Read On

Rarely do I give reading advice or flat out recommend books (I’m not Oprah), but today is your lucky day. Recently I was asked what the best book I have ever read is by my cousin and friend of the blog Kate. To be quite honest, I didn’t know what to say. Although I arrogantly boycotted summer reading in high school I’ve actually read quite a few books in my day. True fans of the blog will know that I am part of a two person book club with my buddy Kyle Korver, who it should be known recently asked to have his name changed to JJ Barea. I wouldn’t say that I’m “well read” (I assume you’ve all heard this term), but I’m better read (not sure if this works) than most people my age despite taking a 10 year hiatus from reading books written by women. How I was unable to answer what seems like such a simple question baffled me.

As I took time to reflect (a grand total of about 10 minutes when I realized that it was the last day in June and I only had a few more hours to post something in order to maintain my 4 posts a month strategy), I realized that I don’t even have any rhyme or reason to how I select books to read. FYI- My cousin Kate reads books that are in the process of becoming movies or TV shows because 1.) If they are making a movie about it the book must be halfway decent and 2.) Books like this (Twilight, My Sister’s Keeper, and The Hunger Games which has been adapted to Game of Thrones on HBO to name a few) often become very popular and if she’s read the book she has a good understanding of why, what the plot is, etc. I usually just browse the Social Sciences or Cultural Studies sections online or at my local Barnes & Noble and hope something catches my eye. When that well runs dry (doesn’t take much) I get into specific genres. I’ll read humor books for a few months, then classics for a few months, followed by a bunch of stunt non-fiction books for a few months.

I also essentially only read before I go to sleep, so I don’t exactly speed through books unless they are absolutely riveting. And unlike movies I no longer feel compelled to plow through an entire book if it doesn’t keep me interested (I’m looking at you Catch-22). So basically I have limited time to read and I occasionally stop reading books altogether. Maybe this was why I couldn’t easily think of the best book I’ve ever read? Or maybe my strict screening process should have led me to an answer more quickly?

Either way, I took the time to craft a list of the top 12 books that I’ve ever read, or so I think. Why 12? Well if I ever do start a book club (0 chance this ever happens) I’d need to at least be able to pick a book for each month of the year. Because that’s how many I thought of.

(in no particular order)

Freakonomics (2005) by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner



I’m pretty sure there have been about 736363 adaptations and re-releases, but I read the original back in 2006 and it was right up my alley. The authors use data to present ideas that seem counterintuitive. For example, more children die each year from backyard pools than having guns in the home, but parents freeeakkk out about guns in the house. Also there’s an entire chapter on the economics of drug dealing which is simply fascinating.


Moneyball (2003) by Michael Lewis



There have been plenty of great baseball books written, but I’m fairly certain that this one is the best. Now it doesn’t deal with the history or prestige of America’s pastime. Rather it looks at how a small market team, the Oakland Athletics, used advanced metrics to compete against teams that had payrolls 5 times the size of theirs. This book is so influential that I just read, I believe in the ESPN book, that business school students at a well renowned university are required to read it. Fun fact- the book is being made into a movie with Brad Pitt playing the lead role of A’s GM Billy Beane.


Prisoner of Trebekistan (2006) by Bob Harris



Obviously this one is for fans of Jeopardy! The book follows the author’s experience with America’s favorite game show from his days as a child to his days as a contestant (they brought him back for many, many tournaments). My favorite part was how he explained how he studied for his first appearance and that he basically just hoped he got the Daily Doubles and bet big because they are relatively easy.


On the Road (1957) by Jack Kerouac



I really enjoyed On the Road for a few reasons. First, Kerouac wrote it in 3 weeks. It’s hardly edited at all. He just wrote. He was able to do this because it’s largely autobiographical (the names were changed). I also love it because he really captures the spirit of the this growing faction of young Americans that set the stage for the 60s counter culture. They called themselves the Beat generation, or the Lost generation, and were basically a group of incredibly intelligent people who rejected the status quo of society and decided to do want they wanted to do, almost in an epicurean/hedonistic way.


The Count of Monte Cristo (1845) by Alexandre Dumas



Clearly one of my favorites from my classics stage. This novel is one of the best revenge stories ever told. It’s really long, but it’s entertaining all the way through because the suspense of the revenge continues to mount. I lost a lot of sleep reading this book well into the night. I think I’d argue that this book is the greatest thing that has ever come out of the country of France.


Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas (2006) by Chuck Klosterman



I’ve written about this book for 3 months straight now. It’s a collection of Klosterman’s previous articles, so you can open it up to the middle of the book and not miss anything (similar to Malcolm Gladwell’s What the Dog Saw- more on him in a minute), and he has a bunch of interesting hypothetical questions mixed in in-between chapters. Just read it already.


The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (2000) by Malcolm Gladwell



Gladwell’s writing is very easy to read and at the same time fascinating. The way he sees the world is uncanny. In this particular social science work (my favorite of his) he explains why and how trends, disasters, etc. happen. My favorite point made in the book is the strategy implemented to reduce the crime rate in NYC in the early 90’s ; The Broken Windows Theory. Basically what it means is that if there are broken windows in a building the likelihood of more being broken is high, but if there are no windows broken the less likely someone is to break the first one. The police force implemented this theory by removing all of the graffiti from their subway cars and in their subway stations. Also instead of letting small crimes go, the NYPD cracked down on small crimes like turnbuckle hopping at the subway and ended up catching many people who had outstanding warrants for more serious crimes.


The Kite Runner (2003) by Khaled Hosseini



I’m usually no fan of fiction, but I completely forgot that this book was not a true story until after I was done with it. The writing is incredibly poignant and emotional. I was literally fighting back tears at some points. I will leave it at that. Big thanks to friend of the blog Jaclyn for imploring me to read this incredible book over a year ago.


The Brothers Karamazov (1880) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky



I’ll be honest, the first time I tried to read this book I read the first 60 pages and couldn’t get any further. There are a lot of Russian names and it’s hard to figure out who’s who and what’s going on. A year or two later I picked it up and read it from cover to cover. My oldest brother told me that it was one of the best books that he’s ever read and it didn’t disappoint. The book centers around ethics, morals, and faith. In fact, the book has one chapter that’s often regarded as the best proof that God does not exist as well as another chapter that’s often regarded as the best proof that God does exist.


The Happiness Project (2010) by Gretchen Rubin



I’ve written about this book plenty, but in case you are unfamiliar with it this woman spent a year of her life (yes, it’s a stunt non-fiction book) trying to become happier. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy before it’s just that she thought she could be happier. Each month she focused on a different area of her life (cleaned out her old stuff, got in touch with old friends, worked out more, worked more, etc.) and became a better version of herself. I thought it was very refreshing to know that a re-dedication could make just about anyone feel a whole lot better about themselves.


Tuesday’s with Morrie (1997) by Mitch Albom



I’ve always liked Mitch Albom because I’ve watched him for years on The Sports Reporters on Sunday mornings. The book centers around Albom’s relationship with one of his former college professors who is dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). The two re-connect after a long hiatus and tackle all of life’s most important questions.


Poop Culture (2007) by Dave Praeger



The first words I ever wrote on this blog were “poop is the great equalizer” and that was gleaned from a story from this book. I’m not kidding when I say that this book was very interesting. It gave a brief history of poop (not too expansive where it was boring) and showed how it’s looked at by modern society.

Commercial Appeal

Like most people, I'm no fan of commercials. I mean, most fail to resonate with the viewer in any way (good or bad) and are just accepted for their intended purpose. Some, however, are just unbearably irritating for a multitude of reasons. Others appear witty and creative at first, but soon become bothersome upon multiple views (think of that recent Taco Bell ad where a man requests to order from the same girl, who's a smokehouse by the way, in order to ensure that he get's the same price). And every now and again a genuinely enjoyable commercial repeatedly airs and you don't mind watching it.

Which brings us to my favorite and least favorite current commercials. I would also like to point out that I searched the internet high and low and could not find either commercial online, but if you watch television at all I'm sure that you have seen these two ads.

I never thought I'd see the day, but my favorite current commercial is for McDonald's. In the ad a man awakens and as he walks to McDonald's various people attempt to interact with him, but he disregards them all by saying something to the effect of, "I haven't had my coffee yet," or "Not until I have my coffee." Don't ask me why, but I think it's hysterical. Now, I don't think I've ever had or will ever have coffee from McDonald's (I'm a Dunkin' Donuts guy), but the commercial, in my opinion, is an overwhelming success.

My least favorite commercial by far is the Jared Galleria of Jewelry ad that depicts two women in a house. Woman #1 is working on a crossword puzzle and asks Woman #2 what a 13 letter word for marriage proposal is. Woman #2 looks stumped, so Woman #1 says, "He went to Jared," as she shows her engagement ring. This commercial is so horrendous that it makes me want to vomit. Everytime it's on I quickly change the channel so that my eyes and ears don't have to put up with the piercing pain of annoyance that the ad evokes.

I obviously watch a lot of television, but in the past year and a half I've significantly decreased the number of commercials that I view (although based on the past few paragraphs I clearly still see plenty). Because my profession requires me to work primarily at night I am reliant on my DVR (which I love) to record all of the shows that I would normally watch if I were at home.

Sure most shows can be found online, especially the day after they air, but to me DVR is a godsend (should this word be capitalized?). Seriously, can you think of a greater invention in the last 15 years? Not only does it allow you to watch your favorite shows at your own convenience, but it also allows you to fastforward through the commercials.

My TV viewing habits have gotten to the point where I'll avoid watching a show during it's regularly scheduled air time, just so I can watch it later without having to sit through the commercials. I also sometimes start watching an hour long show that I'm recording about 20-30 minutes in and I end up avoiding almost, if not all of the commercial breaks.

But which shows do I record, you ask?

Well here are the shows that I have set up a series recording for on my DVR:

1.) Jeopardy! (CBS M-F 7PM)- Not only do I record the best game show on TV, but I write down how many questions/answers I get right as well as what the Final Jeopardy question/answer is (an excel spreadsheet is in the works). What can I say? One of my goals in life is to be on the show someday. I'd also like to be a contestant when Alex Trebek is still hosting and the clock is certainly ticking.

2.) The Daily Show (Comedy Central M-T 11PM)- Jon Stewart, although he admittedly leans liberal, is a terrific interviewer. Stewart's correspondents (dubbed The Best Fucking News Team Ever), especially John Oliver and Jason Jones, add plenty of humor to the show.

3.) The Colbert Report (Comedy Central M-T 11:30PM)- Colbert is the sharpest, quickest-witted television host going. His improv skills are the most apparent during interviews, in which he routinely dominates his guests. His fame is currently at an all time high now that he's been on the cover of Sports Illustrated and won a Grammy in the past two months.

4.) How I Met Your Mother (CBS Mondays 8PM)- It's a little strange to see Neil Patrick Harris, a homosexual, so effectively pull off his alpha male character Barney Stinson, but his humor drives the show. Well, that and Jason Segel, who can't not be funny.



5.) The Big Bang Theory (CBS Mondays 9:30pm)- If you watched this show once you'd probably never watch it again. I used to watch it because it was on right before How I Met Your Mother and now it's debatable as to which show is funnier.

6.) 24 (FOX Mondays 9PM)- 24 is great because (aside from Bauer being a badass) you can start watching at the beginning of each season and you won't miss a beat. For example, I've seen Seasons 1,2,7, and now the first few episodes of Season 8. This show is so entertaining that so far they've made Freddie Prinze, Jr. a likable character.

7.) Lie to Me (FOX Wednesdays 9PM)- I gave this show a shot back when it first premiered and I still feel that it's worth watching, but it's not a show that I really look forward to. In fact, sometimes I choose not to record an episode if I see a preview commercial and don't like the proposed storyline.

8.) Damages (FX Mondays 10PM)- I think I watch this lawyer drama mainly to figure out if Rose Byrne is hot or not.



9.) Glee (FOX Tuesdays 9PM)- When I first saw previews for this show I assumed that I would never watch it because it seemed a little feminine with all the singing, etc. That was until my friend Kate talked me into watching it and I discovered that it's actually quite funny. Also, I'm officially in love with Lea Michele who plays Rachel on the show.



10.) Modern Family (ABC Wednesdays 8PM)- I'm not sure what the target demographic is for this comedy, but I think it appeals to anyone from the ages 15-65. Like it's name suggests, the show deals with modern family issues (interracial, homosexuality, raising kids in the technological era) in a light-hearted sense.

11.) Top Chef (Bravo Wednesdays 10PM)- I only understand about 2% of the culinary lingo, but for some reason I find this show to be incredibly entertaining. I'm convinced that whoever does the casting is an absolute genius because I routinely like and dislike an equal number of the cheftestants. Oh, and by the way, did I mention that Padma Lakshmi is the host?



12.) The Office (NBC Thursdays 9PM)- I don't know anyone that doesn't watch this show. Or at least I don't know anyone that's watched more than a few episodes and not liked it. In my opinion, it's reached Seinfeld/Friends status in that people generally accept that it's a great show.

13.) 30 Rock (NBC Thursdays 9:30PM)- 30 Rock is definitely deserving of all of those Emmy's that it has won. It is hands down the best written comedic show on television. Case in point, one of my all time favorite television lines came from a Season 3 episode:

Tracy: You like Phil Collins, right?
Jack: I've got two ears and a heart, don't I?

14.) It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX Thursdays 10PM)- Just an absolutely, ridiculous show. I find the episodes to be hit or miss, but when they hit it's virtually non stop laughter for 30 minutes.

15.) Mad Men (AMC Sundays 10PM)- This period drama is simply fascinating. I started watching from the get go and it's been picking up steam ever since.

If you've seen all of Season 3 then check out this excerpt from Malcolm Gladwell's most recent book "What the Dog Saw":

Herzog worked at a small advertising agency called Jack Tinker & Partners, and people who were in the business in those days speak of Tinker the way baseball fans talk about the 1927 Yankees. Tinker was the brainchild of the legendary adman Marion Harper, who came to believe that the agency he was running, McCann-Erickson, was too big and unwieldy to be able to consider things properly. His solution was to pluck a handful of the very best and brightest from McCann and set them up, first in the Waldorf Towers (in the suite directly below the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's and directly above General Douglas MacArthur's) and then, more permanently, in the Dorset Hotel, on West Fifty-fourth Street, overlooking the Museum of Modern Art. The Tinker Group rented the penthouse, complete with a huge terrace, Venetian-tiled floors, a double-height living room, an antique French polished-pewter bar, a marble fireplace, spectacular skyline views, and a rotating exhibit of modern art (hung by the partners for motivational purposes), with everything-walls, carpets, ceilings, furnishings-a bright, dazzling white. It was supposed to be a think tank, but Tinker was so successful so fast that clients were soon lined up outside the door. When Buick wanted a name for its new luxury coup?, the Tinker Group came up with Riviera. When Bulova wanted a name for its new quartz watch, Tinker suggested Accutron. Tinker also worked with Coca-Cola and Exxon and Westinghouse and countless others, whose names-according to the strict standards of secrecy observed by the group-they would not divulge. Tinker started with four partners and a single phone. But by the end of the sixties it had taken over eight floors of the Dorset.

Sound familiar? It doesn't end there. Here's an article about a legendary 1950-60's ad man named.....Draper Daniels. Knowing this, don't you think that the opening credits of Mad Men should at least say inspired by true events?