The World Is Flat

The World is Flat, by Thomas Friedman (2006 expanded ed) 600 pgs. More required reading for teachers or anybody else needing a primer on globalization and the future (perhaps already present) marketplace. I'd heard so much about this book on NPR etc., it was as if I'd already read it. But it was insightful as it is a brief history of the dot com phenom and its consequences. BTW there is now a new edition out; and somebody told me that Friedman now declares that the World is Round? Regardless of the poor theme, this read definately is a stark warning to the American way of life.

Soul Mountain

Soul Mountain, by Gao Xingjian, (1st American Ed. 2000) 528 pgs. Okay, the Nobel Prize was probably fitting, as I've never come across a book like this: written in first and in contrast second person narrative as well. It was difficult and ambivalent to say the least, but left some great impressions of Chinese culture and landscape. I certainily did not give it the depth of study that the work deserves. I think that I was "Lost in Translation" (from Chinese to English) as well... maybe some other time I'll be able to follow it.

The Omnivore's Dilemma

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals,
by Michael Pollan (2006) 464 pgs.

With this book you are fed a history and dialogue about the suprisingly important and relevant personal topic of what you eat. Topics include the prevalance of genetically modified corn in everything we consume and its underlying petrol addiction, a review of the popular yet mass produced industrial oreganic foods, the locally produced option, and the art of hunting wild boar as well as a quality chanterelle or morel in Northern California. The premise of the author/journalist's perspective is "America's Eating Disorder." Unlike many books that crack the nut of mass conspiracy in our food production, this take on its marketing and consumption, produces a generally unbiased and a very readable text that is truly insightful.

Armadillo

Armadillo by William Boyd (2000) 352 pages. This novel takes place in modern day urban London with a protagonist that is caught up in the world of insurance loss adjustment complicated by sleep disorder and the complexities of social dysfunction. A "thinking person's thriller."

Gecko Tails: A Journey Through Cambodia

Gecko Tails: A Journey Through Cambodia, by Carol Livingston, (1997) 256 pgs. This is a wannabe Journalist's book of a variety of her experiences in Cambodia during the United Nations Transitional Authority c. early to mid nineties. She covers a lot of the post Khmer Rouge history with little emotion, but captures some of the quirks of the country with some humor and a journalist inspiration to get a story.

A Short History of Nearly Everything

A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson, (2005) 624 pgs... Okay, this was like a refresher course of a lot of basic science but with a context and framework of Bryson's casual approach, and reasoned disposition. Really helped me wrap the stuff around my mind. I kept putting it down, exclaiming "no way" and then re-reading the previous chapter. Why wasn't all this important stuff explained to me this way when in school! Although, not a scientist himself, Bryson would have been or is? a terrific professor.

The God of Small Things

The God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy, 1998, 336 pgs. This novel has been compared to some Jazz songs because the composition is so deconstructionist in seemingly mismatched fragments; it probably should be read twice to appreciate its tune. Its beautiful how everything is tied up at the end, but a lot of work with details to get there. The writing reminds me of Gabrial Garcia Marquez at times, but can be even more sensuous. Definately material to throw at a Literature class.

The Inheritance of Loss

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (2006) 384 pages...

I was looking for another quality novel after Shantaram... and this one did not disappoint. Probably a good degree emphasis... What makes this book memorable is its subtle message of the inter-connectivity of lives and the scars of culture-cash in India, the US, and England. The dialogue is captivating; the characters so funny and tragicaly real. It takes place during the mid-1980s but some of its politics are applicable in India and internationally today.

BTW, I'm learning that there are some really talented fiction writers in India today. /mwf

Karma Cola

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Karma Cola: Marketing the Mystic East by Gita Mehta 208 pages... Perhaps too much of a "A witty documentary satire" for me, so I'll pass on real reviews:

Mehta embraces an enormous variety of life and death. Her style is light without being flip; her skepticism never descends to cynicism. [Karma Cola is] a miracle of rationalism and taste."-- Time.

Sometime in the 1960s, the West adopted India as its newest spiritual resort. The next anyone knew, the Beatles were squatting at the feet of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Expatriate hippies were turning on entire villages to the pleasures of group sex and I.V. drug use. And Indians who were accustomed to earning enlightenment the old-fashioned way were finding that the visitors wanted their Nirvana now -- and that plenty of native gurus were willing to deliver it...
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So this fit the relevant to India as you can see so much of the books humor in day to day experiences.\mwf

One Hundred Years of Solitude

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One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez 448 pages.
From Amazon: Colombian novelist, Gabriel Márquez (1927) received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. Considered his masterpiece, his second novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad) has sold 36 million copies since it was published in 1967.

Okay, once you get the family tree out on the characters (with very similar names) this book is just an incredible if visceral adventure that leaves impressions, images like the most vivid dream ever. Its a real family epic that rivals any other. So, maybe its better to pay of that relative of yours before they publish their take on your family history? Incredible imagery, wow.
/mwf
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Shantaram

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (2005) 994 pages. Okay, so this novel is the talk of the westerner travel circuit in Asia. On one bus I discovered six other backpackers reading it... but its WHOA! a really good book. The Australian fugitive author gives vivid accounts of his love for India culture/people... and so much much more. The author is very true to himself and his captivating writing is in blood and soul. A "literary masterpiece" that I was sad to finish, because I wanted to keep on reading about all those nuggets of the author's incredible life. But "The best novel of the 21st century so far" ...maybe too much blood and guts???

BTW: Rumor has it that Johnny Depp bought the rights and is currently making a blockbuster out of it... not surprising.
/mwf

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Annapurna

Annapurna by Maurice Herzog (1951) 336 pages... This is the ol' classic of classic mountaineering books. The French top 'er off... and break a serious barrier: the first conquered of the 14 different 8,000 meter peaks; even more amazing by the fact that they did the recon, mapping, exploring and climbing all in one season... an enjoyable (although glorified & dated) read, especially if your trekking around the annapurnas... However, It was a bit disturbing on my second read, esepcially knowing how David Roberts scandalizes the classic in: True Summit : What Really Happened on the Legendary Ascent on Annapurna. Herzog may be a fraud in some ways... despite topping it off./mwf

Escape from Kathmandu

Escape From Kathmandu by Kim Stanley Robinson (1989) 320 pages. This one might be too science fiction for many people; but its a well deserved break from the so serious books above... and its pretty hilarious take on Kathmandu, trekking, and a lot of the climbing legends, folklore the backpacker crowd etc etc... The author did his homework even though the "suspension of disbelief" factor is so great that maybe its better to read at high altitude. Kudos, because some of the science fiction like a 28,000 foot bivy have since been accomplished since its writing...
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Stones of Silence; The Snow Leopard

Stones of Silence by George B. Shaller 320 pages. For those of you who don't follow Zoologists much, George Shaller is the man! Cannot believe this guy's career.' One of the toughest mountain men I've read. This is a collection of almost personal diary type writings of his travels through many parts of the Himalayas studying sheep ...and by the by, becoming one of the first westerners to see a snow leopard. It fits in with its more popular counterpart and companion for just one of Shaller's journeys, see below:

The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen (1978), 352 pages... "A classic of modern nature writing" pretty much sums it up. Its so very personal and heart felt impressions of the Himalaya. The author's soul searching and the incredible wildlife to be found in the 1970s make it a real experience. My second time reading it was better than the first... so I guess "classic" fits.

Oh yea, you can find all kinds of Zen books by Matthiessen. Before we left, I read: At Play in the Fields of the Lord which won the National Book Award in 1996; another really good novel. So this author masters both fiction, non-fiction. Impressive!

/mwf

Scar Tissue

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Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis , really by Larry Sloman. 480 pages... Okay, this book succeeded well in the Sex, Drugs, Rock-n-Roll department... Four Stars! But its really a sad book when you think about how self-centered and totally male-ego-self destruction-freak Anthony Kiedis portrays himself as. It documents his life as the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He does enough drugs to kill a small city of people... and gets laid and rocks and... you know the Americana stereotype.
/mwf

A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson 416 pages... I passed on this on when it got popular a decade ago... reading more serious outdoor adventure seemed appropriate. However, it is a really fun read. One Book Description reads: "The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America–majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find." I totally disagree. Bryson does not even hike the entire trail. He compensates for this with self deprecating wit and factoids which he's really good at.///mwf

No Horizon is so Far

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No Horizon Is So Far: Two Women and Their Extraordinary Journey Across Antarctica by Liv Arnesen, Ann Bancroft, probably/really by Cheryl Dahle. 272 pages. In February 2001, Bancroft and Arnesen, "total strangers," became the first women to cross Antarctica on foot. The read leaves little doubt that these are really tough people. The book provides a glimpse of some of the logistical challenges the authors faced as women trying to get sponsors to take them seriously---and they prove themselves indeed as incredible inspirational athletes. The marketing of their expedition is interesting.
/mwf
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Mr. Nice

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Mr. Nice by Howard Marks (1997) 466 pages... This book is autobiographical, surprisingly detailed and charmingly personal account of masterminding about $30M in dope deals from the UK (back in the 1970s when dope referred to hash or cannabis insted of meth or smack). The global macro-economics are interesting... but not much sex for all the drugs and rock-n-roll it glorifies. The author is a decent good humored storyteller.
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Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond (1997); 480 pages... This author is/was a professor of geography and physiology at UCLA. In 1998 this book won a Pulitzer Prize and the Aventis Prize for Best Science Book. A documentary based on the book was broadcast on PBS in July 2005, produced by the National Geographic Society.MWF says: So the dude definitely is a rock star professor. Reading this book is like the best university class that I never actually attended. As an easier read, I recommend his more recent book: Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (2005); it has more of an environmental emphasis. But Guns offers a complete perspective of 11 million years of history contained in less than 500 pages---so it wins BANG FOR BUCK honors... And its a pretty amazing trip. Does too much of the author's history make sense... or is he just that good of a professor? I felt relieved when I finaly finished reading it; like ready for spring break./mwf

For Your Information...

As if anyone had the time... but anyway:

...So one part about travel and quasi-retirement is all of the great(?) books one might read.

As many of you know, we boxed up our home library to storage, so the titles lack discipline; and acquire a random selection of anything that we could get our hands on and or bother to read under that particular state of mind...

Additionally, this effort has been compromised significantly by one troublesome four year old whom does not respect the rigid application of "quiet time" before bed, or the blissful moments of escapism that a parent might occasionally capture.

Nevertheless, for the benefit of the 'more interested' or 'further readings' bunch, or for students at home (whom am I kidding?), I've decided to post a random selection of some of the reading that we have enjoyed between September and December. Honestly, most of our reading has been guide books, travel schedules and OH NO! the internet...