1. James Lee Burke — A Stained White Radiance
   Burke's detective Dave Robicheaux is one of the strongest and most complex in modern crime fiction. First editions of Burke's early work are now extremely collectible with prices in the multiple thousands.
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2. T. Jefferson Parker — Summer of Fear
   An uneven writer with no one detective or investigator. He writes out of Laguna Beach and his novels have a good sense of the Southern California beach communities. Stricker said of Parker "Here is an author who knows America's voice, and more than a little of its truth."
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3. James Sallis — Bluebottle
   Literate, original and sometimes surrealistic James Sallis is a jazz artist with words. He has been compared with Poe, Raymond Chandler and Dostoyevsky but is always unmistakably Sallis. Like James Lee Burke his works are based in Louisiana.
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1. Tom Wolfe — Bonfire of the Vanities
   Fine book, awful film. For my money this was Tom Wolfe's masterpiece.
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2. John Irving — The World According to Garp
   One of the many creative and delightful books from the fertile mind of John Irving. An acceptable movie version is available.
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3. Lovis de Bernieres — Captain Corelli's Mandolin
   One of Nancy's favorites which seems to be able to say so much. Without offering easy answers, it poses fascinating questions about love and suspicion, trust and betrayal, faith and despair, creativity and destruction. While staying on Ithica last summer we looked across at Kephallonia which is the setting for this brilliant book. It takes a while to get into the book, but persevere, it's worth it. Soon to be a movie.
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Der Gruss
by Quint Buchholz

1. Larry Dossey, MD — Re–Inventing Medicine
   Exciting and challenging ideas that expand current mind/body medicine research and practices. The power of spirit as a healing force towards wholeness, whatever the circumstances, is described persuasively. This is a book that encourages us to live as if we really matter. Which, of course, is a powerful truth.
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2. The Dalai Lama — The Art of Happiness
   Gentle guidance that puts the experience of happiness (vs the pursuit of happiness), right where it belongs, within our grasp. The Dalai Lama comes across as real, compassionate and very funny. For him, happiness happens in the moment we practice living kindness, starting with our sweet struggling selves. (See Visions of Wellness for more on the Dalai Lama.)
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3. Jean Shinoda Bolen — Close to the Bone
   This is beautifully written Jungian perspective on the meaning and purpose to be found in a medical crisis and the potential for healing when we accept vs. resist what shows up on our path. Paradoxically, what feels life–threatening can be life–saving as it challenges and engages all of who we are and hope to become.
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1. Ornstein and Sorbel — Healthy Pleasures
   A wonderful positive perspective on wellness in which the authors explore how to enhance our lives by enriching them. Pleasure has a powerful role to play in our health. Well researched and well written.
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2. Dean Ornish — Love and Survival
   As a cardiologist Ornish makes a compelling case for the importance of love in our lives. As it notes on the book jacket there's "a scientific basis for the healing power of intimacy."
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3. John Robbins — Reclaiming Our Health
   I'm fascinated by John Robbins, who abandoned the Baskin–Robbins (see jokes in Laughter article) fortune to come and live in the Gulf islands near Victoria. His first book "Diet for a New America" was challenging and prescient. "Reclaiming Our Health" will make you think and question many of the medical "truths" you have been raised on.
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