What have business executives been reading lately? It runs the gamut, truly. Some read only work-related periodicals and books. Others work in time for reading only nonfictions. Others read fiction voraciously as a way of relaxing and getting away from the grind for a short time each day.

Here’s a sampling of books recommended by business executives in 2006. Nature Noir by Jordan Fisher Smith. This is the first book by Smith, who is a former park ranger. The protagonist is in what seems to be an impossible situation with a group of misfits. Part of what makes the book a stand out is how Smith works in all kinds of interesting tidbits having to do with politics, history, social justice and geography. The New York Times recommends this as one of the best books of 2005.

Here’s an odd pick: The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by Maarten Troost. This is a work of nonfiction, and it chronicles the lives of two Americans who drop out of corporate America and land in a South Pacific republic called Kiribati. I bet most of us have never even heard of Kiribati before. They deal with intimidating critters, large and small, intense heat, deadly bacteria and a host of other obstacles we don’t experience day-to-day in America.

If you plan on visiting Northern California anytime in the near future, one business executive recommends reading Best Places to Kiss in Northern California by Linnea Lundgren. Locations in the book are rated by number of lips instead of the familiar star rating system. It includes B&Bs, scenic drives, hotels, parks and more.

Need a little help managing your money? The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason is recommended by more than one business executive. It’s in the form of an ancient parable, but the business practices it recommends area highly applicable to today’s conditions. If you really want go into more depth and begin to understand what your financial advisor is doing, The Art of Investing and Portfolio Management: A Proven Six-Step Process to Meet Your Financial Goals by Cordes O’Toole and Steiny is a good place to start.

On the other hand, if you just want to enjoy a well written book, try reading The Fortress of Solitude or anything else by Jonathan Lethem. Some business executives will pick an author and read all of his or her works, starting with classics like Shakespeare and moving all the way up to James Patterson for lighter thrills.

As you can see, executive reading habits are quite diverse, reflecting the individuality of people in all walks of life.

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