Some of the better books I have read and recommend:
I've been an avid reader since childhood. A "book worm" some of my adult relatives called me during my youth. Some books leave a lasting impression on the reader, others fade into distant memory. I have listed some of the books on this page that have stirred my curiosity and broadened my knowledge of America, the world at large, business acumen, and the human condition.
On Government, America and the World around us:
Founding Brothers:
An in depth portrayal of the seven most prominent members of the first Continental Congress, the framers of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Joseph J. Ellis
Federalist:
The famous papers on the principles of American Government, written during the years of the first Continental Congress in 1787 to 1788 under the psuedonym of Publius. The author was identified much later to be the troica of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay.
Edited by Benjimin F. Wright
John Adams:
A Biography of the second President of the Untied States, and one of the most amazing men in American history.
Charles McCulogh
HIS Excellency:
A Biography of the first President of the United States unlike anything you have ever read.HisHis Excelency
Joseph J. Ellis
Worlds in Collision:
A controversial hypothesis on theories of the earth's magnetic fields and the catastrophes that caused them.
Immanuel Velikovsky
Ages in Chaos:
A controversial revision of the chronology of pre-christian middle East.
Immanuel Velikovsky
Earth in Upheaval:
A controversial explanation with supporting paleontologic and geologic evidence of the catastrophic occurrences which changed and overwhelmed the Earth.
Immanuel Velikovsky
Nothing Like It In The World:
The story of building our nation's Transcontinental Railroad. The political, financial and super-human efforts in physical labor that boggled the minds of the 19th century world.
Stephen Ambrose
Gods, Graves & Scholars The Story of Archiology
A combination of high adventure, history and scholarship chronicles the never ending search for the past and those who search, find and dig for remnents of world history.
C. W. Ceram
On Business, Management and Marketing:
First Things First:
In place of of efficiency, this book emphasizes effectiveness. Rather than focusing on time, the book makes a case for relationships and results.
Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:
Establishes seven basic principles in managing one's life in balance and effectiveness.
Stephen R. Covey
Beware The Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt:
A road map for developing good strategies in business and careers.
Harvey Mackay
an Anatomy of Leadership princes, heroes and supermen:
A treatise on the fundementals of leadership, with analysis of historical leaders from Julius Ceaser, to Machiavelli, to Franklin Deleno Roosevelt, describing the differences in style and results.
Eugene E. Jennings
Patton's Principles a Handbook for Managers who Mean it!
A powerful assembledge of management principles from one of America's most legendary, resourceful and unvarnished individuals in our history--General George "Blood and Guts" Patton.
Porter B. Williamson
The Peter Principle:
A humerous look at the premise of promoting from within causing a reduction in good management because "all managers are ultimately elevated to their level of incompetence."
Dr. Laurence J. Peter
On Novels:
The Power of One:
A story of survival and human dignity and overcoming adversity under the most trying of circumstances.
Bruce Courtenay
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil:
A non-fiction novel which underscores the cliche that truth is stranger than fiction.
John Berendt
Sherlock Holmes The original illustrated
All of the stories so many times told and put on film of this famous fictional detective.
Arthur Conan Doyle
The Greatest Player Who Never Lived
A Real page turner of golf and golfing history woven around a mystery. Whether you are a golfer or not, this is a quick and good read.
J. Michael Vernon
Caravans
An epic, which explains the history and lives of the desert people. Written many years ago, but timely, in that Afganistan being recognized as the "cradle of civilization" by many historians, is now embroiled in a war of epic proportions.
James A. Michner
Cold Mountain
An outstanding story of a man returning home after deserting the Civil War battle field at Gettysburg. Outstanding in descriptive writing, the author has you living every step on the long walk home.
Charles Frazier
The Family Mark Twain
A biographic summary of Twain, plus several full length novels and many of his most famous short stories. A great book to pick up and put down from time to time reading some of these timeless tales from one of America's most remembered humourists.
Barnes and Noble
On Self Improvement:
The Situation is Hopless, But Not Serious The pursuit of Unhappiness
Self analysis written in a humerous style by a practician and clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University.
Paul Watzlawick
I welcome your comments
You can reach me at bill@billeffinger.com