READING L.A.

Vince Rojas, investigator, DMV:

“The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” by William L. Shirer (Fawcett).

“Reading Shirer’s account of Germany in the 1930s and ‘40s, I am amazed at how simple it all seemed: There was this evil--the Nazis and Hitler--that had to be defeated. And we did. It makes me proud of America, how as a country we fought those forces.”

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Jennifer Meynard, television associate:

“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,” by Richard Carlson (Hyperion).

“Carlson’s book is right in keeping with my New Year’s resolutions. Who cares if I don’t make my bed every day, if I’m 15 minutes late or if I don’t put the cap on the toothpaste? Family, love and honor are important.”

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Paul Beigle-Bryant, visual effects supervisor:

“Voyage of the Mir-el-lah,” by Lorenzo Ricciardi (Viking).

“This journal sails through a totally hostile world, finding beauty and friendship along the way. ‘The Arabs truly respect a man who can see beyond the horizons,’ Ricardi writes. You can tell that he’s not somebody who worries too much about medical plans or his 401K.”

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Laurie Sowd, museum administrator:

“Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within,” by Natalie Goldberg (Shambhala).

“Need some help getting the creative juices flowing? Whether you want to write a novel or just have more fun with letters to friends, these short, pithy chapters will bring back the joy of writing.”