The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List

I bought this book because of my obsession with lists. I have to say out of all the books about books this one is the most clear. Some of the others try to cloud the books with personal opinions, and nothing about the book itself. However, some of my favorite books did not make the list. I'm sad to say.

This is a great compilation of suggested reading in all different types of genres and subgenres. I haven't disliked a book yet that was recommended. It was a good way to get started in genres I don't typically read, but was interested in. I have Book Lust as well and I found this book better organized and the suggestions more to my taste.

This book is perfect for someone who wants to try a new genre but doesn't know where to start or if someone has read all the bestseller's in a certain area but wants to delve deeper. It is also obvious these authors' have done extensive research in coming up with such a comprehensive list. The table of contents is clear and concise with each chapter on a different subject or genre. From true-crime, historical fiction and humor to romance and horror. Each section has a list of the classics and then recommended reads, and under each recommended book is a brief synopsis. I dove into the romance section. The picks were perfect. French Silk by Sandra Brown. I loved that book, and of course Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught was listed. Actually, if this title had been missing I would not be able to recommend this book. Other authors in the romance genre I hadn't heard of. Examples are Eve Silver and her book Dark Desires and Date Me Baby, One More Time by Stephanie Rowe. Both books are on my must read list now. I also spent tons of time in the horror section. I was glad to see so much more than Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I was pleased that Dead Until Dark by Charlene Harris was included under `More Great Reads'. Harris was one of my favorite new authors I discovered a couple of years back. The only downfall to the book is that it is too short. I would love for the authors to have a book on each genre--one on romance, one on history, etc. I do highly recommend this book. The authors have great taste, especially when I can't really argue much with their recommendations. Who better to give advice than these authors who are all librarians with 75 years of combined experience? I don't think anyone can top their wealth of knowledge on what people read and enjoy.

for today's readers. The book is informative and accurate, despite the spelling error one reviewer mantioned (and because of ONE error she felt it deserved one star????) It's clear the authors know their stuff, did their research, and enjoy their work. I enjoyed it immensely

I love this listing! The authors set out to do an impossible task in choosing just a handful of books as "the ultimates" in a number of categories, including fiction and nonfiction. There's bound to be some controversy over their choices, but in reading this book I've discovered several new authors and it's prompted me to read a bunch of those classics that I'd never quite gotten around to. But more than just a list, the authors give you a lot of behind-the-scenes info and some highly entertaining detail. Any avid reader needs to have this book.