Books I Read in 1997

Books are listed in reverse chronological order

• Fast Times at Ridgemont High: A True Story, by Cameron Crowe. I'm not going to comment on the artistic or educational merits of this book. A number of critical reviews I found on the web question how representative of high school youth this book is. That is unimportant to me. I loved the film based on this book--I've seen it maybe a dozen times. Again, many critics panned the movie. The events seemed believable enough to me, based on my own memories of high school, and I thought the film was packed with both funny and wonderfully poignant moments. Shortly after I first saw the movie I noticed a copy of the book in Waldenbooks, almost bought it, but then said, "Nah, maybe later." But later, when I looked for the book, it wasn't on the shelf anymore, so I forgot about it. Then, for some reason, I decided this year I really wanted to read the book, but found it was out of print. I found two copies for sale on the net--one for $75.00 and one for $150.00. Great, I thought. But with a stroke of luck, I found a copy for sale in an internet auction, bid $15.00 on it, and it was mine. I savored every page.
• Evolution of Human Sexuality, by Donald Symons. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I had not yet read this classic, which inspired more recent writers on the evolution of sex differences such as David Buss. Better late than never, I suppose. The book is wry and insightful, not just about sex, but about science, philosophy, and evolutionary thinking in general. The only complaint I have about the book is that it seems to ramble and repeat itself. My favorite line, offered in response to those who think men got the better end of the double-standard: 'The desire for sexual variety dooms most human males to a lifetime of unfulfilled longing.'[p. 228]

Books DrJ read in 1996

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John A. Johnson