Required Reading
We like to read. We think there are certain books that everybody needs to read. Including you. But not necessarily in this order.
A Carnivore’s Inquiry, by Sabina Murray
Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang, by Joyce Carol Oates
Sad Little Breathing Machine, by Matthea Harvey
Days Between Stations, by Steve Erickson
A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson
Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn
The Pornography of Meat, by Carol J. Adams
Visits From the Seventh, by Sarah Arvio
A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, by Karen Russel
Cradle to Cradle, by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
Twilight of the Superheroes, by Deborah Eisenberg
No Logo, by Naomi Klein
The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan
Beyond Ramps: Disability at the End of the Social Contract, by Marta Russell
How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America: Freedom, Politics, and the War on Sex, by Cristina Page
Mama’s Boy, Preacher’s Son, by Kevin Jennings
Woman: An Intimate Geography, by Natalie Angier
Colonize This!: Young Women of Color on Today’s Feminism, by Cherrie Moraga (Foreword), Daisy Hernandez (Editor), Bushra Rehman (Editor)
Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, by Art Spiegelman
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank
The People’s Act of Love, by James Meek
No More Throw-Away People, By Edgar Cahn
Note: These authors’ other books are all highly recommended.
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Also! Magazines:
Miriam B. said,
January 3, 2007 at 7:48 am
How about Michael Pollan’s _The Omnivore’s Dilemma_? I know you posted about it a while back. I spent part of the snowed-in days last week finishing it, and I gotta say it is certainly the best book I’ve read in the past year.
It’s inspired me to ask around: What’s the best book _you_ read in the past year? I’m going to assemble the replies into a post or two for the library’s blog. Love to hear two replies, one from each of you.
Your fan, Miriam B.
http://santafelibrary.blogspot.com/
Emily said,
January 3, 2007 at 11:57 am
The only reason The Omnivore’s Dilemma isn’t on the list yet is because I haven’t actually read it yet…I have read Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire, though, and am looking forward to The Omnivore’s Dilemma, which is moving up on my to-read list. So, you can probably expect the addition soon.
The best book I’ve read in the past year? Hard question! Let me think about it…
Off the top of my head, I guess I’d have to say I most enjoyed The Pornography of Meat by Carol J. Adams (at least, that’s the book I spend the most time talking about) and St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell (yay for magical realism!).
Daisy said,
January 3, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Emily, you stole mine!
Emily said,
January 3, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Haha, both of them?
Daisy said,
January 3, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Yes, ha. It’s too bad we read all the same stuff.
Emily said,
January 3, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Well, I guess that means they really were the best books of the year.
Quite Observer said,
January 31, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Hey how about some more
liek “The Jungle”
or “Confessions of an Echonomic Hitman” eh?
Daisy said,
January 31, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Confessions of an Economic Hitman is slated for addition, actually, just as soon as we’ve gotten around to reading it. :)
ballgame said,
February 2, 2007 at 6:16 pm
OK, I’ve read A Short History of Nearly Everything, and a book circulator at work is recommending Stiff, so that will be next.
I would like to recommend Cannibals and Kings by Marvin Harris for you.
Daisy said,
February 3, 2007 at 1:29 am
Thanks for the recommendation! Wow, the title certainly sounds right up our alley… :)
susan tucker said,
April 25, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Nicole Krauss, The History of Love
Stanley Cohen, Against Criminology
Emily said,
April 25, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Thanks Susan! We’ll definitely check them out.
Required Reading « Our Descent Into Madness said,
July 10, 2007 at 12:34 pm
[…] 6th, 2007 at 10:53 am (queer rights, books) I’ve added two books to the Required Reading list, and hopefully Daisy and Emily will forgive my […]
(Never) Again « Our Descent Into Madness said,
July 18, 2007 at 11:55 am
[…] am (conservatives, the truth about many of them, injustice, death, books) This should have been on our reading list ages ago, but as I’ve only just finished it, I’ve only just added Maus: A […]
The People’s Act of Love « Our Descent Into Madness said,
July 22, 2007 at 1:59 pm
[…] cannibalism, books) I’ve just added The People’s Act of Love, by James Meek, to our reading list (goodness, it is getting very long). It’s an engaging novel, but I found the real value of […]
Almanac of the Dead « Our Descent Into Madness said,
October 28, 2007 at 10:28 am
[…] only fifty pages in to Almanac of the Dead by Leslie Marmon Silko, but I’ve already put it on our reading list. I’m sure that’s the fastest any book has ever made it on […]
Lisa Oppenheimer said,
November 14, 2007 at 8:16 am
Time for you all to update the recommended reading list…..current picks?
Emily said,
November 14, 2007 at 8:17 am
Eek, yeah it is time. But what a daunting task…we’ll get on that soon.
Iz said,
January 29, 2008 at 8:29 pm
The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things by Barry Glassner
fuck media…
No More Throw-Away People! « Our Descent Into Madness said,
April 21, 2008 at 10:23 am
[…] More Throw-Away People: The Co-Production Imperative, by Edgar S. Cahn, is the newest addition to our reading list. The book is so important, and so uncannily in line with our values, I’m not sure what to say […]