend's sister recently graduated from the program. Recommended. Body Brokers: Inside America's Underground Trade - Annie Cheney An exposé on the not-so-legal market of bodies and body parts. It turns out there are people selling arms and legs, well, for an arm and a leg, all without the consent of the former owners. However, it'd be a pity if this book stopped people from donating their bodies and/or organs, as there are never enough to meet the demand. Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie Another one of those classic novels i finally got around to reading. Quite a surprise twist at the end! Life's Little Annoyances - Ian Urbina I thought this would be one of those cute & funny anecdotal books, but instead it just annoyed me. Never Cry Wolf - Farley Mowat A great book by a Canadian biologist who seems to have been one of the first to document real wolf behaviour, as opposed to fallacies and old wives' tales. An easy read, yet entertaining and funny in Mowat's own particular way. The wolves quickly find a place in your heart, and especially because of that it is extremely difficult to read the epilogue; I really wish I had skipped the last page. Recommended, nevertheless. The Devil's Teeth - Susan Casey A non-fiction book which is as much about the Farallon Islands as it is about the great white sharks who live there. The author is a journalist who spent time with the resident biologists out on the Farallones on three separate occasions. She describes the allure the islands have for her, as well as the handful of people who willingly spend months at a time out there, and you begin to feel it yourself. It just so happened that the day after I finished this book I took a trip to the Farallones - it was my first time at the islands, yet I recognized the landmarks and knew so much about what had happened out there; it was like visiting an old friend. The author has been criticized for the impact of her actions however, and that really cannot be argued. But what has happened, happened, and I still highly recommend this book. The Maltese Falcon - Dashiell Hammett A classic old-school mystery novel. I find that even ~80 years later the story still holds up pretty well. However, in this day and age of multiple intertwined storylines and crazy plot twists, it does seem a bit simple. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals - Michael Pollan This book is very similar in scope to The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter, which I read a couple of months ago, and complements it perfectly. The author traces different meals and farming techniques and, as thoroughly as possible, describes the different methods and outcomes. One large section of the book is devoted to describing a fully-sustainable farm, and how so many of those old-fashioned, yet perfectly environmentally-friendly, farming practices have been lost due to the adoption of "modern" factory-farming techniques. Reading this book you learn things like just how much corn is grown versus how little we actually eat, and rather than growing less corn, food scientists are continually trying to invent unnatural uses for corn (corn sweeteners, animal feeds, food additives, etc). This book is a wake-up call to how messed up food production is in the U.S. Highly recommended. Fevre Dream - George R.R. Martin This was the first of Martin's non-"Song of Ice and Fire" book I read and I was quite impressed. Set on the Mississippi River in the mid-1800s it is partially a historical novel, but Martin took what could have been a clichéd theme and gave it a new, enjoyable, twist. Recommended. Squee's Wonderful Big Giant Book of Unspeakable Horrors - Jhonen Vasquez I hadn't heard of the Squee comics before I got this book, but they're just as good as Johnny. Interested in loving families and happy stories about little boys? Well, you won't find them here! These are dark comics by and for notagoths. Recommended. Johnny the Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut - Jhonen Vasquez I was first introduced to this comic in the mid-90s and loved them. I recently came across all of them re-released in book form and snapped them up. I can't decide if Vasquez is completely insane or a total genius - I think he's probably both. Highly recommended. The Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses - Marianne Riedman A very good reference about the biology, habits, and life cycles of all species of pinnipeds. The book contains references to scores (hundreds?) of other books and scientific papers, and is an excellent source to begin any research on these animals. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress - Dai Sijie A story of two boys being "re-educated" during Mao's Cultural Revolution, this was based at least partially on the author's own re-education experiences. The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter - Peter Singer & Jim Mason I find this book to be a thorough, yet unbiased look at exactly what sorts of farming and ranching practices go into bringing a selection of foods to the table. The authors look at the food choices of three families - one eating a typical American diet, one set of "conscientious omnivores", and one vegan - and track their foods to the source. The book has a good "conclusions" section, and offers suggestions as to how you can best support your own personal ethics through your buying and eating habits. Even after years of reading about and studying nutrition and food sources, I learned quite a few new things. Highly recommended. Dead Men Do Tell Tales - William R. Maples, Ph.D. and Michael Browning I feel like this book was written especially for me. Included within are "The strange and fascinating cases of a forensic anthropologist," and they do not disappoint. Dr. Maples recalls some of his more interesting and puzzling cases, describes what he was looking for, and what the evidence was able to tell him. You learn what an amazing amount of information a forensic anthropologist can get from something as small as a piece of bone. Sure, these tales probably aren't for the faint of heart as they lean towards the macabre, but that's what makes them so great. My only complaint is that this book wasn't much longer; I would have liked to have continued reading on this subject. Highly recommended. Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science - Atul Gawande This book takes away as much of the mystery surrounding modern medicine as it adds back to it. Dr. Gawande presents several stories and case studies from his years of surgical residency, and adds to them the insight that only an insider would have. He lets us know that doctors are far from infallible, and sometimes medical professionals just don't know what to do. But at the same time, a physician can develop a sort of sixth sense and some unconscious clue will push them towards the correct decision, thus saving a patient's life. An interesting, well-written book that is recommended for anyone with an interest in medicine. Eldest - Christopher Paolini This is the sequel to Eragon, and the second book in the Inheritance triology. I find the story has taken on more complexities and plot twists as it moves along, making it even more enjoyable. Now I wait impatiently for the third book to be released! Highly recommended. Eragon - Christopher Paolini This book came highly recommended by a good friend, and now that I've read it, I want to recommend it to everyone else. It's a good, solid fantasy story about a boy. And a dragon. And an evil king, demonic forces, families torn asunder, battles, magic, and all that other good stuff that happens in such a book. And it's quite well-written - something that may come as a surprise when you discover the author was only 15 when he wrote the novel; it holds its own against just about any fantasy novel written by an adult. All in all, a very engaging, enjoyable story. Why Is Sex Fun? - Jared Diamond Subtitled The Evolution of Human Sexuality, this is the first mainstream book I've seen which has tackled the topic of why humans have evolved the sexual habits and physiological characteristics we have. He explains the theories behind such things as the unnecessary enlargement of human breasts and penises, why humans have sex at times other than estrus cycles, and why females experience menopause. He also compares and contrasts human behaviour and physiology to other primates, and other animals in general. It's an interesting read that's much more concise than his more well known books. Dune Messiah (reread) - Frank Herbert I first read this book about 20 years ago and I didn't think much of it then, but I figured I'd give it another try. Well, I did try, but it was so boring I skipped 100+ pages in the second half to make the end come more quickly and I don't think I missed anything. Dune (reread) - Frank Herbert I love it when you reread a great book, and it's been just long enough that you can't really remember what's going to happen next, so it's almost like reading it for the first time. This book is wonderful and I was very happy to re-experience it like that. The Hobbit (reread) - J.R.R. Tolkien As I reread this book, I realized it had been probably 15 years since I last read it, and as a result, I remembered very few details - it was almost like reading it for the first time, and that was so enjoyable. While not as sophisticated as the LotR series, The Hobbit is an excellent fantasy tale. Lamb : The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal - Christopher Moore This book was recommended by a friend, and is pretty fun and lighthearted. As the title suggests, it's the story of Jesus' childhood as told by his best friend (who was left out of the bible). I realized I would have enjoyed this book more if I didn't have to keep fighting against my own anti-religious prejudices. The Elder Gods - David & Leigh Eddings I've really liked some of David Eddings previous books, but this one didn't quite do it for me. There were a lot of words in the book, but not much was happening. They are setting the scene for sequels, but don't interest you in the story enough to want to read those sequels. Home by Design - Sarah Susanka A great book outlining design elements found in architecture, and exactly how design works and why those elements are good. After reading this I was able to go into houses and realize why a house was designed well (or poorly). Highly recommended. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned - Alan Alda After watching MASH* for the past 30 years, I figured I'd pick up Alan Alda's autobiography as I knew almost nothing of the star behind the TV show. Alda has an engaging and humourous writing style, and it was interesting to see how he grew up, and the similarities and differences between the actor and his Hawkeye Pierce character. Recommended. Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior - Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson Considering one of my favourite subjects is animal behaviour, I was looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. Grandin is an autistic woman with a Ph.D. in Animal Science, so I thought this book might have a somewhat scientific bent to it. Instead, it is written in a conversational tone, poor grammar and all. That aside, it has some other major problems: Namely, despite the book being about the similarities in behavour between animals and autistic people, the author never defines or explains autism. She occasionally refers to autistic people perceiving the world in a particular way, but the reader is left wondering what exactly autism is. In addition, all of Grandin's information about autistic people comes from her own experiences. Not that her experiences aren't valid, but we have no idea if they are typical. And she also paints a big line and places autistic people on one side, and non-autistics on the other, and infers that non-autistics just can't see what autistics do, and that's just not always the case; I notice some of the things she says "only autistics" do, and as far as I know, I'm not autistic. In general, there is some interesting information in here, and there are bits worth paying attention to. However, had it been written "right," it could have been a great book. A Manual of Mammalogy with Keys to Families of the World - Martin/Pine/DeBlaise I enjoyed reading this book. It outlines, compares, and contrasts the anatomy of all families of mammals, and contains a wealth of anatomical and physiological information that is not possible to find in standard "bookstore" texts. It also contains a comprehensive dichotomous key to identifying mammalian families. If my zoology classes are as interesting as this book, they'll be a lot of fun! The Inhuman Condition (reread) - Clive Barker Like In the Flesh, this is a collection of short horror stories. Both books are now 20 years old, and I think they hold up well. Sadly, because I've read them each a couple of times in the past, they no longer relay that excitement you get when reading something for the first time. In the Flesh - Clive Barker (reread) Classic short horror stories. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed - Jared Diamond A very interesting, and quite depressing, book; a case study of why certain contemporary and historical societies have died out, what other societies have done correctly and succeeded, and why, if we don't change what we're doing and quickly, we are headed towards hell in a handbasket. Highly recommended. Iron Council - China Miéville I didn't care for the writing style Miéville used during the second quarter of the book. It takes fully half the story before you learn exactly what is going on and what the characters' "quest" is all about, and by the time I learned I no longer cared. This book didn't engage me the way his previous ones did. It wasn't bad enough that I set it down without finishing, but I only finished it in hopes that a spectacular ending would make it all worth while. And there was something interesting that happened at the end, but it wasn't enough, by far. A Feast for Crows - George R. R. Martin The latest volume in his "Song of Ice and Fire" series, which I absolutely love. Certain plot lines look like they may be wrapping up, but in true Martin fashion, there's no clear outlook as to what will happen. I love it how it sets up things so you expect one thing and are then blindsided by another. I'm looking forward to book five; part of me wants that to be the last, so I can see how this all ends, but another part of me doesn't want it to end yet. Recommended. Idoru - William Gibson A fun, easy-reading cyber novel from the man who introduced us to cyberspace. I bet this would have been real ground-breaking stuff had I read it 10 years ago when it came out. Fun, nevertheless. Eats, Shoots & Leaves - Lynne Truss A humourous and snarky look at the current use (or, more accurately, misuse) of punctuation in the world today. Sharks of the World - Leonard Compagno, Marc Dando, & Sarah Fowler The best species identification book I've seen so far. Full of both excellent ID and biological information. The Scar - China Miéville Fantasy set in the same world as Perdido Street Station, but with a different cast. Weird, but in a good way. It held my interest to the end. Perdido Street Station - China Miéville Fantasy set in a world populated by a host of unique species. Weird, but in a good way. I liked how he ended the book - it took a nice, unexpected twist. A Storm of Swords (reread) George R. R. Martin I really did have trouble putting these books down. Excellent intertwined plots where the unexpected keeps happening. Did I mention how highly I recommend these? A Clash of Kings (reread) - George R. R. Martin Best fantasy books since the LotR trilogy. Highly recommended. The Not So Big House - Sarah Susanka About designing and planning homes that fit the most usable area into the smallest footprint. An anti-McMansion book with lots of good ideas. A Game of Thrones (reread) - George R. R. Martin Best. Fantasy. Ever. Highly recommended. The Great Book of Amber: The Complete Amber Chronicles, 1-10 - Roger Zelazny All books from the Amber series are compiled here in one volume. The stories take place both on Earth and in several parallel worlds. Enjoyable fantasy reading. X-Ray Ichthyology: The Structure of Fishes - David Catania and The California Academy of Sciences A unique and excellent book showing x-rays of 50 specimens from the Academy's extensive collection. The full collection is online. A Natural History of the Senses - Diane Ackerman An interesting essay describing each of the senses in as many ways possible, including discussing how we've used, abused, and attempted to enhance each one throughout the ages. Seeress of Kell - David Eddings (reread?) - Final in the Malloreon series. A fun story, albeit predictable. Yet I kept wanting to read more and finish the series. Recommended for those who love fantasy. Sorceress of Darshiva - David Eddings (reread?) - Fourth in the Malloreon series. Demon Lord of Karanda - David Eddings (reread?) - Third in the Malloreon series. King of the Murgos - David Eddings (reread?) - Second in the Malloreon series. The Secret Life of Sharks - A. Peter Klimley, Ph.D. Written by a marine biologist, these are his personal experiences and tales of what he did during his research projects, unlike most research books which just list the results of the studies. Highly recommended. Images of America series, San Francisco, California - Patricia Kennedy Lots of photos and descriptions of The City from the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s. I love seeing what San Francisco used to look like. Highly recommended. Guardians of the West - David Eddings (reread) First in the Malloreon series. The Silent World - Jacques Yves Costeau Written in 1953, tales from one of the men who invented SCUBA. It's very interesting to read how diving and marine knowledge then differs from today. Recommended. Enchanters' End Game - David Eddings (reread) Last in the Belgariad series. All of these books are highly recommended. Castle of Wizardry - David Eddings (reread) Fourth in the Belgariad series. Magician's Gambit - David Eddings (reread) Third in the Belgariad series. Queen of Sorcery - David Eddings (reread) Second in the Belgariad series. Pawn of Prophecy - David Eddings (reread) First in the Belgariad series. Good fantasy stuff. I first read this so long ago I no longer remembered it, so I'm thoroughly enjoying it a second time. Highly recommended. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis Children's fantasy tale. Race Against Time - Piers Anthony (reread) I didn't remember this book at all from the first time I read it. It seems like a children's SciFi book to me. Virtual Light - William Gibson Written in '93 about a futuristic San Francisco in 2005. Interesting to contrast his vision with today's reality. A good story, too. Recommended. The Integral Trees - Larry Niven Another unique world, but this story wasn't very captivating. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and Other Clinical Tales - Oliver Sacks Descriptions of very interesting neurological disorders, and their physical & psychological manifestations. Recommended. The Ringworld Engineers - Larry Niven The sequel is okay, but a bit lacking. Recommended only for fans of Ringworld. Ringworld - Larry Niven SciFi set in a universe with a very interesting, ring-shaped world. Recommended. Cheaper By The Dozen - Frank B. Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey Autobiographical tales from the 1910-20s of a family with a dozen children. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas Excellent tale of revenge. A timeless classic which I had difficulty putting down. Highly recommended. The Pushcart War - Jean Merrill Children's story of battling big-city truck drivers. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - Douglas Adams (reread) Classic humourous scifi. Recommended. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams (reread) Classic humourous scifi. Recommended. A Whiff Of Death - Issac Asimov One of his few non scifi books. A scientific mystery story. All The Weyrs Of Pern - Anne McCaffrey (reread) The later Pern books begin to lose their edge. Recommended only for fans of the series. Out Of It - A Cultural History of Intoxication - Stuart Walton A great cultural and sociological look into how and why humans began and continue to use intoxicants. Highly recommended. Dress Your Family In Courduroy And Denim - David Sedaris Autobiographical short stories. Entertaining. Recommended. The Trees of San Francisco - Mike Sullivan An interesting encylopedia of the amazing variety of trees here in S.F. The White Dragon - Anne McCaffrey (reread) - A classic fantasy series. Recommended. Dragonquest - Anne McCaffrey (reread) - A classic fantasy series. Recommended. Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey (reread) - A classic fantasy series. Recommended. Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Jules Verne A classic tale, not quite scifi but certainly futuristic for its time. Unfortunately it's now a bit dated. "What Do You Care What Other People Think?" - Richard P. Feynman More autobiographical tales from a brilliant physicist. Recommended. Earth - David Brin Brin creates some interesting worlds, although I'm not a big fan of the "mind melds with computer" model. Recommended for those who are. The Botany of Desire - Michael Pollan Excellent botanical history of four plants and how they've made their way into everyday human lives. Highly recommended. A Thief Of Time - Tony Hillerman Good mystery story set in Navajo country in the Southwest U.S. Recommended. Coldheart Canyon - Clive Barker Leans more towards the fantasy side of horror, but a good read nonetheless. Recommended for those into Barker and/or weird stuff. QED - The Strange Theory of Light and Matter - Richard P. Feynman Explains the theory of quantum electrodynamics, but geared towards an audience of physicists. Recommended for those who already have some background in the subject. all the Far Side books - Gary Larson (rereads) What can I say? Highly recommended. Lost Horizon - James Hilton The original story of Shangri-La. Recommended. A Storm of Swords - George R. R. Martin I really did have trouble putting these books down. Excellent intertwined plots where the unexpected keeps happening. Did I mention how highly I recommend these? A Clash of Kings - George R. R. Martin Best fantasy books since the LotR trilogy. Highly recommended. A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin Best fantasy books since the LotR trilogy. Highly recommended. Nickel and Dimed - Barbara Ehrenreich Sociological study of how the poor (cannot) get by in America; the author tried several times to survive on minimal wage. Feng Shui Demystified - Clear Englebert Description of Feng Shui and how to use it. Stiff - The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach Excellent look at how cadavers have been and currently are used for medical and forensic research, and funny as well. Highly recommended. Books of Blood, Vols. 1-3 - Clive Barker(reread) - Novel and unique horror stories, written in a descriptive style with excellent plot twists. Highly recommended. Abarat - Clive Barker Book one of a series designed for young adults. I love Barker, but this one didn't grab me. Guns, Germs and Steel - Jared Diamond Comprehensive look into why civilizations and cultures evolved in some parts of the world, but not others. Highly recommended. Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays - Stephen Hawking Assorted essays and speeches on physics and astronomy. Recommended. They Shoot Canoes, Don't They? - Patrick F. McManus Humourous short stories, often of camping, hunting and fishing. A Fine and Pleasant Misery - Patrick F. McManus Humourous short stories, often of camping, hunting and fishing. Modern Meat - Orville Schell A shocking look into what goes into our commercial food animals, and how that compares to naturally-raised meats. Highly recommended for anyone who cares about what they eat. Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser A history of American fast food restaurants and culture. An accurate depiction, if somewhat biased. Highly recommended. The Jungle - Upton Sinclair Turn of the (last) century novel of life in the meat packing industry, based on factual information that eventually caused new laws to be put into effect. Recommended for those interested in the subject. The Practice Effect - David Brin Scifi based in a world where practice really does make perfect. Recommended. Call of the Wild - Jack London Classic story of a loyal dog and the Alaskan wilderness. Startide Rising - David Brin Interesting premise, where other species are artifically evolved to become as intelligent as humans. The Postman - David Brin Apparently this was made into a horrible movie, but I never saw it. The book, however, is excellent. A futuristic tale about a post-apocalyptical U.S. Recommended. The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. Grey Seas Under - Farley Mowat Captivating, suspenseful tales of tugboat rescues in the stormy North Atlanic. Excellent. Highly recommended. The King of Elfland's Daughter - Lord Dunsany (I don't remember much of this.) The Serpent's Coil - Farley Mowat Captivating, suspenseful tales of tugboat rescues in the stormy North Atlanic. Excellent. Highly recommended. The Annotated Alice - Martin Gardner/Lewis Carroll Good dissection of Alice in Wonderland, filling in context that would otherwise be lost to most readers. Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll Believe it or not, this was my first time reading these classic books. The Number of the Beast - Robert Heinlein Heinlein's books begin to blur together at some point. This may have been the book which convinced me I don't need to read anything else by him. Fatherland - Robert Harris Suspense/mystery set in Germany post-WWII, except in this reality Hitler won the war. Recommended. The Color Of Magic - Terry Pratchett Part of the Discworld series. Scifi in the vein of Hitchhiker's Guide.... Recommended for light reading. The Computer Connection - Alfred Bester (I don't remember much of this.) California Marine Life - Marty Snyderman Info on the creatures living off the California coast. Recommended for divers and those interested in marine biology. Sharks and Rays of the Pacific Coast - A. Ferguson & G. Cailliet Info on the Chondrichthyes living off the California coast. Recommended for divers and those interested in marine biology. The Return of the King - J.R.R. Tolkien (reread) What do you mean you haven't read this series? Go read it now! The Two Towers - J.R.R. Tolkien (reread) The best fantasy books ever written. Highly recommended. The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien (reread) The best fantasy books ever written. Highly recommended. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien (reread) The best fantasy books ever written. Highly recommended. In The Beginning...Was the Command Line - Neal Stephenson Nonfiction geek stuff. I remember liking the book, but don't remember much about it. The Catcher In The Rye - J.D. Salinger A classic I never read in school, but now I see why they usually make you read it. The Cat Who Walks Through Walls - Robert Heinlein Typical Heinlein. Take that however you will. The Ethical Slut - D. Easton & C. Liszt The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. LeGuin I disliked this enough to skip large chunks of the book, and that still didn't make it any better. Story of a Parish Priest - Father W. Adalbert Gluszek Autobiography written by a (late) friend of my parents'. The Wide Window - Lemony Snicket Two kids whose lives make Murphy's look good. Amusing children's story. The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester I don't remember much of this, other than I liked it. The Reptile Room - Lemony Snicket Two kids whose lives make Murphy's look good. Amusing children's story. The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket Two kids whose lives make Murphy's look good. Amusing children's story. Crash - J.G. Ballard A good story, but I can't help but wonder if Ballard is writing about himself, which is kinda scary. Come Together - J. Lloyd & E. Rees Some romantic tripe I bought to read on the plane. *Concentration Camp Dachau 1933-1945 & What Was It Like In The Concentration Camp At Dachau?* - I bought these from the memorial museum at Dachau. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho Excellent parable about persuing your dreams. Highly recommended. The Demolished Man - Alfred Bester I don't remember much of this, other than I liked it. A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M. Miller, Jr. This came highly recommended but I was unable to get into it. I think I just didn't get it. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein I think this was actually a good book. I seem to recall liking it. JOB: A Comedy of Justice - Robert Heinlein (reread) Heinlein's books blend together in my mind, but I guess I lied this one enough to read it a second time. Dune - Frank Herbert (reread) - Excellent scifi. The Dune series declines in quality as time goes on, so you may want to stop after the first book. Highly recommended. Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank I never read this when I was younger, but felt the need to. Great, but sad, story. Recommended. Zodiac - Neal Stephenson Bioterrorism thriller. Naked - David Sedaris Autobiographical stories from an American writer. Recommended. Magelord: The House of Bairn - Thomas K. Martin Fantasy. A Scanner Darkly - Philip K. Dick I don't remember much of this other than it had to do with drugs. Magelord: The Time of Madness - Thomas K. Martin Fantasy. Magelord: The Awakening - Thomas K. Martin Fantasy. Myths & Legends of Fiji & Rotuna - A.W. Reed and Inez Hames Many legends which helped to shape the traditional Fijian culture.

Books I've read since January 2000.