#10 - U.S. Army Survival Handbook

The U.S. Army FM 21-76 manual is basically the go-to guide for survival in many climates and terrains, this version is a more concise and approachable version of that text. For the casual to intermediate outdoorsman this is a great guide packed with life-saving information and techniques for when things go pear-shaped. I think I prefer the real thing myself, but for the average person this book will save a few bucks and is perfectly sufficient. Recommended.

#9 - Hell or High Water: Surviving Tibet's Tsangpo River

Hell or High Water: Surviving Tibet's Tsangpo River is the true story of a group of some of the best kayakers in the world gathered together to become the first people to successfully descend the mighty Tsangpo. Sadly this book falls very flat and fails in just about every regard. The author was basically an unwanted addition to the team and the entire book only succeeds in descending into his complaints and grousing as well as an inordinate amount of detail on labor disputes and uprisings amongst the Sherpas and porters. There is some good historical data and insight into Tibetan life but it is almost devoid of actual action and proper coverage of the kayaking. A bit of technical jargon, maybe two sentences, and a lot of eddy talk describes just about every section dealing with the descent. Boring. Not Recommended.

#8 - Tao Te Ching

I've enjoyed the philosophical teachings of Taoism for about ten years now and the Tao Te Ching is the seminal Taoist work. Fundamental in it's nature but hard to approach for a westerner. One must rely on translations and with the Tao Te Ching there are hundreds of versions. The Penguin Classic version translated by D.C. Lau also includes a great introduction and has been a highly regarded translation for well over 30 years now. I like a number of versions but I go back to this one often, and it was the one I chose the last time I read through it. Books don't come much more Highly Recommended from me.

#6 & 7 - CCNA Official Exam Certification Library

OK, I'm a geek, I freely admit it and yes, I read technical manuals for fun. It's a sickness, I know. The CCNA Official Exam Certification Library consists of two large tomes which is why it takes the sixth and seventh slots on the list. I work in the networking field and Cisco is one of the leaders in the market. These books cover a number of fundamentals and are meant to be a study tool in attaining your CCNA certification. Basically only someone like me even knows/cares about this stuff because most people take the little port they plug their computer into for Internet access for granted, or casually flipping your laptop open and surfing the web wirelessly from your local coffee shop... without networking none of it happens. Highly Recommended (for geeks only).

#5 - On The Beaten Path

I love the outdoors. I grew up camping and fishing and my parents instilled in me a true respect and unbelievable appreciation for what they can offer. I've become very interested in hiking/backpacking and a personal life goal of mine is to "thru-hike" the Appalachian Trail... the AT. On The Beaten Path follows one man's journey to get his life back into alignment by taking on the challenge of the AT. Unfortunately the writing style becomes very formulaic and never really digs into the meat of any particular subject. It does offer a glimpse into his life, his struggles, and characters and events along the way, but ultimately falls short. Not Recommended.

#4 - Roasting in Hell's Kitchen

While I was on a foodie kick (and off sick), another great book gift came in handy. Gordon Ramsay is another favorite of mine for his brutal honesty but also for his genuine nature and desire to help. While many only know him from the TV show tyrant in Hell's Kitchen, he has had a number of successes on British television and now in America such as Kitchen Nightmares. This book is an honest look into his life and experiences, good times and bad. He lays it all out there including some very personal issues and nothing is sugar coated or spared. It's a bit uncomfortable and he never seems to be able to admit that he has a few serious problems himself, but I burned through this one in a day because I just couldn't put it down. Not a must read, but for a fan it is Recommended.

#3 - The Nasty Bits

After reading through Kitchen Confidential I received The Nasty Bits as a Christmas gift from my parents. It's a collection of Bourdain's writings and even some of his fiction work. There is a bit of overlap with Kitchen Confidential but also some great inside information and tales of his exploits in making his TV show No Reservations. If you are only going to read one of Anthony Bourdain's books then go for Kitchen Confidential, but this is a treat for fans. Recommended.

#2 - Kitchen Confidential

I'm a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain, as well as the culinary arts, and equally as much against the disgrace known as "The Food Network." This book was written long before Anthony Bourdain was much more than a glorified line cook, and no one could have ever dreamed of what it would become. A wonderfully honest and candid peek into what really goes on behind the scenes in restaurants across the globe. Highly Recommended.

#1 - Kon-Tiki

I decided to start off this year with an older tale of adventure on the high seas. Kon-Tiki is a classic true story of a man on a mission to prove his theory that the Pacific Ocean could be crossed on nothing more than a balsa wood raft. Highly Recommended.

52 Books In 52 Weeks

Read 52 books in 52 weeks. This is my goal, and one I challenge each and every visitor to take on as well. It started as just a little mental checklist though, and I thought that bringing it to the Internet would accomplish a few things:

1. Archive my lists for future reference
2. Let friends and family (as well as anyone else on the world wide web) in on what I've been reading, good and bad
3. Hopefully inspire at least one other person to tackle the challenge as well
4. Provide yet another way for folks to waste time online

I've always loved to read and there are countless adventures and journeys out there just waiting for a pair of eyes. It may seem an impossible task, but I assure you it can be done. If you do care to attempt the 52 in 52 challenge please feel free to send me your book list and it will be showcased, just a list of titles numbered 1-52+ is fine.

(I will be posting all of the books I've read since January 1, 2008 up until now and then continuing the posts as I complete new ones throughout the year.)

Welcome!