What are YOU Reading?

But first, a word from the blog post sponsor (me). I want to tell you what I'm currently reading.

Here is what I"ve just FINISHED:
I recently read THE ASSOCIATE by John Grisham, and, darn that Grisham, it's another gripping page-turner. Other Grisham books I've read (and enjoyed) just in the last year are The Street Lawyer, THE APPEAL, and PLAYING FOR PIZZA.

I'm also just finished the print edition of The Politically Incorrect Guide(tm) to the Constitution by Kevin R. Gutzman. I've listened to the excellent audiobook version twice, but there are so many law cases and sidebars that it's nice to have the hard copy to jump back and forth on.

The third book I'm recently read(well, listened to actually, and for the second time) is The Truth About Muhammad By Robert Spencer. Like his book The Politically Incorrect Guide(tm) to Islam (and the Crusades) it is packed with facts, the conclusions to draw are your own. It's a good gym book to listen to while exercising, though I'm finding if I don't pay attention I have to do some rewinding often. (Not every audiobook is a gym book.)

What's next on my list?
1. Re-read (now in progress) The American President: A Complete History (Amazon) by Kathryn Moore (how quickly I've forgotten the details).
2. The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism by Dr. Robert P. Murphy, the print version. Another great audiobook that needs print backup due to sidebars and details.
3. Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand. (What else are we talking about these days?) (I'll probably be reading and re-reading A.R. the rest of my life. The logic and reason awakens me like fresh air or a cold splash of water.)
4. Whooo knoooows what else.

But anyway, what are YOU reading?

"Atlas" flogged — yet again

(First posted 04/03/2009)

Here is another erudite article on Ayn Rand's ATLAS SHRUGGED in today's (04/03/09) Denver Post: "Atlas" flogged -- yet again. What with the government seemingly taking over just about everything ("We're from the Government and we're here to help!"), this unintentionally prescient novel (about the government taking over just about everything) is enjoying a resurgence of sales and readership.

Ayn Rand's works continue to be a subversive bastion of logic, reason, objectivity, and RATIONAL self-interest. Although I've read the 1,000-page Atlas Shrugged twice and listened to the unabridged 51-hour audiobook version once, I suggest Fountainhead or We The Living as more easily consumed introductions to her work. The brand new book OBJECTIVELY SPEAKING, an edited compilation of many live interviews, I've found to be a superb introduction to her ideas also. Enjoy.

The price of friendship

(First posted 10/23/2008 HERE)

I discovered the price of

friendship recently while visiting New Orleans. I was walking along Antiques Row on Royal St. between Canal and Toulouse when I saw a book I recognized in a shop window. It was Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. The shop was closed but I wondered if it was a first edition, how much it might cost ($100, $200, more?), and if it might make a nice gift for a very good friend who is a dedicated Ayn Rand reader.

I was near the shop when it was open the next day so I decided to stop by for a look. It turns out it is a celebrity autograph shop, with a lot of signed books, guitars, and other memorabilia. The Atlas Shrugged in the window is a Tenth Anniversary edition, copy number 1510 of 2000, and it is signed by Ayn Rand. The price is a mere $10,450, although they are having a 30-50% off sale and the clerk is VERY willing to negotiate. So much for the price of friendship! I am having a good chuckle about all this, especially about the fact that a dollar value on any friends of mine is WELL below 30-50% off of $10,000. HA!

They have a copy of Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand that retails for over $9,000, but that's a bit of an afterthought after Shrugged. Oh well, I guess I can always fall back on the old saw that friendship is 'priceless'. My friends will just have to "trust me" on this, and I'll have to hope they're still just friends.
(I have since found 10 th anniversary editions on the Internet for $2500 and up. Atlas Shrugged Signed.)

My friend replied:

"Dear John,

Thank you for thinking of me.
I am not into the collecting of books--only trying to understand them.
Atlas is one that I am still having a hard time really understanding and applying to my life.
I do enjoy continuing to try.

[My wife] bought me one of those leather bound editions of Atlas and Fountainhead made by Easton Press.
Very nice, but insignificant to me in comparison to my old well worn and FULLY annotated hard bound 1967 version that I lost in the fire (one year ago today).
I guess, I will have the enjoyment of creating another annotated version."

I of course, think our friendship is Priceless.