If only we had time for all the books we'd like to read... In this section I've listed some of my favorite books and writers. The lists are constantly evolving, of course. See if there's something here that interests you, or a favorite we share. E-mail me if you have a recommendation for me.

Favorite Books

Favorite Writers

What I'm Reading These Days

DeNiro's Game by Rawi Hage
Bassam and George are best pals in Beirut in the grip of the civil war, alert for anything that looks like a future. George (nickname DeNiro) has a plan to rip off a militia leader for a grubstake and a way out... No, it doesn't sound like a good idea to me, either. Desperation and fast living in tragic Beirut, a terrific read by a talented Lebanese-Canadian writer.

The First Vice Lord: Big Jim Colosimo and the Ladies of the Levee by Arthur Bilek
Bilek, a retired Chicago law enforcement professional with an impressive resume, has written the best account to date of Chicago's pre-Capone criminal history. Colosimo was the man before Prohibition came along and made Capone king. Social history, true crime and old Chicago, a great read.