6 books to catch up with during summer
July 5th, 2012
07:45 AM ET

6 books to catch up with during summer

Looking for a good read this summer? On each episode, the "Fareed Zakaria GPS" show highlights a Book of the Week. Have you missed any? Then catch up on these past five recommendations and tell us what you would recommend in the comments below.

"Land of Promise: An Economic History of the United States." Author Michael Lind, one of the founders of the New America Foundation, gives a revealing history of the American economy, emphasizing the crucial role that the state has played in making America an economic superpower. It will unsettle many of your cherished beliefs.

"Fate of the Species." In elegant, compelling prose, Fred Guterl, who is one of the great science journalists of today, lays out the megachallenges we confront - super viruses, climate change, disappearing species.

"The Dictator's Learning Curve." Author William Dobson clocked up more than 90,000 miles of travel to research the book and he's interviewed activists and government officials to understand modern dictators. It's a smart book and a fun read. Check out more about it in a recent GPS blog post

"Adapt." If you like "Freakonomics" or Malcolm Gladwell, you will like this book from Tim Harford, the British economist and columnist for The Financial Times. The book explains why success often leads to failure. Harford says we all need to learn how to adapt to new business opportunities, to financial downturns, even to climate change. And he uses compelling case studies to prove his point.

"The Wise Men." Walter Isaacson chronicles the six close friends who advised new President Harry Truman in April 1945 and helped shape the United States' future following World War II.

"China Airborne." Journalist James Fallows moved to China for most of the past five years to write this inside look at China's airline industry, but it's much more than that. It's part travel log and part detailed description of China's economic liftoff, and as always with Fallows, it's a good read.

Hungry for more? Here's the archive of all the picks from the course of the show and check out future picks every Sunday on "Fareed Zakaria GPS," airing on 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET on CNN.

What are you reading? Share your picks in the comments below.

Post by:
Topics: Book of the Week

soundoff (62 Responses)
  1. Thiago

    Well, just because Corinthians is a "small club from São Paulo" you may not been noticied they became continental champions last night...unbeaten after 14 matches. Now, please, eat your words!

    July 5, 2012 at 10:14 am | Reply
    • ender

      A single nut that fell under the couch.

      July 5, 2012 at 11:03 am | Reply
  2. GwenHernandez

    People I Wanted To Be: Stories by Gina Oschner

    July 5, 2012 at 12:11 pm | Reply
  3. Night Watchman

    This is an easy one for me, Hybrid Reality by Ayesha and Parag Khanna. Fast paced and persuasive.

    July 5, 2012 at 12:27 pm | Reply
  4. sam

    How To Scowl Even While Smiling – by Fareed Zakaria

    July 5, 2012 at 1:57 pm | Reply
  5. Annette

    Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. I have read and reread this book and it was great every time.

    July 5, 2012 at 2:36 pm | Reply
  6. Solo

    "The Art of War" – still a common sense classic.

    July 5, 2012 at 3:24 pm | Reply
  7. Jonathan DeMille

    Read Fate Of The Species and The Wise Men and both were great. Just picked up The Liquid City by Curtis J Hopfenbeck and thought it was the funniest thriller I've ever read. Saw that it made the Internatioon GQ "5 Best Books" list with Grisham and King so decided to give it a try. Hilarious, ...still cracks me up when I think about it! Best book of 2011, no question!

    July 5, 2012 at 4:18 pm | Reply
  8. nina

    Robert Spencer's new book, “The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion.”

    July 5, 2012 at 10:39 pm | Reply
  9. Kadihji

    Reading the Koran is useful and necessary but it is also necessary to read all the other sources that Robert Spencer has read such as the collections of hadith. It is inescapable however, that the more original Mohammedan sources you read, you arrive at the conclusion that Mohammedanism is spread by violence and the only peace it contains is the peaceful sleep of the dead who resist it.

    July 5, 2012 at 10:54 pm | Reply
  10. Rima

    I have looked very deeping in Islam including reading the Koran and the Hadiths. All I have to say is my reading of it is rather similar to Spencers sorry. I am especially unimpressed by the treatment that Mohammad has planned for pagans and non-Abrahamic religions.

    July 5, 2012 at 10:58 pm | Reply
  11. Jack

    Hello folks. Everyone is always welcome to visit – thestarofkaduri.com

    July 5, 2012 at 11:51 pm | Reply
  12. Abhi

    The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama
    Soft Power by Joseph S. Nye

    July 6, 2012 at 12:16 am | Reply
  13. j. von hettlingen

    One book is a MUST for Americans: Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America", written over 180 years ago as the Frenchman came to visit America. Nevertheless what Tocqueville predicted became reality during the Cold War. America and Russia two superpowers. The power of propaganda and media and the hustle and bustle etc.

    July 7, 2012 at 12:38 pm | Reply
  14. handy randy

    The Storm of War by Andrew Roberts, a new history of WW 2.

    July 7, 2012 at 2:26 pm | Reply
  15. 100% ETHIO

    A History Of The Arab Peoples. by Albert H. Hourani

    July 7, 2012 at 3:36 pm | Reply
  16. krm1007 ©™

    Mantle of the Prophet: IRAN by Roy Mottahedeh

    July 7, 2012 at 3:37 pm | Reply
  17. Suleiman the Magnificent

    Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate by Leila Ahmed Ph.D

    July 7, 2012 at 3:39 pm | Reply
  18. ender

    Over-Stating the Arab State: Politics and Society in the Middle East by Nazih N. Ayubi

    July 7, 2012 at 3:40 pm | Reply
  19. SilentBoy741

    A History of Islamic Societies by Ira M. Lapidus

    July 7, 2012 at 3:41 pm | Reply
  20. The Optimist ©

    Ambiguities of Domination: Politics, Rhetoric, and Symbols in Contemporary Syria by Lisa Wedeen

    July 7, 2012 at 3:41 pm | Reply
  21. Bad Karma Hinduz ®

    Armed Struggle and the Search for State: The Palestinian National Movement, 1949-1993 by Yezid Sayigh

    July 7, 2012 at 3:42 pm | Reply
  22. Patty

    The Society of the Muslim Brothers by Richard P. Mitchell

    July 7, 2012 at 3:43 pm | Reply
  23. ConservativeSuckass

    The Old Social Classes & The Revolutionary Movement In Iraq by Hanna Batatu

    July 7, 2012 at 3:45 pm | Reply
  24. Abul Hashim _ Cox Bazaar_Bangladesh

    Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea

    July 7, 2012 at 9:28 pm | Reply
  25. Paul Martin expat Welsh foreign correspondent

    Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji

    July 7, 2012 at 9:29 pm | Reply
  26. Ram Chakraborthy

    طوبا و معنای شب by شهرنوش پارسی‌پور

    July 7, 2012 at 9:30 pm | Reply
  27. Ram Chakraborthy

    Sweet Dates in Basra: A Novel by Jessica Jiji

    July 7, 2012 at 9:31 pm | Reply
  28. Shashi Chutiah Kumar

    The Sand Fish: A Novel from Dubai by Maha Gargash

    July 7, 2012 at 9:32 pm | Reply
  29. babu_kathmandu_Nepal

    The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

    July 7, 2012 at 9:33 pm | Reply
  30. Cheryl

    In the Kingdom of Men by Kim Barnes

    July 7, 2012 at 9:35 pm | Reply
  31. Feroz - Pakistan

    The Storyteller of Marrakesh by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya

    July 7, 2012 at 9:36 pm | Reply
  32. rediranch

    Huzur by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar

    July 7, 2012 at 9:37 pm | Reply
  33. Sher Dil Afghani

    Memed, My Hawk by Yaşar Kemal

    July 7, 2012 at 9:38 pm | Reply
  34. Ganesh Khan

    Fourth Assassin: An Omar Yussef Mystery by Matt Rees

    July 7, 2012 at 9:39 pm | Reply
  35. yuri pelham

    A Grave in Gaza (An Omar Yussef Mystery) by Matt Rees

    July 7, 2012 at 9:40 pm | Reply
  36. Medieval India ©

    Nadia's Song by Soheir Khashoggi

    July 7, 2012 at 9:41 pm | Reply
  37. Miguel Guittierez

    The Last Jihad by Joel C. Rosenberg

    July 7, 2012 at 9:46 pm | Reply
  38. krm1007 ©™

    أولاد حارتنا by نجيب

    July 7, 2012 at 9:49 pm | Reply
  39. 100 % ETHIO

    A Year with Hafiz: Daily Contemplations by حافظ

    July 7, 2012 at 9:50 pm | Reply
  40. Blah blah the wheel's off your trailer

    I, the Divine: A Novel in First Chapters by Rabih Alameddine

    July 7, 2012 at 9:51 pm | Reply
  41. Patrick-2

    A Stolen Tongue by Sheri Holman

    July 7, 2012 at 9:52 pm | Reply
  42. Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

    Between the Assasinations by Aravind Adiga

    July 7, 2012 at 9:53 pm | Reply
  43. T-Bone Thakur

    The Qu'ran by allah through Muhammad

    July 7, 2012 at 9:54 pm | Reply
  44. db13

    A gift for muslim couple by Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi
    In the book’s opening pages, it is written that “it might be necessary to restrain her with strength or even to threaten her.”

    Later, its author advises that “the husband should treat the wife with kindness and love, even if she tends to be stupid and slow sometimes.”

    Page 45 contains the rights of the husband, which include his wife’s inability to leave “his house without his permission,” and that his wife must “fulfil his desires” and “not allow herself to be untidy ... but should beautify herself for him ... ”

    In terms of physical punishment, the book advises that a husband may scold her, “beat by hand or stick,” withhold money from her or “pull (her) by the ears,” but should “refrain from beating her excessively.”

    July 7, 2012 at 10:15 pm | Reply
  45. Fedman

    How much is enough – Money and the Good Life by Robert & Edward Skidelsky is a very thought provoking read....

    July 8, 2012 at 11:36 am | Reply
  46. Kitty

    A guide to Passive Solar Energy, NEXT michael Crichton, Earth: The Sequal.
    And the PADI diving manual.

    July 9, 2012 at 9:53 am | Reply
  47. Faye

    The Bible

    July 9, 2012 at 11:55 am | Reply
  48. Jim

    If you liked the "Twilight" series, or are a fan of Sci-Fi, you'll really like "Hexcommunicated" by Rafael Chandler! Great summer reading, and will make a great movie!

    July 9, 2012 at 12:55 pm | Reply
  49. Bal

    How to raise an idiot by JAL's mother

    July 9, 2012 at 12:57 pm | Reply
  50. Mike

    Retribution by the British historian Max Hastings, if one is going to read only one book about WWII. Understanding WWII helps one understand why we are where we are today.

    July 9, 2012 at 2:14 pm | Reply
  51. umWHAT

    Why do I feel like the majority of these comments were written by the same intolerant person....?

    July 9, 2012 at 3:06 pm | Reply
  52. Konoth

    Abundance – by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler
    Radical Evolution – Joel Garreau

    July 9, 2012 at 6:51 pm | Reply
  53. Navy Angel13

    Where the Sidewalk Ends- Shel SIlverstein
    Never disappoints – always uplifts
    My personal favorite... Hug o' War

    July 9, 2012 at 6:56 pm | Reply
  54. Elena Candelaria

    I'm currenly reading "An innocent man by john grisham

    July 10, 2012 at 2:47 pm | Reply
  55. Craig Taylor

    The Michael Lind book is so illuminating that you should have him on your show

    July 11, 2012 at 7:17 pm | Reply
  56. LV

    What is the name of the book about neuroscience that was recommended on July, 15th?

    July 15, 2012 at 9:20 pm | Reply
  57. urigol2

    'What's Next for the Startup Nation? A blueprint for sustainable innovation' is a good read on public policy. Although the book focuses on Israel, the overall framework could be applied everywhere. Here is the book's site http://www.startup-nation.com

    August 12, 2012 at 4:26 pm | Reply
  58. moneywhys

    Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins.

    A startling story of corruption and manipulation by corporations mingled with the revolving door from the boardroom to senior government positions and the things done to gather empire. It is more startling that Mr. Perkins would stick his neck out with the information he reveals.

    February 24, 2013 at 5:19 pm | Reply
  59. Night Watchman

    Would you care to estimate the average age of the students at university in Norway?

    July 6, 2012 at 7:43 pm | Reply

Post a comment


 

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.