1946
Loosely based on Louisiana governor Huey Long, hayseed Willie Stark glad-hands his way to the top, betrays his roots, and gets his comeuppance. But there is redemption here too. Jack Burden, Stark's right-hand man, travels the opposite direction, evolving from jaded opportunist to weathered realist (and right out of politics). Through one man's grand destruction and another's solitary rebirth, Warren starkly juxtaposes ambition and motivation with responsibility and consequence. As Burden comes to terms with his role in the greater picture, all are reminded of the parts they play and the masters they serve.
1885
In America's first major novel to focus on a businessman, the understanding of value -- and the many ways it can be defined -- is still strong after 120 years. The story chronicles the arrival on the Boston scene of the title character, a self-made, small-town millionaire without a clue. As he and his family try to make nice with the blue bloods, Lapham begins a personal reawakening that takes him through roiling fortunes, shady dealings, and some good old-fashioned stock and real estate disasters. Climbers take note: Not every rise must be financial.
1941
"Going through life with a conscience is like driving your car with the brakes on." So speaks Sammy Glick. Everyone knows Sammy, and if he doesn't sound familiar, chances are you are him. Schulberg's unscrupulous antihero is timelessly relevant because he's built -- a la Frankenstein -- from universally loathed characteristics. The book follows Glick's cold, calculating, repulsive, and hilarious ascent through newspapers and film. Glick isn't intended as a role model but rather as a foil. He contrasts the noble with the ignoble, the genuine with the deceitful. Nevertheless, his ambition and success could tempt as a how-to. For most, it's a handbook for dealing with the Glick in the office down the hall.
1997
A decoder ring for a modern American society of baseball, bombs, and Sinatra, Underworld identifies and translates the influences that have shaped our political, business, and even social habits. DeLillo projects his vision of tomorrow's brutal capitalism. "Capital burns off the nuance in a culture," he writes. "Not that people want the same things, necessarily, but that they want the same range of choices." Business is ominously realigning our culture. What bad habits are you helping to shape? Better yet, what good ones?
What other books would you recommend? Offer your suggestions, and we'll feature some of the best -- the most novel -- ideas online.
Email
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Buzz Up!
LinkedIn
