The Yankee Years, by Joe Torre

A: David Black   P: Doubleday                 C: Sports/Fitness

NYT: 3  USAT:   3          PW: 3

Twelve straight playoff appearances, six American League pennants, four World Series title, this is the definitive story of a dynasty--the Yankee years--from the most successful and most respected baseball manager of the modern era.Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

A: -                   P: Little, Brown  C: Self Help/Improvement

NTY: 14            USAT:   14         PW: 13

In this landmark work, the author of "Blink" and "The Tipping Point" asks what makes high-achievers different. Brilliant and entertaining, "Outliers" is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.

 

Obama: The Historic Journey, with an introduction by Bill Keller and biographical text by Jill Abramson

A: -                   P: Callaway                   C: History/Politics

NYT: 1  USAT:   -           PW: -

This is the remarkable story of Barack Obama's journey to the White House, as told by the greatest cultural recorders in the world, the staff of The New York Times. From the first mention of Barack Obama in its pages (when he was elected president of the Harvard Law Review), to his electrifying speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention, to the days and months of the hardfought, innovative campaign for Presidency, The New York Times has documented, recorded, and analyzed Obama in all the ways that he has irrevocably changed this country. In twelve rich chapters, filled with award-winning photos and graphics, as well as text from Nobel Prize and Pulitzer-winning columnists like Paul Krugman and Thomas Friedman, and seasoned political reporters like Adam Nagourney, The New York Times tells Obama's unlikely and incredible journey from the beginning all the way to his inauguration as President of the United States.

 

 

Dewey, by Vicki Myron

A: Peter McGuigan                    P: Grand Central            C: Memoir

NYT: 23            USAT:   22         PW: 21

The charming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa, starts in the worst possible way. Only a few weeks old, on the coldest night of the year, he was stuffed into the returned book slot at the library. For the next 19 years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmth, humility, and, above all, his sixth sense about who needed him most.

 

 

 

 

The Gamble, by Thomas E. Ricks

A: Alice Martell  P: Penguin Press           C: History/Politics

NYT: 2  USAT:               PW: 2

"Fiasco," Ricks's #1 "New York Times" bestseller, transformed the political dialogue on the war in Iraq. "The Gamble," the story of Gen. David Petraeus and the American military, reveals that many high-level officials were opposed to the 2003 invasion.

 

 

The Inaugural Address, 2009, by Barack Obama

A: Jane Dystel               P: Penguin        C: History/Politics

NYT: 3  USAT:   -           PW: -

Tying into the official theme for the 2009 Inauguration, A New Birth of Freedom from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Penguin presents a keepsake edition commemorating the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama with words of the two great thinkers and writers who have helped shape him politically, philosophically, and personally: Abraham Lincoln and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Having Lincoln and Emerson’s most influential, memorable, and eloquent words along with Obama’s much-anticipated historical inaugural address will be a gift of inspiration for every American and a keepsake for generations.

 

 

Multiple Blessings, by Jon Gosselin, Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson

A: Peter Cox                 P: Zondervan                 C: Memoir

NYT: 18            USAT:   -           PW: 13

Kate Gosselin tells the amazing story of how she and her husband have survived the overwhelming odds of birthing not only twins but also sextuplets in three years, and how they continue to strive every day to honor Christ while he teaches them to thrive in spite of emotional, financial, social, and physical exhaustion.

 

 

The Next 100 Years, by George Friedman

A: Jim Hornfischer          P: Doubleday                 C: History/Politics

NYT: 3  USAT: - PW: -

Friedman, a leading expert in geopolitical forecasting, turns his eye to the future. Drawing on a profound understanding of history and geopolitical patterns, "The Next 100 Years" is a compelling, realistic, and eye-opening portrait of the future.

 

 

A Slobbering Love Affair, by Bernard Goldberg

A: Craig Wiley               P: Regnery                    C:  History/Politics

NYT: 4  USAT:   -           PW: 4

From the day Barack Obama announced his candidacy to the moment he took the oath of office, the mainstream media fawned over him like love-struck school girls. Even worse, this time they went beyond media bias to media activism, says CBS veteran and #1 bestselling author Bernard Goldberg. In his most provocative book yet, A Slobbering Love Affair, Goldberg shows how the mainstream media's hopelessly one-sided coverage of President Obama has shredded America's trust in journalism and endangered our free society. Highlighting the media's laughable coverage and shameless hypocrisy, Goldberg exposes how liberal reporters ignored important issues, focused on trivial matters, and attacked those who dared to question "The One." Goldberg also argues that the media's blatant disregard for their traditional role as the fourth estate and government watchdog has endangered America and eroded the notion of a free and fair press.

 

 

No Angel, by Jay Dobyns

A: Richard Pine             P: Crown                       C: True Crime

NYT: 2  USAT:               PW: -

The first federal agent to infiltrate the inner circle of the Hells Angels, Dobyns finally tells the inside stories of the 21-month operation that almost cost him his family, his sanity, and his life. 8-page full-color photo insert.

 

 

Meltdown, by Thomas E. Woods Jr

A: Andrew Stuart                       P: Regnery                    C: Politics/Government

NYT: 2  USAT:               PW: 1

If you are fed up with Washington boondoggles, and you like the small-government, politically-incorrect thinking of Ron Paul, then you'll love Tom Woods's Meltdown. In clear, no-nonsense terms, Woods explains what led up to this economic crisis, who's really to blame, and why government bailouts won't work. Woods will reveal:

* Which brave few economists predicted the economic fallout--and why nobody listened
* what really caused the collapse
* Why the Fed--not taxpayers--should have to answer for the current economic crisis
* Why bailouts are band-aids that will only provide temporary relief and ultimately make things worse
* what we should do instead, to put our economy on a healthy path to recovery

With a foreword from Ron Paul, Meltdown is the free-market answer to the Fed-created economic crisis. As the new Obama administration inevitably calls for more regulations, Woods argues that the only way to rebuild our economy is by returning to the fundamentals of capitalism and letting the free market work.

 

 

How We Decide, by Jonah Lehrer

A: Dilek Kayi                 P: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt        C: Self Help/Imporvement

NYT: 1  USAT:   -           PW: -

From the acclaimed author of "Proust Was a Neuroscientist" comes a fascinating look at the new science of decision-making. Lehrer explores two questions: How does the human mind make decisions? And how can those decisions be made better?

 

 

Why We Suck, by Denis Leary

A: -                   P: Viking           C: Humor

NYT: 14            USAT:   -           PW: 12

In this hilarious blast of scathing irreverence from an award-winning actor and comedian, Leary uses his common sense, and his biting take on the world, to attack the politically correct, the hypocritical, the obese, the thin--basically everyone who takes himself too seriously.

 

 

A. Lincoln: A Biography, by Ronald C. White Jr

A: Mary Evans P: Random House          C: History/Politics

NYT: 2  USAT:   -           PW: -

In this magnificent book, White offers a fresh and compelling definition of Lincoln as a man of integrity--what today's commentators would call "authenticity"--whose moral compass holds the key to understanding his life.

 

 

 

Lords of Finance, by Liaquat Ahamed

A: -                   P: Penguin Press           C:  Politics/Government/History

NYT: 1  USAT:   -           PW: -

With penetrating insights for today, this vital history of the world economic collapse of the late 1920s offers unforgettable portraits of the four men whose personal and professional actions as heads of their respective central banks changed the course of the 20th century.

 

 

 

Act like a Lady, Think like a Man. By Steve Harvey
A:                     P: Amistad                    C: Self Help/Improvement

NYT: -               USAT:   4          PW: 4

From the host of the popular "Steve Harvey Morning Show" comes a funny, honest, and foolproof guide for all women that takes them inside the heads of men and shows how men think about love, sex, and commitment.

 

 

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

A: David Black   P: Hyperion                   C: Self Help/Improvement

NYT: -               USAT:   46         PW:  46

Based on the extraordinary final lecture by Carnegie Mellon University professor Pausch, given after he discovered he had pancreatic cancer, this moving book goes beyond the now-famous lecture to inspire readers to live each day with purpose and joy.

 

 

Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance by Tony Dungy
A: D.J. Snell, Jr.            P: Tyndale House          C: Sports/Fitness

NYT: -               USAT:   -           PW: 4

Super Bowl-winning coach and #1 New York Times best selling author Tony Dungy has had an unusual opportunity to reflect on what it takes to achieve significance. He is looked to by many as the epitome of the success and significance that is highly valued in our culture. He also works every day with young men who are trying to achieve significance through football and all that goes with a professional athletic career-such as money, power, and celebrity. Coach Dungy has had all that, but he passionately believes that there is a different path to significance, a path characterized by attitudes, ambitions, and allegiances that are all too rare but uncommonly rewarding. Uncommon reveals lessons on achieving significance that the coach has learned from his remarkable parents, his athletic and coaching career, his mentors, and his journey with God. A particular focus of the book: what it means to be a man of significance in a culture that is offering young men few positive role models.

 

 

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
A: The Strothman Agency           P: Beyond Words Publishing          C: Self Help/Improvement

NYT: -               USAT:               PW: 106

Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it. In this book, you'll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life -- money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You'll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that's within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life. The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers -- men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible.

 

 

 

Flat Belly Diet by Liz Vaccariello
A: -                   P: Rodale Press            C: Health/Fitness

NYT: -               USAT:   -          PW: 13

The editor in chief of "Prevention" magazine--the country's most authoritative and innovative source for health information--presents a weight-loss plan that's specifically designed to help women over 40 lead a longer, healthier life by getting rid of belly fat.

 

 

 

Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide by David Zinczenko

A: -                   P: Rodale Press            C: Health/Fitness

NYT: -               USAT: 62                      PW: -

Based on the most popular column in both "Men's Health" and "Women's Health" magazines, this work is a comprehensive guide for smart food shopping in the supermarket.

 

 

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

A: Laurie Harper             P: Penguin                    C: History/Politics

NYT: -               USAT: 103                    PW: -

Anyone who despairs of the individualas power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistanas treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schoolsaespecially for girlsathat offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortensonas quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, "Three Cups of Tea" combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.

 

 

Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama

A: Jane Dystel               P: Three Rivers Press         C: Memoir

NYT: -               USAT: 113                    PW: -

In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father -- a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man -- has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey -- first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother's family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father's life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.

 

 

Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan by Suze Orman

A: Amanda Urban                      P: Spiegel & Grau          C: Business/Money Management

NYT: -               USAT: 8            PW: -

2009: The Year You Can't Afford to Make Any Mistakes with Your Money. The credit crunch, the stock market freefall, the staggering toll of home foreclosures and job losses: The economic crisis that struck in 2008 has left no one untouched and everybody reeling. Seemingly overnight, the financial landscape has undergone seismic changes that suddenly have you asking all kinds of questions: Are your savings safe? Should you continue to invest in your retirement account? Should you keep your home if it's worth less than what you owe or should you sell it? How do you pay your bills if you've just been laid off? The nation's go-to expert on financial matters, Suze Orman, believes that 2009 is a critical year for your money. There are safeguards to put in place, actions to take, costly mistakes to avoid, and even opportunities to be had, so that you are protected during the bad times and prepared to prosper when things take a turn for the better. No matter what situation you're in, you will...

 

 

He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt

A: Andrea Barzvi        P: Simon Spotlight Entertainment   C: Self Help/Imporvement

NYT: -               USAT: 61          PW: -

This work--based on a popular episode of "Sex and the City"--educates otherwise smart women on how to tell when a guy just doesn't like them enough, so they can stop wasting time making excuses for a dead-end relationship.

 

 

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

A: Jane Dystel               P: Three Rivers Press                 C: History/Politics

NYT: -               USAT: 88                      PW: -

The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama's call for a new kind of politics--a politics that builds upon those shared understandings that pull us together as Americans. Lucid in his vision of America's place in the world, refreshingly candid about his family life and his time in the Senate, Obama here sets out his political convictions and inspires us to trust in the dogged optimism that has long defined us and that is our best hope going forward.

 

 

Marley & Me by John Grogan

A: Laurie Munroe Abkemeier                   P: Harper                      C: Memoir

NYT: -               USAT: 132                    PW: -

Grogan's #1 "New York Times"-bestselling chronicle of his life with his wildly neurotic Labrador retriever is now a major motion picture from Fox 2000, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, scheduled for theatrical release on Christmas Day.

 

 

What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

A: Ellen Goldsmith         P: Workman Publishing Group    C: Parenting/Education

NYT: -               USAT: 47          PW: -

Announcing a brand-new, cover-to-cover revision of America's pregnancy bible. The perennial "New York Times" bestseller and one of "USA Today's" 25 most influential books is a must-have for parents to be.

 

 

The Calorie King Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter by Allan Borushek

A: -                    P: Family Health Publications     C: Health/Fitness

NYT: -               USAT: 8                        PW: -

Need to lose weight? Have diabetes and need to track carb intake? Want to make healthier-more informed eating choices? Or just want to know what's in that Big Mac or your favorite Starbucks drink? If any of this sounds like you, this book is a must-have!

 

 

Get Motivated! By Tamara Lowe

A: Bonnie Solow P: Doubleday Business            C:  Self Help/Improvement

NYT: -               USAT: 2                        PW: -

Motivated people advance further and faster in their careers, earn more money, are more productive, experience more satisfying relationships and are happier than the less- motivated people around them. But true motivation cannot be faked or forced. In the same way that each person has a different fingerprint and a distinct combination of DNA, every individual is hardwired with a unique motivational matrix. Grounded in eight years of research with more than 10,000 people, this book reveals how to decode your Motivational DNA for maximum achievement. Whether you are an individual seeking to realize your personal goals or a leader looking to motivate your team, Get Motivated! Will show you how to overcome any obstacle, achieve any goal, and accelerate your success. For more than twenty years motivational expert Tamara Lowe has produced the largest business seminars in the world, inspiring peak performance in millions. In GET MOTIVATED! She unveils a new system that shows you: * How to Decode Your Motivational DNA * How to Hire the Motivated and Motivate Those You’ve Hired * Easy Ways to Deal with Difficult People * The Formula for Beating Stress While Meeting Deadlines * How to Raise Positive, Self-Motivated Children * How to Kick Your Team’s Performance—and Your Profits—into High Gear