Sue Webb says this is a sensitive memoir of adolescence and a lesson about what makes a meaningful life: PACKINGHOUSE DAUGHTER by Cheri Register. It's put out by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.

Herb Kaye has another recommendation: THE WORKING CLASS MAJORITY: AMERICA'S BEST KEPT SECRET by Michael Zweig. Herb says this book should be studied by anyone working for radical change to a more just society.

And Howard Feinstein says these are two good books for activists: COLD WAR CULTURE: MEDIA AND THE ARTS 1945-1990 by Richard A. Schwartz and THE POLITICAL WORK OF NORTHERN WOMEN WRITERS AND THE CIVIL WAR, 1850-1872 by Lyde Cullen Sizer.

Scotty says I should read UNFAIR ADVANTAGE: WORKERS' FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION put out by Human Rights Watch.

And someone (who?) else suggested THE BUSINESS OF BOOKS: HOW THE INTERNATIONAL CONGLOMERATES TOOK OVER PUBLISHING AND CHANGED THE WAY WE READ by Andre Schiffrin, but I think I already know all this.

John and Terri suggested I look at some economics books and other stuff put out by United for a Fair Economy (UFE). I think the one TEACHING ECONOMICS AS IF PEOPLE MATTERED looks good for starters. And I want some stickers too.

Last fall I intended to get a copy of the SALVADOR ALLENDE READER from Ocean Press after reading a rave review in People's Weekly World. My Spanish isn't too good and many of the documents in this book are now in English translation for the first time.

Karen Moy suggested PRISON WRITINGS: MY LIFE IS MY SUNDANCE by Leonard Peltier. Her great-great-grandfather was one of the signer's of the treaty of 1868.

Herb Kaye, a voracious reader, highly recommends STEELWORKER ALLEY: HOW CLASS WORKS IN YOUNGSTOWN by Robert Bruno. It's a university press title, so it costs too much. But it's an important book, so I will have to come up with the $$$

Eric Green says anyone who considers herself a historian of the 20th century and its wars should read the novels of Sebastian Faulks: BIRDSONG, GIRL AT THE LION D'OR, and CHARLOTTE GRAY. So I 'd better get started!

Then I just saw that Gerald Horne had an autographing party at Midnight Special Books in Santa Monica for his latest book which is about Hollywood.

So many books...so little time.