READING L.A.

Sam Mayerson, retired judge:

“Letters of a Nation,” Edited by Andrew Carroll (Kodansha).

“This is truly an extraordinary collection of letter writers, of high and low station, who give their personal perspective to various historical events. Their feelings are beautifully expressed--something one rarely reads in a fax or e-mail.”

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Katharine Kramer, singer:

“Bowie: Loving the Alien” by Christopher Sandford (Da Capo).

“From Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke, Bowie is an enigma. Sandford delves into his personal life, his eccentric family and his rise to superstardom, offering a fascinating look at the glam rock icon.”

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Michael Sonnenschein, television writer:

“The Napoleon of Crime” by Ben MacIntyre (Delta).

“I’ve never read a funnier or more colorful biography. Full of hilarious anecdotes, eccentric characters and improbable detail, this book portrays the late 19th century as being much more fun than I had imagined.”

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Bill Van Buskirk, realtor:

“Consilience” by Edward O. Wilson (Alfred A. Knopf).

“For the innately curious, this book will provide a new way of thinking about science and religion. Wilson’s command of science and his Southern Baptist background bring forth an interesting point of view.”