It's been awhile since I've posted a reading list. Here's a few more books I've read recently that are worth mentioning:
Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science
-- A fantastic overview of the field of Economics. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book (and how much I want to find another one like it!) Thanks D'Arcy!
The World Is Flat
-- A lengthy read on globalization, global markets (and global opportunities.)
Halting State
-- An enjoyable Sci-Fi I picked up after a review on Boing Boing. Starts with a bank robbery in an MMORPG...
Spook Country
-- Sort of a sequel to William Gibson's "Pattern Recognition" (at least, there are some character and plot overlaps.) Like Pattern Recognition, it's not cyberpunk; But it's a fun read.
DMZ Vol. 1: On the Ground
and DMZ Vol. 2: Body of a Journalist
-- I got these graphic novels for Christmas and read them both in one (long) sitting. I enjoyed the experience, but not so much to order the next couple in the series.
Stealing the Network: How to Own a Shadow
-- The third (or forth, depending on how you look at it) installment of the series. It's on par with the rest of the series -- enjoyable, but not stellar. The tech is a little more simple this time around... and the whole story is essentially a setup for the next book.
Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment
-- A fairly small book with a nice message -- mastering a discipline takes time and a willingness to enjoy the journey.
Finding the Center Within: The Healing Way of Mindfulness Meditation
-- I've flipped through a number of books on meditation, but this one has a nice way of applying it to modern lifestyles and explaining how to use meditation and self-centering throughout your day (not just via the stereotypical meditative pose.)
The Black Widow's Guide to Killer Pool: Become the Player to Beat
-- The first book on playing pool that I ever read. It's got some nice stories, and some nice lessons on getting your head in the game, but it's definitely beginner-focused (which was what I needed when I read it.)
Byrne's New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards
-- A key read in bumping my pool skills from beginner to intermediate. I learned A LOT from this book, but it's technical and primarily filled with diagrams and explanations. This isn't a quick read -- you study each page to grasp the subtleties of each shot.
Come, Let Us to Billiards Away
-- Out of print and hard to find. Completely wrecked my game while explaining aspects of speed, stroke, and ball control in ways that no one else seems to tell. While the two billiards books above take the approach of a "pro" telling you how to play, this book is told from the perspective of a retired hustler opening his bag of tricks. And boy does he have some unique ways of seeing the game. The chapter on bank- and kick-shots was worth the price of admission. I'd be happy to shake Jack White's hand and thank him for writing this book.
Cooking Curries
-- The Half Price Books near me had a bunch of these on sale the last time I went in. I've cooked about a half-dozen of the recipes in it, and I've enjoyed all of them. Great pictures as well.
The Wisdom of Crowds
-- A thought-provoking read that sparked the crowd-sourcing movement.