I may not drink, or smoke, and while I like to play a hand of blackjack or some poker every now and again, I wouldn't call myself a big-time gambler, but that doesn't mean I don't have my own addictions. Aside from sports, and television, and Slurpees (well, maybe I have a few too many "obsessions"), I can never seem to stop buying books. After five purchases today (profiled below), my total is up to 176 books (well, a dozen or so of those are law school textbooks, but still) according to my Amazon.com Media Library where I've posted my collection (the things law students will do to avoid studying). And the sad thing? I've only read just over 50 of those books. Which means, well, I have a long way to go before I read all the books I own. Yet, I keep buying more.
Today was a busy day in the book buying world. I purchased Walter Issacson's Einstein: His Life and Universe
Some of these books I've had my eye on for a while, others just caught my attention when I was wasting time at Borders (never a good idea). For example with Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth Major
, I would read almost anything by John Feinstein. I already own, by Amazon's count, 10 of his other books, and I have enjoyed every one I have read. His golf and basketball books are especially satisfying, and I can't wait to start reading this latest book.Some of the other books are by authors I've read before or seen on MSNBC and have liked. Walter Issacson, author of a great Benjamin Franklin biography, seems to have hit another home run with this Einstein biography which has been getting great reviews. And I love history books, which is why James Swanson's Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer
and Jon Meacham's American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation looked so good. I've read part of Meacham's FDR/Winston Churchill book (I need to get back to it at some point) and he's a very knowledgeable, articulate historian. Tells stories in a very easy-to-read way. I'll post some book reviews as I read them, but I think the first book I want to read, of the roughly 100 or so books I've yet to read, is CNBC guru Jim's Cramer's Jim Cramer's Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich
. Maybe I'll start that one tomorrow.
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2 comments:
I'm a chronic book buyer, too. The habit was at its worst when I worked in a bookstore, as you could imagine. All day to look all kinds of books, and I get an employee discount?
But finishing that Einstein biography would be impressive enough for me. That thing will give you killer biceps each time you lift it.
Man, yes, working in a bookstore would be trouble. I remember when the Borders Outlet was open in downtown Farmington, I was there all the time. Hard to pass up former bestselling biographies and sports books for like $3.99.
And yes, I plan on tackling the Einstein biography at some point this summer. It's practically heavier than most of my textbooks. Maybe after I finish American Gospel I'll read Tales From Q School then the Einstein book. Or maybe I'm just being overly ambitious here.
-Scott
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