Wait a sec. It wont get that far. I hope.
I was asked the following questions:
1. The total number of books I own.
2. The last book I bought.
3. The last book I read.
4. Five books that mean a lot to me.
1. Well, never really gave this much thought. I have hundreds of books. Many of them are sitting in boxes awaiting my eventual purchase of a house where I can keep my stuff (gratiutious George Carlin reference - thank you... thank you very much). These books have held me in great stead. Many are related to politics and history probably in excess of 70%. Middle East politics. Law makes up the balance, though by weight its probably 70%. Don't have so much on political theory, at least the esoteric kind. I was always a realist/neorealist at heart, so Kenneth Waltz and Hans Morgenthau were well read (at least used to be well read).
2. It was probably Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy (autographed) or was it some other recent Clancy book. I can't recall. Whatever it is, it's sitting on the shelf waiting to be read - I had been trying to write a book of my own and decided that it was a good idea not to read stuff that might tangentially be related to stuff I might include in the book.
3. I can't quite recall the last book I read. It might have been the Lord of the Rings Trilogy/The Hobbit by Tolkien, but I can't be sure. I don't do much recreational reading these days because with all the time spent on computers I need time to give my eyes a rest. That and trying to avoid reading stuff that could affect my book writing.
4. Books that mean alot to me? Hmmm. This is a toughie.
1) Anything by Richard Scarry - hey, no one said when these books were meant to have an influence on me. Those books kept me engrossed for hours and hours as a wee lad- taught me about the world, and got me thinking. Just like a good book is supposed to do.
2) The Encyclopaedia Britannica. Yes. The whole damn thing (30 volumes or so). Folks bought it when I was growing up and kept it in my bedroom. When I'd get bored, the weather was bad, or needed to do a school project, I would pick a volume and start reading. Fascinating stuff no matter what book I picked. The yearly medical and science updates were especially interesting.
3) Lord of the Rings. And not just because Peter Jackson did great justice to the books. They really are imaginative and insightful into the human condition.
4) Hans Morganthau - Do I have to say more?
5) I'm going to leave #5 blank because I intend to write the book that will go in this slot. It's still forming in my consciousness, though parts poke through in this blog every now and then.
So, now that I've answered the question, it is time to pass this along to those who I consider warrant undertaking the task. Thus, I annoint:
Mark Levin Fan, Bubblehead over at The Stupid Shall Be Punished, and Unconsidered Trifles.
I know you read this slot occasionally. So, here's a shout out!
UPDATE 6/7/2005:
I knew there were other books that I should have included as those that really touched me, and I just remembered one that should probably top the list - The Power Broker. Robert Caro's masterpiece about Robert Moses is a tale of power politics, lust for power, and getting things done. Watch all the major projects in NYC right now and ask yourself whether they would still be on the drawing board or on their way to completion right now if Moses (or someone like him) were in charge?
I'd have to say yes. Ground Zero construction would be well underway, the West Side Stadium/Convention Center would be getting built, and the economy of the city would be all the better for it. Instead, we're paralyzed because politics and politicians can't see more than the next election in front of them and because none have a vision and the ability to see that vision built.
For the record, ability to see things built includes persuasive skills and political skill (often the same thing), but it also means pushing projects through in spite of opposition from small groups that oppose development, growth, and economic opportunities.
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