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1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion by Morgan Llywelyn paperback: $6.99 ISBN: 0812574923

When I visited Dublin in January, 2003, I spent time in the General Post Office. There, they have a series of paintings on the walls that depict the Easter Rising of 1916. When I got home I realized that I didn't fully understand what had happened then, and what had led to it, so I got this book and I educated myself. Morgan Llywelyn is a wonderful novelist. She places fictional characters into real events and tells the history through their eyes. I had been in so many of the streets in Dublin where much of the events in this book took place. I had put my fingers in the bullet holes that still pock the stone of the GPO. That made it all the richer for me, but even if you've never spent time in Dublin's fair city, you will feel the terror and the passion of that time through this novel. They were hopelessly outnumbered, and they were crushed, but they won in the end and that's what makes this such a wonderfully human story, one that I think you'll enjoy. And I think you'll learn much from it, as I did. And there are two sequels to this novel. The next is 1921 and the last is 1949: A novel of the Free Irish State. All three are superb.

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein hardcover: $12.57 ISBN: 0060256737

Wonderful poems. Read to your kids. Do it daily. Kids are more important than work.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah hardcover: $12.10 ISBN: 0374105235

Ishmael Beah tells the story of the vicious boy soldiers of Sierra Leone, and how they came to be that way. He was one of them, and the things that he did will haunt your dreams. I think every civilized person needs to read this remarkable memoir, and to think.

A Poem a Day (Grades K-3) by Helen H. Moore paperback: $11.96 ISBN: 0590294334

See above. And don't forget to hug 'em!

A Separate Peace by John Knowles paperback: $8.00 ISBN: 0743253973

Required reading in High School, but much better when savored through the filter of years (I reread it at 53). Classic truths here, and bittersweet lessons in life.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson hardcover: $18.70 ISBN: 0767908171

Bill Bryson, one of my favorite writers, was sitting around one day when he realized that he didn't know how they figured out how much our planet weighs. And then he began to think about all the other things that he didn't know. Being a middle-aged man, he figured it was time he found out, and he did. In this book he takes us on a grand tour through physics to chemistry to biology to geology to astronomy to ecology, and all with very little dumbing down. If you want to spend some quality time learning about the world and the universe, read this gem.

A Single Wave : Stories of Storms and Survival by Webb Chiles hardcover: $16.06 ISBN: 1574090720

This one is right up there with "The Long Walk" (which is further down the list). I picked this up and couldn't tear myself away from its pages. What a life this guy has had!

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. paperback: $6.50 ISBN: 0767902521

Bill Bryson is my all-time favorite travel writer. He’s the one writer that can instantly throw me into hysterical fits of laughter. This book is no exception. In this adventure, he takes off with his friend Katz (his companion on an earlier trip through Europe) in an attempt to walk the entire Appalachian Trail. Katz is an out-of-shape, middle-aged, slob, and Bryson doesn’t look much better at the start. His commentary on their adventures along the way is absolutely priceless. It will make you laugh with delight. It will teach you things you never knew about this country. And it will make you feel as if you had made the journey yourself. Don’t miss it.

A Widow for One Year by John Irving paperback: $11.96 ISBN: 0345424719

I've loved John Irving's writing since I discovered his novel "The World According to Garp" while I was taking an English course in night school. I think his latest novel, "A Widow for One Year," is simply perfect - one of the most satisfying books I've ever read. It's a book about grief, but it's also wildly entertaining. That's what John Irving is all about; he can make you laugh and cry at the same time. And the very last line in this novel sent a shiver up my spine and brought tears of joy to my eyes. Had he written one more word he would have ruined the mood. I tell you, this guy knows when to stop! He is, in my opinion, America's Charles Dickens - a brilliant storteller. Enjoy!

ABC of Architecture by James F. O'Gorman and Dennis E. McGrath paperback: $11.96 ISBN: 0812216318

This is a wonderful little primer that will give you a good sense of the elements of architecture. It's a non-technical discussion of the architectural triangle. The three sides of that triangle are function, structure, and beauty, which might sound boring as hell but trust me, it's not. I got a LOT of insight from this book, and I'll bet you will too. This is the sort of book that can give the heating professional an edge when going after those high-end jobs. The more you know, the better you look. Check it out.

Aftermath : The Remnants of War by Donovan Webster paperback: $12.60 ISBN: 067975153X

A friend recommended this one to me and I have to tell you that it's a subject I had never considered. I'll bet you haven't either. What happens to the weapons that are left out in the field when a conflict ends? Who clears the land mines? How many are there around the world? How long will it take to get rid of them? What do we do when chemical weapons reach their the end of their shelf life? What was the result of all that nuclear testing that took place during the Cold War? What did Agent Orange do to the people of Viet Nam? In short, what happens when the battle stops but the potential for destruction remains? This is one of the most provocative books I've come across. It's well researched and so well written that I'll bet you won't be able to put it down. I sure couldn't.

Agnes Browne Trilogy: The Mammy, the Chisellers, the Granny by Brendan O'Carroll paperback: $25.10 ISBN: 0452157595

I laughed so hard at these books that I had to watch where I was reading them. I'd be on an airplane and suddenly crack up. People look at you funny, you know? But this is such delightful stuff. Long live, Agnes Browne!

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Toolbox Manual by David Tenenbaum paperback: $10.36 ISBN: 0137702647

This one comes HIGHLY recommended by my friends who work in the "cool" side of the business. Everything you need in one easy-to-tote volume. Great for beginners and old-timers as well!

Air Conditioning Systems, Principles, Equipment and Service by Joseph Moravek hardcover: $75.00 ISBN: 0135179211

This one comes highly recommened by those who know. It's for pros who want to fine-tune their know-how.

American Notes for General Circulation by Charles Dickens paperback: $8.80 ISBN: 0140436499

Charles Dickens paid his first visit to the United States in 1842 and he kept a journal. American Notes is that journal. I was fascinated by his observations of everyday live, and I especially enjoyed his comments on our big cities, Niagara Falls and slavery. This is a wonderful read that will take you back in time.

An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser paperback: $8.95 ISBN: 0451527704

The anti-American Dream. A truly GREAT 19th Century novel by a masterful storyteller. Savor this one.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy paperback: $8.95 ISBN: 067978330X

This book covers all of life and it's a very powerful novel. Many say that it's the finest novel ever written, but I haven't yet read enough to know if that's true. Ayn Rand once said that "Anna" was the most dangerous book ever written. I can understand how she would feel that way. If you read my notes on her book, "Atlas Shrugged," you'll know that Ayn Rand had a powerful influence on me when I was younger. I reread that book every so often to see how it now strikes me. Over the years, my feelings toward it have changed considerably. Now, at middle-age, what Tolstoy has to say in "Anna Karenina" rings far truer, at least for me.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank paperback: $5.50 ISBN: 0553296981

Always haunting. I read this as a young man, and then again just before going to Amsterdam to visit Anne's house. I cried.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner paperback: $9.56 ISBN: 067973225X

Mr. Faulkner is a tough read because he uses this steam-of consciousness technique, and the dialogue is very Southern. But if you're in the mood for a challenge, pick it up. It's the story of a family going to bury the mother. There's a point in the novel where the father and son are sitting on the porch, and the father asks the son a question. About seven pages later, the son answers the question. It was a startling literary device, and one that absolutely delighted me. I had to flip back through seven or so pages of description and tangents to see what the question was that the son had answered. It gave a true sense of how slowly things moved in this place. Faulkner was a genius.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand paperback: $14.36 ISBN: 0452011876

Be forewarned, this book contains 1,192 pages and every one of those pages is going to make you think. I first read Ayn Rand's classic when I was 20 years old. It had a life-altering effect on me. It made me stop doing what I was doing (which wasn't much at the time) and go to work. I reread the book when I turned 40 because I was curious to see if it would still have the same power over me that it had over me in my youth. It didn't, and I found that to be so curious. It caused me to think a lot about how I had spent those 20 years - the experiences I had along the way and what I had learned about life. I plan to read Atlas Shrugged again when I'm 60. I want to see what it does to me then. Perspective is a gift that comes with age - if you allow it to. This is a book that everyone should read at least once in their life. And more than once if you have the patience and the curiousity.

Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis paperback: $5.35 ISBN: 0553214861

A great American novel. Babbitt strives to conform. You've met this guy. He lived in the 1920s but believe me, you've MET this guy. He lives in every town, works in every company. Babbitt is timeless, and oh so tiresome.

Bad Land by Jonathan Raban paperback: $11.20 ISBN: 0679759069

A book about the failed dreams of the homesteaders who traveled to the Montana prairie during the 1930s. They were following the false promises of the Government and the railroads who told these people that the land was rich. The wind came and blew away the soil, along with the dreams of the people, yet so many stayed on. This is their story. It's so similar to Steinbeck's classic, "The Grapes of Wrath," but these people stayed on. Told in the present as well as the past, this book is one that will move you deeply.

Bang the Drum Slowly by Mark Harris paperback: $8.95 ISBN: 0803272219

This is a great American novel. It's about baseball in the days before baseball players were rich, but it's much more than that. It's a story about life and death and friendship and loyalty and it will stay with you for a long, long time.

Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison paperback: $10.50 ISBN: 0452269571

A beautifully written, very disturbing book about a little girl growing up wrong. This one will stay with you long after you close the back cover.

Being Dead by Jim Crace hardcover: $14.70 ISBN: 0374110131

This is one of the most unusual, and beautifully written, novels I have ever come across. It's short (just 196 pages) and I read it in one sitting. Its quirkiness just pulled me in and held my attention for hours. The story revolves around a couple (both are zoologists) who return after 30 years of marriage to a beach where they once made love. While trying to relive the moment they are both murdered by an unknown person who arrives, does the deed, and then conveniently leaves the story. The rest of the novel is about being dead, but not at all in the spiritual sense. I realize that this all sounds pretty strange but take my word for it, this is a remarkably beautiful tale. It's told through flashbacks along with a rather intense look into the troubled life of their estranged daughter. It also gets very involved with all the natural things that happen to two dead bodies when left on a beach for six days. Sounds gross, I know, but it's all done very . . . tastefully.

Berlin Noir by Philip Kerr paperback: $12.24 ISBN: 0140231706

Three novels under one cover - a great deal! And these are dark novels, all in the Raymond Chandler style. If you like a good detective story (stories!), and if you love history, this one will have you turning the pages. Highly recommended!

Blindness by Jose Saramago paperback: $9.94 ISBN: 0156007754

Mr. Saramago won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Suppose all of the people, but one, went suddenly blind. What would happen to the world, and how would people treat each other? And the one person with sight, what would her world be like? This book is haunting. Highly recommended.

Boss : Richard J. Daley of Chicago by Mike Royko paperback: $11.65 ISBN: 0452261678

Simply the best book ever written about an American city by the finest journalist of his time. Politics, Chicago-style - Royko will have you shaking your head in astonishment. This is political writing at its finest.

Builder's Guide to Cold Climates: Details for Design and Construction by Joseph Lstiburek Spiral-bound: $32.00 ISBN: 156158374X

For those who live in COLDER places! Brrrrrrr.

Builder's Guide to Mixed Climates : Details for Design and Construction by Joseph Lstiburek Spiral-bound: $40 ISBN: 156158374X

After a friend got wind that this one was on its way to the publisher and recommended it to me, I ordered a copy and waited about six months for it to arrive (it's newly published). It was WELL worth the wait! This is a concise, graphically rich manual that shows the very best methods and techniques for building homes in the colder parts of North America. The focus of the entire text is on energy conservation through proper building techniques, particularly insulation techniques. It is VERY up to date. If you are involved with the New Hydronics, particularly radiant heating (and if you are, you understand the importance of insulation), you would be wise to add this book to your reference library. Great, great information, and the drawings are superb.

Butler's Lives of the Saints by Michael Walsh (editor) paperback: $16.80 ISBN: 0060692995

There are patron saints for just about every profession. There are patron saints for prisoners, pawn brokers, poets, and postal workers. Even engineers have a patron saint (Ferdinand III)! There's a saint for plumbers (Vincent Ferrer), yet there no patron saint to watch over the poor heating contractor. Add this book to your library and try to figure out why that is :-)

Buying In: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are by Rob Walker hardcover: $16.50 ISBN: 1400063914

What is about iPods that makes so many people want one? There cheaper devices that do the same thing. And why do so many people were those yellow liveSTRONG bracelets? Why do we buy what we buy, and what does that say about us? That's what Rob Walker's book is all about. If you're involved in any aspect of marketing, or if you just want to better understand our culture, read this book. Lots of food for thought here.

Call of the Wild by Jack London paperback: $2.69 ISBN: 0812504321

A man and a dog in the frozen North - a story of love and loyalty. If you didn't read this fierce and moving tale as a kid, read it now. You won't be sorry.

Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling paperback: $3.95 ISBN: 0451523814

How a spoiled boy becomes a man by falling overboard somewhere out there in the Atlantic. Tough-guy literature at its very best!

Cartoon Guide to Physics by Larry Gonick, Art Huffman (Contributor) paperback: $10.95 ISBN: 0062731009

All four of my daughters used this book in High School. It's fabulous.

Catapult : Harry and I Build a Siege Weapon by Jim Paul paperback: $$9.60 ISBN: 0156005565

If you want to laugh while learning, get yourself a copy of Catapult. This is a story about a guy who decided it would be great fun to build a catapult so that he could lob rocks into the Pacific Ocean. Jim Paul, the guy in question, knows nothing about mechanics, so he gets together with his friend Harry, who does. They need money for the project so they apply to the local Arts Council, explaining that they want to explore “catapult consciousness.” All of this takes place in California, and they get the money, of course. The story of how they build their contraption takes you on a wild ride through both history and mechanical engineering, and it’s more fun than a hurled boulder. Don't miss it!

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller paperback: $10.56 ISBN: 0684833395

I read it in high school, of course. You probaly did too. Read it again. It actually makes more sense nowadays.

Cavedweller by Dorothy Allison paperback: $10.46 ISBN: 0452279690

A brilliant writer. This wonderful novel is a celebration of life, told though the tough and tender words of some fascinating women.

Celtic Lullabies by various artists beautiful music!: $12.99 ISBN: B000000X8F

Not a book, but the music that I listen to all day long while writing stories. Gorgeous stuff that makes the imagination soar. Put this together with a birdfeeder and watch what happens!

Collected Poems of Robert Service by Robert W. Service hardcover: $16.77 ISBN: 0399150153

Robert Service was born in 1874 and spent most of his life as a vagabond poet slogging through Arctic wastelands in search of gold. While there, he wrote such classics as "The Cremation of Sam McGee" which will stay in your head like the Meow-Mix jingle. It's good to memorize a few Robert Service poems so that you can recite them loudly whilst hoisting a mug of beer in some dark and woody gin mill. And guys, feel free to do the same!

Confessions of a Crabgrass Cowboy: From Lincoln Logs to Lava Lamps: Coming of Age in an Early American Suburb by William Schwarz paperback: $17.59 ISBN: 0595451691

William Schwarz is my age and he grew up very near where I did here on the Isle of Long. This memoir is all about coming of age during the '50s and '60s and it brought back some wonderful memories. It's also side-spitting funny. Don't miss it.

Cormac's Corner by Cormac MacConnell paperback: $13.95 ISBN: 0970587708

What we have here is a collection of short stories, each about three-pages long, and all about life in the west of Ireland. I learned about Cormac MacConnell when I was reading McCarthy's Bar (which you'll find further down the list here). He's a brilliant storyteller and has the most playful way with words. I've written down and saved so many of the verbal images from this delightful book. I wish I could do what this guy does. Trust me, you'll feel like a kid, sitting at the knee of a twinkly-eyed grandfather when you read this one. Pure delight!

Cracking Creativity by Michael Michalko paperback: $13.97 ISBN: 1580083110

Simply the best book I've ever read on creativity. If you need to come up with new ideas for your business, this book will give you the tools. And when you get to the part about SCAMPER, pause there and spend some time with it. It's very powerful stuff.

Custer's Last Stand by Quentin Reynolds hardcover: $1.68 ISBN: 0394891783

I read this book when I was in the fifth grade and loved it. I was so innocent and this was a book for young adults. It didn't favor the Indians, but we weren't PC back then. I still have the copy of that book. When my daughters were in the fifth grade, I wrote my thoughts in the book and then gave it to them to read. They also recorded their fifth-grade thoughts in the book, right below mine. Now they are grown and the book sits on my shelf, old and weathered, and priceless. I wait for the grandchildren to arrive. Choose a book you once loved and do this with your children.

Daisy Miller by Henry James paperback: $5.95 ISBN: 0140432620

A novella of the utmost beauty. Daisy Miller is innocent, but oh so American, and traveling in Europe during a time when women such as Daisy were considered bold. A beautiful piece, stuck in time.

Dale Carnegie's Lifetime Plan for Success : How to Win Friends & Influence People : How to Stop Worrying & Start Living by Dale Carnegie hardcover: $12.99 ISBN: 1578660394

I took the Dale Carnegie Course when I was 21 years old and it changed my life. They first night of class they handed me these two books. I read them and saw the wisdom in both. At some point in your life, you MUST read these two books - and the earlier the better.

Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig paperback: $10.40 ISBN: 0684831058

A few years ago, I did a seminar in Montana and made some new friends. One of them sent me a book afterward and told me it was an excellent history of Western Montana’s early settlers. I wrote and thanked him for thinking of me, and then I put the book on the stack. I have this really big stack of books to read. I’ll never live long enough to get to the bottom of it, but that’s the way it should be with books. The book finally worked its way to the top and when I began reading, the memories of my trip to Montana came flooding back. But this wonderful novel is so much more than an early history of Western Montana. This is a piece of writing that will move you and haunt you. It woke me on more than one night and had me staring at the ceiling, nearly in tears. This is just such a beautifully crafted story. It’s about life, and love, and I can’t recommend it enough. Give yourself a present and savor this book.

Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff, Sydney Hoff (Illustrator) paperback: $3.55 ISBN: 0064440028

I read this book a million times to Kelly, Meghan, Colleen and Erin. If I changed a single word, they'd know it. And I would change words - every night. I'd twist the story around and make things up and play with their imaginations and make them believe that, when it comes to a story, just about anything can happen to a little kid and a dinosaur. They're all grown up now, my beautiful daughters, but they remember this book. And so do I. Read to your children. They grow so quickly.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens paperback: $7.95 ISBN: 0679783415

This was Mr. Dickens' favorite book. It is also his most autobiographical. The character, Uriah Heep, is one I've met from time to time. Quite a stinker.

Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben paperback: $6.99 ISBN: 0440220440

This is the first in a series of crime novels revolving around sports agent, Myron Bolitar, and his VERY interesting friends. Woody put me on to this series and strongly suggested that I read the books in order. You should do the same. Besides being terrific stories and honest-to-goodness page turners, what you will find here is some of the best descriptive writing around. It will have you laughing out loud. As Woody says, "The only problem with Harlan Coben is that we read faster than he can write." True.

Desperate Characters by Paula Fox paperback: $9.60 ISBN: 039331894X

This short novel is so beautifully written and so complex that it calls for more than one reading. Written in 1970 and then out of print for years I'm very glad to see that it is back for a new generation.

Diana Krall - Live in Paris (2001) DVD by Diana Krall et al. wonderful music: $18.74 ISBN: B00005Y3ZM

Not a book, but incredible music from a woman who is so talented I can't even stand it. We saw Diana Krall on Long Island during the summer of 2002 and went out the next day and got this Live in Paris DVD. She reminds me of Eric Clapton in a way. Not because of the music (this is jazz, not blues) but because Clapton always surrounds himself with the best musicians he can gather. He can do that because he's so confident in his own abilities. She's the same. The group playing with her is masterful. And the sound that comes out of this DVD is like nothing I've ever heard on any other live performance. We have one of those surround-sound set-ups in our den and I could watch and listen to this woman all day long. Joyful stuff, this DVD. Enjoy!

Downtown: My Manhattan by Pete Hamill hardcover: $14.37 ISBN: 0316734519

If you're a New Yorker you're going to love this one. If you're not a New Yorker this book may make you wish you were. It dances between little-known history and sheer poetry. Simply beautiful writing.

Dreamland : America at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century by Michael Lesy hardcover: $28.00 ISBN: 1565843827

This is a photo essay of America during a time long gone. It is simply the most beautiful and whimsically romantic book I own and I sit with it nearly every night, if even for just a little while. This book brings the Dead Men to life. The quality of the photography will take your breath away. I can't recommend this one enough. I LOVE this book!

Driving Mr. Albert by Michael Paterniti paperback: $8.76 ISBN: 038533303X

The author drives the elderly Dr. Tom Harvey, former pathologist, across America. They are going to visit Evelyn Einstein. In the trunk, they have her grandfather Albert's brain. It's in a Tuperware container. This is a true story and travel writing at its very best. I loved every minute of the journey and learned a lot I never knew along the way.

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman paperback: $8.76 ISBN: 0446670111

This is a delightful little novel that will make you stop in your tracks and think about time. I read it in one sitting and then turned back to the first page and reread it. It's that good! It's filled with wonderful speculations on the nature of time and life and it will make you appreciate both just a little bit more. The writing is gorgeous and it's a genuine page-turner. Don't miss this one.

Endangered Pleasures : In Defense of Naps, Bacon, Martinis, Profanity, and Other Indulgences by Barbara Holland paperback: $9.60 ISBN: 006095647X

Absolutely delightful little essays about all the things we used to do but now, for various reasons, can't. Or won't. Or secretly wish we could! This one is great fun.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing paperback: $10.17 ISBN: 078670621X

A most amazing true story that began in the summer of 1914 when Ernest Shackleton and his crew set off on the Endurance to cross Antarctica. The ship got trapped in ice and crushed and what follows is the story of their survival. It reads like a novel but it's all true.

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser paperback: $10.47 ISBN: 0060938455

My daughter gave me this one to read and it caused me to give up on beef and chicken. It may not have the same effect on you, but I hope it makes you think. This book goes beyond what's in the food. It's a powerful, and very-well-documented, look at the food industry in America. Disturbing stuff.

Father Joe: The Man Who Saved My Soul by Tony Hendra hardcover: $17.46 ISBN: 1400061849

A beautiful book about a flawed man. It's a search for happiness, and ultimately, for redemption. Father Joe is a modern-day saint. You'll like him a lot.

Flatland/Sphereland by Edwin A. Abbott paperback: $10.50 ISBN: 0062732765

Written in 1884, the hero of this book is a square that lives in Flatland, a place where there are only two dimensions, length and width. This one is right up there with Alan Lightman's 'Einstein's Dreams' (further up on the list). How would the world appear to you if it had but two dimensions? How about one dimension? That's what the Square has to deal with when he visits Lineland. Or no dimensions at all(in Pointland). He's transported to Sphereland, which is where we live, and is astonished to find this third dimension. He then speculates on a fourth dimension, which the Sphere tells him is ludicrous, which is the point of this fairy tale. It's difficult for people to imagine things beyond the range of your sensations. This book will have you doing that, though. A quick read and well worth your time.

FLU - The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It by Gina Kolata hardcover: $17.50 ISBN: 0374157065

Something terrible happened during the winter of 1918, and I'm willing to bet that you never learned about it in school - or even heard about it once you graduated. I didn't. A virus swept over the world during the winter of 1918, and it attacked mostly the young and the healthy. Almost overnight, it killed an estimated 40 million people. More American soldiers were killed by this flu during that single winter than died during all of World War II. Half a million died in the US, 19,000 in New York City alone. And then, just as this killer arrived, it left. It was an event that was so staggeringly horrible that history literally forgot about it. And that's why you never learned about it in school. This book is a murder mystery. It's as current as today's newspaper because a small group of researchers have managed to find that virus and they're working on breaking its genetic code as I write these words. How they found it is one hell of a good story. In 1976, the swine flu appeared on the scene and scientists thought it was the return of the 1918 flu. The US Government made an attempt to vaccinate every American. What happened as a result of this political decision will help you to understand why so many people sue each other nowadays. I'd like you to read this book because, in 1918, the science of central heating was relatively new. The engineers who were working on those early systems had to deal with the panic that swept through the world back then as a result of the winter of 1918. Those engineers had to design heating systems that would heat buildings with the windows open. This book is an eye-opening gem, one that will give you a greater understanding of the heating trades, and the world of medicine - all at the same time! You will not be able to put it down.

Forced Hot Air Furnaces - Troubleshooting and Repair by Roger Vizi paperback: $$31.96 ISBN: 0071341714

This is about the best text I've found for troubleshooting and repairing furnaces. Roger Vizi writes in plain English, and he writes with technicians in mind, but even if you're not in the trade, you'll be able to understand what's in this book. He approaches the subject in the same way a good teacher would run a class. He begins at the beginning and takes you through to the end, one step at a time. He doesn't assume you know things that you may not know. He's particularly good throughout the service and troubleshooting sections because he shares insights that can come only from someone who has a lot of experience working in the field. The text covers the components of gas, oil, and electric furnaces. It also deals with electrical circuits, humidifiers, and electronic air cleaners. There's a solid section on heat pumps as well. The drawings are simple to follow and VERY clear. The appendix offers suggested parts inventories for service trucks, questions to ask when you're troubleshooting, a tune-up checklist, and a lot more. All in all, I think that this is one book that EVERY service technician should own. It answers the questions that a technician may be reluctant to ask at work. And that's what a good technical book should do. Great stuff!

Forever by Pete Hamill hardcover: $15.57 ISBN: 0316341118

I've long loved New York City history, and Pete Hamill has always been one of my favorite newspaper columnists and novelists. This novel, like his earlier work, Snow in August, involves a young boy, New York City, and a healthy dose of magic. Cormac O'Connor comes to New York from Ireland in 1741 and receives a gift. He is granted eternal life, as long as he never leaves the island of Manhattan. What follows is a wonderful story of New York City that rumbles through the generations and ends with the events of September 11. It's a great, imaginative and very moving read. It's also a love story. Beautiful

Freedom from Fear by Mark Matteson paperback: $9.95 ISBN: 0937539619

Mark Matteson and I were on the same program at a convention and we got to spend a few hours together afterwards at a book signing. He gave me a copy of his book, which I read on the plane on my way back to Long Island. As soon as I was done, I started reading it again. This book is just wonderful. It's filled with advice for living and I found myself nodding in agreement with everything he had to say. Mark is a brilliant storyteller and I can't recommend this book enough. There's peace here.

From Sand Castles to Dream Houses: A Planner for Building or Remodeling Your Home by Sheri Koones Hardcover: $24.99 ISBN: 0924659874

Sheri Koones called me one day and we talked about houses and heating and she told me about her book. This is great stuff and Sheri has a wonderful way with words. You building or remodeling? Get this book!

Furnace by Muriel Gray paperback: $6.29 ISBN: 0312969031

Despite the title, this one has nothing to do with heating systems. Rather, it's a novel (one of the most riveting I've read) about a cross-country trucker who has a brush with the supernatural when he turns off the Interstate in search of a quick meal. He drives down a long narrow country road and eventually finds himself in Furnace, Virginia, a small affluent town that's not quite right. All he wants to do is grab a sandwich and make a U-turn, but then all hell breaks loose. This one will keep you up nights.

Games Trainers Play by John W. Newstrom and Edward E. Scannell paperback: $19.96 ISBN: 0070464081

If you ever have to run a meeting and you're looking to liven it up a bit, check out this book. It's filled with ideas that can help you hold your audience's attention. I've used a number of these games in the seminars I've conducted over the years. They've always worked for me!

God, Country, Notre Dame by Theodore M. Hesburgh hardcover: $22.95 ISBN: 0268010382

First, I have to tell you that my daughter Kelly is a "Domer" and that's the reason why I first picked up this book. I thought it was going to me a preachy tome written by the priest who guided the University of Notre Dame from a regional school to a university of international stature. What the book turned out to be, though, was the story of a Forrest Gump sort of man in a clerical collar. Father Hesburgh somehow managed to be present at (and play a significant role in!) some of the most memorable moments in recent American history. This guy was everywhere! And he also flew faster than any living human being on the face of the earth. That story alone is worth the price of the book, and I guarantee it will have you shaking your head in amazement. This is a life that will inspire you and astound you. Read it like an adventure story because that's EXACTLY what it is.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins Hardcover: $16.50 ISBN: 0066620996

My friend Bill Curry, one of the most successful wholesalers I know recommended this book. He said, "Jim does a terrific job of identifying how any business owner can take his company to the next level. His formula is simple and adaptable to any size company." I agree!

Grasshopper by Barbara Vine hardcover: $17.50 ISBN: 0609607898

I REALLY liked this one. It's about a group of very interesting characters (some are nuts; others are quite evil) who get their kicks by climbing the roofs of London at night. Sounds strange, I know, but it's also about coming of age. What I liked most about the novel was the way the author switches from present to past and moves the story along with a lot of foreshadowing. It held my interest to the last page. Great style!

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens paperback: $8.00 ISBN: 0141439564

Perhaps the most perfect novel ever written.

Handbook of Air Conditioning, Heating, and Ventilating by Richard L. Koral, et al. hardcover: $89.50 ISBN: 0831111240

I've known Dick Koral for most of my working life. Nowadays, he runs the Apartment House Institute (a division of New York City Technical College) and he is one of the best all-around heating people I know. Dick used to edit, along with the legendary Clifford Strock, a magazine called "Air Conditioning, Heating, and Ventilation." When I was writing my book, "The Lost Art of Steam Heating," Dick called and asked if I would be interested in the files of the late, great Mr. Strock. I, of course, said YES! and immediately drove into Manhattan to pick up a van-load of boxes. It took me months to go through all of Mr. Strock's collection. Much of what I found there (original trade-journal articles from the Twenties and Thirties) wound up in "Lost Art." This man was a world-class saver! When he and Dick sat down to edit the "Handbook" they put just about everything you would EVER want to know about air conditioning, heating, and ventilating into it. This is an incredible source book, and it's one you should consider adding to your library.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling paperback: $6.29 ISBN: 059035342X

Anthony Alverez lives next door. He told me that I should read the Harry Potter books because he liked them a lot. He loaned me his copy. Anthony's a kid, and he was right. Start with this one and work your way through the series. You'll be happy you did. These books are NOT just for kids. Listen to Anthony.

Heat and Cold: Mastering the Great Indoors: A Selective History by Bernard Nagengast et al. hardcover: $99.00 ISBN: 1883413176

As far as I'm concerned, Bern Nagengast knows more about heating, refrigeration, and ventilation history than anyone else in America. In recognition of ASHRAE's centennial, he got together with a group of other ASHRAE historians to craft this gorgeous, coffee-table book. At $99, it IS a pricey text, but it is one that you will enjoy for years to come. The drawings and photos are both rare and many are in full color. The history that they explain in the text is something that will open your eyes and make you understand that you are a part of something that is big and important. Treat yourself to this one. You will NOT regret it.

Heating Handbook by Chase Powers paperback: $$31.96 ISBN: 0070507198

If it's heat pumps you're interested it, Heating Handbook is one you should NOT miss. Nearly half of this text is about heat pumps - how they work, how to pick them, how to install them, how to troubleshoot and maintain them. Chase Powers covers both air-source and ground-source units, and he does it in a MOST understandable way. When he's done with heat pumps, he jumps right into radiant floor heating, furnaces, duct installation, solar, wood- and coal-fired systems and so much more. The drawings are terrific (most are courtesy of the equipment manufacturers), and there are a LOT of very useful charts. I picked up a great deal from this book and I'll bet you will too!

Hiroshima by John Hershey paperback: $6.25 ISBN: 0679721037

I read this as a young man, and reread it on the 60th anniversary of the event. Please read this book at least once.

His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis hardcover: $16.17 ISBN: 1400040310

I picked this up when I realized that I didn't know much about the Father of our Country. He's always sat up there on the mountain, almost god-like (at least that's what I got from school). It's sometimes hard to believe that he actually lived. He's more legend than he is man. This book, however, will make George Washington seem very human to you. Did you know that he and Thomas Jefferson were enemies at the end? I didn't know that. Heck of a story, and all true. It is a bit dry in places (a very serious historian writing here), but well worth the effort.

Homegrown Democrat: A Few Plain Thoughts From the Heart of America by Garrison Keillor hardcover: $13.97 ISBN: 0670033650

Garrison Keillor has a beautiful way with words.

Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss hardcover: $10.47 ISBN: 0394800788

If you're a kid, I hope you read and love this book as much as I did when I was a kid. This is the first book I can remember reading on my own. I sat on the floor of the New York Public Library when I was five years old and moved my fingers over the words, one at a time, saying those words aloud and loving their round sounds. If you're a grown-up, you should own this book and keep it close by. It's a great way to remember that EVERYONE can make a difference in this world - even a tiny Who. And if you're lucky enough to have kids, please don't forget to read to them tonight. Children are as perishable as milk.

House About It by Sheri Koones, Bruce Sanders paperback: $16.97 ISBN: 1586853775

Another winner from Sheri Koons. She's the author of From Sand Castles to Dream Houses: A Planner for Building or Remodeling Your Home (also on Dan's Reading List). House About It has a nice section on mechanical systems. Check it out.

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alverez paperback: $11.20 ISBN: 0452268060

This one's about sisterhood and family, generations and conflict. Beautifully crafted. I found this one in our public library in the High School Reading List section. I often go there to find great books I might have missed otherwise. It's good to know the high-schoolers are reading such quality work.

How to Lie with Statistics by Darrell Huff, Irving Geis paperback: $8.05 ISBN: 0393310728

This book will help protect you from a LOT of people!

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie paperback: $7.50 ISBN: 0671733354

I read this when I was 21 years old and it changed my life. I've read it again many times since - just as a reminder. It's especially important nowadays. Don't worry.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie paperback: $7.50 ISBN: 0671723650

Simply one of the most important books I've ever read. It's timeless. And if you've never taken the Dale Carnegie Course, you should do that too. It has the power to change your life.

I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe hardcover: $11.58 ISBN: 0374281580

I've read everything book Tom Wolfe has written and I especially enjoyed this one because it's so rich in language. I always keep a notepad nearby when I'm reading so that I can capture colorful descriptions. I practically filled my notebook from this novel. The story's a bit tough to take (heartbreaking, actually), but it's a real American story, and as current as today's newspaper.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou paperback: $5.99 ISBN: 0553279378

An autobiography of Ms. Angelou up to age 16 and the birth of her son. A moving rememberance of what life was like for a Black woman growing up in the American South during the 1930s. Powerful writing.

Ice Reich by William Dietrich paperback: $6.00 ISBN: 0446607444

Boy, is this one a page-turner! I picked it up at the airport on my way back from Chicago and I couldn't put it down. If you love a well-told tale with REALLY bad bad guys, action-adventure, and great escapes, then you're going to love this book. And, by the way, Mr. Dietrich won the Pulitzer Prize. This guy can write!

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin paperback: $3.00 ISBN: 0440340608

An American horror story. I wish more people would read James Baldwin.

In God We Trust : All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd paperback: $10.36 ISBN: 0385021747

If you've ever watched "A Christmas Story" on TV during the holidays you've heard the wonderful voice of Jean Shepherd. And if you watched that movie, you're also familiar with the kid who gets this tongue frozen on the flagpole, the famous leg lamp and the dangers of owning a BB gun ("You'll shoot your eye out!) I grew up listening to Jean Shepherd's voice on the radio here in New York. He's one of the reasons why I wanted to be a storyteller when I grew up. This book contains the tales that went into "A Christmas Story" as well as many more that will have you laughing with delight. If you've ever been a kid you're going to LOVE this book.

In Her Defense by Stephen Horn paperback: $6.99 ISBN: 0061098752

This is a GREAT first novel. It's got lots of twists and turns and I did't want it to end. Sit back and hang on!

In My Hands by Natalie MacMaster Music!: $13.99 ISBN: B00000K52U

The best darn Cape Breton fiddle player you ever laid ears on. I saw Natalie MacMaster play with the Chieftans on Saint Patrick's Day a few years back. She fiddled like a madwoman and step-danced at the same time. My jaw droped down onto my chest and I've been in love ever since. Natalie can make you dance and she can make you cry - all with her wonderful, wonderful hands.

Instruments of Night by Thomas H. Cook paperback: $4.79 ISBN: 0553578200

I recently discovered Mr. Cook and I’m looking forward to savoring his other novels. This one is about a near-suicidal writer who lives mostly inside his mind. A rich woman hires him to imagine the solution to a long-ago murder. She doesn’t expect him to solve the crime, but only to imagine a plausible scenario that will give the surviving relatives peace of mind. He nevertheless gets drawn into the case and sets out to actually solve the murder. Before long, he comes up with an explanation, which I guarantee you will accept. But as soon as he has you convinced that this is what took place, he tears down the entire theory. And you will believe that he was right in tearing it down. And you will feel foolish for believing him in the first place! Cook does this again and again to you throughout the novel. Each explanation is more plausible than the last – and each is wrong. The truth comes out in the end and I guarantee it will be a total (and very shocking) surprise. This book is delightful because it operates on so many levels. It’s an incredibly imaginative piece of writing. If you enjoy the art of good mystery writing, you will love this book.

IPT's Electrical Handbook by Herb Putz paperback: $16 ISBN: 0920855229

If you feel that you already know enough about electricity then this book is NOT for you. But if you have a nagging feeling that there might still be a few things you could learn, then buy this book! What we have here is a course in electricity, taught by a retired Master Electrician, and it's small enough to fit in your shirt pocket. This is one of those little gems that you can read from cover to cover (which will give you a solid, plain-English education in electricity and electrical system components), and then refer back to for years to come because this is also one of the best reference tools I've ever seen. Mr. Putz didn't leave a thing out, and the drawings are SO easy to follow. No toolbox should be without this book. What a great value for the money!

It's Not What Happens to You, It's What You Do About It by W Mitchell hardcover: $19.95 ISBN: 0963790102

Here's a story about a guy who simply never gives up. One of the most touching and inspirational true stories I've ever read. What courage!

John Adams by David McCullough paperback: $13.20 ISBN: 0743223136

A brilliant telling of an American story. At 752 pages, it's a hefty read, but well worth the time. His battles with Jefferson come to life in this work, and show both men in such a human light. I really liked this book. Follow it with Mr. McCullough's book, "1776"

King Coal by Upton Sinclair hardcover: $28.95 ISBN: 0848818997

Written in 1917 by the famous muckraker, this book has the power to break your heart, but while doing so, it will also give you valuable insight into how the heating industry came to be. Old King Coal was not such a merry old soul after all!

Kites by David Pelham paperback: $14.35 ISBN: 1585670170

Take this book and your young son or daughter out into a breezy Sunday afternoon. Make a memory. Children don't keep very long.

Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain paperback: $3.96 ISBN: 0553213490

A wonderful recounting of the great man's early life as a riverboat pilot - and a lot of insight into the early days of steam. A delightful book!

Little Chapel on the River: A Pub, a Town and the Search for What Matters Most by Gwendolyn Bounds paperback: $11.86 ISBN: 0060564075

For anyone who has ever loved a certain bar, and the special people who inhabit the place. This is such a perfect book. Makes you feel wonderful all over.

Living Dead by Marco Lanza, Laura Facchi hardcover: $42.00 ISBN: 1903391008

There's a church in Palermo, Italy where . . . Well, click on the link and read all about it. I'd love to wander this place some day. Sort of puts your worries in perspective.

London by Edward Rutherfurd paperback: $7.99 ISBN: 0449002632

This is a BIG novel (1,126 pages) that begins with the Ice Age and ends in 1997. Whew! Along the way, Mr. Rutherfurd traces generation after generation of several families. They come in contact with each other, with historical figures and often participate in historical events, and that's where the learning comes in. The author has a wonderful way of weaving facts and explanations of how certain commonly known things came to be into his story. I learned so much from this book and I couldn't put it down because the stories are wonderfully exciting and often very moving. Having been to London, the stories held even more meaning for me. It brought back my visits to the Tower of London and Hampstead Heath and I now see these in a new light. This book is just terrific and well worth your time.

Loving Monday: Succeeding in Business Without Selling Your Soul by John D. Beckett hardcover: $11.19 ISBN: 0830819266

I've had the pleasure of being able to spend time with John Beckett and I found him to be an inspiration. He the sort of guy who "walks it like he talks it" and he's one of the most successful men in the heating industry. It wasn't always that way for him and his family business, though. He's been through some very tough times and this book is a reflection of what he learned along the way about business, people, values, and most important, life. It's one of those books that can have a profound impact on your life. I did on mine.

Low Pressure Boilers (3rd Edition) by Frederick M. Steingress paperback: $26.96 ISBN: 0826944124

Good stuff, written in plain-English with clear drawings. I still have the first edition on my shelf from way back when. This book is especially good for those who are new to the trade.

Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, and other short fiction by Stephen Crane paperback: $4.95 ISBN: 0553213555

You may know Stephen Crane from The Red Badge of Courage. Most high-schoolers have to read that one, and it's a classic. 'Maggie' was his first work and he couldn't find a market for it so he self-published and that didn't sell either. It was only after 'Red Badge' became popular that 'Maggie' finally saw the light of day. It's a raw, violent short work of fiction, but it tells well the story of life in the New York City tenements in the 1880s. The other stories are as good. It's hard to imagine that Stephen Crane died at twenty-eight. He was wise beyond his years, and he wrote so well. A small book, but one I think you'll enjoy.

Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson paperback: $10.85 ISBN: 0060518502

This remarkably researched book reads like a fine novel. It's so rich in detail, and brings to life all the characters who played a part in the assassination of President Lincoln. This is the way history should be taught.

Masters of Enterprise - Giants of American Business from John Jacop Astor and J.P. Morgan to Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey by H.W. Brands Hardcover: $18.20 ISBN: 0684854732

I loved this book! It's a series of short biographies about Americans who changed the world. It begins with Astor and ends with Gates. The author, H.W. Brands, offers eye-opening insights into the qualities that these people shared and he writes so beautifully. You can pick up the book and read any of the stories in no particular order. However, if you start at the beginning and work your way through you'll gain a greater understanding of the forces that have driven American business throughout the years. This is one of those books that helped me make connections to so many things. I filtered what I know about heating and heating history through the lives of these people. As I considered what was going on in America at a certain time, I was better able to understand why certain systems of central heating came to be when they did. I'm sure that wasn't the author's intent, but we all bring something different to each book we pick up, don't we? This one made me think in a somewhat different way, and that's what a good book should do. Good stuff!

Math to Build On - A book for those who build by Johnny and Margaret Hamilton paperback: $#19.96 ISBN: 0962419710

Remember that class you slept through in High School? You wondered why the heck you had to learn all that wacky math, especially when you knew you were NEVER going to use it. Well, a few years went by and now you know better. There was that job the other day when you just couldn't seem to make that angle fit as it should. Remember? If only you had paid attention back in High School. The good new is that this book gives you a second chance. It lets you return to the days of your youth and relearn all those math lessons that have the power to make your working life so much easier. And you can learn at your own pace. In this wonderful book, Johnny and Margret Hamilton take the pain out of learning basic math. This is a straighforward handling of the numbers and formulas that are used in construction. It will have you nodding in understanding - perhaps for the very first time. This book is an absolute gem. Don't miss it!

McCarthy's Bar by Pete McCarthy paperback: $11.16 ISBN: 0312311338

My daughter, Kelly, was living in Dublin for a year and when she came home to visit she brought this book with her and left it with me. I started it just before we went to visit her in Ireland some months later, and finished it afterwards. It's a gem. Pete McCarthy is right up there with Bill Bryson when it comes to travel writing. This book is so funny and he made me feel like I was right there with him as he traveled the west of Ireland. He ends the book on his way back to England, at the Forty Foot, a place in Dublin where men swim year round, in the nude, in ridiculously cold water. How come? Because they always have. We were there at the Forty Foot. McCarthy captures the madness, and the sweetness, of the place perfectly. This is a really good book and I think you'll like it a lot.

Measuring, Marking & Layout : A Builder's Guide by John Carroll hardcover: $27.96 ISBN: 1561582263

All sorts of tips and short-cuts that will make your construction work more accurate - especially when you're working alone.

Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary by Merriam Webster, Inc hardcover: $17.47 ISBN: 0877797099

Everyone should own a good dictionary and I've always found this one to be the best. I have one by my easy chair, another on my desk, and I use them both every day. If you take the time to look up a word you don't understand you'll own it for the rest of your life.

Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King paperback: $10.88 ISBN: 0142003697

This is a remarkable book that fractured many of the myths I have always believed. For instance, Michelangelo did not paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel while on his back (that would be nearly impossible), and he did not work alone (not hardly!). Also, the Pope at the time was, let's just say, a bit difficult. I've seen the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, and it will always be with me, but now I appreciate so much more what I once gazed up at. This is a wonderful read, and you will learn much from this book. Enjoy.

Mindfulness by Ellen J. Langer paperback: $10 ISBN: 0201523418

If you've read and enjoyed any of the books that I've recommended here that have to do with getting ideas you should add this one to your list as well. This book will make you think HARD about the mindsets that all of us develop over the course of our lives, and how they hold us back from breaking through to fresh ideas and insights into ourselves, our businesses, and our relationships with others. It's a psychology/sociology book, sure, but not a technical one that's tough to read. It's one of those works that will have you stopping every few pages to examine events in your past. It will have you seeing those events in a new way. I found this book to be a great aid to creativity, and I think you'll learn much from it.

Modern Hydronic Heating by John Siegenthaler Hardcover: $79.95 ISBN: 0827365950

John is my colleague at Plumbing & Mechanical magazine and I think his book is one of the best I've seen on the subject of hydronic heating. It's one of those books that I wish I had written! John takes you through every step of design in a plain-English way that's easy to follow - even if you're new to hydronics. If you're serious about heating, this book should definitely be on your desk.

Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem paperback: $10.07 ISBN: 0571226329

A detective story that reads like Raymond Chandler, with the added delight that the lead character has Tourette's Syndrome. It may take you a chapter or two to get into the spirit of the thing, and to be able to follow Johnathan Lethem's unique writing style, but if you just sit back and let it flow, I'll bet you enjoy this one as much as I did.

My Life in Advertising and Scientific Advertising : Two Works (Advertising Age Classics Library) by Claude C. Hopkins paperback: $11.96 ISBN: 0844231010

Claude C. Hopkins was America's first great advertising man. He changed American business by changing the way it looked at advertising. Before Mr. Hopkins came along, most folks thought that advertising was about keeping your name before the public. Mr. Hopkins redefined it as "salesmanship in print" and that's what these two books are about. Get them, read them, and I'll bet you they have a profound effect on your business. These books go back to the 1920s but they contain secrets that you can apply right now. Some books are timeless. Mr. Hopkins wrote such books. GREAT lessons to be learned here!

My Thirteenth Winter : A Memoir by Samantha Abeel paperback: $11.17 ISBN: 0439339049

Samantha Abeel has a learning disability that affects her ability to learn sequentially. She can't do simple math, can't tell the time, can't make change. Nevertheless, she has an gorgeous way with words. She published her first book of poems at 15 years old, and the book went on to win national awards. This very moving memoir will really touch your heart if you know of anyone with a learning disability, or if you suffer from one yourself, as I do.

Mystic River by Dennis Lehaine hardcover: $20.00 ISBN: 0688163165

This is a dark novel with writing so pure and refined that it will make your skin crawl and stay with you long after you close the back cover.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: Written by Himself by Frederick Douglass paperback: $7.95 ISBN: 0300087012

Read this in the context of 1845. Just read it and imagine the power it must have had in its day to affect the way people thought. It's a very powerful book today, but just imagine it then. Never take your freedom for granted.

National Fuel Gas Code Handbook by Theodore C. Lemoff (Editor) hardcover: $78.00 ISBN: 0877654468

When this book first became available, here's what my friend "Hot Rod" Rohr wrote on The Wall: "I just received my NFPA 54-1999 National Fuel Gas Code Handbook. Wow! In addition to the complete NFPA 54, this hardback beauty includes formal interpretations, and commentary, printed in blue. The commentary provides history and background for specific paragraphs in the code. In other words, it explains the reason behind the requirements. A very USER-FRIENDLY code book at last! Part Two includes five supplements dealing with CSST, procedures to estimate infiltration rates, development of revised venting guidelines and more. Important changes include: new limits on the use of alternative methods for sizing chimneys and gas vents, new requirements for combustion air, revised requirements for pressure testing, new exception dealing with altitude derating, and more. I've got some serious reading ahead of me now. Get your hands on one of these ASAP." And I couldn't agree more!

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich paperback: $10.40 ISBN: 0805063897

This one's a real eye-opener. Barbara Ehrenreich has a PhD but she set that on the back burner and went out into America to work at several minimum-wage jobs, just to see if she could make it. This book will have you counting your blessings, and if you have a heart, leaving larger tips when you have a meal in a restaurant, or check out of your next motel room.

Night by Elie Wiesel paperback: $5.99 ISBN: 0553272535

First-hand account of what the Nazis did. Mr. Wiesel was just 15 years old when he went through this. His father, mother and sister were killed. A horrifying book, but one you should read.

No Comebacks by Frederick Forsyth paperback: $5.59 ISBN: 0553276735

Frederick Forsyth has written some masterful suspense novels, but here he presents a series of delicious short stories that I guarantee will have you on the edge of your seat. I recently read this one on a flight from Minnesota to New York and I simply couldn't put it down. The ending of each story hits with a twist that you never expected. There are very GOOD good guys and very BAD bad guys and each gets what he or she deserves in the end. This book is absoluting satisfying! Check it out and I promise you there will be "NO comebacks."

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy paperback: $8.40 ISBN: 0307387135

In all his books, Mr. McCarthy haunts me and makes me think. I haven't seen the movie; I'd much rather read his words. Often, there are no happy endings.

No Logo by Naomi Klein paperback: $10.20 ISBN: 0312421435

My daughter, Meghan, and I often read the same book together. Meg usually picks the book and she hasn't steered us wrong yet. Naomi Klein is an activist and her books are always provocative. This one deals with international corporations, branding, how products get made, and many things that (I hope) will make you think. She wrote the book during the '90s and some of it was dated, but she has additional material at the end, which she wrote post-9/11, and that's perhaps the most provocative part of all. This is a disturbing book, but one worth your time, especially if you can read it with your daughter or son.

North River by Pete Hamill hardcover: $19.75 ISBN: 0316340588

I'm a huge Pete Hamill fan and couldn't wait to read this one. It takes place during the 1930s in New York City and it's a story that will leave you feeling very good about life. There's also a lot in here about steam heat, which delighted me. I hope it delights you.

Nothing Like It in the World : The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869 by Stephen E. Ambrose hardcover: $19.60 ISBN: 0684846098

This is about HOW the did it and it's a heck of a story. I have to tell you, though, it's a slooooow read. It's so filled with detail and Americana that it takes time to digest it all. I learned so much from this book. Stephen Ambrose is a national treasure.

Oil! by Upton Sinclair paperback: $9.75 ISBN: 0143112260

They based the film, "There Will Be Blood," on this 1927 novel, but don't expect to read the same story here. Upton Sinclair was a socialist and he used this novel to tell the story of the Teapot Dome scandal, and to explain what was going on between the owners and labor during the days when California was oil country. It's a fine novel a good way to learn about how oil comes up out of the ground. Very different from the film, though.

Old Tractors and the Men Who Love Them : How to Keep Your Tractors Happy and Your Family Running by Roger Welsch paperback: $11.96 ISBN: 0760301298

My cousin Jim, who is both a professional engineer AND a lawyer, sent me this book a few years back. He included a short note that read, "Read this." I looked at the cover and figured two things: 1. This was going to be the most boring book I've ever read, and 2. I have to read it because Jim is older and wiser than I am and he's just liable to check back with me. I reluctantly dove in, and to my delight, was positively hooked by page three. This is one of the funniest books I have ever read about men and the machines they love that. Just wait until you get to the part about borrowing tools. It's called "The Bubba Ring" and I guarantee it will have you howling. Pure delight, this one, and SO true!

On Bullshit by Harry G. Frankfurt hardcover: $5.97 ISBN: 0691122946

A short book (67 pages) that says much. Despite its title, this is a scholarly work, written by moral philosopher, Harry G. Frankfurt. I learned about the book while watching an episode of 60 Minutes, during which he was interviewed. It caught my interest and I’m glad I followed up with it. The last four pages alone are worth the price of the book. Provocative stuff.

One More Time : The Best of Mike Royko by Mike Royko (with commentary by Studs Terkel and Lois Wille) paperback: $9.60 ISBN: 0226730727

As far as I'm concerned, Mike Royko was the greatest newspaper columnist who ever sat down to tell a story in 900 words. This collection of his classic columns from the Sixties through the Nineties is extraordinary. If you want to learn what great short writing is all about, read Royko. He was a master of the first and, especially, the LAST line. Pick any of these columns at random, read it, and you'll see what I mean. I just pretend to be a writer. Royko was a genius.

Permission Marketing : Turning Strangers into Friends and Friends into Customers by Seth Godin paperback: $14,40 ISBN: 067104642X

If you're in business you are missing the boat if you don't read and then REREAD this book. This one had a huge influence on us when we were building HeatingHelp.com.

Peter's Quotations - Ideas for Our Time by Laurence J. Peter paperback: $9.60 ISBN: 0688119093

This is the man who came up with the Peter Principle ("In all organizations, all members will rise to the level of their own incompentency.") Peter's Quotations is my all-time favorite quotation book. It's not as big as Bartlett's, but it's a hell of a lot funnier. If you do any writing and/or public speaking, you will LOVE this book.

Pipe Fitter's Math Guide by Johnny E. Hamilton paperback: $15.96 ISBN: 0962419702

I'll admit that math has always been one of my weakest areas. I much prefer words to numbers but let's face it, there are times when you REALLY need the numbers. Johnny Hamilton has written a math book that's just for YOU if you have to work with pipe. He explains all the numbers in plain English and does in it such a way that you can study at your own pace. This is the sort of book that gives you the confidence you need to take on those tough jobs. And best of all, the answers are in the back of the book!

Pipe Trades Pocket Manual by Thomas W. Frankland paperback: $13.88 ISBN: 0028024109

This is one of those astonishing little books that makes me shake my head in wonder over the time the author must have spent putting it together. It contains literally everything you'd ever want to know about the mathmatics involved in pipefitting. I don't care WHERE you have to make that pipe go, this book will show you how to get it around every tight corner with ease. It is, without a doubt, one of the most practical books I've ever run across, and it will save you time on every job you do. If you work in the pipe trades, you will LOVE this book. And it's small enough to fit in your pocket!

Plainsong by Kent Haruf paperback: $10.40 ISBN: 0375705856

The author prefaces his book by defining the word "plainsong." Plainsong - the unisonous vocal music used in the Christian church from the earliest times; any simple and unadorned melody on air. This is a novel about ordinary people in central Colorado. The time is the present. The people are a pregnant high school girl, a lonely teacher, a pair of boys abandoned by their mother, and a couple of crusty bachelor farmers. Kent Haruf weaves their tales together in a most beautiful way. It is truly an unadorned melody on air. One of the things that struck me right from the start was the way he doesn't use quotation marks for any of the dialogue. This technique has the effect of melding the speech of the characters with the author's descriptions of the enviroment in which they live. It somehow lends a feeling of peace in spite of the story, which is equally sad and hopeful. This is a masterful piece of writing. I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Pompeii by Robert Harris hardcover: $17.47 ISBN: 0679428895

I've wandered around both Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy and this novel made my memories that much richer because it brings the people back to life. In Pompeii, you can still see the bodies of the people who died when Vesuvius exploded during late August, 79 AD. The whole story takes place over four days and it's so well told that you'll feel as if you were there. I especially liked this one because the main character is the Aquarius, the engineer in charge of the Roman aqueducts. There's so much rich detail about the waterworks in this book, and it's so well researched. It's also a fine action/adventure tale, and a bit of a love story as well. I think you'll like it a lot.

Practical Sheet Metal Layout : Round Fittings Used Today Including Methods and Techniques of Fabricating Round Work by Richard S. Budzik paperback: $34.95 ISBN: 0912914688

This is simply THE definitive book on the art of bending sheet metal. If you're in the air-moving business you should own this book.

Radiant Floor Heating (Complete Construction Series) by R. Dodge Woodson paperback: $31.96 ISBN: 0071347860

The folks who write these Complete Construction Series books do a fine job of explaining things. This book is no exception. Check it out.

Round Ireland With a Fridge by Tony Hawks papeback: $16.77 ISBN: 0312242360

My daughter Kelly spent a semester in London and returned with this book, which she handed me and declared to be "the funniest book in the whole world." After reading it, I have to agree. It's the true story about our hero, Tony Hawks, who makes a drunken bet one night that he can hitchhike around the perimeter of Ireland with a refrigerator within the span of one month. And by the way, the bet is for 100 pounds, but the fridge costs Tony more than that to buy. The point being, the journey is pointless. But every now and then it's nice to do something just because it's a bit silly! The book is about his trip 'round Ireland. Along the way, he and the fridge make a LOT of friends. They drink many beers. The fridge goes surfing, and one of them even manages to have sex (I won't tell you which one). Get yourself a cold one, put up your feet, and prepare to read about something VERY silly.

Sarum: The Novel of England by Edward Rutherford paperback: $7.99 ISBN: 0804102988

Bring patience, an easy chair and a notebook to this sweeping novel of England. I learned so much from this one. His speculations on Stonehenge alone are worth the price of the book. Rutherford writes books like those of James A. Michener but with a somewhat more formal style, which sometime drags, and that's where the patience comes in. But it's all worth it. His novels begin in the Stone Age and conclude today. I wish my high-school teachers had used such books to teach me. I would have sat up straighter. And this is a very big book. Not a quick read.

Selling the Invisible: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing by Harry Beckwith hardcover: $15.37 ISBN: 0446520942

My friend, Arlene Puentes, Home Inspector Extraordinaire, sent me a copy of this book. I read it on a Northwest flight to and from Minneapolis from my home in New York. She thought the book was fabulous, and so did I. It's filled with sensible marketing advice and insights into fine points that I've never considered ('Don't start by positioning your service. Instead, leverage the position you have.'). Good stuff. I also really like the way he presents the information. He manages to make most of his points in less than two pages. Everything is bite-size and you can pick up the book and put it down whenever you'd like, without losing any of the impact of the individual points he has to make. Thanks for the gift of words, Arlene!

Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea by Gary Kinder paperback: $12.60 ISBN: 0375703373

What a read this one is! It's the TRUE story of a treasure hunt. It begins with a very detailed telling of the sinking of the Central America, which went down in a hurricane off Virginia in 1857. This wooden, paddle-wheeled steamship was carrying more than 400 passengers who were returning home with the gold they had dug from the earth during the California Gold Rush. The first part of the book is a great sea story, involving magnificant heroism and, finally, tragedy. Some survived to tell the tale, but most perished. The Central America sank in 8,000 feet of water and seemed to be lost forever. But from there, the story shifts to Tommy Thompson, who is very difficult to describe. Tommy is a brilliant young engineer and scientist, a modern-day entrepreneur, inventor, visionary, creative thinker, and all-out maverick who absolutely refuses to take no for an answer - on ANY topic. He gets it through his head that he can not only find, but also recover, the treasure from the Central America. No one had ever worked in water this deep, at pressures so high and temperatures so low, and the odds against success were astronomical. NASA couldn't do this. The CIA couldn't do this. NO ONE could do this. Or at least that was the thinking at the time. I won't spoil this great story for you, but let me just say that this book is a little bit like the story of the Titanic, and a LOT like a Tom Clancy novel - only it really happened. Don't miss it.

Small House Designs by Kenneth R. Tremblay (Editor), Lawrence Von Bamford (Editor), Lawrence Von Bamford (Editor) paperback: $15.96 ISBN: 0882669664

Suppose you ran a contest for architects where you challenged each of them to design the best home they could while keeping the size under 1,250 square feet. Then suppose you published the very best of those designs in a book. This is what you'd get - a wonderful place to go for ideas if you're thinking of building a little dream house.

Snow in August by Pete Hamill paperback: $6.00 ISBN: 0446606251

This is the story of a young Irish boy and a rabbi in 1946 Brooklyn. It’s filled with memory and magic and it will touch your heart. It is simply beautiful writing by one of my favorite authors.

Snow Wolf by Glenn Meade paperback: $6.29 ISBN: 0312962118

An absolutely fabulous "Could have been" novel about the Cold War that will have you turning pages long into the night. This one will keep you on the edge of your seat right up to the end. What a tale!

Song of the Irish Whistle by Joanie Maden Music!: $14.49 ISBN: B000000X74

A Wallie told me about Joanie Madden. Click the Amazon button and listen for yourself. This music puts wings on your soul.

Stickin' : The Case for Loyalty by James Carville hardcover: $.78 ISBN: 0684857731

A fascination look at loyalty. Plenty of food for thought here. I always enjoy watching Mr. Carville in action. Such passion! I think he's at his best on this subject.

Striking it Rich.Com : Profiles of 23 Incredibly Successful Websites You've Probably Never Heard Of by Jaclyn Easton, Jeff Bezos (Foreword) paperback: $11.96 ISBN: 0071355790

Tim Carter, who runs the wildly successful AskTheBuilder.com site, is a fellow member of the Construction Writers' Association. We were chatting at a meeting in 1999 and he told me that he was featured in this book. I ordered it and read it and decided to trash my old website and build HeatingHelp.com. How's that for being cyber-influenced? This is a book about small companies that have done what the title suggests. If you have an e-business, you MUST read this book.

Sula by Toni Morrison paperback: $10.40 ISBN: 1400033438

This novel is a work of art. Toni Morrison makes language soar and sing in this one - such wonderful images. The story is one that will stay with you for a long time. So sad, but so beautifully human.

Survivor by Tabitha King paperback: $6.99 ISBN: 0451190904

I was curious to learn what sort of writing Mrs. Stephen King did so I picked up this book. And then I couldn't put it down. This is not at all a horror story. It's a people story and I really cared about these characters. At the end, I was feeling sad that the book was done and I would not find out how the rest of their lives went. Tabitha King can write! (There's strong sexual content in this book.)

Tepper Isn't Going Out by Calvin Trillin hardcover: $16.06 ISBN: 0375506764

If you don't live in New York you won't get it. If you do live in New York you'll love it. A very wonderful little story about a guy who isn't going out. Best line in the book, "When there is a schmuck involved, you can't analyze a situation as if there weren't a schmuck involved." As I said, you have to be a New Yorker.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy paperback: $6.25 ISBN: 0192833626

"A maiden no more!" Poor Tess gets taken advantage of by one of English literature's greatest cads (I love saying that word!), and alas, she is never again the same. Thomas Hardy wrote big and beautiful books that drip with the human condition. He never traveled more than 50 or so miles from the place where he was born, yet his novels take in the entire range of human emotions. I read all of his books at an early age, one right after another, and they stay with me to this day.

That Old Ace in the Hole : A Novel by Annie Proulx paperback: $10.40 ISBN: 0743242483

Bob Dollar sets out for the Texas panhandle as the agent for a hog-farm conglomerate. He tries to swindle the locals into selling their property to the company, but he tells them that it's for high-end homes, not hog farms. He's not very successful, but along the way, he becomes a part of the community of wonderfully wacky, and very human, characters that Annie Proulx creates. I loved her book, "The Shipping News," and this one is equally as good. Terrific writing and word pictures that will have you smiling for days.

The 1900 House by A PBS show video: $25.99 ISBN: B00004U2K7

What an extraordinary program this is! Imagine taking a house in London and turning it back to exactly the way it was in 1900. That means you have to rip out EVERYTHING that was installed during the past 100 years, and then you have to find gaslights and a cast-iron range, and an old bathtub, and so much more. Then you go out and get a family (400 families actually volunteered for this!) that will live in the 1900 House for three months, using only the tools, and eating only the foods, that were available during the Victorian Era. No refrigeration. No safety razors. No shampoo. Very little hot water (and those range boilers often exploded). No cars. No phones. It's like Gilligan's Island with a corset. Simply marvelous stuff here, and a heck of an educational experience. I LOVE old houses and old mechanical systems, and this program gave me so much insight into those times. You won't believe what these people had to go through (especially the teenagers). This is a program you will watch again and again.

The American Boy's Handy Book : What to Do and How to Do It by Daniel Carter Beard, Noel Perrin paperback: $10.36 ISBN: 0879234490

Daniel Carter Beard helped found the Boy Scouts of America. This book is a reprint of the 1890 classic. It will fire your imagination with things to do - no matter how big a boy (or girl!) you are. And none of these things will involve TV, radio, MTV, computers, or video arcades. It's all about the power of imagination. Enjoy!

The Art of Looking Sideways by Alan Fletcher Hardcover: $25.17 ISBN: 0714834491

This is a huge book that I use all the time to stimulate creativity. Open to any page and there's something to look at, or think about, or just plain laugh at. It's tough to explain this one. It's not a book that you read from cover to cover. And you can never actually finish the thing. You really have to see it to know what I mean. Highly recommended for people who like to think.

The Book of Think by Marilyn Burns paperback: $10.49 ISBN: 0316117439

This book was written for kids, but it's also for grown-ups. It's filled with wonderfully provocative exercises in creative thinking and problem-solving. The illustrations are terrific and the challenges are delightful. Get it for your kids, or for yourself. The world needs more problem-solvers!

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger paperback: $6.99 ISBN: 0316769487

In search of lost innocence. I reread Catcher at 55 and found it to be powerful as it was when I was 16. It's good to revisit classics and consider them again through the filter of years lived.

The Church of Dead Girls by Stephen Dobyns paperback: $11.20 ISBN: 080505104X

I liked this one because Stephen Dobyns does such a fine job of showing what happens to a small town when some of the children began to disappear. Neighbors turn against each other and the ones who are odd are the ones who are get the worst of it at first - and then it spreads. The story is so well thought out and the writing is superb. It's also filled with surprises. For instance, you'll be about three-quarters of the way into the story before you realize that you don't even know who the narrator is, and the villian is the one person you'll never suspect. This one gave me a few scary dreams!

The Complete Short Stories Of Ernest Hemingway : The Finca Vigia Edition by Ernest Hemingway paperback: $13.20 ISBN: 0684843323

Beautiful writing, and not at all politically correct, so beware. The story, "Big Two- Hearted River," alone is worth the price of the book, and there's so much more here. Hemingway's stories stay with me for years and years. Haunting characters, and such crisp lanuage. A great place to start if you've never read him.

The Control of Nature by John McPhee paperback: $10.40 ISBN: 0374522596

Here we have a telling of man's struggle (and it's a thick-headed one) against nature. The book is divided into three parts. The first is about the attempt on the part of the Army Corp of Engineers to control the meandering of the Mississippi River. The second part is about how an Icelandic engineer managed to save a harbor by spraying water (a LOT of water!) on the lava that was spewing from a volcano. Finally, we have the story of Los Angeles and the people who insist on building their homes in the path of mudslides. And this is not mud in the usual sense. This is mud that is made of boulders, automobiles, houses, and just about anything else that can slide off of a very unstable range of mountains. This one taught me so much, while keeping me fascinated by some of the goofy things we try to do. It's WELL worth the time.

The Darwin Awards: Evolution in America by Wendy Northcutt, Mitch Hoffman (Editor) paperback: $10.17 ISBN: 0525945725

'Nuf said.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson paperback: $10.46 ISBN: 0375725601

I loved this book. It's two true stories in one. The first is the story of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and this story alone is worth the price of the book. Mr. Larson's exhaustive research captures the time so well. You'll smell the Cracker Jacks! I had no idea how much of modern America sprang from the Chicago World's Fair until I read this book. Wait until you get to the part about Ferris and his wheel. Great stuff. The second true story in the book is about a charming serial killer who uses the fair to lure his female victims to their deaths. In this book we have the very best, and the very worst, that humanity has to offer, and all in the same place, and at the same time. It reads like a mystery novel, but it all happened. You won't be able to put this one down.

The E-Myth Revisited - Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber paperback: $12 ISBN: 0887307280

The "E" in the title stands for Entrepreneur. I first read Michael Gerber's book when I was new to business and found I was bobbing like a cork in the North Atlantic. I wasn't quite sure what business I was even in at that point. A friend recommended that I read "E-Myth" and when I did I felt as though Michael Gerber was speaking directly to ME. You'll probably feel the same. The main point of the book is that most people start a business because they're upset with their old bosses. They think they can do a better job and make all that money for themselves. So they quit and start a little company and work out of the house. Before long, they find themselves working twice as long and twice as hard - for the same money. And the future looks pretty grim. That's the E-Myth. You see, most of us start out by creating a JOB, not a BUSINESS. Mr. Gerber shows you how to "work ON your business, not IN your business." It's all about creating a system for your business, rather than spending every day running around putting out fires. For me, this book was like a dose of clear light. I immediately set a new course for the company and things have gone really well for us ever since. If you are just starting out - or if your business is not what you thought it ought to be - I BEG you to read this book. It can be one of those life-changing reads.

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., E.B. White paperback: $5.56 ISBN: 020530902X

Before you sit down to write ANYTHING for your company, do yourself a favor and read this book. And then keep it on your shelf and refer to it often as the years go by. It's a small book, but it is timeless, and it will show you how to express yourself clearly on paper.

The Fearless Flier's Handbook: Learning to Beat the Fear of Flying with the Experts from the Qantas Clinic by Debbie Seaman paperback: $10.36 ISBN: 1580080294

Because I have such a wild imagination, I used to get myself absolutely sick while flying. And with the work I do, I'm in the air a lot. This book is the cure. It took the white out of my knuckles and got me past my fear of flying once and for all. You scared? Don't be.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom hardcover: $13.59 ISBN: 0786868716

From the guy who brought us "Tuesdays With Morrie" comes another provocative book that will make you think, and if you're like me, also make you hope that there's more than just a good story here. What a wonderful way to view the doorway to heaven - as a place where five people explain, and make sense of, all the events of your life. I was reminded of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol." This book about a guy named Eddy is filled with love and redemption. It will make you feel good.

The Fourth Hand by John Irving paperback: $10.17 ISBN: 0345449347

Tragic comic stuff from one of my favorite writers. John Irving never lets me down. Great characters here.

The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury paperback: $10.47 ISBN: 1560252758

I read this one before seeing the movie. I thought the book was better than the movie because the movie stops with the New York draft riots (which are painstakingly recorded in the book), while the book continues on into the Twenties. Lots of insights into New York City politics and tales of bad guys (and gals) that will make your skin crawl. Herbert Asbury wrote this book in 1927. A very good read!

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry paperback: $1.50 ISBN: 0486270610

So here's what you should do. Get this book and then go find yourself a child. Put the kid on your lap and read him or her 'The Gift of the Magi.' In case you don't know, this is a tale about poor Della, who sells her beautiful hair for $20 back at the turn of the century so that she can buy her beloved Jim a gold chain for his watch. Jim, on the other hand, sells his gold watch to buy Della some decorative combs for her hair. It's a wonderful Christmas story, filled with love and selflessness, and I guarantee that child on your lap will smile when you get to the end. And later (and this is for you New Yorkers) take the rest of the book down to Irving Street and grab a stool at the bar at Pete's Tavern. This is the oldest bar in NYC, and it's where O. Henry penned many of his stories. Time stands still at Pete's. While you're there, quietly raise your glass to a great American storyteller, and smile.

The Godfather Returns by Mark Winegardner paperback: $7.99 ISBN: 0345478983

I wasn't sure I'd like this one because I loved the original, and I can watch the films over and over again, but what Mark Winegardner did was fill in many of the back stories. For instance, if you read the orignal or saw the film, you know that they caught Tessio betraying Michael. "Can you help me out, Tom?" says Abe Vigoda in the film. "No can do, Sallie," says Robert Duvall. They take him away in the car to be killed, right? What happens next? That's what the Godfather Returns is all about. What happened to Sonny's children? How did they grow up? What did they wind up doing. Check your brain at the door and enjoy this book.

The Gold Coast by Nelson DeMille paperback: $7.19 ISBN: 0446360856

I can't get enough of Nelson DeMille's novels. I especially love this one because it's all about an area of Long Island where I have spent much time looking at old mansions. DeMille mentions streets and shops that we locals know well, and that just makes this book that much more fun. As for the story, imagine The Great Gatsby meeting the Godfather and you'll have a good sense of what you're in for. It's great fun! And when you're done here, move on to the rest of the DeMille novels. Each is a real page-turner.

The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed by John Valliant paperback: $10.17 ISBN: 0393328643

Read this book and you will never look at a tree in the same way again. As the title states, this book is a story of myth, madness, and greed. There is so much here to consider. So much.

The Good Old Days - They Were Terrible! by Otto L. Bettmann paperback: $12.00 ISBN: 0394709411

Otto Bettmann is the founder of the Bettmann Archive in New York City. This is one of the world's greatest picture libraries. This book contains many of those pictures - all from turn-of-the-century America. He accompanies each set of pictures with descriptions of what times were like back then. He covers topics such as Air, Traffic, Housing, Rural Life, Work, Crime, Health, Education, and so on. Often when I'm doing my research, I'm lulled into a sense that life a hundred years ago was more romantic and somehow simpler. When I start feeling that way, I take Mr. Bettmann's book down from my shelf and reread a few of his stories. Then I look at his picutres. Believe me, we've never had it so good! This work gives you a good feel for the conditions that existed when central heating was being developed. There are some terrific sociological perspectives here that will lead you to greater insights into the "whys" of the technical side of things - if you keep a watchful eye.

The Great Influenza by John M. Barry paperback: $19.77 ISBN: 0670894737

An outstanding book about the pandemic of 1918/19 that so influenced the way we heat buildings. If you think times are tough now, read this book. I promise you'll feel better. This was such a terrible time that you probably never learned about it in school. In fact, the only literature written about the pandemic was Katherine Porter's "Pale Horse, Pale Rider", which is also well worth your time.

The Greener Shore: A Novel of the Druids of Hibernia by Morgan Llywelyn paperback: $10.17 ISBN: 0345477677

The Greener Shore: A Novel of the Durids of Hybernia. Morgan Llywelyn has written a number of beautiful novels about Irish history and I've enjoyed and learned from each one. This lateste one contains lots of magic and the wonderful line, "Children are both the question and the answer." I love that.

The Harry Bosch Novels: The Black Echo, The Black Ice, The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly hardcover: $11.87 ISBN: 0316154970

If you've never read Michael Connelly you're in for a treat. He introduces Harry Bosch in The Black Echo and things take off after that. One book follows another and characters from previous books appear in (and sometimes even make it through) to the next. I don't care how good you think you are at figuring out Who Done Its, you will NOT figure out these books. They will leave you breathless. Michael Connelly also knows how to develop characters that you can care about. His people are often dark and always deeply interesting. There are other novels beyond these three. The key is to watch the copyright dates and read them in order. If you go out of sequence you'll ruin a lot of the surprises. You're gonna love this guy!

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan paperback: $7.19 ISBN: 0804106304

This is the story of four women, four daughters and two countries. It's magical.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini paperback: $9.24 ISBN: 1594480001

My eldest daughter, Kelly, gave me this novel and told me that I just had to read it. I put it on top of the stack and read it in two days. This is a most beautiful story about a boy coming of age, and about redemption. It also gave me much insight into Afghanistan and that troubled country's history. Powerful stuff. Highly recommended.

The Liar's Club: A Memoir by Mary Karr paperback: $10.36 ISBN: 0140179836

Mary Karr really puts the "fun" in dysfunctional. This is a book that's both tough to read and impossible to put down. Her mother's revelation at the end shook me up quite a bit. It would have been easier to take had it been fiction rather than a true story, but there it was. You'll see what I mean if you read this one. The memoir is a type of writing that has long fascinated me because the writer is absolutely naked to the world. Such is the case here. Mary Karr has brought us a beautifully written, and in places, delightly funny book, but it is not an easy one to read without squirming.

The Life and Times of the Thunder Bolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson Hardcover: $16.50 ISBN: 076791936X

Bill Bryson’s The Life and Times of the Thunder Bolt Kid: A Memoir is a hilarious romp through the 1950s. I’m one year older than he is, and even though he grew up in Des Moines, and I grew up in Manhattan and on the Isle of Long, we share a lot of memories. This is a laugh-out-loud read, and if you came of age during the '50s you’re going to love this one.

The Lilies of the Field by William E. Barrett paperback: $5.39 ISBN: 0446315001

A short and wonderful novel about love and faith. Want to feel good? Read this one.

The Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn paperback: $6.99 ISBN: 0812553993

Morgan Llywelyn is the James Mitchner of Irish history. She writes these page-turner novels that weave wonderful fictional characters with real historical ones. Along the way, she makes you feel as though you were living that time in history. This novel covers the life and times of Brian Boru,who lived in the 10th century and became the first king of a united Ireland. He was a magnificant character and this is a bold book, full of politics and war and passion and (tasteful) sex, and you will better understand Ireland when you're through with it. You'll also want to go there and see these places. Someone should make a movie from this book. If you liked the Mel Gibson movie, "Braveheart", you will love this novel.

The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz paperback: $$11.96 ISBN: 1558216847

Slavomir Rawicz was captured in Poland by the Soviets in 1939 and sent to Siberia. He escaped with a few others and then made his way on foot over 1,000 miles of mountains and desert to freedom. And you think you've got it tough? This is an incredible (yet 100% true) account of their journey. It's a testament to the power of the human spirit, and it is the most astonishing adventure story I have ever read. I guarantee that you will not be able to put this one down.

The Lost Continent : Travels in Small Town America by Bill Bryson paperback: $11.20 ISBN: 0060920084

Possibly the funniest book ever written about small-town America. There's this part where he travels to the geographic center of America, only to find a deserted picnic table. He climbs up on it and declares that, should America be invaded, he will be the last to be taken. Bryson puts me in stitches.

The March by E.L. Doctorow paperback: $10-17 ISBN: 0812976150

A novel from the fertile imagination of Mr. Doctorow, one of my favorite authors. This one is about General Sherman's march to the sea during the final days of the Civil War. He tells the through the eyes of many characters, and it's a book that's tough to put down.

The Maytrees by Annie Dillard hardcover: $14.97 ISBN: 0061239534

Annie Dillard always leaves me spellbound by her prose. She's a master at imagery, and she outdoes herself with this novel about a very unusual love affair. It's a beautiful book. Annie Dillard has a neat connection to the heating industry. Her father was a big shot at American Standard.

The Monster Under the Bed (How Business Is Mastering the Opportunity for Knowledge for Profit) by Stan Davis, Jim Botkin paperback: $9.90 ISBN: 0684804387

This is an excellent book that will convince you of the value of continuing education to a professional's career. NEVER stop learning!

The Neon Wilderness by Nelson Algren paperback: $9.85 ISBN: 1888363215

This is simply some of the most astonishing writing I have ever read. It gives me the shivers just thinking back on these stories. Nelson Algren wrote "A Walk on the Wild Side" and "The Man with the Golden Arm," and this book is a series of short stories about common, down-and-out people you will never forget. I found myself reading certain sentences over and over again. They were that perfect. Here, listen: "The night wind wandered past each night. The years closed in like a fog bank. Till the wind felt like someone crying, and the fog felt like a wall. While overhead, in the city nights, above the endless maze of telephone wires, an ancestral moon looked calmly down, like the great moon of forever." I could read that paragraph forever. Get and savor this book.

The New Lifetime Reading Plan by Clifton Fadiman paperback: $11.20 ISBN: 0062720732

Don't bother with this one unless you're a SERIOUS reader. This is more a roadmap and a compass than a book. I've owned the original for more than 20 years and I have to admit that it's every bit as intimidating today as it was on the day that I first found it. It's a list (with wonderful descriptions) of the important books a person should read during his or her lifetime. Here you will find the core reading of Western Civilization. I never had the opportunity to get a classical education when I was young. This book has been the guide to my continuing education as I've grown older. To be realistic, I never expect to finish it. The late, great Clifton Fadiman is one very demanding (and scary!) professor. Working through the books on his list is a daunting task, and one that will take a lifetime. It's not for everyone, but WELL worth the time for some.

The One Year Bible : Arranged in 365 Daily Readings by (New Living Translation) paperback: $15.29 ISBN: 0842332898

At some point in your life (at LEAST once), you should read the Bible from cover to cover. This plain-English translation makes it easier for a first-timer to understand. It reads like a good novel. The stories are glorious. By following the plan of a brief reading each day (based on the date) you will read all of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Psalms over the course of one year. It takes about 15 minutes a day to get it done. There's something about the methodical pursuit that is incredibly calming. When I did it for the first time I read in the morning, when I first awoke. It made me feel peaceful during the entire day. When I read it the second time, I did it just before falling asleep. I slept better. Try it either way and you'll see what I mean. All those day-to-day worries seem less important. You'll see.

The Optomist's Daughter by Eudora Welty paperback: $9.60 ISBN: 067972883X

I think that if you're old enough, and if you're able to bring the perspecitve of life to this novel, you will find parts that are so astonishingly beautiful that they will haunt you for years. This novel won Eudora Welty the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. Well deserved.

The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark paperback: $8.21 ISBN: 0375757023

Sins of omission. Published in 1940, this Western novel tells the tale of what happens when otherwise good people go along with a few evil ones and become a part of a mob. Shades of things to come, and it can happen here. In fact, it has. This is a perfect book.

The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth paperback: $10.17 ISBN: 1400079497

What if Charles Lindbergh had defeated F.D.R. for the presidency in 1940, and then decided to not go to war against Germany and Japan? A fascinating book that explores whether it can happen here. Don't miss this one.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver paperback: $7.99 ISBN: 0060512822

"God doesn't punish us. He just grants us lives long enough so that we punish ourselves." Something to consider. This is a beautifully written novel about a Baptist preacher who takes his young family to the Belgian Congo just before the revolution in 1959. He is totally inflexible and he just stands there as his family falls apart. The Poisonwood Bible is the story about what happens when cultures clash, what changes as people grow. Highly recommended.

The Quiet Indoor Revolution by Seichi Konzo hardcover: $39.95 ISBN: 1881016005

This is an extraordinary book that tells the story of the research that made the rapid developments in central heating possible. It's a technical book, but it's VERY easy to follow. It has many terrific drawings and photos of the early test houses that were used to develop heating as we know it today. If you're a heating professional this book will give you a much better understanding of what you work with every day, and where it came from. What a find this one was!

The Road by Cormac McCarthy paperback: $8.97 ISBN: 0307387895 0307387895 : $ ISBN:

A beautiful book about a man and his son surviving on the road during a nuclear winter. A haunting story of love, and hope.

The Sea of Dreams by Davy Spillane Gorgeous Irish music: $14.99 ISBN: B00000ADFA

Marianne and I were visiting our daughter, Kelly, who was living in Dublin. It was our first time to Ireland and we wanted to see some of the land beyond Dublin's fair city, so I hired a car and a wonderful man named Dermot Buckley for the day. He drove us along the coast and then up into the gorgeous Wicklow mountains. At just the right moment, as we drove up this narrow road on a perfect, sunny day, Dermot reached over and pressed the Play button and I heard this music for the first time. He smiled at us. Check it out on Amazon.com and listen to some of the tracks. Then imagine hearing these haunting sounds there, in the ancient mountains of Ireland. Simply beautiful. And if you're ever in Ireland and would like to see what I mean, get in touch with Dermot: http://www.dbcsireland.com

The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein hardcover: $16.80 ISBN: 0805079831

This book may disturb you. I hope it does. Read it and your daily newspaper will never be quite the same for you again. Knowledge is power.

The Specialist by Chic Sale hardcover: $6.00 ISBN: 0911416005

It's a tiny book (written and illustrated in 1929) about a carpenter who decides to specialize in privies. He goes in great detail about what makes for a good outhouse and I promise you that this one will make you smile. You can read the whole book in about 15 minutes. This is down-home American humor at its best. It's now in its 26th printing with more than 2.5 million copies sold.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski Hardcover: $14.27 ISBN: 0061374229

This is a story about a boy who can't speak, but who can see ghosts. He has a remarkable way with dogs and he drew me into his world. This is an amazing first novel from a very gifted writer. I think you're going to love it as much as I did.

The Sultana Tragedy : America's Greatest Maritime Disaster by Jerry O. Potter hardcover: $17.46 ISBN: 0882898612

This is the most amazing piece of research into an event that I had never heard of. On April 27, 1865, the Sultana, a 260-foot, wooden steamboat, a boat that was much smaller than the Titanic, but carrying more passengers, exploded on the Mississippi near Memphis. More than 1,800 people died in the worst maritime disaster in US history. Most of the men were being transported home from Confederate POW camps, such as the infamous Andersonville. Because it happened right at the end of Civil War, and within days of President Lincoln's murder, it got little coverage in the newspapers and was soon forgotten. Jerry Potter's exhaustive research brings it all back to life in this riveting book. It's a story of greed, indifference, stupidity and a steam boiler gone berserk. If you would know the true fury of steam, this is a book you shouldn't miss.

The Three Stooges - A Plumbing We Will Go by Curley, Larry, and Moe video: $11.99 ISBN: 630281409X

I used to open every one of my seminars with this highly informative program. No professional should be without a copy of this outstanding video. As Curley wisely said, "No wonder the water don't work. The pipes is all clogged up with wires!"

The Tie That Binds by Kent Haruf paperback: $9.60 ISBN: 0375724389

What an incredible first novel! Kent Haruf writes about ordinary people in such an extraordinary way. I read his other novels, "Plainsong" and "Where you Once Belong" (you'll find both here) before reading this. I'm glad that I saved it for last. He made me realize, once again, that there are NO boring subjects. Read this novel. I guarantee that you will be drawn deeply into the lives of the characters he has created. I can't get this one out of my mind.

The Tipping Point : How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell hardcover: $17.46 ISBN: 0316316962

This is a VERY valuable book that will give you great insight into how trends start and spread like epidemics. What makes one restaurant a "hot spot" while another one that's just down the street flounders? Why do people suddenly start wearing a certain style of clothing? Are they getting this from television, or is there something else going on? What are the three types of people who cause trends to start and spread? This is a thoughtful and provocative book that will have you thinking about your business. I found myself nodding my head as I read, saying, "Yes! I've seen that happen. This is SO true!" Great stuff here. Don't miss it. It's an eye-opener.

The Virgin Homeowner: The Essential Guide to Owning, Maintaining, and Surviving Your First Home by Janice Papolos hardcover: $20.63 ISBN: 0393040356

When Janice Papolos was writing her book she called me a bunch of times and we talked about steam and hot water heating systems for hours. I found her to be delightfully curious, and she asked all the right questions. When her book was published in 1997 she sent me a copy, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Marianne and I have been in our first house since 1977, but this is a book that I wish I had owned way back when. Janice covers it all, and she does it in plain English. If you're about to buy a home and you want to know how it works (in great detail!), then this is the book for you.

The Way the Family Got Away : A Novel by Michael Kimball paperback: $10.36 ISBN: 1568581564

This is a strange little tale that's told through the voices of a VERY young brother and sister. Their family has suffered the loss of a baby and they all set out on a cross-country drive with the embalmed infant in the trunk of their car. They're heading from rural Texas to Michigan to get to "Bompa's" house. The children, through their childish perceptions (nurses are "angels" and such), try to make sense of love, loss and death. The family falls apart as the story moves along. The narrators alternate by chapter between the boy and the girl. He explains how the father and mother trade all that they own to get from small town to small town ("America gets emptier the farther away you go up into it," he says at one point). She has a family of dolls and is often confused about the difference between what's real and what's not, and after a while, you'll find yourself in the same shape. I know I was. It's a disturbing novel, a tough little read, but worthwhile.

The Weight of Dreams by Jonis Agee paperback: $11.16 ISBN: 0140291881

This novel of the Plains is so rich, both in charactization and language, that I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. I read it so slowly, taking notes along the way, because I wanted to keep a record of the extraordinary metaphors Jonis Agee uses. What a writer this woman is! Her work is both uplifting and haunting. Don't miss it.

The World Record Paper Airplane Book by Ken Blackburn, Jeff Lammers paperback: $11.96 ISBN: 1563056313

Fire up the imagination of some little kid. Who knows? You may have a future astronaut on your hands!

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook by Joshua Piven (Preface), David Borgenicht (Preface) paperback: $11.96 ISBN: 0811825558

This is a serious book that will have you giggling out loud. If you've ever wondered (and this is just the short list) How to: Escape from Quicksand, Wrestle an Alligator, Break Down a Door, Land an Airplane, Hot-wire a Car, Ram a Car, Fend off a Shark (or a bear, mountain lion, poisonous snake, killer bees, charging bull), Win a Sword Fight, Take a Punch, and so on (and on and on!) then you NEED this book! It's all VERY serious business. And you can never tell when you might need to know some of this stuff. Hey, you may just have to jump from a building into a Dumpster one of these days (it's in there!).

Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris paperback: $12.21 ISBN: 0812966007

Growing up on Long Island, just a few miles from Sagamore Hill, I've been a fan of Teddy Roosevelt's for most of my life. My father took me to his summer White House when I was about nine years old, and we stood on the wide porch and peeked through the windows. The place was closed at the time. "Can you see him in there?" my father joked. I looked as hard as a nine-year-old could, but couldn't see him. You can feel him in the place, though, especailly after reading this book, and the one that comes before it, "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt," also by Mr. Morris. Read them in that order, and then follow those with David McCullough's "Mornings on Horseback," and Candice Millard's "River of Doubt." What a life this man lived! I went one day to his grave, which is not far from Sagamore Hill, and I stood in a gentle rain for about a half-hour. It was late summer, and I was there alone - just me and my thoughts.

Thinking Physics - Practical Lessons in Critical Thinking by Lewis Carroll Epstein paperback: $26.36 ISBN: 0935218068

This is one of the most visual books I've ever read. It's also one that had me smacking myself in the forehead over and over again. Lewis Carroll Epstein (and if THAT'S not a wonderful name, I don't know what is) presents you with all these physics challenges and then he gives you a multiple-choice chance to pick the correct answer. But before you go running away from this book, know that the physics problems Mr. Epstein hits you with are all things you run into from day to day. These are things you THINK you understand. Trouble is, you probably don't. And that's the part that will have you slapping your forehead. You pick an answer, turn the page, only to learn that you were wrong. And then he tells you why you were wrong in a delightfully playful, plain-English way. This guy will remind you of the best teacher you had in High School. He's the sort that would blow up the lab just to make a point. He has also LOADED "Thinking Physics" with cartoons that make the experience even more visual. And so much of this book relates to heating. What a gem!

This Cold House - the Simple Science of Energy Efficiency by Colin Smith hardcover: $16.50 ISBN: 0801886228

Colin Smith, a Brit, wrote this one for Americans. He has a wonderful way with words, and his storytelling is superb. This guy sure knows how to hang an analogy on a scientific principle to make it delightfully understandable. This book is probably under the heads of most engineers, unless you happen to be one and want to learn how to really communicate.

Thunderstruck by Erik Larson hardcover: $15.05 ISBN: 1400080665

Mr. Larson wrote, The Devil in the White City, another of those books that I couldn't put down. He has a fine way of mingling two separate stories into one. In Thunderstruck he combines the story of Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of wireless communication, with the deeds of Dr. H.H. Crippen, the notorious English murderer. What a great read!

To Engineer is Human - The Role of Failure in Successful Design by Henry Petroski paperback: $10.40 ISBN: 0679734163

From the collapse of the walkways at the Kansas City Hyatt Recency Hotel, to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge that tore itself apart on a mildly windy day in 1940, and everything in between, this book will hold your attention from the first page to the last. It's about engineering disasters and how they happened. This is a valuable (and often amusing!) book that delves into the process of engineering and its limits. It will have you looking more closely at those bridge cables, wondering about that elevator that you're riding in, questioning the jumbo jet on the runway. And it might even have you staring a bit harder at that boiler in your basement.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee paperback: $6.99 ISBN: 0446310786

A classic, and one you probably read in high school. It's well worth rereading as an older adult. Perhaps one of the best books ever written.

Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us by Tom Vanderbilt hardcover: $14.97 ISBN: 0307264785

Trafficis a very good read. It's a bit tedious throughout, but then a surprise will pop up and really catch your attention. In that way, Traffic is just like, well, traffic. I guarantee that your daily driving experience will never be the same after you read this book. Lots of food for thought here. And just so you know, it's okay to speed up and cut ahead on those merge ramps.

Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson hardcover: $17.82 ISBN: 0374279128

This is not an easy novel to read. It's about the Viet Nam war, and at times it can be as confusing as that war was. I reminded me of Joseph Conrad's novel, "Heart of Darkness," upon which the film, "Apocalypse Now," was based. Hang on and finish it; it's worth the effort.

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom hardcover: $10.50 ISBN: 0385484518

This is one of those books that you read and then immediately lend to a friend. It's about life and the things that are really important. It will make you stop and question how you're spending your time. It will make you appreciate the wisdom of those who are older than you are. It will make you stop what you're doing and visit your elderly parents, just to tell them that you love them - perhaps for the first time.

Ugly's Electrical References by George V. Hart, Sammie Hart Spiral-bound: $12.95 ISBN: 0962322954

This one comes highly recommended by a reader. Here's what he had to say: "I'm a HVAC controls guy. I can calculate FtWC into PSI in my head but I have problems going from amps and volts to watts in a three phase system - or at least I did before I found Ugly's Electrical Reference by George and Sammy Hart. Yeah, it's called Ugly's. This pocket-sized reference book has every electrical formula you will ever need, written for a journeyman electrician. It starts with Ohms Law wheel, goes into series and parallel circuits and progresses on to the trig you need to bend conduit. It has HP:Amp tables, motor control diagrams, wire size and conduit fills, the works. I've bought over a dozen copies for my coworkers and customers. The latest version came out in 1999. They update it every three years or so. Check it out and add it to your list!" And so I did.

Understanding Ventilation : How to Design, Select, and Install Residential Ventilation Systems by John Bower hardcover: $31.95 ISBN: 0963715658

Which teaches exactly what the title states, and very well!

Wasn't the Grass Greener? - Thirty-three Reasons Why Life Isn't as Good as It Used to Be by Barbara Holland paperback: $10.40 ISBN: 015601176X

This provocative book is just FILLED with wisdom. It's a series of wonderful essays that will make you remember (if you're a Baby Boomer or older) and think if you're not. The section on Radiators alone is worth the price of the whole book. Trust me on this one; you won't be sorry.

What a Party!: My Life Among Democrats: Presidents, Candidates, Donors, Activists, Alligators and Other Wild Animals (Hardcover) by Terry McAuliffe hardcover: $16.47 ISBN: 0312357877

Ever wonder what goes on inside a major political campaign? This book is so revealing. I couldn't put it down. What an eye-opener!

What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith hardcover: $14.37 ISBN: 1401301304

Successful people often develop bad habits. Comes from being so successful. Those bad habits have a way of making you less successful as you move along, especially if you work with other people, or are in a position of managing them. This is a must read for anyone who does either.

Where You Once Belonged by Kent Haruf paperback: $8.80 ISBN: 0375708707

Kent Haruf also wrote Plainsong, which I liked more than I liked this earlier novel. Nevertheless, he develops his characters so skillfully that I got a lot out of this book. The ending is tough to take, though. It's very sad.

Who Moved My Cheese? : An Amazing Way to Deal With Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson hardcover: $9.98 ISBN: 0399144463

I read this one in an hour and then passed it around to the rest of the family to read, enjoy, and learn from. It's about two mice and two "littlepeople" who live in a maze and depend on cheese to sustain their lives. They're all very comfortable in this one Cheese Station where it seems like the cheese will never run out, but one day it does. How the four characters react to that change is what this wonderful parable is all about. I guarantee this book will have you thinking about how you deal with change - in both your business life and your personal life. What a gem this one is! Don't miss it.

Working Alone: Tips and Techniques for Solo Building by John Carroll hardcover: $16.15 ISBN: 1561582867

You know the story about the one-armed paperhanger? He read this book!

Working North: DEW Line to Drill Ship by Rick Ranson paperback: $15.95 ISBN: 1896300731

My Canadian friend, Jack Ennis Martin, sent me a copy of this book for Christmas. His friend, Rick Ranson, had written it about his experiences working on the Distant Early Warning system (a relic of the Cold War) in way-Northern Canada, and on drill ships in the Arctic Ocean. Rick is a welder and the stories he tells are both funny, touching and utterly spellbinding. Jack wrote in his letter to me, "Rick started out as a journeyman boilermaker and then he says he, 'got stupid,' He went on to get his journeyman's license in high-pressure welding. He always says to me, 'Jack, the old guys always said I would be sorry I became a welder, and you know what? They were right!' However, as time does not stand still for any of us, he got tired of being away from home and decided he had to find a new line of work. So he became a self-employed refrigeration, heavy-industrial sales agent. He always threatened to write the story of the polar bear for some outdoors magazine, and he finally did. He says he received $175 and an author was born. Rick said it beat welding and you could do it in a warm place with the light on." I loved this book. It's about work under the most difficult circumstances I can imagine. I think you'll love it too. Highly recommended!

Writing on Both Sides of the Brain : Breakthrough Techniques for People Who Write by Henriette Anne Klauser Ph.D. paperback: $11.20 ISBN: 006254490X

If you'd like to write better than you do now get this book, study it, and do the exercises. It will change the way you feel about writing. It will get you past the dreaded writer's block. It will make you faster, more visual, and more convincing - whether you're writing The Great American Novel or a business letter aimed at convincing a potential client that YOU are the best in town. Good stuff here.

Writing the Natural Way by Gabriele L. Rico Paperback: $12.76 ISBN: 0874772362

This is another one of those books that taught me how to come up with ideas. Ms. Rico explains about what goes on with right brain/left brain thoughts and she demonstrates a way of outlining, called "clustering," that can change the way you think and work. Every book I've ever written began as a cluster diagram, which is actually a recording of free-flowing thought. When I first read this book, it was as if someone had given me a key that opened a gate to a brand new world of invention. It's not just for writers, this book. Get a copy and watch what happens to your business!

You Can't Be Too Careful : Cautionary Tales for the Impetuous, the Curious and the Blithely Oblivious by David Pryce-Jones paperback: $4.21 ISBN: 1563051567

You CAN'T be too careful, especially after reading these descriptions of how dozens of real folks have managed to launch themselves into the Great Beyond by doing things that were none too bright. Consider the first one in the book, for instance: "A plumber died afte jumping naked from his girlfriend's third-floor apartment near Salonika, Greece, to escape from the enraged husband who caught them in bed." (Why is it always the plumber?) Or how about this one? "A man was electrocuted in his back garden while fitting a water pump in a fish pond. The shock killed Michael N. when he put his hand in the water to find out why the pump would not work." (Hmmm, I suppose he should have called that plumber.) One more and then you're on your own: "Murderer Michael G., who escaped the electric chair after an appeal, was electrocuted accidentally while sitting on a steel toilet in his cell in Columbia, South Carolina. He was trying to repair earphones connected to his television set when he bit into a live wire." You can't make this stuff up. And I'm gonna go hide under the bed.