Book lovers always love getting new reading recommendations, and I certainly love reading these books-about-books and "discovering" new authors and books. Despite the fact that I am obviously predisposed to loving this book, Read This Next is FANTASTIC!

Read This Next is organized into the following major sections: Love, Memoir, Family, History, Politics, Humor, Work and Money, War, Religion, and Death. Each section has 12 recommendations as well as several "Read These Too" suggestions, and "Bonus Books." All of these things make Read This Next a wonderful treasure trove of bookish goodness, but the absolute best part of this book are the book group discussion questions. Some of the questions are so hilarious that I have to give you some examples...

From the discussion guide to Camille by Alexandre Dumas, fils:
In most twentieth-century romance novels, the lovers end up together at last, happy and safe. Which is more romantic - a happy ending or one where someone tragically croaks? (As we know, by the end of most twenty-first century romance novels, both lovers are vampires, making this a moot point.)

From the discussion guide to All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot:
All Creatures Great and Small popularized all things veterinary, and inspired many children to go to vet school - although frankly the image of vetting here is not very appealing. It seems to involve a lot of being stepped on by hoofed beasts, standing in freezing stables, and intimate relations with excrement of all sorts. What is it that's so appealing about Herriot's life?

And my personal favorite, from the discussion guide to Read This Next by Sandra Newman and Howard Mittelmark:
In this book, Barrington Hewcott has said he sought to create an allegorical system in which "books" represent the Reagan administration, "authors" are the Soviet Union, and the color red is former attorney general Edwin Meese. Do you think readers even notice complicated allegories like these? If they don't, do the allegories still work away in their unconscious, influencing their beliefs and feelings? Also, by reading this book, can you tell whether Hewcott is a Communist? Do you think he may subliminally have turned you into a Communist? Go to the mirror. Can you see the first signs of Communism forming on your skin? Any beadiness in the eyes, or weakness in the chin? If you see these telltale signs, turn yourself in to the authorities immediately.

If that's not enough to make you pick up this book nothing will Mr./Mrs. Stoneface, and I request that you humorless turkeys stop reading this review at once!