By: Jesse

The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century by Edward Dolnick

I never thought I would like a book about art forgery….but this book is just so good.  This non-fiction instant classic takes place mainly between the years 1938 to 1945 in war-torn Europe, which is a fascinating time period in its own right. One of the themes of the book is why is art beautiful and valuable, and does that change when it’s a fake or forged. This book opened my eyes to the beauty of art, and the beauty to appreciate what is beautiful to me.

Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl

I first read this book a couple of years ago and was instantly captivated.  The Kon-Tiki tells the true-life story of six people who basically tied some logs together and floated from Peru to the Polynesians islands in 1947.

Thor set out to discover if people from South America could have settled Polynesia in pre-Columbian times. That topic still remains debatable. However, the journey of six people united together for three months on a 30-foot X 15-foot raft drifting in the vast ocean is unforgettable. 

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey 

I will admit that I might be slightly biased after living in the American Southwest for four years, but this book is one of my all-time favorites.  Desert Solitaire was published in 1968, after Edward Abbey worked for a couple of seasons as a ranger in Arches National Park, outside of Moab, Utah.  Edward Abbey paints the desert images so perfectly in one’s mind, even aside from his political rants, which become quite comical.  Anyone who has spent any time in southern Utah and/or northern Arizona and hasn’t read this book is truly missing out on quite possibly their new favorite book. 

The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914: by David Mccullough 

I like all of David Mccullough’s books, but this is my favorite.  This book tells the absolute riveting true-story of the building of the Panama Canal.  The Path Between the Seas is such an epic struggle of engineering and human accomplishment that it brought me to tears.  Even though this book is 698 pages long, I was saddened when it ended and have thought about this book ever since.  

I’m always looking for great book suggestions. Please let me know about your favorite book.