The list's worldwide publicity brings uplifting letters from people who are finding the recommended books meaningful. To fill the many requests for copies of the list, we sought and found a "good guy" sponsor, Thomson Gale, to print and distribute 20,000 free copies.
Buzz Aldrin
Astronaut
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All of Tom Clancy's books |
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Debbie Allen
Actress/Dancer
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They Came Before Columbus
by Ivan Van Sertima |
"This is one of my favorite books because it is a much needed source of history in regard to the presence of black Africans in ancient America. The author builds a pyramid of evidence using diaries, letters and journals of the explorers themselves, carbon 14 dated sculptures, charts, maps, recorded tales of griots, even skeletons found as recently as 1975. He creates history as if it were a novel." |
Cleveland Amory
Writer
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The Snow Goose
by Paul Gallico |
"A masterful story-teller tells a story that no one who reads it will ever forget." |
Thomas H. Andrews
Member of Congress, 1st District, Maine
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The Perennial Philosophy
by Aldous Huxley |
"While it is a difficult task to choose my favorite book, I would have to say it is The Perennial Philosophy by Aldous Huxley. I first read this wonderful book in college. It helped me expand my vision of the human experience. It introduced me to the depth and breadth of our humanity. It was a jumping-off point for further reading and discovery. The discovery continues to this day." |
Ed Asner
Actor
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The Last of the Just
by Andre Schwarz- Bart |
"A phenomenon of a book filled with tragedy and comedy; history and fantasy; pathos and perfidy. No novel has done so fine a job in delineating what has gone into the making of a Jew as this book does." |
Margaret Atwood
Writer
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
by the Brothers Grimm |
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Lauren Bacall
Actress
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All the Pretty Horses
by Cormac McCarthy
Remains of the Day
by Kazuo Ishiguro |
"The most beautiful writing I have read in years-- a joy to read."
"Wonderful story--perfectly fascinatingly told." |
F. Lee Bailey
Attorney
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The Art of Cross-Examination
by Francis P. Wellman |
"The all-time classic." |
David Bowie
Singer/Actor
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Fifth Business
The Manticore
The World of Business
by Robertson Davies
Nights at the Circus
by Angela Carter
Money
by Martin Amis
Brazzaville Beach
by William Boyd
The Viceroy of Ouidah
by Bruce Chatwin
Libra
by Don Delillo |
Dear Miss Nowell:
"I was so delighted to have been asked to contribute to your list as I am an obsessive reader, and, it seems to me, I spend half my life recommending books to friends--and to complete strangers at times!
However, actually putting my short list together nearly paralyzed me with indecision. I read something like three books a week, so trimming down became an exceptionally daunting prospect.
These few are works that really stayed with me and I can assure the reader of a jolly good time with any of the following. Fifth Business, The Manticore, and World of Wonders by Robertson Davies. These books form a trilogy so read them in order. Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter. Wonderfully surreal. Money by Martin Amis. Funny, bitter, extremely British. Brazzaville Beach, by William Boyd. Caring, poignant and terribly romantic. The Viveroy of Ouidah by Bruce Chatwin. One of the greatest writers of this last twenty years. Libra by Don Delillo. Alarming and American.
I should also note that if you like any of these books please don't hesitate to read the rest of the works by any of these authors. Their entire output is just great. I'd love to hear your opinion.
Please ask me for another list next year as I keep remembering works that cast their spell on my sponge-like mind."
Kind regards,
David Bowie |
Edmund G. Brown
Former Governor
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Democracy
by Henry Adams |
"In clear prose, he lays bare the basic contradictions of modern democracy." |
Jimmy Buffet
Singer/writer
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Don't Stop the Carnival
by Herman Wouk |
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Johnny Cash
Singer
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Gone South
by Robert McGammon
Gospel
by Wilton Barnhardt
The Twelfth Angel
The Greatest Salesman in the World, Part 2
by Og Mandino
Collected Poems
by Edna St. Vincent Millay
A Few Figs from Thistles
by Edna St. Vincent Millay |
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Oleg Cassini
Designer
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The Memoirs of Casanova
by Giacomo Casanova |
". . . my favorite book." |
Carol Channing
Actress
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The Healing and the Mind
by Bill Moyers
My Life in Art
by Konstantin Stanislavski
Dance to the Piper
by Agnes de Mille |
"Bill Moyer's writings always give me a metaphysical lift.
[My Life In Art] probably formed me and I didn't know it because I read it in the ninth grade.
All of Agnes de Mille's literary works have had a profound influence on me and my career." |
Bill Clinton
42nd President of the United States
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The Silver Chalice
by Thomas Costain
The Robe
by Lloyd Douglas
The Last of the Mohicans
by James Fenimore Cooper
100 Years of Solitude
by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Prince of Tides
by Pat Conroy |
Dear Glenna:
"Thanks for your letter asking me about my reading habits. Reading has been an important part of my life since I began to read, with the help of my grandfather. My first and also my favorite books were the Dick and Jane readers.
By the time I was around twelve, some of my favorite books were The Silver Chalice, The Last of the Mohicans, and The Robe. As an adult I have thoroughly enjoyed 100 Years of Solitude and The Prince of Tides.
Both as Governor of Arkansas and now as President of the United States, I must spend a lot of time reading every day. Along with newspapers, magazines, and letters like yours, I also read about 70 fiction and nonfiction books each year.
I can't imagine what my life would be like without reading. Reading has taught me to dream big dreams and make them come true. I'm encouraged by your interest in reading and hope that it will be as important in your life as it has been in mine."
Sincerely,
Bill Clinton |
Tim Conway
Actor
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Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger |
"The page with the author's name was torn so I never knew who wrote the book. The last three pages were also missing; perhaps you could rell me who the murder was." |
Howard Cosell
Sportscaster
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The Red and the Black
by Marie Henri Beyle Stendahl |
"Along with Proust, Flaubert and Hugo--classic French literature--Stendahl's The Red and the Black has been my favorite novel since my days at New York University." |
Tony Curtis
Actor
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Tony Curtis: The Autobiography
by Tony Curtis |
"I couldn't wait to find out how it ends." |
Sam Donaldson
Broadcast Journalist
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Plutarch's Lives
by Plutarch |
"Fascinating biography-- insight into early successful people." |
Michael Eisner
CEO, Walt Disney Company
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The Scarlet Letter
by Nathaniel Hawthorne |
"Hawthorne is a compelling storyteller whose writing gives us a respect for and a better understanding of the complexities that make up a human being." |
Boomer Esiason
Quarterback, New York Jets
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The Last Lion, Winston Spencer Churchill
by William Manchester |
"A great hero and a great book!" |
Chris Evert
Tennis Player
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The Prince of Tides
by Pat Conroy
Gone with the Wind
by Margaret Mitchell |
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Annette Funicello
Actress
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The Holy Bible
King James Version |
"This book has all the stories you can think of, love--murder--government--greed, etc." |
George Gallup, Jr.
Chairman, Gallup Institute
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The Tale of Two Cities
by Charles Dickens |
"I suppose my favorite book as a youth was The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. I found it to be not only a wonderfully exciting story, but also a powerful reminder that humans are capable of both profound evil and profound good. Dickens was writing for out times as well as his." |
David Geffen
Recording Company Executive
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The Fifties
by David Halberstam |
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Estelle Getty
Actress
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Marjorie Morningstar
by Herman Wouk |
"Almost the story of my life." |
Harvey Golub
CEO, American Express
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Exodus
by Leon Uris
Hawaii
by James Michener
Call of the Wild
by Jack London
A Bridge Too Far
by Cornelius Ryan |
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Scott Hamilton
Olympic Figure Skater
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The Bourne Identity
by Robert Ludlum |
"I love action and adventure books. I picked this book up and sat perfectly still while the story took me 300 mph cover to cover." |
Charlaine Harris
Writer
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Bucket Nut
by Liza Cody |
"The book that impressed me most this past year was Liza Cody's Bucket Nut. Liza Cody has always been a very good writer, but she has surpassed herself with Bucket Nut. It's a picture of a world and a character that I could not begin to imagine on my own, and I recommend it very highly. I am sure many of your readers have already met Anna Lee, the London detective who is the protagonist of Cody's other books; she appears as an incidental character in Bucket Nut. Seeing Anna from the outside is intriguing after seeing her from the inside, so to speak.
I am flattered at being asked for my recommendation. There are so many books I enjoyed this past year that it was hard to pick one to head the list!"
Sincerely,
Charlaine Harris |
Al Hirt
Jazz Trumpeter
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The Fifties
by David Halberstam |
"Factual--good, bad and in between of the '50s--well written and enjoyable." |
Angelica Huston
Actress
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The House of Mirth
The Age of Innocence
by Edith Wharton |
"Until recently, I'd read Edith Wharton's short stories but never her novels--She is an extraordinary storyteller, with an amazing gift for detail, whether it be the innermost workings of the human heart, or the rigors of social life in New York in the 1870's. She's as great to me as Henry James, and much more feminine!" |
Victor K. Kiam II
Business Executive/Writer
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The Pelican Brief
by John Grisham |
"An exciting and moving experience. Once started it was impossible to put down." |
Billie Jean King
Tennis Player
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Days of Grace
by Arthur Ashe |
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Larry King
Talk Show Host
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Truman
by David McCullogh |
"A great bio. Pulitzer winner--not a dull page." |
Diane Ladd
Actress
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Don't Blame Mother
by Paula J. Kaplan |
"This psychiatrist states that most psychiatrists of the male gender blame Mother. . .
And that this is no longer acceptable--there has to be mutual respect, understanding, cooperation, etc. between sexes, races, nations, etc.
P.S.--It's a terrific book!" |
Dorothy Lamour
Actress
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Me
by Katherine Hepburn |
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Shari Lewis
Puppeteer
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Return of the Native
by Thomas Hardy |
"Generally, the book I'm reading at the moment is my favorite--however, my all time fave is Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy. Great tragic strong female character, bucking the social mores." |
Joan Lunden
Television Co-Host
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Little Women
by Louis May Alcott |
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Ali MacGraw
Actress
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The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald |
"No matter how many times I read this--and no matter how many other, wonderful books I have read--The Great Gatsby remains one of those on the proverbial short list what treasures I would take in a small basket to that famous desert island!" |
Barbara Mandrell
Singer
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The Hiding Place
by Corrie Ten-Boom |
"The first three chapters were hard to get through, but after that I finished the book in one night. She was such a devout Christian and became the greatest heroine of my life." |
Arthur Miller
Writer
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Fatal Shore
by Robert Hughes |
"A great read and a fine history of the settlement of Australia." |
Hayley Mills
Actress
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The Magic Findhorn
by Paul Hawken |
"The The Magic Findhorn by Paul Hawken is one of the most exciting books I've read for a long time.
Anyone who wants to know what the New Age really means should read it. At a time when the world appears to be hurtling towards disaster there comes the miracle that is happening in Findhorn.
It is a fantastic and true story about the birth of the New Age and a Spiritual Community." |
Joni Mitchell
Singer
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Kim
by Rudyard Kipling |
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Edmund Muskie
Senator
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Lincoln at Gettysburg
by Gary Wills
In the Hands of Providence: Joshua Chamberlain
by Alice Rains Trulock
The Bridges of Madison County
by Robert James Waller |
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Martina Navratilova
Tennis Player
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The Fountainhead
by Ayn Rand |
"The striving for excellence, sticking to your beliefs and ideals even if it means going against the popular tide. Accepting responsibility--wow, what a concept--too bad politicians don't read these books." |
Camille Paglia
Professor
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Auntie Mame
by Patrick Dennis |
"As I said in Sexual Personae, I consider Auntie Mame the most important novel written after World War Two. This cult classic of gay men is all about power of personality and the magic masks in ths Age of Hollywood." |
Colin L. Powell
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
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The Lion, the Witch & the Wadrobe
by C.S. Lewis
Volumes on Lincoln by Carl Sandburg |
"Reading is one of my favorite pastimes and there are so many books to recommend. One book which I enjoyed reading to my children is the first in a seven-book series called 'The Chronicles of Narnia' by C.S. Lewis. It is titled The Lion, the Witch & the Wadrobe. For an older age group, I would highly encourage reading Carl Sandburg's volumes on Lincoln."
Sincerely,
Colin L. Powell
Chairman of the JCS |
Vanessa Redgrave
Actress
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Resurrection
by Leo Tolstoy
The Fall of Yugoslavia
by Michael Glenny |
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Janet Reno
Attorney General
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Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame
Mary Poppins
by P.L. Travers |
"Wind in the Willows and Mary Poppins were two of the Attorney General's favorite childhood books. They helped to instill in her a sense of wonder, the humor and the spirit of life. At the present time, the Attorney General enjoys reading biographies and books about American history." |
Gena Rowlands
Actress
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The Wilder Shores of Love
by Lesley Blanch |
"Fascinating histories of some extraordinary women." |
Paul Tsongas
Former Senator
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Body and Soul
by Frank Conroy |
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Many noted and respected people are graciously sharing their favorite book titles for this fine assemblage, our seventh annual Who Reads What? reading list. Delve into the suggested historical, popular and classical works; be entertained, educated and inspired by books these eminent people recommend, and enjoy the telling of the tales.
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