Sylvia Nasar's Reading List

"Two biographies of Frances Trollope, Anthony Trollope’s mother; an Elizabeth Gaskell novel; and E. M. Delafield’s “Diary of a Provincial Lady.”"

"“The Widow Barnaby,” by Frances Trollope, a deliciously witty satire about a vulgar, heartless, outrageously flirtatious widow of a village pharmacist who poses as a lady of great fortune."

"And I loved “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand,” by Helen Simonson, about two aging lovers whom children and relatives try to boss around."

"I was particularly inspired by “Nora,” by Brenda Maddox, the biography of James Joyce’s wife."

"and “The Man Who Knew Infinity,” about Ramanujan, the Indian mathematical genius, by Robert Kanigel."

"“Grand Pursuit,” of course."

"Grimms’ fairy tales. My favorite was “The Bremen Town Musicians,” about a dog, cat, donkey and rooster, all over the hill, who learn that they are about to be discarded or worse."

"There are so many great ones, but these are exquisite: “John Maynard Keynes,” by Robert Skidelsky."

"“Bankers and Pashas,” by David Landes."

"“The House of Rothschild,” by Niall Ferguson."

"“Economic Sentiments,” by Emma Rothschild."

"“Poverty and Compassion,” by Gertrude Himmelfarb."

"Christopher Potter, a London editor and writer friend, gave me “Cold Comfort Farm” and “The Diary of a Nobody” the Christmas before last."

"Christopher Potter, a London editor and writer friend, gave me “Cold Comfort Farm” and “The Diary of a Nobody” the Christmas before last."

"“Den of Thieves,” by James B. Stewart;"

"“Globalization: The Irrational Fear That Someone in China Will Take Your Job,” by Bruce Greenwald and Judd Kahn;"

"“An Hour Before Daylight,” by Jimmy Carter;"

"“Economics,” by Paul Krugman and Robin Wells."