Adult

Written in 1756, I laughed out loud more often while reading this book than while watching most TV sitcoms (excluding The Simpsons). This guy has a truly demented style, the perfect anecdote to a long day of teaching.

Browsing the shelves at Border’s one day, I was intrigued by this book’s title and cover art. Four hours and two coffees later, I found myself advertising the book to all who would listen. Wonderfully written with its fair share of twists and turns, this book left me wanting more books by Valerie Martin.

I have my friend, Patricia Edie, to thank for this wonderful retelling of one of my favorite books of all time, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This version focuses on the relationship between the escaped slave Jim and his wife Sadie, and it follows their love story’s ups and downs. How Rawles was able to successfully pull this off is beyond me, as she creates a remarkable character in Sadie while staying true to Twain’s text and tone. An excellent supplementary book to give to students.

If you have failed to read a Walter Kirn novel yet, you are in for a real treat. He writes for slate.com, and I would consider him a modern George Orwell, suspicious of technology and corporations. Kent Selkirk works for AidSat, a cyber how-to organization run amok. Let’s just say that there is surveillance taking place everywhere, and you may wind up looking over your back more than once after reading this quick read.

I have Stacey Mulrenin to thank for this recommendation. The winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in Drama, it tells the tale of how a new lector changes the lives of Cuban immigrants working at a cigar factory in Florida in the 1920s. This is a topic I have been interested in, as the magazine Cigar Aficionado had a wonderful feature in their June 2008 edition on the tradition of lectors reading aloud to workers. A great story, and very easy-to-read play.

Subtitled “A Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Child’s Friendships,” this book is essential reading for parents trying to better meet the needs of their children. I have three children who all live under the same roof, share the same genes and could not be more different from one another, and I am grateful to Hartley-Brewer for the many practical tips this book offers.

This is exactly the book you need to read to make for a happy new year. Kathy Magliato's touching memoir about her experiences as one of the few female heart surgeons in a heavily alpha-male field accomplishes the trifecta: it makes you laugh, cry and think. Magliato is a role model for little girls everywhere. She inspires me.

I am a sucker for humorous travel books, and this clever “travel guide” reveals everything one needs to know when traveling to the fictional country of Molvania. Yes, it is a one-joke book, but anyone who has ever trotted abroad with a copy of The Lonely Planet, Fodors or Let’s Go is sure to enjoy this satire. I would be interested to know how many tourists purchase it thinking that there is such a country (I wish geography found greater importance in American classrooms).

Very few books get me to laugh out loud, yet this one did it repeatedly. I picked up this book because of its unique title (it made me do a double-take), and I was treated to Tina Fey-like story about a woman obsessed with the wrong man. Perfect for a cross-country flight.

This is a phenomenal account of Teddy's life up until he became President. Before reading this, I only knew that Teddy bears were named after him, and for some reason he has his mug on Mt. Rushmore. Now I consider him one of the most fascinating Americans in history. Morris points out that Teddy read nearly 20,000 books by the time he was 30. I am trying to make up ground by reading lots of short books!

Heck – why not begin the new year with a grin on your face? I know no better way than to read Baker’s clever, poignant and funny prose. He is a poet that has delighted me since his book Mezzanine.

I have been doing a lot more speaking with associations and businesses lately about the importance of teamwork and collaboration, and Lundin and Nelson have created an easy-to-read parable based around a wonderful African philosophy. By the way – Bob Nelson gives a wonderful glimpse of this philosophy in his recent TEDx talk.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and basis for the movie "Gettysburg." His son Jeff wrote a prequel (Gods and Generals) and sequel (The Last Full Measure), and, while not as good, they are both very appealing.

The Killer Angels is a must-read, as I have recommended it to nearly 100 people of all ages, races and genders, and all have told me that it is one of the best books they have ever read. I never knew how interesting the Civil War could be, and I would recommend that all high school social studies teachers recommend this book to their students. I would have been much more interested in this time in history (now I read every book on the Civil War that I can get my hands on).

I am all about New Year’s Resolutions (evident from my annual holiday guilt diet that I am currently following), and one of the things I hope to see and attract more of in 2011 is happiness. There are a lot of people hurting out there, and one of my goals is to get more people smiling. Dr. Smith’s book is a good guide for those interested in making small changes that can lead to big results.

Subtitled “New Yorker Covers You Were Never Meant to See,” this wonderful book provides a glimpse into the art selection process of one of America’s magazine mainstays. The examination of current events is both entertaining and thought-provoking, as I have always thought that political cartoonists and satirists are perhaps society’s most influential catalysts of public opinion.