Barb Burgis Zuegel '53 and Herb Zuegel '52

On Paradise Drive by David Brooks
How suburban middle class values are good and will prevail.  He says these are the modern expression of Jefferson's American Dream -- a mentality of "future-mindedness"-- making the USA genuinely different and blessed.  Despite some gaps, it's a very positive contrast to dreary media reports and most sociologists' gloom.  Plus Brooks has tons of dead-on, humorous insights, e.g.:  "guys at Home Depot doing that special manly, waddling walk that American men do in the presence of large amounts of lumber...."

Hard America, Soft America by Michael Barone.  
His premise:  "We seem to produce incompetent 18 year olds but by 30 they are remarkably capable."  As we've learned over time, this is the reverse of most other developed nations, i.e. they have tougher K-12 schools but easier working conditions.  He sort of explains why and what that means.  Not perfect, but then what is?  Only 160 pages.

Finding God in the Questions" by Timothy Johnson the M.D.
This book is deeper, author is the M.D. on ABC, who's also an ordained pastor.  He grew up in Rockford; attended North Park & Augustana.  Bits from the book jacket:  "We wonder if God is real, if religion is relevant, if faith is possible... He [scientifically] investigates the plausibility of God's existence and [personally] explores the significance of Jesus."  Nicely done in 200 pages.
 

Matthew Sprague '02
Sports writer, Garden City Telegram
Garden City, KS
(In January, Matt moves back to Illinois to work for the Quincy Herald-Whig.)  

The Rise and Fall of the Press Box by Leonard Koppett
Koppett, the former New York and Palo Alto sports writer who died in 2003,
was well-known for his ability to see far more in a game than just events
and numbers. In this, his final work, he examines the field of sports
journalism itself --- where it started, where it's been and what it is
today.

The book resonates with me not only on a professional level, but also
personally. Many times, I wonder if I could hack it at the same level in a
time when there were no computers, but merely typewriters; no Internet
updates, just telegrams and wire reports; no voice recorders, just the pen
and paper. Koppett's book should make any aspiring writer long for that
chance.

H Robert King ’88

Books in the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin
(A_Game_of_Thrones, A_Clash_of_Kings, and A_Storm_of_Swords).
In the "Song of Ice and Fire," Martin has created a fantasy series that in many
ways exceeds the extremely popular Lord of the Rings series and allows those
who visit a grand escape. Since I spend the majority of my reading time on
technical subjects, my time spent in Westeros is pure enjoyment as I cheer
on the heroic actions of the all-too-human characters.

Chuck Erdmann '76
Two good books I recently read:

Bleachers by John Grisham  
In brief it is about a high school football team from approximately 20 years ago, getting together and airing out things that happened back then and up to now, and the players returning to town for their football coach's impending death and funeral.

Portrait of a Killer, Jack the Ripper, Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell . 
Using 21st century CSI techniques, educational deduction and theories, and, in some cases, physical evidence from 1888, Patricia Cornwell presents hard evidence as to who the elusive "Jack the Ripper" really was.

Paul McKelvey, '57, retired  

Several in process:

Lincoln's War - Geoffrey Perret

James Madison, Father of the Constitution 1787-1800 - Irving Brant
Interesting view of writing of the Constitution

The Bad City in the Good War - Roger Lotchin '57

St. Patrick of Ireland - Philip Freeman

In a True Light - John Harvey 
An X-rated crime novel but well-written none the less.

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