BUT AUDIOBOOKS DON'T USE MY COOKIE MONSTER BOOKMARK

I've been listening to audiobooks during my daily chores and commute. I'm catching up on reading for pleasure - which I never ever did until I discovered audible.com a year ago.

I always feel frustrated and bored by paper books - I never 'get into' these books, and quickly give them up after only a few chapters. With audiobooks, I can multitask - get groceries, bike to work, do laundry, even sit in the hot tub - while listening at the same time! Finally I feel welcome in the literary world, and it's great*.

There is caveat - many niche titles aren't availabe in audio. But the popular and new release books are in audio, which is what I'd probably be reading anyway.

AWESOME BOOKS! Confessions of an Economic Hitman, by John Perkins: Explains the evils of US imperialism without conspiracy theories. Exciting like fiction, but it's depressingly real.

DECENT BOOKS! Echo Park, by Michael Connelly: Detective stories are easy to get right. The Afghan, by Frederick Forsyth: A fictional followup to September 11th is naturally exciting. The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan: Why corn is bad, organic isn't good, and vegetarians are naive. Crisis, by Robin Cook: Doctor drama - like House or Greys Anatomy, in book form.

CRAPPY BOOKS! Hegemony or Survival by Noam Chomsky: really boring political arguments reads like a thesis.

If you're looking for a unique stocking-stuffer, get them Freakonomics on audio format from either audible.com or iTunes. Audible is cheaper than iTunes, but it is billed monthly so you have to remember to cancel.