A Brief History of France by Paul F. State
Decent but colorless history.

Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths by Karen Armstrong.
Another incredible work by the brilliant theological historian. The history of the City is the history of Western Civilization with all it's conflicts and all it's beauty. It's a book so stuffed that it stretched my cranium to the max.

The Most Beautiful Walk in the World by John Baxter
A writer's love letter to the City of Paris. I found it well written, but empty.

Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge
Their most important message is to exercise 6 days a week to counter the slow relentless waves of the aging process. Entertaining and upbeat, I believe!!!

Speak: A short History of Languages by Tore Janson
Fascinating tome on the history and development of world languages. How is it that Latin continued on for centuries without any native speakers. Why do they speak Portugese in Brazil. How do languages migrate? I never knew and now I do.

The Case For Israel by Alan Dershowitz
And it's a compelling one. There are few nations in this world today that have a better record when it comes to rule of law, freedom of speech and human rights. A flawed country as all countries are, it is still a model for its neighbors let alone the many repressive regimes around the world. Shame on those who don't support and embrace them as brothers.

Wit & Wisdom of Ben Franklin by Benjamin Franklin.
The sage of Colonial times - Simple wisdom - If a man could have Half his Wishes he would double his troubles.

At Home by Bill Bryson
By exploring the British manor he purchased, Bryson goes on tangents that explain how we live - the history of nearly everything else. The man is a modern day treasure - witty, insightful and fascinating. It's not that big a book, but it took me long to read as each page is dense with interesting facts, people and anecdotes.

Colonel Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
This is the third volume of the definitive biography of the fascinating Teddy Roosevelt. I read them all and I think the first one won a Pulitzer or some kind of award and so should this one. It was fascinating focusing on his Post Presidential years.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Searing best seller about a downed WWII Fighter Pilot in the Pacific and his incredible story of survival on a raft and then through brutal and terrifying Japanese Prison camps.

Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death by Jim Patterson.
Whoa. A book of deceit, pain and the casualties of War. Some reviewers have compared it to Black Hawk Down in it's focus on the soldier and the soldier's experience in war. I'm not a big reader of these types of books, but this was a powerful one.

Israel: A History by Martin Gilbert
Superb chronicle by the noted british historian. Facts are stubborn things and I am infuriated at the Arab response over a century's time. I don't think any peoples have been misled more pathetically. When one is wrong so consistently for so long, it's difficult for a fair minded person to garner much sympathy. However, as I understood more of Israel's history over the last decades, I am frustrated, disappointed and even angry at the policies of settlement in the West Bank.

Life by Keith Richards.
For me, among the entertaining books I have ever read.

Flawless; Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History by Scott Andrew Selby & Greg Campbell
A real life Ocean's 11. Very fun, light account of the big multi hundred million dollar theft in Antwerp where 8 out 10 of the World's diamonds flow through. Great summer read.

Nazi Germany and The Jews 1933-1945 by Saul Friedlander.
This is an abridged edition of his two volume, Pulitzer Prize winning essential history. You are walked through the progression of violence against the Jews starting with the restrictions, laws etc to the final solution. An incredible history of the pain, let there be no doubt on what happened. So many like to shrink the Holocaust to a Mad man, his scapegoats and a secretive plan of killing. There is nothing further from truth than that. There were millions willing executioners. Don't forget.

At The Mind's Limit by Jean Amery
An Auschwitz survivor's essays with a philosophical bent on his experiences. Beautifully written, this is not a day by day account, but a larger and deeper search to find meaning, answers and questions.

You Can't Always Get What You Want by Sam Cutler
An old tour manager for the Stones - he was at Altamont and the Greatful Dead tells stories of sex, drugs and rock and roll.

A Renegade History of the United States by Thaddeus Russell.
Sort of a ground up revisionist history with a twist on the underbelly of society. The anecdotes are all good, the arguments are hit and miss, but it's a fun read.

Hip: The History by John Leland
That's hip not hip hop. An outstanding rave covering the nuances and history of hip. From the poets of the 19th century, through the beats, jazzers and punks - a middle aged stockbroker living in the suburbs just can never be hip.

The Grand Ole Opry - The Making of an American Legend by Colin Escott.
Lovely and honest oral history.

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes translated by Edith Grossman
The first novel written 450 years ago or so is certainly a good door stopper. A wild, weird and rambling tale - struck by both how odd and perverse it is yet remarkably current.

Madrid: A Cultural and Literary Companion by Elizabeth Nash.
A short ramble through the 450 year old city.

A Concise History of Spain by William D Phillips and Darla Rahm Phillips
Somewhat dry, but does the trick as the authors tackle two thousand years of Spanish history in under 300 pages.

Farewell Espana, The World of Sephardim Remembered by Howard M. Sachar.
A well researched work on the history of the Spanish Jews. Quite a tale from the Moors, to the expulsion, to the inquisition to the flight across Europe and the Spanish colonies. An amazing tale.

Spain by Stanley G. Payne.
Provocative, revisionist take on the history of Spain. Focused on the key historical events and then explored with some interesting arguments.

Ghosts of Spain by Giles Tremlett.
An interesting take on Modern Day Spain by looking backwards and forwards.

The Buried Mirror by Carlos Fuentes.
An extremely well written history of Spain, its soul and its tentacles to the Americas.

The First Tycoon by T.J. Styles
An overly long biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Just too much detail -- do you want to read about each and every meeting as the old man plots to build his massive fortune. I don't. Still once digested it's an illuminating tale of a man who helped shape Corporate America.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis.
Another financial classic from Lewis. Tells the tales of the handful of financial investors who snuffed out the Great Recession. A dysfunctional strange lot they are. Don't ever forget Wall Street's contribution to the disaster that befell all of us

The Story of Spain by Mark R. Williamson.
And quite a story it is. Lots of Phillips and Carloses along with a Franco.

Understanding Jewish History 2; From Renaissance to the 21st Century by Sol Scharistein. Excellent second volume to the School textbook.

The End of Wall Street by Roger Lowenstein.
Another take - covering the same subject as Sorkin's book - on the financial disaster. While Sorkin's book is a study of the individuals, Lowenstein tackles the causes as well as the personalities.

Too Big To Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin.
A must read inside account, minute by minute of the financial implosion of 2008. Our economic system nearly collapsed and you don't feel it - you should and you should read this book.

America by John Stewart and The Daily Show.
A little humor to break up the usual heavy lifting that I seem to be reading. Quite clever.

Buddha by Karen Armstrong.
A short, snappy bio of Siddhatta Gotama. He's an important guy, you know.

Germany 1945 by Richard Bessell.
I've read one other book from this scholar. 1945 was a seminal year in German history from end of the War to emerging from the rubble amidst rape, pillaging, murder, starvation, pain and agony. WWII is such a rich subject there is no end to what to learn.

Where Suckers Moon by Randall Rothenberg.
Sort of a reality series on advertising. Written back in the 90's, it follows Suburu's decision to change advertising agencies - you get the pitches from various ad firms, the implementation and sorry result. A fascinating business story, marketing story and human drama.

Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Custom & Rituals by George Robinson.
A very readable book that strives to answer the basics rituals and beliefs. You'll know the difference between your Mishnah and Midrash after you are through.

Sweet and Lowdown by Rich Cohen.
The family story of the the Sweet and Low fortune. It's a story of Brooklyn Jews, Family squabbles, business success and the crime. Fantastic.

Mao Zedong By Jonathan Spence.
A skinny, succinct account of the life of one of the 20th Century's most important figures.

The Big Rich by Bryan Burroughs.
Entertaining and engrossing account of the Hunt, Cullen, Murchinson & Richardson Oil Fortunes. Superb.

The Runner's Body by Ross Tucker & Jonathan Dugas.
The latest science on the physiology of running.

True Compass. By Ted Kennedy.
The memoir of the great man. A warm, witty and honest book of an amazing life lived. Fascinating for its history and even inspiring.

Life is with People. By Mark Zborski & Elizabeth Henry.
Extraordinary work, a book of anthology of Shtetl life. Significantly deepens my understand of Jewish History and Culture.

Israel is Real. By Rich Cohen
A fantastic rave through a couple of thousand years of Jewish history - should really be read by everyone.

But Wait...there's more! By Remy Stern
A fun, snappy book on the history of infomercials. Ahh, don't buy anything!!

Methland by Nick Reding
Engaging expose of the Meth trade going on in small town America. Take this advice and don't do any.

Understanding Jewish History 1: From the Patriarchs to the Explusion from Spain by Sol Scharfstein.
Readable adolescent school textbook. Jews: What a story.

The Great Philosophers by Bryan Magee
The companion book of an old BBC series featuring discussion of the great philosophers - Aristotle, Plato, Heddeger, Spinoza, Kant Hegel etc. Ugh, above my head and off putting material if you asked me. I didn't do enough drugs.

Corn Flakes with John Lennon by Robert Hilburn.
A short memoir by the Los Angeles Times Music critic. Some good stories and the guy has most of my music taste, but I was largely disappointed with this light book.

The Richness of Life: The Essential Stephen Jay Gould. By Stephen Jay Gould.
A collection of articles and speeches from the brilliant Harvard Paleontologist.

Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution and The Birth of Modern Nations by Craig Nelson.
If his role in the American Revolution was fascinating and important enough, his personal story is incredible. A real radical.

But He Was Good To His Mother; The Lives and Crimes of Jewish Gangsters by Robert Rockway
Great title, great subject, poor book. A poor narative, sloppy and disjointed.

Appetite City: A Culinary History of New York City by William Grimes
A delightful take on a fascinating part of the City's history. Engrossing.

The Beatles by Bob Spitz.
A lengthy enjoyable take on the Fabs career. Tells the first half a bit better than the decline, though it's probably the better story as well.

Leonardo Davinci by Martin Kemp.
A detailed look at all of the art and work of the groundbreaking genius by the famed Oxford Professor. A bit above my head.

Nixonland by Rick Pearlstein
The core of the book is an examination of the cultural split of America during the 1960's and which Nixon cleverly exploited for his political resurrection.

What Would Keith Richards do? by Jessica Pallington West.
Meant mostly as a humor book, I do feel that we all can really learn something from the philosophy of Keef. Really.

To Life by Harold Kushner.
A wonderful read. A light and rich exploration of the Jewish religion and culture.