Listed without regard to priority or sequence
Read (past tense)
Non-fiction
Inside the Revolution: How the Followers of Jihad, Jefferson & Jesus Are Battling to Dominate the Middle East and Transform the World, by Joel Rosenberg - Everyone should read this book. If you want to understand the Middle East, past, present and future, this is one of the "must reads" along with The Prize, by Daniel Yergin.
Rickenbacker, by Eddie Rickenbacker - An amazing history of the making of 20th Century America by one of the men who made it. This book should be required reading by every high school student in the United States. It is out of print . . . so go to Amazon or call a used book broker and get yourself a copy!
Liberty and Tyranny, by Mark Levin - this should be required reading for every adult and adolescents, too. Frankly, you don't have to agree or live in America to benefit from a factual account of events and issues.
The Prize, by Daniel Yergin - a fascinating modern history surrounding the discovery and exploitation of oil. Read this book for a better understanding of modern history. Gain some new perspective.
Surprised by Joy, by C.S. Lewis - a detailed introspection of Lewis conversion from atheism to Christianity. This work has impacted my own spiritual awareness of God and my relation to Him.
World-class Warehousing, Edward H. Frazelle - need to get up to speed fast on warehousing? Then, this is your book. Very clear and concise, easy read, but packed with content. Serves as a brief, handy reference for process improvement in warehousing.
Supply Chain Strategy, Edward H. Frazelle - comprehensive and clear. Another good read and reference. Concise with robust content.
Reengineering the Corporation, Michael Hammer & James Champy - Lots of common sense stuff in here that startles you when you read it . . ."Why didn't I think of that?" sort of stuff.
Competitive Advantage, Michael E. Porter - classic on strategy. Must have for your business library.
The Pentagon's New Map, by Thomas P.M. Barnett - fascinating perspective on global security and prosperity by a real authority on the subject. You should read this, even if you don't agree with everything in it. It will make you think. Very well written and an easy read for serious and deep subject matter.
Black Rednecks and White Liberals, by Thomas Sowell - If you think you know what this book is about without reading it, you are likely mistaken. This is less of a book than a collection of essays about relevant sociological topics that are based on his research. Whether or not you agree with Dr. Sowell's conclusions, his findings are exhaustively researched and brilliantly articulated. Dr. Sowell, for the record is black and a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.
A Personal Odyssey, by Thomas Sowell - If you think your life has been difficult and that you have overcome the odds, think again and read this book.
My Grandfather's Son, by Clarence Thomas - see my comments on A Personal Odyssey. As a bonus, this read delivers a powerful disillusionment of the concept of "fairness" in the American Left.
The Wal-Mart Effect, by Charles Fishman - A thought-provoking read on the nature of capitalism and getting that for which we ask. Collusive selling is illegal. Should collusive purchasing be illegal? Is Wal-Mart an example? The book is not without a thesis, but it is also well-researched and thoughtful.
Other great authors, almost always worth reading: Peter Drucker. Tom Peters.
Fiction
The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis - just simple genius. "Fairy tales" for all ages and all time. You must read these stories . . . again . . . and again. If you have children, I implore you to read them aloud to your kids. If you don't your life, and theirs, will be the poorer for it. Find the time.
Lately, I have read a lot of Michael Crichton's material - very smart, thought-provoking novels. I've also been very fond of Vince Flynn novels.
I have read most of the original Tom Clancy books and thought they were all fabulous reads that were richly researched. I would recommend them to anyone. I also enjoy Robert Ludlum's novels. I recently read The Ambler Warning. I have also enjoyed some of the novels by Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly and W.E.B. Griffin. Also, in the pulp fiction vein, I have read most of Lisa Gardner's work - compelling crime novels that seem to be well-researched. Ms. Gardner dwells a bit on the worst in the criminal mind, so be warned.
I found Oliver North's novels surprisingly interesting. A rather unknown novelist I recommend is Gayle Lynds. She wrote one of Ludlum's novels. Her own Masquerade and The Last Spymaster were very quite good.
Reading
A Book, by Desi Arnaz - fascinating look into history through biography. Not well written, but interesting.
Blueprint for Action: A Future Worth Creating, by Thomas P.M. Barnett - Nice follow-up on The Pentagon's New Map. In fact, in the early pages, he recaps the thesis of his earlier book. Barnett fleshes out his prescription for successful creation of a world without terror or at least with less asymmetrical warfare and no symmetrical nation on nation warfare. However, I wonder if he has underestimated the fire of Islamic antagonism for the Christianity, Jews and the West and much of Islam's philosophy of violence. He espouses the assumption that there are no religious differences that should result in violence in an interconnected world. Me thinks that history, the Quran and the level of daily Islamic violence extant in the world today make his assumption more like a presumption, though one can only hope Barnett is right.
Darwin's Black Box, by Michael J. Behe - I'm no biologist, nor a cosmologist, but the science here is interesting. I have heard Behe debated and taken to task, but mostly with ridicule. I have not read (didn't do an exhaustive search), where the specific issues he raises to evolution as cosmology are explicitly addressed. Remember that we resort to insults when the logic of our arguments is insufficient.
The Bell Curve, by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray - Not sure what to make of this yet or if it even matters.
Measured Lies, by Joe L Kincheloe, Shirley R. Steinberg, and Aaron D. Gresson III - Well, the forward is dripping with emotion or should I say vitriol (my new favorite word). That usually belies someone whose negative emotions have blinded their reason, but if I can get past the introductory remarks, then may be we will see if that is really the case. I just don't feel like reading those whose arguments lead with ridicule of their antagonists.
Samurai Selling
, by Chuck Laughlin and Karen Sage - Uses the samurai concept as "one who serves" as a model for some of the skills helpful in selling or, perhaps, even being influential.
Columnists/bloggers that I enjoy include George Will, Michael Barone, and Thomas Sowell, to name a few.
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