READING L.A.

Amelia Sedano, law student:

“The Harlot by the Side of the Road” by Jonathan Kirsch (Ballantine).

“Kirsch engagingly retells several of the Bible’s more provocative stories, luring the reader into the ancient characters and drama. The discussions following each chapter are relevant to the modern social and political fire fueled by the Bible.”

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Bob Loza, graphic designer:

“In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash” by Jean Shepherd (Doubleday).

“Shepherd has a unique sense of humor. He tells the story about what it’s like to grow up in America from a kid’s point of view, and it makes me think about Tonka toys and Ding Dongs. He does it really well.”

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Gail Gillman, TV marketing executive:

“Ben & Jerry’s: The Inside Scoop” by Fred “Chico” Lager (Crown).

“Whether you like their ice cream or not, you can’t help but be fascinated by Ben & Jerry’s ‘homemade’ marketing style and almost accidental climb to the top of their industry.”

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Rick Tuttle, Los Angeles city controller:

“Walking With the Wind” by John Lewis (Simon and Schuster).

“I stayed up all night reading this book. What comes through is the great decency of this man, who was arrested 35 or 40 times for civil rights violations and helped end segregation in this country.”