Adult

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not an animal lover. It is not that I dislike animals; I simply tend to despise irresponsible pet owners who think I enjoy their cats ripping up my welcome mat or celebrate their dogs doing their business in my front yard. That is why I was surprised to love this book so much. I guess Jon Katz is well-known, but I just grabbed his book from a pile and found myself instantly captivated. He is better known for other books, and I intend to read them. In the meantime, grab a copy of this treasure and learn plenty about human beings as well as “man’s best friends.”

Will you stop worrying about the page count? This book includes 103 two to three-page, real-life mysteries that are crafted with Paul Harvey's marvelous touch. Any collection of Paul Harvey's stories, gathered by his son, Paul Aurandt, is worth reading. How else would you learn about the dead jockey that won the Belmont Stakes or the hypochondriac who would be immortalized as the world's most beloved nurse?

There are a surprising number of books about how to marry wealthy people (oddly, I could not find any authored by Anna Nicole Smith, Tom Arnold or John Kerry). This book was handed to me by a woman at the library, and I read it in a couple of hours. She had described it as “instructive,” but it is meant to be humorous at the expense of greedy women. If you are interested, I have found all sorts of short books in this genre, for both greedy women and men.

While I enjoyed this gritty Philadelphia drug trade story, what drew me to the book was the author’s biography. From secretary to self-published author who created her own press, Teri Woods is an inspiration. I am so happy for her success, as this book is the first in a series.

I just realized that I had not yet recommended this semi-memoir of the Nobel Prize winner's experiences as a 15-year-old concentration camp survivor. If this book is not being recommended to students, there truly is something wrong with our school system.

This will give you a nice taste of the Nobel Prize winner’s writing. Though quite depressing, the book is moving in its portrayal of an idiot gardener’s quest to shepherd his mother away from war in South Africa, only to find that it follows them wherever they go.

Forty-four chapters, all around five pages or less with wry wit – I was in heaven devouring this book. Greenberg is an excellent writer, and I now intend to read a lot more of his books.

If you are going to pick up a self-help book, grab this one. The chapters are all about 2-3 pages long and filled with great quotes and anecdotes, which is all I ever look for in a book. Great exercises, as well.

Why not kick off the new year with some genuine inspiration about real people? This memoir of how Likins and his wife adopted six disparate children in the 1960s deals with everything from issues of race and mental illness to drug addiction and unwed pregnancy. On each page, though, you see the love and compassion and pride of its author, and you feel reassured that there still are plenty of lovely people among us that don’t necessarily get talked about in the nightly news.

I could not put this book down! Ever heard of William Henry Ireland? Neither had I. This book takes you through his incredible con-job in 18^th century England, when he claimed to have discovered a bunch of never-before-seen documents written by Shakespeare. A fascinating tale that would make a great movie.

I first saw Patrick on Extreme Makeover: The Home Edition and was touched by his inspiring story of living with a disability and his incredibly supportive father (they perform as a team in the Louisville marching band). If you want to get motivated for the new year, I know no better book to show you how to put things in perspective and beat any odds.

Baker has written quite a few novels covering a lot of diverse topics. In this nod to the value of poetry, Baker writes about a poet trying to write an introduction to an anthology of rhyming verse. As a writer, I could relate. As a reader, I secretly cherished being part of a community of people who celebrate the rhythms of language.

Would you believe there is an emerging genre of food mysteries? Is this the result of the Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen? I can only speculate, but one thing I am sure of is that you will spend a wonderful afternoon devouring this fun mystery – part of a series, of course – by Carl.

Hemingway says in The Old Man and the Sea that the old man gets up early each morning because it may be his last. Elrod reminds us all how to count our blessings and celebrate each and every day. This is a wonderfully inspiring book that should be read by (or to) all ages.

I think just about any middle-aged guy – of which I am a member – can relate to this funny play on overly-obsessed American football fans.