My Reading Recommendations

Thanks for the comments and suggestions across the last days for additional posts. Given multiple requests and my passion for book recommendations -- I'm starting with my must-read list (see disclosure below).

Fiction
The Shadow of the Wind - favorite in last 5 years.
The Book of Embraces (Norton Paperback) - Galeano will make you laugh and cry with his 1 page vignettes and poignant images from the far corners of Latin America
Samarkand (Interlink World Fiction) - Maalouf's historical fiction takes us on a 1000 year journey across the Middle East and Europe with poetry and forceful characters.
Sea of Poppies - Historical fiction in India


Non-Fiction (Business/Economics/Management)

Ascent of Money -- central to understanding the current financial environment

The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance - my current reading. Downright eerie how many elements of the current financial crisis have been seen in history. Follows the history of JPMorgan Co. -- and the Fed/US Govt that played along with JPM.

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us -- must read for managers

The Craftsman - Scale and specialization drove productivity for the last 200 years. We seem poised for another era where the individual and his/her craft will be the source of productivity. Sennett's historical take inspires some forward-looking thought.

Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions - we're not as rational as neo-classical economic models. Great stories and experiments on the predictable biases in our decisions and actions.

Non-Fiction (Philosophy, General)

Mans Search for Meaning - Title says it all!
Siddharth - Hesse's classic. Good companion to previous title.
In Light of India - India seen from the eyes of a latin-american, catholic, western philosopher. Octavio Paz analyzes the difference in perception of time, motivation, goals from his time as Mexican ambassador to India.
A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present (P.S.) - Zinn is wonderful. Perfect reading for current political times.

Full Disclosure:  If you enter Amazon through my site and purchase a recommendation, I get a small commission, and their price does not change at all. A win-win situation for me and my readers.  Such a deal. But, buy only what you plan to read -- I don’t want my readers to waste their money just to reward me.