1989 Christmas List, http://www.rasmusen.org/_amazon/xmas89.htm

• 1. The microcassette recorder. GE or Panasonic. I bought two, one for my car, one for my jacket.
• 2. David Brin, The Postman , $11.60 . The first steps in rebuilding America after the Bomb. Arguably better than Startide Rising, which made my list last year.
• 3. Movie: Lawrence of Arabia , $26.99 . Whether in the new print or the old. After seeing it, visit the sand dunes in Death Valley at night.
• 4. The Statistical Abstract of the United States , $29.95 . A good way to make your conversation more interesting. Did you know that the membership of the average church rose from 359 in 1960 to 413 in 1985? See also the
• 5. William Manchester, The Last Lion: Alone, 1932-40 , $6.80. The second volume of his Churchill biography. The first is good too, as is his Macarthur biography.
• 6. Mike Royko, Dr. Kookie, You're Right! . His latest collection of columns. Dumb politics and smart satire, as usual.
• 7. H.L. Mencken Happy Days , $12.76 . Essays about growing up in Baltimore. Funny, and good social history.
• 8. Jack Vance, Showboat World. A 1975 science fiction novel, up to Vance's usual high standard.
• 9. P.J. O'Rourke, Holidays in Hell . His best book by far. Hilarious chapters on Korea, Lebanon, South Africa, and Europe by a reactionary chauvinist party animal. 10. Eric Rasmusen, Games and Information . No home should be without a copy.