Here in “The Library” are the books I come across that I want to add to my reading experience.  I haven’t read these books [yet], but I’ve found them in various places and am keeping track of what I want to read in the coming months.  I’ll link to book reviews or advertisements I find helpful or entertaining, and hope this is a good resource for you as well.

On Governing, Politics, and Institutions
These are articles, books, and resources about how and why we govern the way we do, and they are on my work-related reading list!

• James Q. Wilson:  Bureaucracy, The Politics of Regulation, The Moral Sense, and Political Organizations
  • RegBlog did a series on Wilson and his influence in the field of regulation –  I can’t wait to have the time to read his work.
• A Kind of Genius:  Herb Sturz and Society’s Toughest Problems
• Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman

On Justice
These are books on equality or social justice issues that I can’t wait to read, although sometimes the truth about our society can be difficult to process.  

• There are No Children Here, Alex Kothowitz
• The Education of a White Parent, Susan Naimark
• Triumph of the City, Edward Glaeser
• Whither Opportunity?  Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children’s Life Chances, Greg J. Duncan and Richard J. Murnane, eds.
  • This book was mentioned as essential during a Brookings live lecture I attended about Poverty and Opportunity in America.
• Sundown Towns, Dr. James W. Loewen
  • I heard Dr. Loewen speak about how to end continued white-only city planning [a.k.a. SEGREGATION] and he was kind of awesome.  And also smart, informed, and passionate about racism in America.  And he yelled at someone for asking a stupid question.  LOVE. 

On Christian Responses to Social Issues
A lot of this is connected to the previous section, but because these are focused on religion I wanted to keep them separate.

• Chasing Silhouettes, Emily Wierenga
  • The review that introduced me to this book!
• Torn, Jason Lee
  • The review that introduced me to this book!

On Religion and Christianity
I’ve been finding my way back into the intellectual discussions surrounding my faith and, since I grew up in a conservative evangelical faith community, am really enjoying learning more about Catholicism, the liturgical calendar, etc. 

• Nail Scarred Hands Made New:  Making Sense of the Gospel in a Violent Latin American Slum, By John Shorack
  • I’ve added this book after a recommendation from D.L. Mayfield’s blog post about confronting violence in late 2012. 
• From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart, Chris Haw
  • Review
• Evolving in Monkey Town, Rachel Held Evans

On Being a Better Lawyer
Man, I really need to get on this.  And add about a dozen other books.  Once you become a lawyer you are increasingly aware of how little you know about your job.

• Thrive: A New Lawyer’s Guide to Law Firm Practice, Desiree Moore

On History and America
I am such a nerd for history books and stories, I cannot get enough. 

• A Portrait in Letters of an American Visionary, Daniel Patrick Moynihan
• Lincoln’s Hundred Days, Louis P. Masur
  • Book Signing and Celebratory Event — we are one week away from this and I cannot wait!

On Being Awesome
I don’t take my reading list THAT seriously, you guys.  Here’s a couple of hilarious books that I cannot wait to get my hands on. 

• Bossypants, Tina Fey
• Let’s Pretend this Never Happened, Jenny Lawson