The Motley Fool Million Dollar Portfolio - David & Tom Gardner

With the market dropping everyday, I knew that there had to be some bargain stocks our there, but needed a bit of help thinking through it. I've been pretty lucky with stock picks in the past, but they were mostly based on gut feel and not as much science. Taking some of the lessons from this book, I'm planning to do a bit more research so I can pick up some good deals while the market is dropping. Above all, this was a readable book that jumped between analysis, history, and a few war stories (good and bad). Definitely a keeper

Fresh Faith - Jim Cymbala

Not a bad book and of course the subject matter is great. Great examples of how faith has moved God in the lives of people. Encouraging in how I can and should increase my faith. This isn't a blind faith, but often a reasoned faith. One that becomes evident through circumstances surrounding your lives. Jim relays examples from scripture and from his present day ministry to show us the strength and importance of faith.

Alex & Me - Irene Pepperberg

In September 2007, an African Grey parrot passed away, and the world noticed. He had an obituary in Time Magazine, tributes setup online, and hoards of fans crashing The Alex Foundation website to express condolences. He was a 30-year-old, one pound bunch of gray feathers, but was also proof that non-humans could possess intent, communicate, and have intellectual interactions with human beings. Alex could count, identify colors and shapes, and apparently play jokes on his handlers. I've been the proud owner of an African Grey ("Watson") for the past decade, and am amazed by these parrots.

One L - Scott Turow

Back in the mid-70s, Scott Turow spent his 1L year at Harvard Law School, and turned it into this book which has almost become required reading for every new law student. I haven't read this since the summer before I entered Akron Law, and since I've started to focus on my own novel again, I wanted to relive the 1L experience. Things haven't changed much, and although Akron isn't Harvard, this book still brought back memories of stress, study groups, the Socratic method, and more stress! What I'd give to go back!

The Associate - John Grisham

This lawyer-in-trouble return had been trumpeted as The Firm, part 2. It's always hard to critique someone who essentially invented a genre, but I didn't get into this at all. Kyle McAvoy finds himself the center of an extortion from parties unknown - all he knows is that if he doesn't help steal information on a case from his New York law firm, the blackmailer will release a video that shows Kyle in connection with a rape during his college days. I felt like I was trapped in the novel the same way the main character was, and the ending left far too much unresolved. As noted, the book uses the lawyer-in-trouble formula as past books, and of course focuses upon the "evil" nature of firms, partners, and most attorneys. It just felt tired here. Love Grisham, could have skipped this.