I loved the Mark Harris..Being a huge film/history buff I was surprised that his "Five Came Back" was nowhere near as enjoyable to me.John Huston and some others were unlikable..I was a big Kirk Douglas fan but have never had the same regard since reading The Ragman's Son(didn't realize how obnoxious he really was)..I know,I know---regard the great work done,not the person.
As noted it is always satisfying to see books you've read on another's top ten list. Isaacson's treatment of Steve Jobs was stellar and inspired me to read his work on Da Vinci, also excellent, and currently Franklin. I had also read Competing With Idiots which provides not only a fascinating look at the Mankiewicz bothers, but also an inside look at Hollywood during a time with the studios reigned supreme. I just added Sinatra: The Chairman to my Amazon cart. Thanks for the inspiration! A couple on my list are Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis. For me, this was his best work by a wide margin. It provides an insider's look at the crazy world of bond trading during the 1980s. I am would also highly recommend Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow and then double down by reading Chernow's, Grant. Both are outstanding.
Thanks for reading! I read Grant and agonized about not putting that on the list. If I made it again, right now, he might bump someone else. But I've committed to No Backsies.
My favorite book of last 20 odd years is In Sunshine or in Shadow: How Boxing Brought Hope in the Troubles by Donald McRae – a wonderful look at boxing in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Captures the time and place perfectly and the way great people find a way to make a difference in a time of conflict.
Thank you! You could fill a library with what I don't know about sports, but I have read a lot about the Troubles, so I just added McRae's book to my list. Also enjoyed your post about the best sports books and LOL about Sir Alec's second one. There's a new Best Of list for me coming out today or tomorrow.
This is a compelling list that resuscitated interest in a number of authors or titles I made note of at the time. Harris, Davis & Barthelme works have been ordered. I may return to some others here after I work down that pile!
Dalrymple's work is excellent, and of the ones I've read I think you choose the best. Really pleased to see him make the list. His works are often very cheap during Kindle sales fwiw.
My only quibble is Isaacson making the cut. Biographers who jump time periods and solicit ongoing access to future subjects naturally lean heavily hagiographic. Both his Jobs and Musk bios are fraught with this issue. So if your "No Backsies" commitment slides that's my nominee for culling.
Fair enough! I didn’t think the Jobs book was hagiographic; I thought Jobs came across as a deeply flawed person with a vision. I didn’t finish his new one of Elon Musk not because of his take, but because I thought it was dull. Thanks for reading and responding—good to know there are other readers with similar tastes.
I love seeing Kate Atkinson on anyone’s shelf. Her recent work is a little head-scratchy to me if I’m being honest, but Behind The Scenes at the Museum is among my top 10 of my whole life.
Not really. I've read some great fiction since 2000, but not published after that cutoff. Last week I read Martin Dressler and thought it was great--but it's from 1996. Other great novels I've read recently are The Bostonians, The Ambassadors, Fat City, Waveland ... I've also reread favorites, but these are all pre-2000. I'm currently reading The Revenant (2002), which is good, but not destined for an all-time best list.
Comparing doesn’t diminish the things compared, it establishes a standard on which one can base critical thought. Lists are also a sign of morality, as when Caucasians list themselves as the best in everything American. But they’re not racists.
On the other hand, lists give women a chance to co-own the Western Canon without having won a war, built a cathedral, or invent a paradigm-shifting thing. In that sense, lists have always been corrupted by prejudices and vested interests.
We love to hate them, because we’re always searching for the right temperature, the right balance.
You actually had two books that I read and enjoyed, the Mark Harris and the Kaplan. And I will be reading a few others on your list.
I loved the Mark Harris..Being a huge film/history buff I was surprised that his "Five Came Back" was nowhere near as enjoyable to me.John Huston and some others were unlikable..I was a big Kirk Douglas fan but have never had the same regard since reading The Ragman's Son(didn't realize how obnoxious he really was)..I know,I know---regard the great work done,not the person.
Excellent! Please let me know what you think.
Thanks for including Thom Jones.
Thank you for reading! That means a lot to me. And yes, Thom Jones was one of the greats.
I met him once. And he hold a dirty joke very soon into our chat. I was very happy!
As noted it is always satisfying to see books you've read on another's top ten list. Isaacson's treatment of Steve Jobs was stellar and inspired me to read his work on Da Vinci, also excellent, and currently Franklin. I had also read Competing With Idiots which provides not only a fascinating look at the Mankiewicz bothers, but also an inside look at Hollywood during a time with the studios reigned supreme. I just added Sinatra: The Chairman to my Amazon cart. Thanks for the inspiration! A couple on my list are Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis. For me, this was his best work by a wide margin. It provides an insider's look at the crazy world of bond trading during the 1980s. I am would also highly recommend Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow and then double down by reading Chernow's, Grant. Both are outstanding.
Thanks for reading! I read Grant and agonized about not putting that on the list. If I made it again, right now, he might bump someone else. But I've committed to No Backsies.
Thanks for a fascinating list.
My favorite book of last 20 odd years is In Sunshine or in Shadow: How Boxing Brought Hope in the Troubles by Donald McRae – a wonderful look at boxing in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Captures the time and place perfectly and the way great people find a way to make a difference in a time of conflict.
I did a list of best books about sport published in the 21st Century here https://allsportsbookreviews.substack.com/p/best-sports-books-of-21st-century
Thank you! You could fill a library with what I don't know about sports, but I have read a lot about the Troubles, so I just added McRae's book to my list. Also enjoyed your post about the best sports books and LOL about Sir Alec's second one. There's a new Best Of list for me coming out today or tomorrow.
Thanks,
Dan
This is a compelling list that resuscitated interest in a number of authors or titles I made note of at the time. Harris, Davis & Barthelme works have been ordered. I may return to some others here after I work down that pile!
Dalrymple's work is excellent, and of the ones I've read I think you choose the best. Really pleased to see him make the list. His works are often very cheap during Kindle sales fwiw.
My only quibble is Isaacson making the cut. Biographers who jump time periods and solicit ongoing access to future subjects naturally lean heavily hagiographic. Both his Jobs and Musk bios are fraught with this issue. So if your "No Backsies" commitment slides that's my nominee for culling.
Fair enough! I didn’t think the Jobs book was hagiographic; I thought Jobs came across as a deeply flawed person with a vision. I didn’t finish his new one of Elon Musk not because of his take, but because I thought it was dull. Thanks for reading and responding—good to know there are other readers with similar tastes.
Very glad to discover this (thank you, Sherman Alexis, for the endorsement). I look forward to digging in.
Solid list!
I found the NYT list to be completely un-relatable.
I did, however, read the short story by Thom Jones that you linked and immediately added his collection to my Goodreads list.
You >>> NYT
THANK YOU!
Awesome! Isn’t that a great story? And Night Train has a bunch of them.
I love seeing Kate Atkinson on anyone’s shelf. Her recent work is a little head-scratchy to me if I’m being honest, but Behind The Scenes at the Museum is among my top 10 of my whole life.
Are there any other works of fiction you really considered?
Not really. I've read some great fiction since 2000, but not published after that cutoff. Last week I read Martin Dressler and thought it was great--but it's from 1996. Other great novels I've read recently are The Bostonians, The Ambassadors, Fat City, Waveland ... I've also reread favorites, but these are all pre-2000. I'm currently reading The Revenant (2002), which is good, but not destined for an all-time best list.
I see.
Henry James fan here as well.
Could give you a few recommendations as well if you want.
Sure thing! Always interested in other people's recs. BTW, read your piece on Johnson's Rambler #4--great post! I just subscribed. Big SJ fan here.
Excellent choices. Lots to discover here for me.
Thank you for reading!
Comparing doesn’t diminish the things compared, it establishes a standard on which one can base critical thought. Lists are also a sign of morality, as when Caucasians list themselves as the best in everything American. But they’re not racists.
On the other hand, lists give women a chance to co-own the Western Canon without having won a war, built a cathedral, or invent a paradigm-shifting thing. In that sense, lists have always been corrupted by prejudices and vested interests.
We love to hate them, because we’re always searching for the right temperature, the right balance.