Eight Books Every Human Should Read (for no particular reason other than the fact that I love to recommend books)

Charming Billy--Alice McDermott, like Eudora Welty before her, can mine the significance from the simplest human act and turn into incredible prose. Incidentally, she knows the Irish Catholic family so well I'd swear I was related to her.

On Chesil Beach--You really can't go wrong with anything by Ian McEwan, but On Chesil Beach is slightly less well known some of his other novels.

Team of Rivals--You might think you know virtually everything about Abe, but Doris Kearns Goodwin breathes new life into him, and makes you admire him even more in the process.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay--Michael Chabon proves once again that literary novels can be extremely entertaining.

Carter Beats the Devil--See above, only this time it's Glen David Gold.

What is the What?--Dave Eggers pulls you into the tragic world of the Lost Boys of Sudan in a manner you'll never forget.

John Adams--Yes, everyone on earth has by now either read the book or seen the mini-series, but this David McCullough book still manages to make history riveting and relevant.

Adventures in the Skin Trade--Between pints of Guinness and writing amazing poetry, Dylan Thomas managed to pen a hilarious novel.