I only started writing about each book I've read since 2006, when I started this blog, so at first I thought it wouldn't be fair to try to make a "favorites of the decade list." I can hardly remember what i did this morning, let alone remember what I read in 2002. But then I thought that if I can't remember a book without checking a list, well, maybe it isn't memorable enough to make this list. So problem solved--this list only consists of books that came to mind, without checking any of my lists.
In alphabetical order by title:
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. An intense look at a man who was often his own worst enemy. One of the best biographies I've ever read.
Big Trouble: A Murder in a Small Western Town Sets Off a Struggle for the Soul of America, by J. Anthony Lukas. The title pretty much says it all--it's part murder mystery, part courtroom drama, and part cultural history. Lukas manages to weave together many threads of widely varying colors, from the violent struggle of labor vs. owners in the West, to the founding of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, to the early careers of pitcher Walter Johson and Ethel Barrymore. A fascinating read.
Carter Beats the Devil, by Glen David Gold. Magicians in the early 1900s. Really, what more could I ask for?
The Echoing Green, by Joshua Prager. This book made me realize that I do not know what I thought I knew.
Hiding the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear, by Jim Steinmeyer. After reading "Carter Beats the Devil," I wanted to find out more about the history of magicians on stage. I learned a lot about how magicians do what they do, and learned a lot about what I can do to become a more effective performer as well.
In Search of Lost Time, by Marcel Proust. I'm glad I read this book for two reasons. First, for a book of this size and with such a daunting reputation, it's a damn fun read. It often has, of all things, a very gossipy tone, and a couple of head-spinning plot twists (when I was reading it, a friend who had recently finished it asked, "Did you get to the letter yet?" I said no, wondering what she meant. Well, when I got to the letter, I knew EXACTLY what she meant). Each densely packed page contains marvels of prose; yes, sometimes it can feel overwhelming, and there definitely were some skimming moments. But more often than not, I wanted to read every word. This would be a marvelous book to read aloud to someone (until your voice gives out, somewhere in the middle of chapter one). The other reason for reading this is that it feels like a cultural get-out-of-jail card. As in, "I don't know anything about art, but I've actually read Proust." It's something not everyone gets around to, so finishing it made me feel the way I think I'd feel if I climbed some impressive mountain.
Kim, by Rudyard Kipling. The classic about the boy spy. It's easy for people today to get all caught up in Kipling's "white man's burden" attitude. But the power of his writing, and love for the places he wrote about can be felt here in his description of Kim's journeys.
Legacy of Ashes: A History of the CIA, by Tim Weiner. Reading this book made me think it is a marvel that this country has survived some of the epic bungles of the spy agency.
A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution, 1891-1924/ Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia/ The Whisperers by Orlando Figes. As you can see, I seem to think Mr. Figes is the absolute go-to guy for Russian history. His books often cover very big events, but he brings them down to a personal level through the true stories of people who lived through these times.
River of Doubt, by Candice Millard. Why, look, it's this year's winner! But not because I just read it a few months ago, but because of Millard's thrillingly horrifying descriptions of the jungle in this story of an expedition that began with an excess of pride and nearly ended in disasters.
Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography, David Michaelis. Charles M. Schulz hid his true self in plain sight--everything he ever was or wanted to be, felt, loved, or hated could be found in one of the panels of Peanuts. And what he was was a man who seemed to be almost incapable of happiness, one of the more puzzling people you will ever meet in the pages of any book.
Stanley: The Impossible Life of Africa's Greatest Explorer, by Tim Jeal. Henry Morton Stanley constructed his own personal history out of layers and layers of lies. Jeal somehow found the real story, and it's a good one.
Tournament of Shadows: The Great Game and the Race for Empire in Central Asia, by Karl Ernest Meyer and Shareen Blair Brysac. The story of the battle for control of an area that refuses to be controlled. Essential reading for anyone interested in the Raj.
Whittaker Chambers: A Biography, by Sam Tanenhaus. A sympathetic, but evenhanded biography of one of the twentieth century's most uneasy figures.
And that's it--for now. I have a bad feeling I'm going to wake up in the middle of the night remembering important titles I've left out. So I apologize in advance for this list's potential expansion.
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