Lost on Planet China: One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation
by: J. Maarten Troost

While Mr. Troost is certainly a talented writer and an amusing personality he fails miserably in his attempt to "understand the world's most mystifying nation." Perhaps if he had tried to get to know some Chinese people rather than just wandering around and complaining about the polluted air he might have come closer. In fact if you took out all of the references to the air in China this book would have been reduced to a rather shortish magazine article. Troost covered a lot of ground in China - Beijing to Hong Kong to Tibet and beyond but I cannot find where he records a single instance of a more than cursory encounter with a Chinese person. The Chinese are what's incredible about China. This book would have been infinitely more informative and entertaining if he had slowed down a little and gotten to know them a little better. 

Obama's BlackBerry
by: Kasper Hauser

As a short, coffee-table style book, this comic take on Obama's communication was hilarious in a lot of politically savvy sort of ways. If you didn't know who some of the characters were in the book, you wouldn't understand completely why they were so funny, but it still could make you giggle. Not that I completely understood who all of the people were, but I laughed at some references, such as to Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh. I also laughed really hard at a forward from Sarah Palin to the president, along with a funny email communication about a Tickle Me Elmo. They are obviously satirizing many situations and people in our current political climate, and I found it to be really light, easy, and fun to read! 

Watchmen
by: Alan Moore

One of greatest character narratives in existence. Proves the true quality of Alan Moore's works at the height of his career. It is a true deconstruction of the superhero genre, with imagery and a gripping story to suck you in as soon as Rorschach says his first few words. Also the art by Dave Gibbons is phenomenal in it's realism and classic style. All the characters are well flushed out and the environment and situation is clear to the reader in this great example of comic book genius...

Beginning iPhone Development: Exploring the iPhone SDK
by: Dave Mark, Jeff LaMarche

If you've never developed for a Mac before and want a good primer to getting to know your iPod/iPhone, this would be a good book for you. While it doesn't go in-depth on many features, it does make a great starting point for learning.