Archer
(host of "Disco Saturday Night," and apd, KBIG): I'm reading (and
planning to read this summer) books that will likely get me in trouble
in these religious zealot-laden times: The Happy Heretic by
Judith Hayes, and A People's History of the United States by Howard
Zinn. For sheer entertainment I hope to have time to read though
Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy again, preparing myself for the
release of the movie The Two Towers this Xmas.
Dwight
Arnold: I am going to read The
Sum Of All Fears by Tom Clancy. I am hoping it is better than the movie.
Dan
Avey (KABC): I've got three
going: Violence, Nudity, Adult Content, a great first novel by
Vince Passaro, Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris and Middle Age by
Joyce Carol Oates.
Lance
Ballance
(apd/md, KSFI-FM 100.3, Salt Lake City, UT): Since I have a (nearly)
6-year-old and a 1-year-old, my selections will most likely be Goodnight
Moon and Hop on Pop. For a little Adult reading, since I am in
Utah after all, my choice will be “Seven Brides for One Brother.”
Brian
Barnhart
(ex-Angel
broadcaster, now in Champaign, Illinois): Just have been reading Winston
Churchill's Memoirs of the Second World War (Abridged Version), still
about 1000 pages. What drew me to the book? I have always been interested in
history. I started out as a history major. To read about World War II is
interesting. Lots of books have been written, but to hear what Winston
Churchill was thinking and planning with Roosevelt, Stalin, etc really gives
you a good review of everything that went on in the war. Why decisions were
made, etc., is pretty interesting stuff and makes for a good read even at
1000 pages.
Chuck
Blore
(great
Hollywood legend): Yeah ... I’ve got a great one. On Writing: A
Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. While I got it to sharpen my own craft on writing,
the way it is written makes delightful reading just for the pleasure of it. The
first half of the book includes delightful remembrances of his life and
lessons he learned about living and writing. The second part of the
book, called “The Tool Box,” - wonderful things we should all know to
learn about writing.
Larry
Bruce (gm,
Nova 969-Sydney): The Universe in a
Nutshell by Stephen Hawking and Oliver
Twist by Charles Dickens.
Buck
Buchanan (ex-KRTH morning man): It all started when I saw the trailer for The Bourne
Identity. I saw Matt Damon and knew that Hollywood had gone crazy. Here was
the second screen translation of a great book by Robert Ludlum. Only Hollywood
can cast a young man, good actor, but totally wrong for the role that got me on
the computer to Amazon.com to pick up the entire Jason Bourne series. This
trilogy was the best spy, espionage thriller series I have ever read.
Having read them at least three times in the past, it was time to remember
why these are still my favorites. If you are a Ludlum fan, why not explore The
Materese Circle, The Materese Countdown, or The Icarus Agenda.
I will be spending many boring hours on airplanes during July, August and
September, so why not let my mind wander into a great authors domain. Robert
Ludlum always makes the turbulence a little easier to take.
“Big
John” Carter: Just finished
Johnnie Ray and Miss Kilgallen, a novelized account of the oddball
romance between the 50s Cryin' singer and the columnist, tv panelist old gal
whose "suicide" is a matter of considerable suspicion to this very
hour. (Did she know who REALLY killed President Kennedy? Did she pay for
that information with here LIFE??? Stay tuned!)
Bonnie Hearn Hill and husband Larry Hill have done an excellent job of
bringing back some pretty memorable media characters some of us old guys
will remember well.
As to what's next, I'm determined to re-read The Grapes of Wrath. I'm
told it's my patriotic duty!
Paul
Cassidy (retired
and consulting out of Plano): Reading a Father's Day gift from my daughter
Paula Polma at WBAP sales, Baffert Dirt
Road to the Derby. It won't take all summer to read. It's by Bob Baffert
and Steve Haskin of the Blood Horse magazine.
Joe Cipriano
(promo voice of Fox and CBS Television Networks): Just got back from a great
family holiday in London and Paris where I read two books. John McEnroe and
James Kaplan's new book, You Cannot Be Serious, which is the story of
McEnroe's road to becoming famous and then infamous in the tennis world. I'm
a huge tennis fan.
The other book is Michael J. Fox's memoir, Lucky Man. I've always
liked Michael J. Fox and I'm in awe of his belief that his life has actually
changed for the better since the discovery of his illness. I have to admit,
I love reading autobiographies and biographies. It somehow inspires me to do
better in my own life and work, strangely enough.
Finally, to satisfy my interest with anything and everything "Old
Hollywood," now that we're back home, I just finished Dino: Living
High in the Dirty Business of Dreams by Nick Tosches. The life of Dean
Martin. Hey, ya gotta have a little "rat pack" in your summer
reading as well. Enjoy your summer.
Kiris
Coburn
(Salem Communications): I am reading J.R.R. Tolkien's book 1 in the Lord
of the Rings Trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring and so far so
good!
I just finished The Hobbit, which leads up to this trilogy so I'm on
a roll. I wanted to read the book after seeing the recent The Lord
of the Rings movie. However, I'm not reading the movie adaptation. Lately
I've been going back and reading the original books after seeing movies they
were based on to see how "off" the movie was...just kidding LOL!!!
Jay
Coffey (pd, KRTH): I'm
currently re-reading Eric Fromm’s Man For Himself. I’m also reading Big Brands, Big Trouble, Slander
and John Adams.
Chris
Compton:
I am reading River Horse by William Least Heat Moon, who wrote the
best book I have ever had the pleasure to read, Blue Highways several
years ago.
Joe
Cosgrove (Yosemite, California, Summer 2002): Two books
which are perfect for the times in which we are living.
John Adams
authored by David McCullough. David spent five years researching and
preparing this outstanding biography. He quotes directly from scores of
letters written by John Adams over a 50-year period. This is a must
reading for anyone wanting a greater understanding and appreciation for what
this extraordinary man accomplished. An inside look at the Revolution
and its many unsung heroes.
Why Religion
Matters
by Huston Smith internationally revered authority on world religions. In
this compelling critique Huston Smith (UC Berkeley, MIT) presents his
passionate, vital message about the suffocation of the human spirit in a
world dominated by materialism, consumerism, educational elitism and
government and legal systems without morality. He champions a society
in which the human spirit is honored and encouraged to experience its full
potential. All, I can say about this powerful book is WOW!! A mind
opening read opening new insights about the appropriate place of religion in
human experience and society.
Kenny
Edelberg (KBIG/KOST
production asst.): These
are just a couple of the books I am engaged in this summer. I
just finished reading Stupid White Men by Michael Moore. I am
still reading Pornography and Silence - Cultures Revenge Against Nature by
Susan Griffin.
Tommy
Edwards (pd, “Arrow 93”):
Beach House by James Patterson
& Peter De Jonge Patterson is a great writer.
Don Elliot
(KFI): Phillip K. Howard's, The Death of Common Sense. I don't leave
it laying around work for obvious reasons. (Wink, wink!).
Mike
Evans
(ex-KROQ): Although I'm not much of a reader, I am currently reading the 5th
book in the series called – Left Behind - terrific stuff. No matter
what your religion, the books are entertaining and thought provoking. They
keep your interest and explore the future in a way we seldom consider. I
can't say enough good things about the Left Behind series, written by
Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins.
Nick Federoff
: (AdrenalineRadio.com and KFI AM 640 Garden Expert): I found the most
perfect book to read this summer. It's called The Elements of Tree
Pruning by Nick Federoff. What lured me to the book (which is more
like a booklet) is the way the writer makes you feel like he is in the
garden right next to you. As if he is practically doing the work for
you. Guiding your hand to make that perfect Edward Scissorhand-like
cut. Oh, and his sense of humus, I mean humor, tops that of any comedian. Yep,
the writings of Nick Federoff will be occupying my time this summer.
Denise Fondo:
Already finished two novels in two days: Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh
and Essays by Robert Benchley. I’ve read both many times before and
they have always been favorites.
Gary
Franklin (garyfranklin.com) I've been in and out of Fry's and
Borders a half-dozen times these past weeks. I’m reading everything I can
on digital photography. I gave up my darkroom - and all the smelly chemicals
- earlier this year, and am now all-digital - including the printing of old
film negatives negatives and transparencies. It's quite a transition. I
started doing serious photography - and was published - when I was still in
junior high school. And after more than 50 years, I could turn out
exhibition-quality 16x20s in the darkroom, with my eyes closed (joke). Now I
have digital print exhibits coming up in the fall. Biggest problem:
learning all the adjustment and manipulation on the high-ticket digital
cameras. After hundreds of thousands of traditional film exposures, handling
the Nikon, Leica, Mamiya or Hassie was almost automatic. All I needed was an
eye for the frame, as the saying goes.
Books I'm reading: Digital Photography - a basic guide from the Kodak Workshop Series, The
Complete Guide to Digital Photography, by
Michael Freeman, Windows
XP, by
Greg Perry (I'm taking delivery on a new high-speed, high-memory computer
this week, one that will permit me to put thousands of my images on disk
storage via writable CD's, and How
Computers Work, by
Ron White.
I'm
now using an six-ink-cartridge Canon S900 printer - a CanoScan FS4000 film
scanner. The printer makes prints up to around 8x10; later this year, I plan
to get an S9000 printer, which permits 11x14. Incidentally, the camera
- an Olympus 4040Z is a so-called mid-range camera for me to learn on. The
instructions, printed out via the Olympus software, prints out into more
than 100 loose-leaf pages! That HAS to change. Once
I master this camera, the next step is one of the professional Nikon or
Canon digital cameras, now in general use by most of the world's journalism
pros. Trouble is, cost ranges from $3000 to $6000. Ouch !
I
realize that image-making is not an essential part of an LARP's life, except
in the promotion and advertising departments (although I'll never
forget the advice given to radio reporters by KFWB's Executive
Producer, Reg Laite, back in the 1070's: "Your
job is to paint pictures in the mind” Strictly
speaking - and technically - "pictures in the mind" are sort of
produced digitally ... with neurons substituted for pixels. No? If not so,
please argue with me.
Mike Gallagher
(KRLA): My wife and kids, knowing what a Sopranos fan I am, gave me a
Father's Day gift of a bus tour in New Jersey of many of the locations where
the HBO hit is filmed. So being into a real Mafia mood these days as I
eagerly await the season premier in September, I'm reading Underboss
by Sammy "the Bull" Gravano, the former second-in-command to the
late John Gotti who turned state's witness against the mob. Pass the
ziti...
John
Garabo (KSKS-Fresno): This
summer I started reading Crossing Over by John Edward. I can't
put it down. This psychic/medium who can communicate with the dead
discusses how his work was picked up by the media (television) and the
changes he had to make to adapt to the media. Very interesting. He
does say that he prefers radio, though. Very cool book.
Cary
Ginell (KCLU-Thousand Oaks):
Who has time for reading? I'm writing my fourth book: editing an
autobiography by jazz vibraphonist Terry Gibbs. It's to be published by
Scarecrow Press in 2003.
Laura
Gross (L.E.G. Productions,
Inc.): Anything by Agatha Christie is such fun at the beach!
Mark Gunn:
I'm reading Sun Tzu's The Art Of War.
Heidi Hamilton
(The Frosty, Heidi & Frank Show, noon-3 p.m. 97.1FM Talk): I finished
two books on the plane ride to Indiana to see my Mom and Dad (I'm so glad to
be back HOME in California.) I usually read autobiographies and biographies
but I found a novel called The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I
couldn't put it down. It grabbed me, and wouldn't let me go! It's a book
about timeless passion and how your life is empty without it. It makes you
realize there is that one person who is PERFECT for you and you shouldn't
settle for someone who is "close enough." It really is beautiful.
I also finished a book called, How To Be Happy DAMMIT! This is a
cynics (me) guide to spiritual happiness by Karen Salmansohn. I LOVED this
Book!!! It's FUNNY, SMART, straightforward and I promise it will lift your
spirits! There are 44 life lessons in this book to help you find
satisfaction in your daily life! It's a quick read that makes ya feel good!
Now that's my kind of book!
Carole
Hemingway (president The
Hemingway Media Group, a media and presentation training company and former
radio talk show host at KABC, WABC, and KGIL): Summer is great to spend with
some hard-boiled women private investigators. Try anything by Sara Paretsky,
Minette Walters, and Judith Van Gieson.
Hugh Hewitt
(KRLA): Windswept House by Malachi Martin. This 1996 novel of
the Vatican reads like a preview of this year's scandals within the Catholic
Church.
Jeff
Hillery:
Be Quick, But Don't Hurry, by Andrew Hill and John Wooden. As a
former UCLA basketball ball boy, I'm a major fan of Wooden's. A radio gm I
know sent me a copy of the book. Hill takes Wooden's "Pyramid of
Success" and applies it to managing people. It's a great read.
Steve
Hochman (LA Times):
Got a terrific new book to recommend: The Solace of Leaving Early, by
Haven Kimmel, published by Doubleday. It's her first novel, following last
year's acclaimed memoir, A Girl Named Zippy, which recounted her
childhood in the tiny town of Moreland, Indiana. The new novel also is set
in a similar (fictional) town, involving a sullen, self-involved young woman
who has returned home after abandoning her doctoral studies, a minister in
crisis and two young orphan girls beset by religious visions. Kimmel is a
writer of remarkable imagination and with a gift for language that makes me,
as a writer, green with envy. This book is also the No. 1 current
recommendation from Book Sense, the coalition of the nation's independent
bookstores.
J.J.
Johnson (Studio City): Wow.
You'd think I'd have learned by now that when asked such a question and having
once and again answered before the world (or, at least before the LARadio
community), one should actually get on the case. Since you last posed this
particular question, I've read a number of books. But, I've never gotten around
to the one I mentioned last year and the year before. So, this summer, I'm
actually going to do it. I intend to read Letters Of A Nation (A Collection Of Extraordinary American Letters)
edited by Andrew Carroll with a forward by Marian Wright Edelman. I will.
Really.
Mark
Larson (new KRLA morning man
August 5): Sputnik by Paul Dickson... great non-fiction account of
the early days of the space race. Also Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris,
which is an excellent account of Theodore Roosevelt's first term. There are
plenty of historical parallels to today.
Michael
Levine:
I am currently reading Shootout by my dear friend Peter Bart and
Peter Guber. Just started by enjoying thus far. Both men are brilliant and
so I expect a powerful reading adventure.
Carole
Lieberman: M.D. (Dr. Carole):
Even though it's not exactly summer beach reading, I think everyone should
read the following 2 books:
Holy War Inc. - Inside the Secret World of Osama Bin Laden by Peter
L. Bergen
Bin Laden - The Man Who Declared War on America by Yossef Bodansky
Even though they are not terribly literary, they are more spine-tingling
than the latest Stephen King novel! And they give the reader a better
understanding of what's really going on in the world.
Peter
Linsky (business
editor, KXL-Portland, Oregon): For escapism, I just re-read Michael
Crichton's Timeline. For further
amusement, I'm beginning David Brock's Blinded
by the Right. For serious reading, I hope to tackle A Problem From Hell, America and the Age of Genocide by Samantha
Power. Have a great summer!
Tomm
Looney:
This July 4th weekend I'm planning on heading out to Palm Springs to hang
out half naked by the pool and read, Sweetie Pie: The Richard Simmons
Private Collection of Dazzling Desserts. A couple of others that I may
tuck into my Speedo: Random Acts of Badness by Danny Partridge, Cmon
Get Happy, by David Cassidy, and The Secret Teachings of All Ages: An
Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic & Rosicrucian
Symbolical Philosophy by Manly Palmer Hall, J. Augustus Knapp.
Ed
Mann:
As for summer reading, I just finished The Beach House, by James
Patterson, which I read at an actual beach house. It's a quick read
which I'm thankful for between diaper changes and bottle feedings, but
enough about me.
Doug McIntyre
(KABC): This summer I will be reading the fine print in my contract.
Rocco
Moceri:
Reading the autobiography of Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric
'81 - '01. Wow! In these days of corporate deceit, it's refreshing
to see that this man was, and is, is a true leader. Tough stuff, but a
must read for all aspiring entrepreneurs - ours - or any business. His
profits from the book are being donated to charity.
Title: Jack: Straight From The Gut
Author: Jack Welch, autobiography (with John Byrne)
Steve
Morris: I just finished The Amazing
Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. Many friends raved
about it and the idea of a novel about two young men becoming big-time comic
book writers and artists sounded fantastic. And it was.
I'm also reading Nick
Hornby's About A Boy. I loved the book High Fidelity even more than that movie, so again, I'm going to read
the book. Hornby is hilariously clever and funny, but also has a great
grasp of the specific, idiosyncratic emotions that drive our behavior and our
conversations. And he travels very well, unlike some British authors. A
fun read.
Also, I've started Scott
Simon's Home and Away. Simon is a much honored NPR anchor,
wonderful on the air, brings intelligence and a great sense of the human
experience to his work. Home and Away, which is subtitled Memoir
of a Fan, is a memoir.
Jerry
Naylor: The only book I am
delving into these days - cover to cover - is the Holy Bible - God's Word. It's
great reading, and the promise of life eternal. I invite all of my fellow radio
vets to read the bible every day. It will change your life
and you will find yourself smiling more often.
Ron
Oster, III
(KWIZ-FM, Rawhide Travel and Tours): Not to make you depressed, but I'll be
reading South Pacific by James Michener while staying on "the most
beautiful island in the world" (per James Michener). Bora Bora! Au revoir...
Kay
Poland (pd,
KWVE): You know
Don, I'm still working on that stack from last summer! :)
Nancy
Plum
(KFWB): I am almost finished with Katherine Graham Personal History,
her autobiography. She lived quite a life during the twentieth century and I
really didn't know much about her. When I'm finished with it this month I
plan to start Inside The Sky: A Meditation On Flight by William
Langewiesche. It came out a few years ago and I bought it in 1998 and
misplaced it until just recently. These two plus all the many magazines I
love to thumb through like In Style, Vanity Fair, Vogue,
TV Guide and Architectural Digest! Happy Reading!
Lane
Quigley ("The Memory
Lane Show"; ex-KUSC; currently Rockitradio.net): I am
currently about halfway through an entertaining and informative book
entitled Almost Grown: The Rise
of Rock by James Miller. I enjoy reading about the birth and growth of
Rock & Roll - different authors have differing perspectives, which are
interesting to compare. This particular book takes a unique and
effective approach. Rather than trying to be all-encompassing, this
author chose several events over a 30-year period (1947-1977) and examines
them in some detail. It's well researched and an easy read, I recommend
it to anyone interested in Rock & Roll History.
Mark
Ramsey (LARadio movie
reviewer): I’m reading: Rocks
of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life by Stephen Jay
Gould. I love romance novels of this type!
Al Rantel
(KABC): My choice is Ann Coulter's new book Slander - Liberal Lies About
the American Right. I figure any book that has "liberal" and
"lies" in the same sentence is on to something!
Bill
Rice:
I am currently reading Take Her Deep, Admiral I.J. Galantin's self
described World War Two exploits of his submarine, Halibut in the Pacific.
And next up, Navajo Code Talkers by Nathan Raseng. This story was the
inspiration for the new movie Wind Talkers. The book loaned to me a close
friend and full blooded Navajo. Enjoy your summer.
Walter
Sabo (www.sabomedia.com):
Read this book - The Last Lone Inventor, by Evan Schwartz. It's the story of
the epic battle over control and credit for the invention of cathode ray
television. It reads like a thriller. It explodes myths. Did you know that
General David Sarnoff was not the founder of RCA? He was hired help. He
didn't even own much stock. All very exciting.
Josefa
Salinas (HOT 92.3/fm): While
sitting beach side or in the arrowhead mountains, I have chosen the
following for summer mind stretching: Sacred Contracts by Carolyne
Myss, The Paris Option by Robert Ludlum, 101 Questions on Islam
by Jon Renard Power of Prayerful Living by Doug Hill.
The first book intrigued me from the moment I read the cover. I enjoy
stretching the mind. I read all of Robert Ludlum's books as soon as they
come out. To understand fully both sides of any issue, it is necessary to
have knowledge of both sides on a controversial position, hence the book on
Islam.' And I could not think of a better time to find ways to include more
prayer in my life. Hope everyone has a great summer. May God Bless and keep
each of you and your families safe.
Kat
Snow: My summer reading has
been The YaYa Sisterhood, rereading of Richard Bach's Bridge
Across Forever and any mystery novel that comes my way. Had been looking
forward to the next Harry Potter but alas it looks like that book will be
read during Christmas break.
Chuck
Southcott: My backyard, cats
and I have just completed the latest Follette novel and are now engrossed in
Stardust Melody: The Life and Music of Hoagy Carmichael by Richard M
Sudhalter. I can also recommend Peter Levinson's two recent offerings, Trumpet
Blues ( Harry James bio) and September in the Rain, Nelson Riddle
bio.
Bill
Tanner: Miami attorney Roy
Black's Black's Law. I have a great admiration for Black. These four
cases of his make thoughtful reading. John Sanford is my favorite
"fictional detective" author. His latest is great, as usual.
Keri
Tombazian
(KTWV): I've begun the dense and wonderful book The Worst Journey in the
World, by Apsley Cherry-Garrard. It is the heart-wrenching true account
by one of the survivors of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's fatal expedition to
the South Pole. It is absolutely riveting.
In the late nineties my husband, Thom was in an award-winning production of
Ted Tally's play Terra Nova (the name of the ship on which Scott's
team sailed to the Antarctic). I was so riveted by the story that I plunged
into a book titled, Scott's Last Expedition: The Journals, by Robert
Falcon Scott. These are Scott's own diaries from the expedition. They
are fascinating as well as heartbreaking. I recommend all three... the play
by Ted Tally, then Scott's diary, then the encompassing Worst Journey.
All three are in print.
Richard
Turnage ("McDonnell/Douglas
Show" on ESPN Radio 1110): I just scored a copy of Blast From the
Past, by Kinky Friedman from a discount book store in downtown Burbank
(A & S Bargain Books, a former Crown Books). It was in the bargain
bin and I snatched it up right away, because it's one of the few titles by
The Kinkstuh I haven't read (published in 1998, according to one of the
title pages). Don't know how I missed this one, but glad to obtain a
new copy for my library!
Cameron Ward
(KLOS): This summer, one of the books I am reading is Walk This Way,
the autobiography of Aerosmith, written by the band with Stephen Davis. I
chose this book after seeing Aerosmith in concert several times. After
seeing the band live, I realized they had touched a place within me that
rock n' roll was more than just music. Rock on!
Chuck
Wilder (KPLS): I
am reading The Bureau the secret history of the FBI by Ronald
Kessler. I love stuff like this. It goes from the start of the FBI right up
to 9/11.
Darrell
Winrich:
I recently finished Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut and am now reading
Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Both were
written since World War II and are regarded by many literary critics as modern
classics. Even though I’ve been aware of these titles for many years,
what really motivated me is that each is on a list of "100
Great Books" that I have been working through. How
many have I read, you ask? Surprisingly (to me at least), this will be
number forty! By the way, both books are very enjoyable and worth
the time, although neither would make my personal Top 10.
