Essential Books (in progress)
The Holy Bible (obviously)–I use the RSV mostly, but I also like the KJV, because “striving after wind” just doesn’t have the same richness as “vanity and vexation of spirit.”
Reader’s Digest’s Fix-It-Yourself Manual–the late-70’s edition. If I had newer stuff, I would get the new edition.
A New Look at Knitting, Elyse and Mike Sommer–wild, crazy hippie-style knitting.
The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe–”How to Write a Blackwood Article” and “A Predicament” should be read together.
The Joy of Being a Woman, Ingrid Trobisch–what the feminists don’t know that they’re missing. A pivotal book for me.
Arm in Arm, Remy Charlip–one of those Parent’s Magazine Press books.
Tired of Trying to Measure Up, Jeff VanVonderen–getting out of the Give Up/Try Harder cycles.
The Complete Tightwad Gazette, Amy Dacyzyn–creative frugality.
The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody, Will Cuppy–you’ll need to remember all your high school history classes to get the jokes.
My Life and Hard Times, James Thurber–stories of the Good Old Days.
Getting Things Done, David Allen–how to get things done.
Monster Rally; My Crowd; and Black Maria, Charles Addams–a morbid sense of humor lightens the load of depression.
Re/Uses, Carolyn Jabs–the back cover says it best: “a guide to turning into household resources all those things you’ve always thrown away.”
Lizard Music; The Hoboken Chicken Emergency; The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Daniel Pinkwater–stories set in a slightly wackier world than ours.