My favorite books that I read in 2009:

[TheMightyFavog]

Here's a list of some of my favorite books that I read last year. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. 9XM Talking: WHA Radio and the Wisconsin Idea by Randall Davidson



A great book about the history of WHA in Madison, WI the Nation's first noncommercial radio station, tracing its history back from its pre-World War I days up until its incorporation into Wisconsin Public Radio in the early 1980s.


2. House and Philosophy: Everybody Lies edited by Henry Jacoby



Part of the philosophy and Pop Culture Series, this excellent book explores the philosophy behind one of my favorite TV shows.


3. Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free by Charles Pierce



Charles Pierce of NPR's Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me explores why many people in our nation buy into things that are complete and utter crap. From legendary hoaxes to conspiracy theories to pseudoscience, (i.e. Creationism, Climate Change Denial, etc.) Pierce boils things down to three "Great Premises:"

(1) Any theory is valid if it sells books, soaks up ratings or otherwise moves units.
(2) Any thing can be true if someone says it loudly enough.
(3) Fact is that which enough people believe. Truth is determined by how fervently they believe it.


4. Me of Little Faith by Lewis Black



A funny little book that explores the spiritual journey of one of my all-time favorite standup comics, Lewis Black.



5. Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation (now published under the title Invictus) by John Carlin



The book about Nelson Mandela and the events surrounding the 1995 Rugby World Cup that inspired Clint Eastwood's recent film. I recommend reading the book before seeing the movie, as the book goes further in depth to the racial and political situation in South Africa at the time than the movie ever did.



6: Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement by Kathryn Joyce



This book scared the living shit out of me in the same way that the film Jesus Camp scared the shit out of me when it first came out a few years back. This book came recommended to me in a thread about Reality TV's Duggar Family in an online discussion forum this last summer. At times, I felt like I was reading a book about women in pre-invasion Afghanistan rather than women in the United States.



7: Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement That Shattered the Republican Party by Max Blumenthal



I decided to read this book after seeing the author on Tavis Smiley one night. His anylysis of the Christian Right is very eye-opening, particularly his insights on James Dobson. (Did you know his headquarters in Colorado Springs maintains its own security force with an arsenal of over 2,000 firearms?) Even more Poignant is his comparisons to the Christian Right to Erich Fromm's theories on authoritarianism, and even sadomasochism. Very good and very well researched book.



8: The Unlikely Discliple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University by Kevin Roos



What happens when a liberal student from Brown University decided to do a Semester at Jerry Falwell's infamous Liberty University? Kevin Roos answers this question in this wonderful book that everyone can enjoy, no matter what side of the culture wars one happens to be on.



9. Columbine by Dave Cullen



A fascinating in-depth look at one of the darkest days in recent American history from all sides ranging from Klebold and Harris, to the survivors and the bereaved, to the local emergency services and the investigators. It also includes a thorough debunking of the "She Said Yes" meme that's been kicking around Fundamentalist circles in the ten years since.



10. What's the Matter With Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America by Thomas Frank



A hundred years ago, Kansas was a hotbed of populist progressiveism and fierce advocates of policies that would be condemned as "Socialistic" or worse in today's political Climate. Today, Kansas is a hotbed of populist conservatism. Frank examines the transition in this slightly dated, yet nonetheless fascinating book that I found at the local dollar store

[alp227]

1. I read Idiot America and What's the Matter this year too.

And I'm interested in reading that Invictus book too. K&R!

[AlinPA]

2. Thank you. I checked our library and "Idiot America" is in, I'll pick it up in the morning. nt

[murielm99]

3. I just picked up the Columbine book from the library. n/t

[TheMightyFavog]

4. Be warned, there a few parts that will make you want to throw the book across the room

Be prepared for that.