Attention, Bookworms!

I really love my job these days--much more than I did even in graduate school, though the work of teaching and scholarship is functionally the same. I love the intellectual stimulation, the academic culture and pace (well, most of it), the libraries and coffee shops, the variety in any given class period/day/year, the seasonal beginnings and endings, the concert of introspection and performance, the period of life in which I encounter my students, the mission of higher learning, and (perhaps most of all) the colleagues whose company I'm honored to keep . . .

But of all that I love about my job, my very favorite thing is this: I get to choose books and make other people read them.

Granted, I don't always quite succeed at that second part. But nonetheless, I'd like to invite all (both?) of you, my friends and loyal readers, to share in this one very satisfying aspect of my job: I'm compiling a list of books to read for now and maybe teach someday, and I'm hoping to add your recommendations.

Most of my all-time favorite books have come to me by way of friends: Jen Joo Park convinced me to open A Prayer for Owen Meany; Dave Perkins sent me Waiting in the mail; the fabulous Thaddeus Ostrowski sang the praises of Traveling Mercies (along with Grant Wacker in a public talk, and I think I'd do just about anything Grant Wacker instructed); Jennifer C. told me the writer of Girl Meets God was practically her alter ego (enough of a recommendation for me). Just thinking about these books and these friends makes me happy.

So, if you could make me (and possibly future groups of college students) read any book in the world, what book would it be? Comments and emails welcome.