I'm sure that many of you, like me, have added a number of books to your shelf in 2007 (or revisited ones that have already found a place there). My own selections have almost exclusively been in the area of natural history, both old and new, but before I write up a list of my favorite selections that I read this year, what are your favorites? The books could be new or old, but out of what you've read this year, what books rank among your favorites? (Replies can be left in the comments.)
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My favourite so far was: "What Is Life? The Next Fifty Years: Speculations on the Future of Biology". Dates from 1996, but interesting nonetheless - if a bit dated and far-fetched all at the same time.
1) The Evolution of Modern Humans in Africa
2) Primate and Human Evolution
3) Thud!
4) Where's My Cow
5) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
I can never pick just one favorite, but if I had to...The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan definitely one of the most eye-opening and well-written books I read this year. For fiction, Letters from the Earth by Mark Twain.
Currently reading Jurassic West.
Just finished The Poisonwood Bible a couple weeks ago. I can still feel it. By far my favorite read of the year; first novel I've read in a very long time. Second place: Passionate Sage by Joseph Ellis. Currently reading 1776 by David McCullough; I don't see how it has a chance after The Poisonwood Bible. Upcoming: Collapse by Jared Diamond. Haven't read any natural history recently. That's why I read your blog!
Of the non-fiction books I've read this year, I especially enjoyed:
1. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver
2. The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman
3. A Sand County Almanac, by Aldo Leopold
The last one was a re-read, and I was reminded of why I loved it so much as a teenager.
1. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
2. Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
3. Lonely Planets by David Grinspoon
4. Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer
5. Magical Mushroom, mischievous molds by George W. Hudler
Hmm, like you, I read dozens and dozens of books each year. I can't remember offhand the books I polished off before moving to China four months ago, since I didn't bring any finished books with me. So, highlights for the last four months:
The Difference Engine: Charles Babbage's Quest to Build the First Computer (non-fiction: math/technology history)
Lord Byron's Novel: The Evening Land (fiction: somewhat experimental embedded/entwined storylines)
Shogun (historical fiction)
These were the most readable and enjoyable. Other non-fiction books (and unfortunately some fiction books) I've read have been interesting, but hardly effortless to get through.
"Making Money", Terry Pratchett.
"Riyuu", Mayube Miyuki.
"Collapse", Jared Diamond.
Having come to regret not majoring in paleontology in college, and being too broke to go back to school to rectify that situation, I decided to do the next best thing and earmark dozens of collegiate texts and professional reference books on Amazon for eventual purchase (mainly focusing on the dinosaur end of things, though I do have a couple books on mammals on the list).
First up, and the book I'm currently reading, is rather appropriately Bakker's Dinosaur Heresies, which I'm enjoying immensely. And from the rather unsubtle hints I've left to family members, I hope to have the second edition of Dodson, Weishampel, and Osmolska's The Dinosauria or Martin's Introduction to the Study of Dinosaurs after Christmas.
Other than that, I've mostly been indulging in the new wave of English-translated Japanese light novels, including the first three installments of Kadono's Boogiepop series and the first volume of Fuyumi Ono's Twelve Kingdoms, which have both been incredible (better well have, seeing as I'd been waiting as long as a decade for translations to finally come out)
I have read:
Terrible Lizard by Deborah Cadbury (I think it would be a great movie.)
Fighting Words by Hector Avalos (and got it autographed)
Darwin's Dangerous Idea Daniel Dennett
Doubt: A History Jennifer Michael Hecht
Children of Hurin JRR Tolkien/Christopher Tolkien
All recommended.