Every Christmas, and for several years, I issue a reading list to my family members that reflects my ongoing and evolving interests.  The list can range from the mundane, such as the latest volume from a favorite author, to the eclectic, such as a dreary volume on comparative religion.  My list usually contains some surprises, and depends entirely on what I find on the shelves of our local bookstores or in the weekly reviews found in my daily reading of newspapers, magazines and internet browsing.

Over the years, I've developed some decidedly predictable reading habits.  Back in my twenties (for reference, that would be in the 1970's), I was fascinated by Frank Herbert's DUNE series, and absorbed them in their entirety.  Today, I'm on the watch for original hardcover editions of these classics to include in my permanent collection.  I'm also quite enamored of the continuing work being done on Mr. Herbert's DUNE mythology by his son, Brian, and his co-writer Kevin Anderson.  They've developed a series of prequel, sequel and between-quel volumes that far outrun the original works in scope, while maintaining the elder Herbert's style of writing and story-telling.  I highly recommend these to anyone who has a penchant for science-fiction and fantasy.

 

Many years ago, I was perusing a used book store at Milwaukee's Billy Mitchell Airport during a layover, and came across a volume of Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Mort d'Arthur" that was published in 1955.  Not only was the volume meticulously packaged in its original cardboard sleeve, but the book itself was in remarkably good condition.  I buried myself in this legend and followed this particular read with Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy, upon which the movie, "Excalibur" is based.  I've had a true love of the Arthurian legend ever since.

 

I'd be remiss in not including the magical and mythical stories written by J.R.R. Tolkien on this page.  From the time I first picked up "The Hobbit" till the most recently published "The Children of Hurin", the stories of Middle Earth of fascinated me.  "The Hobbit" was the first (and alas, the last) truly epic story I read to my own children, but they were impressed with it enough, I feel, to develope their own reading list.  A spanking new edition of "The Hobbit" awaits my grandchildren.  When they're ready for it, I'll read it to them.

 

As well, I've thoroughly enjoyed the Harry Potter series, smuggling from my own son's collection as soon as he finished each volume.

 

Another of my passions is travel.  I stumbled onto my favorite travel writer quite by accident one year.  I had read of a well written book entitled "* A Short History of Nearly Everything", by none other than Bill Bryson.  The humor and elegant simplicity with which Mr. Bryson writes of everything from the size of the universe to the development of Einstein's Theory of Relativity and string theory is so endearing that I have added many, if not most, of his books to my library.  He is a regular addition to my reading list.

 

Over the past ten to twenty years I've developed an interest in contemporary history, as well as in the influence our past has contributed to our present (with gratitude to George Santayana and Edmund Burke).  This has lead me to include such authors as Bruce Feiler for his remarkable series of books on the Judeo/Christian/Islamic religions; Willis Barnstone for his compilation of ancient religious written tradition, "The Other Bible"; and Howard Zinn, for his "A People's History of the United States - 1492 to Present", a must read for anyone who truly wishes to understand who we are as Americans, and how we got here.

 

I also have an appetite for history and biography.  Some volumes in my permanent library might be considered grueling (The Federalist Papers; The 9/11 Commission Report).  Others are great stories in their own right (David Attenborough's "John Adams", Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography). 

 

I can unequivocably assure anyone that my goal of being a life-long learner plays a large roll in the development of my annual reading lists.

 

To see what I'm currently reading, feel free to browse my Blog.