If you're bored

In the wake of other sites posting best albums and worst movies of the year, I have composed a list of good books federalcheese readers should peruse, if they have not already. This is a simple list of favorites from over the years and they are in no particular order.

• The Brothers K, by David James Duncan. Justin Housman has a copy.
• The Metaphysical Club, by Louis Menand. A wonderful book chronicling the world of American philosophy in the 19th Century.
• White Noise, by Don Delillo. Dark baby, very dark.
• Annals of the Former World, by John Mcphee. Anything by Mcphee is worth it, but this geological history of the United States is a collection of his best.
• Confederates in the Attic, One for the Road, Baghdad Without a Map, all by Tony Horwitz. All three are quick, but tremendously fun reads.
• Inventing the People, by Edmund Morgan. Morgan is one of my favorite historians, always insightful, this book is about the parallel rise of popular sovereignty in England and America.
• President Kennedy and President Nixon, by Richard Reeves. Magnificent biographies of two presidents' time in office during unique points in history.
• A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving. Just read it.
• Currently I am reading Quicksilver by Neil Stephenson. Highly, highly, highly recommended as is Cryptonomicon by the same author
  
• And yes, I don't want to hear it, but all five Harry Potter books are a lot of fun.