TomPierron.Com

1. MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN by Bob Mitchell – Okay. If Bob Costas read it and liked it, I figured it had to be decent. An imaginary golf game with Socrates, John Lennon, Da Vinci, etc. So it’s chock full of incidental info. My kind of book, really.

2. RUNNING WITH SCISSORS Augusten Burroughs – He’s at it again (actually, I think this was his FIRST book). A lovely escape. Reading his stuff goes too fast.

3. THE FOUR AGREEMENTS Don Miguel Ruiz – I thought maybe this is something I could live by – but then it starts sounding (in some aspects only) like it’s copying from other things I’m familiar with. The “funny” thing is, right after I read this book people at my job put me through the wringer.

4. THE GOD DELUSION Richard Dawkins. I liked this book a lot.

5. BREAKING THE SPELL Daniel Dennett. Picks up where that last book left off. Any questions? They may be answered in this book. Last year I read THE END OF FAITH. Finally, some stuff that isn’t magical thinking.

6. STUMBLING ON HAPPINESS by Daniel Gilbert On the cover is a quote from Malcolm Gladwell who wrote BLINK. He says, “…you ought to read it. Trust me.” So I did, and he’s right. Interesting anecdotal and investigative stories sought out by a Harvard Professor in easy to read points. Our brain is fascinating.

7. (actually, I read this one first) BLINK by Malcolm Galdwell – more fascinating stuff about our brain and why it does what we do (yeah, I wrote that like that…) A MUST read, I’m afraid. You may get away with not reading Temple Grandin – but you won’t get away with NOT reading this book. Enjoy!

8. TREATISE ON THE GODS by H. L. Mencken – I’m glad he wrote it, because now I won’t have to write my book. Ahead of its time? I mean, he mentions the Sumerians. Anyway, I wonder if it’s because it’s “the devil he knows?” that he says Christianity is the best thing going on earth. And the Bible is the best book ever written. I would think he’d know better than that, unless he was trying to win points, which, I don’t blame him, considering the other statements he makes. Tar and feathering words down South, eh?

9. WINNING POINTS WITH THE WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE by Jaci Rae -

10. THE LITTLE STUFF MATTERS MOST by Bernie Brillstein – A quick and lively read about tinsel town and life. A little insight into how honesty is the best policy. (Expect when “Does this make me look fat?” is asked of you…) Stories about the place where the jewelry is real but the people are fake.

11. PAY IT DOWN! by Jean Chatzky -

12. THE PROSTRATE HEALTH PROGRAM by Nixon & Gomez -

13. DAVID BLAINE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER – Oh no, it’s book number thirteen! For some reason I thought this book was going to be boring, so I put off picking it up. I read the whole thing in one day. Chpt 1 – first quote: “For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice.” – Dunninger. Blaine tells you what he’s up to and I believe.

14. THE ANCESTRAL MIND by Gregg Jacobs – It was time for me to read this. “There’s no question that the life of early humans tens of thousands of years ago carried with it a level of physical hardship that few of us would willingly return to. And yet we have paid a high price for our comforts. Our lives are no loner measured by the natural increments of the sun and moon and seasons and their ritual observance, but by the industrail time clock. Passage through life is measured far less in relation to family, culture, and tribe than in relation to preparation for work, working, and retiring from work. We are units of production first, and human beings a distant second…” We weren’t made to be living the way we’re living. The Japanese smoke, eat a fat diet, work six days, lots of stress, a recipe for a short life – and yet they live the longest. Why? Their social structure is something ours is not. Our brains are not wired for the way we have things set up now – or the way they’ve BEEN set up FOR us.

15. THE NO ASSHOLE RULE Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t by Robert Sutton – Recomended by a counselor, this is a good read. Didn’t answer all of my questions, but certainly offered hope and insight. Even recognizing if perhaps in certain situations you’re being an asshole yourself. I realize this sometimes when I’m driving, when I don’t use my signal in certain situations, I realize and apologize to the other driver I didn’t know was there, that yes, this time I’M the asshole.

16. god IS NOT GREAT – How Religion Poisons Everything – by Christopher Hitchens As in the words of Captain Jack Ross: “These are the facts, and they are indisputable.” Only, in this case, we are not misled. Chris is not seeking to lynch Lance Corporal Dawson and Pfc Downey, but save them and us. “I would prefer you just said ‘thank you.’” (and we DO “give a damn!”) Free at last, free at last, free at last. (am I speaking too soon?) These are the facts, and they are indisputable. Thanks.

17. HOW TO SPOT A LIAR Gregory Hartley – You may already know some of these things intuitively, now you can put a label on it – and learn other things, patterns, things to look for and notice that will help you decipher the actions of others. Sort of like body language but incorporating a whole lot more. Even a little bit of a world view. Like, one interesting chapter titled Are You In Love or Captivity? Read on and find out…

18. BAIT AND SWITCH – THE (FUTILE) PURSUIT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM by Barbara Ehrenreich. Finally, the truth about management. Ever wonder why it’s so quiet where their offices are?

19. THE BRAINDEAD MEGAPHONE, ESSAYS by George Saunders – Interesting read, concepts, and insights. I remember seeing a thing on Dubai about the exploited workers. You don’t know Dubai till you walk through it with George. And many much more.

20. THE SHOCK DOCTRINE The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein. The thing is, you HAVE heard of some of these things before – but this put it’s all together so that it makes sense. That we’re being lied to by government and the media isn’t telling the whole story is obvious – though they are making, what appear to be, valiant tries… I wonder why I even listen to the boob tube other than for entertainment. I mean, they’re not telling us the total truth, so why bother? The answers are here, and you’ll no longer wonder what’s up. You’ll know.

21. HOW TO KILL THE JOB CULTURE BEFORE IT KILLS YOU by Claire Wolfe. After reading the book I just wrote about above, some of this stuff was redundant, but, at least things are fitting together into a clearer picture. What to do? That’s still left up to you.

22. You know, there was another book I read… but the author said to hide the book after you read it so that other people wouldn’t know what you know. Something along those lines. I feel I still deserve the credit and right to post another number on this list.

23. RESCUING SPRITE A Dog Lover’s Story of Joy and Anguish by Mark Levin – My dad wanted me to read it. It is what it advertises. Halfway through and near the end the author talks about one of his friends who has a nationally aired “talk” show and what a great guy he is. I still think he’s a big fat idiot.

24. THE LATE GREAT USA The Coming Merger with Mexico and Canada by Jerome Corsi.  A New York  Times Bestseller.  It sounds like a conspiracy theory but cites all the evidence of the facts you need to know.  “They” won’t tell the truth, of course, but you CAN look it up.  A North American Union is not a foregone conclusion but it will be if the governments and big business continue what they’ve started.

25. MYSTERIES AND LEGENDS – COLORADO by Jan Murphy.  Well, she’s done it again.  Interesting stories like her last book, only this time it focuses on unsolved and unexplained things around Colorado.  And people you’ve heard of and people that became very famous in that day.  Quick read – I got it for Christmas and wanted to make sure I met my quota of 2 books a month.  I’m glad I didn’t realize I had it met already or my tendency to procrastinate may have dominated.