Darwin’s Origin of Species: A Biography    Janet Browne
An absolutely wonderful book that describes the historical background, writing, content, and legacy of one of the most influential books in western civilization. Browne explains everything simply and clearly, without dumbing anything down, and in beautiful prose. Loved this book.

61 Hours   Lee Child
Latest in the series finds Reacher in South Dakota battling a drug lord, an assassin, and the brutal cold. Entertaining as always, though for the first time in one of Child’s books, I was ahead of the plot. Also, as usual, very clear, precise prose that really moves things along. Very enjoyable read except that he leaves it unfinished in anticipation of another book this Fall. Marketing guys got to him, I guess.

Marx's Das Kapital: A Biography   Francis Wheen
An excellent, brief historical background and analysis of Marx’s master work. Takes you from the beginnings of Marx’s research to the place the book and its concepts hold today. Clear prose and a deep understanding of Marx’s ideas made this a very informative and enjoyable read.

The Burial at Thebes   Sophocles – Seamus Heaney translation
Heaney’s “version of Sophocles’ Antigone.” Nicely rendered in clear, down-to-earth verse that is just right for a contemporary audience. As he says, it’s concern with the rights of the individual and the abuse of power was especially relevant during the Bush administration when he did the translation. Reminded me again of the greatness of the ancient Greeks. Really enjoyed reading it, and I would love to see it performed.

The Book of Urizen   William Blake
Blake’s visionary poem and paintings that describe an alternate creation myth. Stunningly beautiful and powerful paintings and poetry. Blake was a little weird, but an obvious genius. His illuminated books are some of the greatest works in western civilization. Really, really enjoyed this.

This Land is Their Land: Reports from a Divided Nation Barbara Ehrenreich 
Collection of short pieces about the current state of life in the U.S., especially the current war against the lower and middle classes. Very well written, caustic, brilliant, insightful, hilarious, sarcastic, and right on the money. Really enjoyed it.

A Treatise of Civil Power   Geoffrey Hill 
Collection of poems by the English poet, many based on his readings of Milton, among others. Kind of obscure for me, but very well crafted, reflective on what he’s reading concerning civil power, and highly intelligent. Really enjoyed the week of first-thing-in-the-morning readings.

The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality   Dalai Lama
Really enjoyed this book until the last couple of chapters on what Buddhism has to offer in the study of consciousness. A quick “read” driving through the streets of SLC. Against my expectations, I thought Gere did a very good job reading it. Renewed my respect for the Lama, and even made the scholarly aspects of Buddhist philosophy seem interesting. A profound intellectual tradition, especially the ancient Indian philosophy it’s based on.

The Wrong Kind of Blood   Declan Hughes
Well-written mystery set in contemporary Dublin about a private investigator who returns home from L.A. for his mother’s funeral. All kinds of violence and re-surfacing relationships and family tragedies. He comes to grips with them all, but only after a lot of harm comes to everyone. A good, above average, distraction.

The Age of American Unreason Susan Jacoby
The first few chapters were an excellent intellectual history of the current state of anti-intellectualism in the U.S. of A., and even though subsequent chapters turn into a screed with too many of her “arguments” based on personal experiences, this is a very valuable book. I loved driving around in the cool of the evenings, the windows down, listening to it. I really liked it.

Song of Songs
Re-read this love poem in the translation by the Jewish Publication Society. Doesn’t really belong in the bible, especially the Old Testament. Because of a recent loss, it connotes heartache as well now.

The Narrow Road to Oku Matsuo Bashō
In exquisite prose and perfect haiku, Bashō recounts his summer journey through Japan in 1689. This volume has the original Japanese on the left page and Donald Keene’s translation on the right. It also contains beautiful illustrations by Miyata Masayuki. A wonderful way to start the days. Didn’t want it to end.

The God Delusion Richard Dawkins
A bit of a slog, but a valuable description of many of the implications of belief in a god. Really geared to be another salvo in the battle between science and religion. The raising consciousness about natural selection was a little too much, but otherwise a useful account of the delusion that a belief in a god, any god, really is. Interesting ideas about whether teaching children religion is child abuse. Glad I read it, and glad I’ve finished it.

Sergeant Nibley, PhD Hugh Nibley
I knew Nibley a little when I lived out here in the 70s and 80s, and I worked tangentially with him against the Vietnam war. He had referred obliquely a few times to his experiences in WWII, so I was really interested to read this book by him and his son Alex. It was a lot more work than it needed to be because it is very poorly organized and crowded with unnecessary pictures and sidebars. I guess the editor thought it needed to be dumbed down for the Mormon readers even though it pretends to be for a non-Mormon audience as well. Still glad I worked my way through it. He still means a great deal to me in my intellectual and spiritual development.

If the Dead Rise Not Philip Kerr
Latest in the Bernie Gunther series, number 6. Now he’s in Cuba, but most of the book takes place during 1934. Again Kerr’s sleek prose that slips us through the narrative. His pre-war and Third Reich world is good history as well as compelling fiction. Really liked it. Hope he keeps writing them.

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything Christopher Hitchens
“Read” this as an audio book, and it was great listening to Hitchens read his own prose as I drove around in my Beetle. He loves to skewer people and our preconceptions, so there is a glee in this book as well as some good insights and history. But he is not a philosopher, and his arguments wind around a little even though they are, for the most part, right on the money. Very good, really glad I read it.

Once a Spy Keith Thomson
Entertaining novel about a spy with Alzheimer’s disease and his loser son. Started out great with a nice satirical bent, but devolved into a giant, cartoonish, comedic chase scene. Not too bad, but could have been better with a little more of an edge.