READING L.A.

Victoria Steele, librarian:

“Dark Side of Fortune” by Margaret Leslie Davis (University of California Press).

“Drawing on original sources, many studied for the first time, Davis tells the story of Edward L. Doheny, patriarch of the important Los Angeles family, both compellingly and fairly.”

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Amy P. Hendel, nutritionist-personal trainer:

“Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers” by Michael Riera (Celestial Arts).

“This book has become a reference guide for me when dealing with teenagers. My communication with teens on issues of fitness and nutrition has immeasurably improved, thanks to Riera’s intuitive advice.”

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Max Henstell, student:

“Ride the Airwaves with Alpha and Zulu” by John Abbott (Abtronix).

“This is a comic-like book made to teach you how to become a technician-class ham radio operator. It uses comic characters shaped like ‘dits and dahs’ to teach you the answers to the novice- and technician-class test.”

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Tom Hayden, state senator:

“The Pedagogy of Freedom: Ethics, Democracy and Civic Courage” by Paolo Freire (Rowman & Littlefield).

“I think Paolo Freire is the deepest education reformer of our time. He spent his life as a teacher of the poor and believes you can’t just transmit information; you have to awaken curiosity. I very much admire him.”