Freakonomics

World War Z - An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. Pretty good.

Periodically we have have Science Fiction books pop up here.  A while ago, in response to a question I was asked, I put together a list of my favorite SF books.  When I remember, I update the list, but I may well have forgotten some.  In any case, if you would like to look at my list, I posted it on my web site: SF_books

Finally finishing Fast Food Nation. Great list Bob. Only one you missed was the first one that got me hooked as a teen: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein.

Good point, CWG.  When I reread it as an adult I was really offended at how sexist it was.  Different times, I guess.

Recently finished a couple of wine related books:
Vineyards In The Sky - the life story of Martin Ray. Very interesting, though something of a hagiography. Worth a read, but keep the salt handy.
Like Modern Edens - the history of winemaking in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Covers a long period in a short book. Bit of a historical treatise rather than a gripping read, although I finished in a weekend. The big problem is it ends just where everything gets interesting: back in 1981 when the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA got established.

Nice list, Bob. I agree that Stranger In A Stranger Land belongs on there.

I'm a big fan of everything Douglas Adams wrote. Check out "Last Chance To See" - an account of him travelling teh world for the BBC trying to catch a glimpse of creatures on the verge of extinction. Interesting stuff.

I used to enjoy Harry Harrison and Michael Moorcock - pulp rather than serious sci-fi, but I liked them.

My favourite author currently is Terry Pratchett. He's laugh-out-loud funny. It's more fantasy than sci-fi.

I'm reading asp.net 2.0 professional and vb.net 2.0 professional, and this t-sql book that is the master of all books for me at the moment. That last book is the guy that'll fix post counts!

Just finishing Anthony Bourdain's "Gone Bamboo" - another entertaining read.

Still (yes, still) working my way through Guns Germs & Steel - great book, but better in small doses.

(and despite the sexism, I'd have to agree - Stanger in a Strange Land belongs in the list, groundbreaking SF.  For my personal epiphany in SF, I'd add Arthur C. Clark's "Fountains of Paradise" - got me hooked on the genre) 

Workin through Bill Bryson's The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

Good stuff, even if I am just slightly too young to appreciate the baby boomer cultural references.

That's on deck for me after Sharp Objects and Endurance, Shackleton's Incredible Journey

My wife and I went to a lecture he gave a couple of months ago when he was on his book tour. It's pretty funny to listen to him, especially since he's acquired an English accent.

Still reading: Oxford Composer Companion: J.S. Bach. Up to the letter, K

http://www.amazon.com/Year-Magical-Thinking-Joan-Didion/dp/140004314X

the year of magical thinking by joan didion

Bill Bryson's "In a Sunburned Country" - only a short way into it, but already hooked. Great style, really engaging, humorous, and informative.

Securities Training Corporation's Series 7Â

Sure does!  It's getting me psyched fro our trip in May! (speaking of which, any chance you'd care to get together to share some tips over dinner and some vino between now and then?)

yea, like maybe we could drink some shiraz!

Escargots from Your Garden to your Table - Francois Picart

I already have them in the yard: thought I would turn them into food.

The Black Swan - Nassim Nicholas Taleb
God: A Biography - Jack Miles