FIREBLIND.COM

Not that anyone cares, but I’m going to try and maintain a list of books that I think you, the well-informed American citizen, should read. When I get more time I’ll include a short synopsis of each work. For now, just read them. Or else she-bears will maul you. So there.

Fiction

Catch-22, by Joseph Heller

Probably my favorite book of all time. Heller’s book is at once comedic and tragic, with the comedy acting as just a way to better demonstrate the horror and stupidity of war.

Sacred Hunger, by Barry Unsworth

This is not an easy book to read, in more ways than one. Following the fortunes of an 18th-century slave ship, Sacred Hunger examines all aspects of this horrible Atlantic trade in gritty, inspired detail. As the Liverpool Merchant sets sail for the African coast, she takes along with her the hopes of her nearly bankrupt owner. After a tumultuous time buying slaves, teh boat sets sale for the Caribbean, only to suffer severe death rates and poor weather. A mutiny ultimately unfolds, and sets the story off towards a galloping conclusion. The subject matter is intense, horrifying, and sad. And yet, there are moments of deep satisfaction and happiness. The language of the book is beautiful, although it is not for the casual reader. If you’re up to a challenge, and can work through a slow start, the last 500 out of 600 pages will have you mesmerized. If you can pull it off, this book might actually change you, something I don’t say about many books.

The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger

One of the most interesting and emotionally powerful books I’ve ever read. I read it long before it got popular, so even though it’s a romance of sorts, I still get mad street cred for reading it before the unwashed masses got hold of it. I guess that makes you part of the unwashed masses, since you’re only reading it now, but don’t feel bad about it. You’ll die someday, and then you won’t have to wallow in shame any longer.

Religion/Atheism

Bible Prophecy: Failure or Fulfillment?

Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis. Although I think the work comes up short in its defense of Christianity, I love this book for its honest attempt to arrive at the roots of Christianity separately from the Bible.

Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why

Middle East

Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam

This is THE book on modern Islamism. It was written before the al-Qaeda attacks on 9/11/01, so Kepel’s assessment that political Islam was on the wane is now problematic (it probably was if not for our invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq). Even so, there is no better work I know of that gets to the heart and history of modern Islamism without being a “technical” work on the subject.

Photography Related, Technical

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera

I highly recommend this book for any non-professional photographer. Even if you only own a point-and-shoot camera, I think you’ll benefit from what this book has to tell. I’m a fairly advanced amateur, and I found a great deal of use from this well written, well illustrated book.

Photography Related, Collections

The Vice Photo Book. Buy this book. Now. You won’t regret it.