Bulfinch's Mythology By: Thomas Bulfinch This is the definitive reference of mythology and includes execlent literary cross-references. In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great : A Journey from Greece to Asia Michael Wood Michael Wood has created an exciting work following the paths, trails, and trading routes used by Alexander and his army.  With this book, you get a real sense of what his travels through Persia and India must have been like. The Nature of Alexander Mary Renault Unlike other authors and historians who have covered Alexander, Mary Renault has shown the human side of one of history's greatest generals and leaders.  There is only a bare account of the battles he fought, replaced with detailed accouts of his dealing with the Persians, his generals, and his lovers. Empire Gore Vidal If you have not figured it out yet, Gore Vidal is one of my favorite authors.  His command of history (even in his fiction) is overpowering.  Empire was the first of his great novels I had the pleasure of reading and it piqued my interest in American history. The City and the Pillar Gore Vidal One of the first novels (the third, actually) writen by Gore Vidal, The City and the Pillar was one of the first literary attempts to depict homosexuality in a positive light.  Vidal devistated his political future, and for a time, his literary future with this novel.  It certainly motivated me. Palimpsest : A Memoir Gore Vidal Yes, another Vidal title.  This is the last though.  Realizing his biography was to be writen, Vidal decided to set down his memories first.  The shere number of important and influential people Vidal was associated with is mind boggling.  But even more interesting and moving for me was his description of life as a gay man in the thirties and forties.  This is a MUST READ! The Best Little Boy in the World Andrew Tobias as John Reid This is first book I every read regarding being gay and dealing with life.  I read it when I was 15, despertly trying to find out what was going on.  Of all of the books on my list, this book is, perhaps, the only one that I can say saved my life.  Years later (I re-read it frequently) I was suprised to find that John Reid was actually Andrew Tobias.  I, being an economist, found this to be even more enlightning. The Temple Stephen Spendeer Another early read for me was The Temple by Stephen Spender.  Again, around 15, I read the book, and for me it was an awakening.  I was living in London at the time and much of Spenders life, as recounted in the book, paralled mine. Maurice E.M. Forster This book did not move me as much as the previous two books, in part, I believe because the plot is so distant from my own life.  Nevertheless, E.M. Forster, like his contempories Stephen Spender, Christopher Isherwood, and Gore Vidal, was enchanting to me.  I spent quite a bit of time during my 13 years in England visiting the spots these authors haunted during the first part of the 20th century. The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time, Book 1) Robert Jordan Okay, so this is a little out of character for me.  But, I was really impressed by the sense of destiny Jordan imparts in his books.  His characters are full of life.  By the time you have digested the first few volumes you can predict the actions of the characters simply because you know them so well.  Though Jordan may not receive literary accolades, I still believe he is a master of character development.  I recommend the entire Wheel of Time collection. Split Image : The Life of Anthony Perkins Charles Winecoff I have followed Tony Perkins' life and filmography since my teens and have always been facinated by how his on-screen life has paralled his real life.  He was truely a remarkable person, and like so many other gay men of that era, his life was twisted together with many of the other persons listed on this page. (Gore Vidal, Andrew Tonias, and others) A Brief History of Time Stephen Hawking Surely, everyone has read this book.  If you know nothing about physics or cosmology, or if you know quite a bit about both, this is a must read book.  It expanded my understanding of everything around me, including myself. About Time : Einstein's Unfinished Revolution P. C. W. Davies I have to admit, this book is a little over my head, but just this bits I got from it were wonderful.  I think very few (even well educated) people understand the basics behind the theories that revolutionized the way our society thinks.  Even the mathamatically-challenged will enjoy this book. 1984 George Orwell Everyone has read this book.  Everyone should read it again! Brave New World Aldous Huxley Again, everyone has read this book.  But you just can not read it enough. The Lost Language of Cranes David Leavitt Leavitt is such a good writer, it is hard find the correct words to describe his work.  This is one of the few occasions where I saw the film before reading the book.  (Psycho was the other.)  And the book was not as good as the film.  (Same with Psycho.) This should be no reflection on the book, though.  The story in the film, at the time I saw it, was so close to my own life that it somewhat scared me.  The book, on the other hand was set in New York (rather than London) and the characters were quite different.  Nevertheless, the book turned me on to David Leavitt and his work, and for that, I am thankful.  He has continued to produce sharp, direct literature that keeps me excited and hungry for more.  He and Bret Easton Ellis are two of the best modern writers I have come across.

The Influential Books I Have Read This page lists those books that I have found to be most influential in my life.  Of course, all books that I have read are influential, but some are simply more so.  this is a fairly eclectic list, so I am sure many will find some of the books boring or disinteresting.  Nevertheless, here they are. By the way, they are in no particular order. Mark James

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