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What I've been Reading
1. Gail Hareven, The Confessions of Noa Weber. This newly translated Israeli novel was a great deal of fun, without being too light. Recommended.
2. 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, by Tom Moon. It's mostly popular music but a mix of everything. I was amazed how much this guy's taste, including on particular classical recordings, matched my own. This is a more serious book than the packaging indicates.
3. Miles, Ornette, Cecil, by Howard Mandel. I never considered putting this one down. It appeals to readers who are already fans but it is also a good start for expanding your horizons beyond "traditional" jazz.
4. Jason Scott Smith, Building New Deal Liberalism, The Political Economy of Public Works, 1933-1956. A very good book arguing the case for New Deal public works projects, primarily on grounds of growth (not stimulus). I also enjoyed Robert D. Leighninger's Long-Range Public Investment: The Forgotten Legacy of the New Deal.
5. Keith Thomas, The Ends of Life: Roads to Fulfillment in Early Modern England. His Religion and the Decline of Magic is one of my favorite history books ever (he tells us that, in equilibrium, a certain number of people should pretend to be witches, to get what they want). The new one is impeccably researched and written, but I don't see so much original material there. I can honestly call it a good book but for me it was a disappointment.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on March 29, 2009 at 05:21 AM in Books | Permalink
Comments
If you like Thomas you must make sure to read Eamon Duffy's "The Stripping of the Altars", which takes the other side of the definitional conflict over what was considered magic or religion in medieval England.
Posted by: BC282 at Mar 29, 2009 6:09:28 AM
Wonderful to see a bit of stretch into the outer edges of jazz given the eclectic servings of musical taste you have given us before. I endorse the idea that people should wander out to these areas.... become a musical billionaire.
Posted by: Brent at Mar 29, 2009 8:17:06 AM
my book on jazz post 1960 is called "Self-Indulgent Noodling"
Posted by: babar at Mar 29, 2009 10:06:14 AM
Could you elaborate on the difference between growth and stimulus?
Posted by: Oliver at Mar 29, 2009 11:23:11 AM
fundamentals still aint sound regarding the US economy
Posted by: rawdawgbuffalo at Mar 29, 2009 1:55:51 PM
Is Moon's book "more serious" because of how much his taste matched your own?
Posted by: David Wright at Mar 29, 2009 5:13:51 PM
How can one man read so goddamn much? Tyler sends out one of these "What I've Been Reading" updates practically every other week. Do you finish a book in like 3 hours?
Posted by: Vake at Mar 29, 2009 5:31:59 PM
I absolutely hate lists of "x things to y before you die". If you die, then it doesn't matter what music you have or have not listened to, places you have visited, films you have watched etc. You're worm food and your corpse is not any more nutritious if you spent your life listening to Cecil Taylor instead of Britney Spears.
Posted by: Sean at Mar 30, 2009 7:51:08 AM
I hate that the music book is organized alphabetically. How about a road map that takes you through music in a more logical, informative way?
Posted by: Tim at Mar 30, 2009 11:15:41 AM
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