THE TRIBE OF TIGER by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas. Favorite line (paraphrased from memory): "We can see that tigers are a kind of cat, but we can't seem to see the reverse--that cats are a kind of tiger."
NATASHA'S DANCE: A CULTURAL HISTORY OF RUSSIA by Orlando Figes. I love both this and his "A People's Tragedy," the history of the communist revolution. I've always loved Russia. It's completely unique with its mix of east and west, accommodating both but belonging to neither. And it's very rare for a deeply authoritarian culture (which it appears to be) to be so artistic and soulful at the same time. Plus, they're all a bunch of cowboys--they really are. (I mean that as a compliment.) You should read about their space program--those guys stuck things together with chewing gum and just went for it. Nerves. Of. Steel.
THE WIZARD IN THE TREE Lloyd Alexander. I associate this book with memories of eating party-cut cheese pizza in sixth grade, which was when I discovered it. A highly entertaining yarn with some excellent satire of hypocrisy, greed and self-satisfaction along the way.
AMAZING GRACE: THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND THE CONSCIENCE OF A NATION by Jonathan Kozol. I read this book when it came out eleven years ago. How many more books like this are going to have to be written?
GET IN THE VAN: ON THE ROAD WITH BLACK FLAG by Henry Rollins. The most interesting part of this book in many ways is its beginning--its account of how Rollins just up and ditched his life and "got in the van," without looking back.
