READING L.A.

Roy Ulrich, lawyer, consumer advocate:

“The Culture of Fear”by Barry Glassner (BasicBooks).

“As a media junkie, I particularly enjoyed reading how local television news makes us afraid of the wrong things, like mutant viruses. What’s worrisome about this is that we end up neglecting the real problems facing our nation.”

John Menkes, neurologist, writer:

“The Idiot” by Feodor Dostoevsky (New American Library).

“This remarkable novel contrasts the self-destructive shortcomings of Western materialism with the goodwill and compassion of the ‘idiot’ of the title. Dostoevsky’s descriptions of epileptic attacks are unparalleled in literature.”

Patricia Rust, writer:

“Looking for Love in Later Life” by Monica B. Morris (Avery Publishing).

“This wonderful resource offers bushels of encouragement and solid nuts-and-bolts advice to singles of any age who think, ‘There’s no one and nothing out there for me! “

Stefanie Grutman, teacher:

“Evening News” by Marly A. Swick (Little, Brown).

“A little boy kills his little sister after playing with a gun. This story is more about the aftermath of that accident and how people deal with tragedy, how they survive crisis. Their responses give me strength.”