[Last updated 11 May 2014]
These are some of the books that have attracted my attention. While I’ve called this post a wish list, I hope you’ll look at it not (just) as blatant begging but as 1) something that might
give you ideas for your own reading and 2) something of an insight into my interests. Regarding 2), you should quickly recognise some general themes: photography, writing, travel, the ‘natural’ world and—because I can’t think of a better phrase—‘what it means to be human’.
The links are mostly to the relevant Amazon page. I’ve copied them from my Amazon.com wish list because they’re a convenient source of information, but if you do feel like buying a book (for yourself, me or another friend), please don’t feel obliged to buy it from Amazon (if you can, support your local independent bookseller). Note that some of these books are likely to be difficult or impossible to get.
I haven’t got around to classifying these into a logical or priority order, although those at the top tend to be those I’m currently lusting over to the greatest degree. I’m likely to change the order and content of this list (check the ‘last updated’ date at the top of the post).
The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. (Reviews (all laudatory): London review of books; Sunday Times; Guardian; Times higher education; Globe and mail.)
Beyond the Outer Shores: The Untold Odyssey of Ed Ricketts, the Pioneering Ecologist Who Inspired John Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell by Eric Enno Tamm
Steve McCurry: The Unguarded Moment by Steve McCurry
Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision by David DuChemin
New and Collected Poems: 1931-2001 by Czeslaw Milosz
Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth by Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos H. Papadimitriou
Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Location Photography by Kirk Tuck
The Conquest of Happiness (Routledge Classics) by Bertrand Russell
Writing Creative Nonfiction by Philip Gerard (Editor)
Gaming the Vote: Why Elections Aren't Fair (and What We Can Do About It) by William Poundstone
A Short History of Distributive Justice by Samuel Fleischacker
Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of The Museum of Modern Art by John Szarkowski
Photojournalism, Sixth Edition: The Professionals' Approach by Kenneth Kobre
Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun
Birds and People by Nigel J Collar
The Sense of Structure: Writing from the Reader's Perspective by George Gopen
Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace (9th Edition) by Joseph M. Williams
The Craft of Argument (3rd Edition) by Joseph M. Williams and Gregory G. Colomb
Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors by Bill Bryson
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty
Pocket Fowler's Modern English Usage (Oxford Paperback Reference) by Robert Allen
Birdscapes: Birds in Our Imagination and Experience by Jeremy Mynott
The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes
The Nature & Art of Workmanship by David Pye
Making Sense: Philosophy behind the Headlines by Julian Baggini
How Cats Conquered the World by Heather Hacking
Principles of Social Justice by David Miller
Why Social Justice Matters by Brian Barry
Storming the Gates of Paradise: Landscapes for Politics by Rebecca Solnit
Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers (Pimlico) by Harold Evans
The Way of the World by Nicholas Bouvier
Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje
Human Nature After Darwin: A Philosophical Introduction by Janet Richards
In Xanadu by William Dalrymple
The Age of Kali: Indian Travels and Encounters by William Dalrymple
Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right by Bill Bryson
In Siberia by Colin Thubron
Tigers In Red Weather: A Quest for the Last Wild Tigers by Ruth Padel
Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting by Fil Hunter
Prisoner's Dilemma by William Poundstone
These are some of the books that have attracted my attention. While I’ve called this post a wish list, I hope you’ll look at it not (just) as blatant begging but as 1) something that might
give you ideas for your own reading and 2) something of an insight into my interests. Regarding 2), you should quickly recognise some general themes: photography, writing, travel, the ‘natural’ world and—because I can’t think of a better phrase—‘what it means to be human’.The links are mostly to the relevant Amazon page. I’ve copied them from my Amazon.com wish list because they’re a convenient source of information, but if you do feel like buying a book (for yourself, me or another friend), please don’t feel obliged to buy it from Amazon (if you can, support your local independent bookseller). Note that some of these books are likely to be difficult or impossible to get.
I haven’t got around to classifying these into a logical or priority order, although those at the top tend to be those I’m currently lusting over to the greatest degree. I’m likely to change the order and content of this list (check the ‘last updated’ date at the top of the post).
The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. (Reviews (all laudatory): London review of books; Sunday Times; Guardian; Times higher education; Globe and mail.)
Beyond the Outer Shores: The Untold Odyssey of Ed Ricketts, the Pioneering Ecologist Who Inspired John Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell by Eric Enno Tamm
Steve McCurry: The Unguarded Moment by Steve McCurry
Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision by David DuChemin
New and Collected Poems: 1931-2001 by Czeslaw Milosz
Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth by Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos H. Papadimitriou
Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Location Photography by Kirk Tuck
The Conquest of Happiness (Routledge Classics) by Bertrand Russell
Writing Creative Nonfiction by Philip Gerard (Editor)
Gaming the Vote: Why Elections Aren't Fair (and What We Can Do About It) by William Poundstone
A Short History of Distributive Justice by Samuel Fleischacker
Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of The Museum of Modern Art by John Szarkowski
Photojournalism, Sixth Edition: The Professionals' Approach by Kenneth Kobre
Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun
Birds and People by Nigel J Collar
The Sense of Structure: Writing from the Reader's Perspective by George Gopen
Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace (9th Edition) by Joseph M. Williams
The Craft of Argument (3rd Edition) by Joseph M. Williams and Gregory G. Colomb
Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors by Bill Bryson
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty
Pocket Fowler's Modern English Usage (Oxford Paperback Reference) by Robert Allen
Birdscapes: Birds in Our Imagination and Experience by Jeremy Mynott
The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes
The Nature & Art of Workmanship by David Pye
Making Sense: Philosophy behind the Headlines by Julian Baggini
How Cats Conquered the World by Heather Hacking
Principles of Social Justice by David Miller
Why Social Justice Matters by Brian Barry
Storming the Gates of Paradise: Landscapes for Politics by Rebecca Solnit
Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers (Pimlico) by Harold Evans
The Way of the World by Nicholas Bouvier
Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje
Human Nature After Darwin: A Philosophical Introduction by Janet Richards
In Xanadu by William Dalrymple
The Age of Kali: Indian Travels and Encounters by William Dalrymple
Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right by Bill Bryson
In Siberia by Colin Thubron
Tigers In Red Weather: A Quest for the Last Wild Tigers by Ruth Padel
Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting by Fil Hunter
Prisoner's Dilemma by William Poundstone
6 comments:
i was gifted The Unguarded Moment by a friend. it's a beautiful book
i hadn't seen this list before and, with the power of amazon uk at my fingertips, i'm sure there's something here i can source for you
we are home in nz for about 3 months over christmas and will be in the wanganui region. i could stop by and deliver something for you if you'd like?
Leonie, thanks for the offer — I'll keep it in mind. The shipping costs to NZ are the real killer for buying stuff from Amazon (I generally wait until I'm desperate for several books, then put in an order so the shipping per book reduces to something reasonable). It'd be great to see you.
:^)
Thanks for reminding me about Steinbeck and Doc. I ordered 'Beyond The Outer Shores' and lost myself in it for a day.
That's a good recommendation, Paul — any book you can get lost in must have some degree of quality. Mind you, any book with Ed Ricketts as the subject must have some degree of quality... I was very generously gifted a copy of Breaking Through, an edited collection of his writings, and found it fascinating.
What a compelling list. I am especially interested in "Beyond the Outer Shores" ... Have you heard about Better World Books? I've not used it but it might be a discount source for you - perhaps the discount would offset shipping fees? Just a thought ...
Barbara, thanks for the pointer to Better World Books. I hadn't heard of that organisation, and I see they offer free world-wide shipping. Currently I use The Book Depository, which also ships free to New Zealand (and anywhere else); the prices there are generally comparable to Amazon's. I won't be buying anything for a while, though — that will have to wait until after I'm back from South America :^)
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