4 Sept. 1999

I try to do a lot of reading. There are so many terrific books out in the world that one should take some time out to enjoy some of these beautiful works. Two years ago, I kept track of the books that I read during the summer. This year, I thought that I would do the same. (Last year, I read a lot about university history.) These lists include all the books I read during the summer. Who knows, I may actually read all of the books that I was supposed to read during the school year.

Book titles with an asterisk (*) indicate new books. Those with an minus sign (-) indicate books I haven't finished reading. Some of these titles may be repeats from years past, but reading them again is like meeting an dear old friend and reminiscing.

This webpage will be linked to the Barnes and Noble website. I am also including links to other reading lists so that you might be able to find something that strikes your fancy.

My Summer Reading List for 1999

An Improbable Venture: A History of the University of California, San Diego by Nancy Scott Anderson

A through book about the history of UCSD, outlining the process of university-building from genesis to promience. I would also recommend William McGill's Year of the Monkey, in which UCSD's third chancellor writes about his trials during the late '60s.

 

Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by David Simon

A terrific look into the homicide department of the Baltimore Police Dept. The book inspired the TV series "Homicide: Life on the Streets," one of the best damn shows that met its demise this year.

 

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

Truly the American novel. The characterizations are excellent as the authority of Nurse Ratchet duels with the willpower of Randle McMurphy.

 

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Interestingly one of the most "upbeat" of the disaster morality novels that everyone had to read in high school (which includes Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and Huxley's Brave New World). The main character actually survives the novel. The book still frightens me because of how close our modern American society mirrors Bradbury's.

Star Wars: The Last Command by Timothy Zahn

The conclusion of the first Star Wars trilogy novel series. All of Zahn's characterizations hit the mark. If you like the Star Wars movie series, you would enjoy these novels.

* Star Wars: Visions of the Future by Timothy Zahn

The conclusion of a two-part series that Zahn wrote last year. This is the best novel written in the Star Wars universe, IMHO.

* Star Trek: Voyager - Invasion! The Final Fury by Dafydd Ab Hugh

Eh. It was an acceptable novel. I still think that Voyager is the weakest incarnation of the Star Trek franchise.

The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov

Written more than 45 years ago, this science fiction novel remains fresh. This novel is the first book in Asimov's Robot series.

* We're Right, They're Wrong by James Carville

Quite simply, a hoot. This book, a call to arms to embattered Democrats after the 1994 Republican "revolution," was a very fast read and immensely enjoyable.

* Peacemakers: Winners of the Nobel Peace Prize by Ann T. Keene

A swell reference book containing biographies of the all of the winners of this prestigious prize.

Leaving Home by Garrison Keillor

Another collection of Keillor's Lake Wobegon monologues that originally aired on "A Prairie Home Companion."

* Executive Order 9066: The Internment of 110,000 Japanese Americans by Maisie and Richard Conrat

A long photo essay covering the placement of Japanese Americans in concentration camps during World War II. A stark reminder that the United States of America is not perfect and should not be assumed to be.

The Onion presents Our Dumb Century: 100 Years of Headlines from America's Finest News Source

I was the first person on the block to buy this book. It's a hilarious look back at our century through the front pages of The Onion. Be sure to check out their website.

My Summer Reading List for 1997

* Foundation's Fear
* Star Trek: First Contact by J.M. Dillard
The Illustrated Brief History of Time by Steven Hawking
* CNN: The Inside Story by Hank Whittemore
The Positronic Man by Issac Asmiov and Robert Silverberg
* (ST) The Klingon Gambit by Robert E. Vardeman
i, robot by Issac Asimov
* Make It So: Leadership Lessons from Star Trek: The Next Generation by Wess Robert, Ph.D., and Bill Ross
Pebble in the Sky by Issac Asimov
Buy Jupiter and Other Stories by Issac Asimov
The Foundation Trilogy: Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation by Issac Asimov
* (ST) The Joy Machine by James Gunn based on a story by Theodore Sturgeon
* (ST) Guises of the Mind by Rebecca Neason
* 3001: The Final Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

* (ST) Fortune's Light by Michael Jan Friedman
Leaving Home by Garrison Keillor
* (ST) Firestorm by L.A. Graf
* Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by David Simon
* Listening to America: Twenty-five Years in the Life of a Nation, as Heard on National Public Radio edited by Linda Wertheimer

* (ST) Crossover by Michael Jan Friedman
Foundation and Earth by Issac Asimov
Prelude to Foundation by Issac Asimov
* (ST) The Return by William Shatner

* The Godfather by Mario Puzo
* Hardball by Christopher Matthews