I added a couple of new books that I’m currently reading (see below). Overall I’m reading four now, three of them are non-fiction, with only one being a detective story. I found it really ironic that the only fiction book I’m reading would have this paragraph:

He found that he read far less fiction these days; he felt a new hunger to understand, from a different perspective, the world in which he had grown up. Novels were all well and good for giving you a flavour of the times, but he needed facts and interpretations, the big picture.

I guess the same applies to me. And I don’t think it’s anything age-related, my Mom still reads fiction in mass amounts 🙂

I’d like to highlight one particular book: “Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You with the Bill)” by David Cay Johnston. The tone of the book is very calm and some passages are so beautiful, you’d think you’re reading a novel (not that non-fiction can’t be beautiful).

As I don’t live in the U.S., I’m reading this as merely an observer. Although the book is sort of peaceful, it will astound and/or anger you. It’s an account of inner workings between corporations and the U.S. government. If you have a chance, at least pick it up at the bookstore and give it a chance.

John C. Bogle, founder and former chairman of The Vanguard Group said this:

If you’re concerned about congressional earmarks, stock options (especially backdated options), hedge fund tax breaks, abuse of eminent domain, subsidies to sports teams, K Street lobbyists, the state of our health-care system, to say nothing of the cavernous gap between rich and poor, you’ll read this fine book as I did with a growing sense of outrage. Free Lunch makes it clear that it’s high time for “We the People” to stand up and be counted.