2. Stones Into Schools by Greg Mortenson. This man exemplifies the face America should show to the world. He continues his quest to bring schools to some of the poorest, most dangerous, and remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Schools that respect culture and include educating girls. Local tribes are involved in planning and operation of the schools, so they know it is their school and feel invested in its success. Mortenson doesn’t come in and tell people what they need, he listens and responds to help achieve the goal of educating the children,. You go Greg!

4. Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. Hopeful of better lives, Blacks left the Jim Crow ruled south in droves. They desired fair treatment and a chance to build a future, desires that were not necessarily realized. Wilkerson choses 3 people to illustrate is the story of this great migration.

6. The Big Short by Michael Lewis. A guy who knows the lingo takes on the bad boys of Wall St explaining the recent financial implosion in terms we can understand, Lewis spent time as an investment banker at Soloman Brothers before turning to writing. He knows where the bodies lie in this liar’s game. Lewis shows how Wall St. took Main St. to the cleaners.

8. 13 Bankers by Simon Johnson and James Kwak. The financial stability of the USA was brought to its knees because 13 Bankers had grown Too Big To Fail. Is it really wise to allow the financial power to be consolidated in so few banks? Has deregulation brought us to edge of ruin? And what is with these very culprits who caused a financial meltdown using bailout money to take over vulnerable smaller banks? Maybe big is not always best.

10. Hellhound On His Trail by Hampton Sides. Martin Luther King inspired a generation, he made a dream possible. James Earl Ray was a hate filled nutcase whose contribution to history is killing King, a charismatic leader with a bold vision of a better future. Sides writes an engrossing account of the intersection of these two men.