December 20, 2004

Book Recommendations

We see the end of the Christmas shopping tunnel, and the light we see is a beautifully decorated tree. Unlike the TAM's Terrific Treats series I've entertained you with (I hope) the past week or so here are some more serious picks for you last-minute shoppers. I realize even though some online stores claim they can still get you your gifts by Christmas ordering now involves some risk. So I'll not only provide a link to the item, but I'll give you the ISBN. Booksellers love it when customers have that number because all we have to do is type it into a computer to see if it's in stock.

First, fiction:

• I've become a big fan of Donald Westlake's Dortmunder books. The most recent is The Road to Ruin (ISBN: 089296801X). The main character is a professional thief. While he's a man who breaks the law he still abides by a moral code. Dortmunder is a crook with a soul. The capers have plenty of twists and turns. They never quite end the way you think, but you'll laugh and smile watching how it turns out.

• Daniel Silva's The Confessor (ISBN: 0451211480) is a taught, action-packed spy book where a Jewish art restorer is also an Mossad agent. It would be good for those who like Robert Ludlum's Bourne series.
  

Now onto non-fiction:

• For someone with little exposure to the study of economics a great place to start is with Henry Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson (ISBN: 0517548232). It's short so it won't overwhelm the reader. Yet it's full of insight with talk about the importance of tradeoffs and unintended consequences.

• John Stuart Mill's On Liberty is a classic political tract for a reason: his arguments must still be tackled today.

• Michael Lewis' Moneyball (ISBN: 0393057658) isn't just a great baseball book. It's a great business book, and it's a great economics book. Lewis wondered how the Oakland A's won with small payroll. By answering that question we learn the importance of discipline, creative thinking, deep analysis, and taking advantage of other's missed opportunities.

• If you think someone would be daunted with a copy of Tom Wolfe's large novel I Am Charlotte Simmons, then give them Hooking Up (ISBN: 0312420234) a collection of essays and a novella. It has Wolfe's wild, wizbang style, and the title essay should let the reader understand what Charlotte Simmons is about.

For more ideas Thomas Sowell offers his recomendations. [via PrestoPundit]

Me, I'm off to finish up some shopping.