Blogs and Stories
2008 Books Wrap
Michael Korda:
Our Man In Havana by Graham Greene
Strategy by B. H. Liddell Hart
Bernard Shaw by Michael Holroyd (four-volume biography)
Kim by Rudyard Kipling
Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence
Paris 1919 by Margaret Macmillan
Her Privates We by Frederick Manning
Letters by Nancy Mitford
Scoop by Evelyn Waugh
Salameh Nematt:
A Peace to End All Peace by David Fromkin It is the best book to have been published in years to help us understand how the Middle East became a source of global instability. Ironically, it was published on September 1, 2001, a few days before the 9/11 attacks. Fouad Ajami, in his Wall Street Journal review, put it best : "Ambitious and splendid...An epic tale of ruin and disillusion...of great men, their large deeds and even larger follies."
America's Craziest Cities

The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
A True Hollywood Love Story

Rebecca Dana is a senior correspondent for The Daily Beast. A former editor and reporter for the Wall Street Journal, she has also written for the New York Times, the New York Observer, Rolling Stone and Slate, among other publications.
The Rove You Don't Know

Matt Latimer is the author of the New York Times bestseller, SPEECH-LESS: Tales of a White House Survivor. He was deputy director of speechwriting for George W. Bush and chief speechwriter for Donald Rumsfeld.
The Yes List – Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg Go to War Again

The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
America's Craziest Cities

The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
This Week's Hot Reads

The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.




cuffs-
If hindsight is 20/20 I would like to add a book that came to notice in 2008 that was first published in 2003. "Out Stealing Horses" is a book that belongs on your shelf next to "The English Patient", "As I Lay Dying", "Remains of the Day", "Midnight's Children", "All the Pretty Horses" and all the books whose words marinate with the mix of poetry and senses to the simple art form of "a good story well told." No more can be said; it is an experience. Written by Norwegian author Per Peterson it is a book in which you bathe.
While commenting on hindsight, wouldn't it be interesting to go back to the beginning of Time's "Person of the Year" and award the selection by year with the advantage of historical perspective. Time did not like the idea as I am sure it would devalue their official choices but it a committee of historians (Doris Kearns Goodwin), scientists (mathematics, astronomy, physics), physicians, artists, musicians, film folk (Speilberg), techies, fashionistas, etc. making their list and checking it twice would produce some fascinating results. I cannot think of a better publication to sponsor this enterprise than The Daily Beast!
GeneTouchet
To revisit Time's "Person of the Year" is a great idea.
noblesavage
"A Peace to End All Peace" is a very good book that was published in 1989. It was available in paperback in time for the first Gulf War, and wasn't widely enough read at that time either.
davidbg57
"A Peace to End All Peace" was originally published in 1989, not 2001, as your reviewer suggested. The current paperback edition available from Holt was published in 2001.
magicman
This was a great idea, thanks TDB. I actually went out and bought five of the books recommended. Kudos, TDB!
ericaosburn
Thank you Tina. I plan to read all of your picks. I would also like to see your picks for top 10 to 20 books of all time/books that made a difference to you, (a la Oprah magazine's "Bookshelf" column).
sallymara
Disappointing, banal - and worn out - list, except for Price. Larsson? Are you sure?
jitterbuggie
I have found Laura Bennett's contributions here at TDB as drab and empty as her fashions. Would she also recommend that one only read the second half of a book? What a bore.
appygirl
Michael Korda hit the nail on the head. Wonderful list. I've meant to read TE Lawrence book and will start it this week. The Scoop has also been on my list. As for Meacham, I'm halfway through his book on Jackson and it's riveting.
apparently
Thanks, Mark McKinnon for mentioning Larsson. The Girl is one of the more interesting and well written mysteries in a long time. A punk hacker with Asperger's doesn't sound very engaging but he turned her into an unforgettable character.
larry278
TDB's list is useful those of us who are trendoid, superficial, pseudo-intellectuals. There who will criticize this selection for various reasons but this list is far better than Amazons suggests when I buy books from them. Thank you, DAILY BEAST,
ll
Thank you.
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