Jonathan's Picks

Jonathan - Mr. Assistant Manager

 

Bio

I once ate way too many cherries, and in the middle of the night I spewed them all over the bathroom floor. As I was leaving I slipped and whacked my backside on the red cherry vomit. When my brother saw me there, he thought I was bloodied and called for help. I then got back up and cleaned myself up. A few years later I developed an allergic reaction to cherries, among other fruits. This is an allegory for my life. I have yet to develop an allergic reaction to books, though. 


$15.95
ISBN-13: 9780375725609
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vintage, 2/2004
I actually listened to this one on the way to Portland where I had trouble leaving the car at arrival. It has been one of the owner's favorites, and I can see why. This incredible true story takes place during the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 where America's greatest architects and minds came together to create the most amazing World's Fair the world would ever know. While this story would have been enough, it is often eclipsed by the psychopathic killer Mr. Holmes, slaying young lonely woman right off the train. You can't make this stuff up.

$15.99
ISBN-13: 9780061173943
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: HarperOne, 2/2010
This is a great introduction to good Ole Holy Book. Bart begins the book speaking about his gradual descent from fundamental Bible thumper to liberal Bible scholar. He points out the contradictions in the New Testament, and then takes us through the selection of the Bible we have today. In the end, we learn the Bible is truly a human creation, but still something to be studied heavily. I like this more than other atheist books because it treats Christianity and Christians with the respect they deserve and is never condescending.

$6.99
ISBN-13: 9780812550702
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Tor Science Fiction, 7/1994
I first gave this book to my fourth grade secret Santa, and it’s a book I still give out. Why? Because it’s incredibly awesome. Kids flying around in a space station training to stop the next inevitable alien invasion…awesome. Little Ender outsmarting his teachers and becoming an alien killing machine…pretty sweet. Kids love this book because it treats them like adults. Adults love it because it’s a fantastic story. I want to read it again just typing this review out.

$14.99
ISBN-13: 9780310267317
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Zondervan Publishing Company, 4/2007
I'm not much of a Christian but I do enjoy reading about Christianity quite a bit. He chips away at our current day Christians' urge to enforce their values on the masses, pointing to the example of Jesus who was not concerned in the political and worldly concerns of his day. He also tackles the ever difficult "turn the other cheek" problemo. This book tackles the tough political and moral questions of Christianity and wins.

$15.00
ISBN-13: 9781608190553
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Bloomsbury Press, 2/2010

Aesthetics is my favorite field in philosophy, and Dutton's attempt to answer the big questions of beauty through evolution was an interesting read. He parces out the different qualities of a beautiful object and then explains their development in the human mind through evolution. It was fun reading about the cross cultural "perfect" landscapes and how what we deem beautiful in the human mind is a product of our Darwinian development. I love books that make me question my instincts, and Dutton does just that.


$15.00
ISBN-13: 9780374532505
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 8/2010

With the polarzied world of politics of today, Sandel is a compelling read, guiding the reader into the basics of political philosophy and placing them into current debates. While it's a somewhat dense piece of text, Sanders makes it enjoyable by relating the sometimes complex theories into interesting allegories and true events. After finishing this, I can finally understand what those pesky libertarians are talking about while still being able to politely disagree with them. The reader can draw their own conclusions with slight nudges from Sandel, which I appreciate.