Goodbye to David Tennant. Hello again to John Simm. Fantastic!

If you don't understand the power of social media (or the power of your customers) read this book. It's the best overview of the changes in influence brought about by the convergence of the Internet and cell phones.

Beautiful writing, often heart-breaking story. One of the best novels of 2009.

One of my favorite books ever! The history of post-independence India through the life of one boy born at the moment of independence. No prior knowledge of Indian history needed to enjoy, however. (In fact, Rushdie playfully inserts deliberate errors into the novel's history (wrong dates, times, etc.) to remind the reader that this is fiction, not history.)

Probably my favorite writer. His stories feature wonderfully crazy/real/human characters grounded in recognizable history. It helps if you know some of the history, but it's not essential.

Start with Midnight's Children or The Moor's Last Sigh if you're interested in Indian history. The Ground Beneath Her Feet is a fun, sprawling rock 'n' roll saga that's very accessible to westerners.

Haroun & the Sea of Stories is a great fable about intolerance and imagination to share with your kids.

I adore Martin Millar's books. They're crazy, but oh so true; hard-edged, but touching; and, very, very funny. This is the place to start if you haven't read him before.

I went to India to see some of the places where this great novel is set. Probably even better than Midnight's Children. Both concern an individual who experiences certain aspects of Indian history up close and personal. The big difference, for me, between MLS and MC is one of tone and judgement. Rushdie seems much more hopeful for India's future in MLS, and that lends the whole novel a feeling of optimism that I felt was sometimes absent in MC.

Both are brilliant and hugely enjoyable reads, however.

One of my favorite kid's books. Was fun as a child, and even more fun now that I can read it to my own kids.

One of the most-imaginative writers ever. His novels swallow you up for weeks and occupy your mind for months/years thereafter.

Most-political movie of the Bush years, and one of the most fun, too. Cut the boring bits from the graphic novel and kept the angry heart of Moore's story.