Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama - This memoir is not about his father's life, but about Obama's, and he brings that home with an intimate tone. Throughout the book, the U.S. Senator looks at race from the point of view of someone who has seen and been part of a variety of cultures, and he explains how his perspective shaped his views.
Faith of my Fathers by John McCain - McCain's account of his father, grandfather and his own military service. Almost half the book is devoted to mcCain's grueling imprisonment in Vietnam when he was tortured repeatedly and frequently locked in solitary confinement.
Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton - Hillary Rodham Clinton tells her life story, describing her dedication to social causes, her relationship with her husband, and her accomplishments and difficult periods as First Lady.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey - Secret to success in high school
Dune by Frank Herbert - The story of a young prince, Paul Artreides, scion of a star-crossed dynasty, and of his journey from boy to warrior to ruler of a dying planet destined to become a paradise regained.
Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov - Through the process of miniaturization, five people enter a tiny submarine and are injected into a man's circulatory system where they try to destroy a blood clot located in his brain.
Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland (fiction) - Eight linked stories tracing the history of a painting by the 17th century Dutch artist, Vermeer. In one, he paints his daughter to pay off debts, a second story describes the loss of the ownership papers, a third takes place on the eve of its theft by the Nazis.
All Souls by Michael MacDonald (non-fiction) - He describes how his family survived the daily violence they encountered while living in South Boston during the 1970ís busing controversy and streets crowded with Whitey Bulgerís gangs. The author lost 4 of 8 siblings to violence.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom - A bitter 83 year old war veteran who believes his life is meaningless dies while trying to save a little girlís life and finds himself in heaven where five people from his past explain what his years on Earth really meant.