Laura's Summer 2010 Reading List

It's time once again for the obligatory summer reading list (here's mine from last year). Ever since elementary school, I've been trained and conditioned to do this. And if you're an adult, there's a particular formula. To show that you're a literate, cultured person, you have to pick a variety of reading options; the different topics have to include at least one classic (almost always War and Peace or Brothers Karamazov), a couple of non-fictions about pressing world issues (you're ~aware~!!), some contemporary fiction, all with implausible or lame plots (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Historian), and most importantly, one of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's books. You have to have the Marquez; you cannot be truly appreciative of different cultures without him on your list.

And then there's my list. It in no way sticks to the formula, which is completely intentional on my part.

1. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

I know nothing about this book. I just want to read it because Thompson looks like Dale Gribble from King of the Hill.

Hunter S. Thompson

Dale Gribble

2. Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life by David Friedman

David Friedman is the son of the celebrated economists Milton and Rose Friedman, and I had to read his other book, Law's Order, for a law 'n' econ class. Good stuff.

3. American Cicero: The Life of Charles Carroll by Bradley J. Birzier

I like Cicero, I like Charles Carroll, and I like ISI Books. Post to come soon about me visiting his residence, Dumbarton House, in Georgetown.

4. Bonfire of the Humanities: Rescuing the Classics in an Impoverished Age by Victor David Hanson, John Heath, and Bruce S. Thornton

I used part of this book for my thesis, but never got around to reading the whole thing. I do think that society has scorned and forgotten true classical learning to its peril, so this will be pretty good.

5.An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude by Ann Vanderhoof

My friend Eileen recommended this one; apparently it's about sailing in the West Indies and there are lots of good recipes.

6. The Unlearned Lessons of the Twentieth Century: An Essay on Late Modernity by Chantal Delsol

The sequel to Icarus Fallen, this is all about philosophy and meaning, justice, etc. Hopefully I'll be able to hack through it. Chantal Delsol is a French philosopher. Fun Anecdote: My undergrad professor met with her at a scholarly conference, and got her to sign my copy of Icarus Fallen. Unfortunately, she thought he wanted to sign it for him, and so it reads (en francais) "To Peter, with friendship, Chantal". Or so I recall. Icarus is at home in Georgia so I can't take a picture of the written message.