终于看完了中华民国总统大选首场辩论，我哭了。
谁说支那人只配当奴隶？谁说国人不配有民主？这是中华民族的荣耀时刻，一雪五千年专制之耻。
我希望看到未来的中国，对内民主，对外强大，人民自由，社会公义，权力受到约束，法治得以实行。国人成为自己的拯救者与解放者，不会再有人在公共场所吸烟。
台湾大选，不但给我们展示了美好中国的DEMO版，还为我们展示了什么是美好的国语。例如，竞选人频频用“升斗小民”，这比“老百姓”这类土鳖词汇不知温文尔雅了多少倍。不但中华民国在台湾，中华文化也在台湾。如果把台湾政治语汇同大陆的政治语言做一个比较，那简直就是拿哈姆雷特父亲跟哈姆雷特的叔叔做比较。
终于看完了中华民国总统大选首场辩论，我哭了。
谁说支那人只配当奴隶？谁说国人不配有民主？这是中华民族的荣耀时刻，一雪五千年专制之耻。
我希望看到未来的中国，对内民主，对外强大，人民自由，社会公义，权力受到约束，法治得以实行。国人成为自己的拯救者与解放者，不会再有人在公共场所吸烟。
1、
梦里不知为什么就跟一个兄弟跑了路，反正是逃命，一个说去平原，一个要去高山，后来统一了意见，深山老林里才最安全。二话不说，钻进了林子，梦里反正有的是力气，一路狂奔。路过一户人家，兄弟说要不要绕路，我说那样更容易被怀疑，我们就从院子里径直通过。侧目一看，屋子里全是闲人，看到我们就跑出来围观，我俩一想坏了，也不管会不会被怀疑，赶紧狂奔。没人追赶，我一看手里拿着的是一本写我俩逃命的非虚构著作，一共839页，我们现在已经跑到了200多页。在山上遇到一个猎人，我们缴了他的械，手里多了一支猎枪。继续前行，也不辨方向。这荒山野岭的，连个用iPhone的都没有，要使能查一下google地图就好了。不过我俩有言在先，一绝不单独接受媾和，二不钻山洞。因为有很多英雄好汉都是被逼进山洞里被火焰喷射器烧成了烤鹌鹑。跑着跑着我就落了单，这时有个体力超好的山民向我跑来，我拼命逃，但是怎么也跑不快，眼看要被抓住，我喊我兄弟快点开枪。枪声响了，那山民直直倒地，我们兄弟俩面面相觑，都知道这下踏上的是一条不归路。再一看手中的书，已经到了600多页。这样不是办法，要继续跑，要跑一辈子。最后我躺在石头上，手里拿着一本《曹操传》，我说，兄弟，你一个人跑吧，我实在跑不动了，但我又不想被他们抓住，看在兄弟一场的份上，你给我一枪。
2、
梦里我是一个战士，被派去一个恶魔岛，去抓一个变态杀人狂。以下是我俩的对话：
–杀人，不稀奇。专杀女人，也不稀奇。甚至，杀了女人分尸，也不算稀奇。我不明白的是，你为什么要把她们都做成红烧鸡块。
–因为红烧鸡块是一道鲁菜，代表儒家文化，我这样做，是对孔孟之道的抗议。
醒来我发誓一年不吃红烧的东西。
3、
梦里到了岭南的一个孤岛上，好像是参加集体培训，车到培训基地已经很晚了，小卖部都关门了，我说饿了，要出去买点东西吃。于是打了一辆黑车，左绕右绕来到一个荒凉的地方，出租司机收了我的钱，让我下车，然后瞬间就开跑了。我知道上当，决定自己走回驻地。路上遇到一个本地人，好像还是一个和蔼的姑娘，说我给你带路吧，走到一半姑娘突然对着四周的草丛喊：快，大家上。我一看扑过来一群恶汉。我手里拿着一把钢丝弯成的手枪，为了自卫，向领头的开了枪。结果不但没有吓退村民，相反他们前仆后继地冲了过来。然后我就吓醒了，手里还紧紧握着的是自己的眼镜腿。
4、
刚做了一个梦，补充进来。在一片群山环绕的地方发生了突发新闻，200多名博客前去采访，大家翻山越岭，爬过陡坡，好不容易到了那里。这时候，听见天上螺旋桨轰鸣，只见新华社的直升机拍马杀到，新华社记者武装到牙齿，牛得不行，为了向我们示威，他不在直升机里坐着，而是站在起落架上，手把着直升机的门，就像越战电影里的美国兵一样，但是他忘了，人家美国大兵这样做，是因为直升机低空飞行，你可是在千米高空。我们都抬头看他，只见直升机一个侧飞，新华社记者从飞机上掉了下来……我笑醒了。
一、冯象的雄心
当代中国读书人中，冯象是雄心最大的一个。他多年来一面从事法律研究，赚钱养家，一面重译圣经。目前已经出版了《摩西五经》、《智慧书》、《新约全书》，大约完成了《新旧约全书》体量的54%（我根据手头的KJV版本测算，全书正文1716页，他翻完的有926页）。
说起译经之目的，冯象说：
「译经历来是件大事，因为译者（或其委任者支助者）多抱有远大的理想：为传教，为拯救灵魂，为宗教改革，为结束教派冲突、赢得政治安定和国王陛下的荣誉等等。我的想法却是纯学术的和文学的，就是看到中文旧译舛误太多，无文学地位，希望改变这不理想的状况。」
二、冯象的宏愿恐难以实现
古往今来，各家宗教的译经历史清楚地表明：光凭一个人的力量，固然可以给宗教经典增加新的译本变种，但无法翻译出权威、神圣、雅正、流传的译本。
就拿佛经的翻译来说，从东汉到北宋，900多年的时间，都采取“译场”的形式，多人通力合作，严格分工完成。并且一人主翻，多人辩论，沸反盈天，盛况空前。鸠摩罗什在关中做主译的时候，有徒众3000人在场。这才确保了佛经翻译的质量。（钱歌川《翻译的基本知识》）
冯象自己倍加推崇的King James Version圣经，也是有近50名宗教界人士，历经7年，集体翻译出来了的。这期间，他们中有争吵，有竞合，有淘汰。（God’s Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible）。
如果要翻出取代目前中文“和合本”和”思高本”的《圣经》，必须举华人中宗教与文学精英之力，集体协作才有可能完成，这大概要等到教会在中国真正独立和复兴之后，才有实施的希望吧。
不过这不妨碍把冯译圣经当成一部文学译品来欣赏和学习。以下以冯象翻译的《出埃及记》为例，来看看冯译圣经在语言上的得失。
三、《出埃及记》冯象译本的整体评价
整体来看，冯象译经有绝妙天成之处，也有晦涩雕琢的痕迹，更有方言土语的混入，所以， 距离他说的改变汉语圣经文学地位的目标，还有很远的路，还要在荒野中穿行很多年。
四、先说冯象译文的小问题
1、滥用中国白话小说里的套话，弱化了《圣经》文本的史诗性。
冯向喜欢把白话小说里的语汇和话头移植到《圣经》里，结果给人造成不伦不类的感觉。
例如：「却说利未家有个男子娶了本家姑娘为妻。」（2:1）
“却说”是话本讲故事的起头方式，俗称“话头”。按照浦安迪《中国叙事学》里的观点，中国白话小说跟西方的史诗完全是两种东西，中国没有史诗的概念，随意把中国旧小说的文风引入圣经翻译，将史诗降格为说书，是很不妥当的。
2、北京方言的随意使用，弱化了文本的庄严。
「就骂他们说：愿耶和华明察，惩罚你们！多亏你们，法老和官家把我们恨得什么似的，等于把杀我们的刀，交到他们手里了！」（5：21）
“恨得什么似的”是北京土语，放到这里感觉十分不伦不类。
「你们说他的怨言，他都听到了！怨我们干吗？」（16：8）
“干吗”一词也太口语了，还不如翻译成“做啥子”，埃及在西面，相当于中国的四川，说川话也说得过去。
「听罢摩西汇报，耶和华又说……」（19：9）
“汇报”都出来了，汉语不至于这么贫乏吧？
3、译词生僻，不便流传。
「我就绝不会把惩罚埃及人的疠疾」（15：26）“疠疾”这个词太冷僻了。
「耶和华道：我会显露全善。」(33:19) “全善”这个词不晓畅。
4、有些词语还欠锤炼。
「可是，以色列人受了虐待，反而越生越多。埃及人害怕了，手段更加残暴，逼迫以色列人和泥打砖、开荒种地，重活苦活通通压在他们身上–生活苦不堪言。」（1:12-14）
这里，为了词法参差，苦活似乎翻译成「累活」比较好，因下文还有一个苦字。
5、译文啰嗦
「不可用母山羊的奶。」（23：19）
冯老师，请问公山羊也产奶吗？
6、标点符号的用法还需斟酌。
「最后，法老通令全国：凡希伯来人新生男婴，一律扔进大河; 只准留下女婴！」（1:22）
标点符号滥用，分号、省略号的用法都很奇怪。
五、冯象译文的优点
1、语言恢弘、气势磅礴
冯象老师对汉语的掌控能力确实强大，关键处的译文气势宏大，力压和合本。
摩西过红海（14:21-29）
摩西举起手杖，向海上一指，耶和华便降下一股奇大的东风；一夜间惊涛退却，让出一条干路。以色列子民便踏着干路穿行海中，海水夹道，犹如两堵高墙。埃及人发现了，急急赶来，法老的车骑一队队冲到海底。末更破晓，耶和华升起一柱火云俯视战场，埃及军顿时大乱；兵车轮子都陷在泥泞里，进退不得，一个个惊恐万状。完了，逃命吧，是耶和华在帮以色列打我们！
耶和华命令摩西：你向海上再指一次，让波涛合拢，淹没埃及人和他们的兵车战马！摩西举手向海上一指：天亮了，壁立的海水突然踏下，埃及人争相逃命，哪里来得及！就这样，耶和华淹没了埃及大军。巨浪底下，卷走了法老的兵车战马，所有下海追击以色列的将士，无一生还。然而，子民却已经踏着干路－－海水夹道，犹如两堵高墙－－安抵对岸了。
出埃及记结尾（40：34－37）
这时，一柱祥云罩住圣所，耶和华的荣耀充满了帐幕。摩西进去不得，因为幕顶停着云柱，耶和华的居处一片明光。
每当祥云从幕帐升起，以色列子民就拔营上路。若那云不动，他们也安营不动，直至它重新飞升。征途漫漫，止止行行，以色列全家都看得清楚：白天，耶和华的祥云在帐幕顶上；夜晚，那云柱通体烈焰煌煌。
这样的语言，从气魄和文采上，远超和合本的翻译。有时候我想，如果冯象早生100年就好了，那华语世界肯定能使用一个更美的文本。
2、神来之笔
冯象译文常有神来之笔，特举二例：
「那时候，至少一家人哈可以围着肉鍋坐，放开肚皮吃。」（16：3）
「我要降大畏惧，先你而行。」（23：27）
3、方便悦目的夹注
我非常喜欢冯译圣经的夹注，这是其他圣经文本所不能提供的。因为冯的注释，不但清晰简明，而且兼有神学、考古学、证据学的多方成果。例如，第一章讲到，摩西被放进一只纸草篮子，篮子「涂上柏油」，冯象注释两个字「防水」。
六、《圣经》冯象译本的阅读与购买参考
冯象翻译的圣经，已经由牛津出版社出版，我是在这家低调的淘宝店购买的。
在英语KJV版圣经的序言里，Miles Smith写过一段话:
Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light, that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most Holy place; that removeth the cover of the well, that we may come by the water.
翻译者，开一窗引光而入也，破一果得食其肉也，掀一幕以窥圣所也，掘一井以饮甘泉也。
感谢冯象，为我们开了新的窗，掘开新的井。正如冯象新译的新约马太福音登山宝训所说的：
福哉，苦灵的人，因为天国属于他们。
福哉，哀痛的人，因为他们必受安慰。
福哉，恭顺的人，因为他们必继承土地。
福哉，求义似饥渴的人，因为他们必得饱足。
福哉，怜悯的人，因为他们必蒙垂怜。
福哉，心地纯洁的人，因为他们必见到上帝。
福哉，缔和平的人，因为他们要叫做上帝之子。
福哉，为了义而遭迫害的人，因为天国属于他们。
福哉，圣言的传播者和倾听者。
My complaint letter to amazon.com
Dear sir:
Something sound incredible but did happen. On Nov. 22, my cat bought a book for me accidentally! The transaction number is (D01-4023066-98*********) and my Amazon id is w***********@gmail.com
I read the sample of The Song of The Dodo on my Kindle DXG and reached the last page when I walked away. At the very moment, my cat jumped to my desk and put his paws on the kindle. The next day I found that the whole book had been downloaded to my device. The purchase could not be made either by me or by my wife, as I had no intention to buy this book and no one else use my kindle under my roof. The only reasonable suspect is the cat! I know it sounds crazy but I am telling the truth.
I wonder if you could kindly refund me for this accidental purchase? I promise I will delete The Song of The Dodo from all my devices and never read the full version until I buy it voluntarily.
Thank you for your attention.
Yours Sincerely
A customer from China
Ten hours later, I got an e-mail from amazon.
The Reply from Amazon.com
Hello,
I understand that you have purchased “The Song of the Dodo” accidentally and want to refund for this order. As a goodwill gesture, I’ve requested a refund of $14.99 for “The Song of the Dodo.” If the item is still on your Kindle (or a Kindle-compatible device), please delete that copy. After the refund is issued, you will no longer be able to access this item.
Refunds are issued to the payment method used to make the original purchase and usually complete within two to three business days.
You can also cancel accidental purchases yourself for a short time after the order is placed. Simply select the “Purchased by Accident? Cancel this Order” option on the order confirmation page displayed on your Kindle. You can also sample many Kindle books for free by clicking the “Send sample now” button when shopping in the Kindle Store. We’ll send an excerpt to your Kindle wirelessly or you can also view them on any Kindle application.
I hope this helps. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Thank you for your recent inquiry. Did I solve your problem?
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三小时写作法：每天拿出三个小时，专门用来写作。每写45分钟，休息15分钟。
今天第一天，9am-12am，实际写作时间135分钟，中间2次休息30分钟，写了4600字。
此法最重要的是完全断网，我用软件freedom解决，设定好时间，绝对断网，任何办法都无法破解。
今天试用这个办法。三个多小时。干出了6000字。
写作是世界上第一等苦差事，用每天三小时写作法，集中上午的时间写作，可以让自己在其他时间不用再惦记该死的写作，该读书读书，该散步散步，这是中年写作者得救的唯一办法。
依然存活并经常更新的有用有趣的中文博客名单V0.21Beta
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卫西谛，照常生活 http://vcd.cinepedia.cn/ ★，电影，艺术片防上当指南。
比目鱼博客 http://www.bimuyu.com/blog/ ★★，读书，艺术，情调，像冬天的精装本一样冰冷。
情书 http://www.drunkpiano-liuyu.net/ ★★，政论，青年女学者刘瑜的博客，最近不讲情调，狂登饭文，虽然也照样好看，读者们还是不禁感叹：那个拿着佳能5D漫游拍照的女子，那个也食人间烟火的醉钢琴到底哪里去了？
牟春光 http://mousen.blogbus.com/ ★★★，读书，思想。牟森的博客，每日的食粮。
东东枪的枪 http://thisisdongdongqiang.com/ ★★★，相声，小品，魔术，杂技，评书，笑话，说唱艺术，东西南北中发白，都到东东枪这里来。
偏见 http://pianjan.com/★，运动，旅游，自行车骑行爱好者。
别闹了！http://www.bienaole.com/★★★，基督教，生活，历史
大智若鱼 http://gongm.in/ ★★, GEEK，数码，这是一个足以让人败家的博客，因为博主玩的每一样数码都那么特别。
白板报 https://baibanbao.net ★★★，读书，学习，非虚构
沙窝 http://sandliu.me/ ★★, 用文字对抗遗忘
东方文化西方语 http://blog.sina.com.cn/zhaihua ★★★，国际，生活，跨文化交流
译道探微 http://blog.tianya.cn/blogger/blog_main.asp?BlogID=826832
最好金龟换酒 http://fz0512.com/★★★，旅游，一对神仙眷侣，放自己一年大假，到南美诸国旅游，并在博客上进行直播。国外叫做Gap Year。
阮一峰的网络日志 http://www.ruanyifeng.com/blog/ ★★★，互联网，GEEK
World of Mistory http://mistory.info/ ★★★，读书，历史
Reborn http://www.lixiaolai.com/★★★，学习，英文，GEEK，把时间当成朋友，把李笑来当成老师，都是不二的选择。无论你想学习英语，还是想掌握当代数字利器，这里都能给你带来启发。
ISAAC MAO http://wp.isaacmao.com/ ★★★，分享主义，政治，商业
PRE-ALPHA 黄斌的网站 http://www.binhuang.org/ ★★★，学习，GEEK，斯坦福
金色葡萄的精华区 http://goldengrapeblog.blogspot.com/ ★★，⇥，GEEK，从医学到互联网，充满奇思妙想。
霍炬的网络日志 http://blog.devep.net/virushuo/ ★★，GEEK,思想，互联网，霍炬以写代码为生，却以文章出名。他每年写几篇长博客，每次都造成一纸风行。这就是霍炬的网志，一个不随波逐流的声音，理性，建设性，讲理，也重情。
Liu Miao的博客 http://liumiao.com/blog/ ★★，GEEK，摄影，艺术
刘未鹏 | MIND HACKS http://mindhacks.cn/★★★，学习，GEEK，
有所成 https://ibeca.me/ ★★，GEEK，算法
释戏心无着 http://guigui53630.blog.163.com/ ★★★，戏剧，校园。浙大黑白剧社指导老师桂迎的博客。桂老师把校园变成戏园，让道场变成剧场，在围城之中，用戏剧建立了一个独立的小王国。。
李雨赪 http://blog.sina.com.cn/lixiaoyu ★★，戏剧，女性主义
聆聆詠詠，長大的聲音 http://pbpm.pixnet.net/blog ★★，无意中发现了这个博客。博主现居北美，用女性视角忠实记录了一双儿女从孕育到长大的每一天，如涓涓细水，流过岁月，滋润荒漠一样的世界。
莫谈正事 http://motalk.ycool.com/★★★，校园，足球，感悟
两面埋伏 http://wangshuo.blog.caixin.cn/ ★★★，商业，财经，政治，国际化，财新传媒主将王烁的博客。王烁是中文老婆推的创始人，现在又以女儿朵拉秀走红微博，但他回家单独严肃时才会大家带来深刻而不深奥的博文。
安替的博客 http://mranti.tumblr.com/ ★★★，时政，从小镇青年，到宾馆服务员，再到国际知名传媒学者，安替的一生注定是一个传奇。在这个博客里，安替纵论天下，指点江山，很多人读后世界观发生转变，再也不敢轻视任何一个服务生。
读库情报站 http://www.zhanglixian.net/blogs/pigu6/ ★★，老六张立宪是这个时代少有的行动主义者，他用六年时间，创立了《读库》小王国，中年人最大的困惑是不会与时间相处，往往会心猿意马地去猎杀时间，老六不是这样，他知道怎样把同样的狗年月活出意义来。
英文博客
Xiaoji http://xiaoji-chen.com/ ★★，信息视觉化，专业，看不懂
Viva la Vida http://kanewu.wordpress.com/ 新闻人的英语博客
The Whale Hunt http://thewhalehunt.org/ 捕鲸记，图片故事。故事可以这样讲，摄影可以这样玩，网站可以这样做。看完了 Jonathan Harris《捕鲸记》，震撼得不行！难怪哥大新闻学院院长说：“没有一个人的作品能与在这位年轻艺术家兼程序员的视觉报道相提并论。”
[白板报按]哥伦比亚大学主编的《哥伦比亚新闻评论》召集全美有影响力的编辑、记者，为未来从事新闻工作的人提供了一份阅读书目，我为每本书加上了Amazon的链接，如果你有Amazon Kindle帐号，可以下载试读，以进一步决定是否购买。
A Reading List for Future Journalists
We asked some of our favorite journalists, scholars, and critics to recommend books and other works that could help the next generation of reporters become better observers, storytellers, and thinkers. Here is an edited list of the titles they suggested. For full lists from each recommender, click here.
Nicholas Lemann
Dean, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
London Labour and the London Poor (1840s)
By Henry Mayhew
Though not officially a journalist, he pretty much invented the reported urban sociological sketch, one of journalism’s best and most durable forms.
Un Grande Homme de Province à Paris (1839)
By Honoré de Balzac
If you’re ever tempted by the thought that journalism today has fallen to an unprecedentedly low, snarky state, read this novel.
Berlin Diary (1941)
By William Shirer
Part diary, part rewrite of Shirer’s CBS radio reports, it conveys both the daily feeling of the beginning of World War II and the relentless energy and courage of a great reporter at work.
The Whale Hunt (2007)
By Jonathan Harris
Everybody talks about the potential for new forms of journalistic “storytelling” online, but nobody I know of has actually produced one at the level of this masterwork of visual reporting by a young artist-programmer.
Elizabeth Kolbert
Staff writer, The New Yorker
The Song of the Dodo (1997)
By David Quammen
Takes a fairly arcane subject—island biogeography—and from it weaves a great narrative. He’s an intrepid reporter and a wonderful storyteller, and any journalist can learn from him.
Desert Solitaire (1968)
By Edward Abbey
Abbey is the real thing, and those don’t come along very often. His memoir-cum-elegy for the American Southwest is worth reading once a decade or so.
John Temple
Editor, Honolulu Civil Beat
Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number (1981)
By Jacobo Timerman
Reveals the courage that journalists can be called upon to summon and how it’s possible to retain one’s humanity in the face of evil.
The Things They Carried (1990)
By Tim O’Brien
A lesson in writing, of the importance of detail in telling a story. It teaches journalists: look, see, remember.
Matt Welch
Editor, Reason
The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters, Volume II (2000)
By George Orwell
Shows us the math of willing yourself to be an uncompromisingly honest and perceptive thinker about the most pressing issues of the day.
If You Have a Lemon, Make Lemonade (1974)
By Warren Hinckle
Illustrates the missing entrepreneurial link between William Randolph Hearst and the first dot-com wave: the crazed and inspiring sons-of-bitches who clawed forth the alt-journalism revolution.
Patricia Calhoun
Editor, Westword
In Cold Blood (1965)
By Truman Capote
Still the gold standard for true crime writing, even if there’s some fudging of the facts.
Roughing It (1872)
By Mark Twain
For the sheer joy of writing and giving a sense of place.
Brendan Nyhan
Blogger and political scientist, Dartmouth College
Tides of Consent (2004)
By James Stimson
Accessible and provocative summary of scholarship on the role of public opinion in American politics.
All the News That’s Fit to Sell (2003)
By James Hamilton
You can’t understand the press without understanding the role of economics—this is the single best volume on why we have the media we do.
Jonathan Harris
Artist and programmer
Colors Magazine #13 (1994)
By Tibor Kalman
A seminal work depicting the human experience in abstract visual form.
Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth (2000)
By Chris Ware
A masterpiece of the graphic novel genre, demonstrating how storytelling can be solemn, beautiful, and devastatingly sad using a medium usually considered inferior to the long-form written word.
Wayne Barrett
Investigative reporter
Den of Thieves (1992)
By James Stewart
The latest den, which brought the world to its knees, is but an echo of the past.
Kai Wright
Editorial director, Colorlines
Random Family (2003)
By Adrian Nicole LeBlanc
Leaves you unable to draw simple conclusions about the complicated, often no-win choices people and families must face daily.
Race Beat (2006)
By Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff
Recounts not just the coverage of the civil rights era, but the segregationists’ reaction to it—which helped usher in the notion that good journalism must stick to he said/she said reporting.
Simon Rogers
Editor, The Guardian’s Datablog
Mortality of the British Army (1858)
By Florence Nightingale
This report used data visualizations to illustrate how preventable disease demolished the fighting capability of the British army in Crimea. A painstaking demolition of official incompetence.
Point of Departure (1968)
By James Cameron
Data journalism is about telling stories and there are few storytellers as good as James Cameron. I am still inspired by reading this book.
Happiness (2005)
By Richard Layard
Uses data to analyze, in detail, the health of societies around the world; helped show how GDP is a poor measure of how healthy a society is.
Earl Caldwell
Journalist and radio host
The Trust (2000)
By Susan E. Tifft and Alex S. Jones
A must-read if you want to understand how The New York Times became our most important newspaper.
Melissa del Bosque
Investigative reporter, The Texas Observer
Homage to Catalonia (1938)
By George Orwell
Goes beyond reporting, literally into the trenches, to give his firsthand account of the Spanish Civil War.
The Devil’s Highway (2004)
By Luis Alberto Urrea
Gives immigrants voice and dignity as they make their perilous journey north, searching for the American Dream.
Jason DeParle
Senior writer, The New York Times
Lincoln (1996)
By David Herbert Donald
A powerful reminder that conventional wisdom can change; for most of his presidency, Lincoln’s contemporaries called him a bumbler.
Move Your Shadow (1985)
By Joseph Lelyveld
His reporting on South Africa provides a clinic on the craft; he mines gold from routine encounters that lesser reporters would ignore.
The Promised Land (1991)
By Nicholas Lemann
This history of the black migration is the best model I know for using narrative nonfiction to depict sweeping social change.
Scott Rosenberg
Executive editor, Grist
Understanding Comics (1993) by Scott McCloud
Analysis of the nature of graphic narrative invites journalists (and everyone else) to continually reinvent every storytelling form we’ve inherited.
Within the Context of No Context (1981)
By George W. S. Trow
The Age of Missing Information (1992)
By Bill McKibben
Complementary deconstructions of TV culture serve as a valuable corrective to today’s wave of Internet-determinist diatribes.
Connie Schultz
Pulitzer-winning columnist and reporter
On Writing (2000)
By Stephen King
Will cure you of adverbs, and embolden your best writer’s instincts.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943)
By Betty Smith
A tutorial in how to write about the poor and working class as human beings.
Steve Lopez
Columnist, Los Angeles Times
1001 Afternoons In Chicago (2009)
By Ben Hecht
Hecht discovers Chicago, avoiding news conferences and press releases, by observing the city and its people, and turns his findings into art.
Jim Sleeper
Lecturer, Yale University
The Creation of the Media (2004)
By Paul Starr
How media-related decisions shaped the openness but also the gargantuan flaws of the American public sphere.
What Are Journalists For? (1999)
By Jay Rosen
Parses brilliantly such questions as, What really is the public that journalists supposedly serve, and how well do we serve it?
James Fallows
National correspondent, The Atlantic
Genius (1992)
By James Gleick
A wonderful example of how to deal comfortably with the intersection of science and public policy.
The Moral Equivalent of War (1906)
By William James
Addresses an enduring challenge for America: how to evoke any national spirit through means other than war.
Getting Things Done (2001)
By David Allen
No joke! A very clarifying way to think about how to organize your working life.
Are We Rome? (2007)
By Cullen Murphy
An example of applying historical analogies to current events.
Vanessa M. Gezari
Freelance journalist and 2011-12 Knight-Wallace fellow
Middlemarch (1871)
By George Eliot
Exemplifies the precise observation, psychological complexity, and generosity of spirit to which narrative nonfiction should aspire.
Dispatches (1997)
By Michael Herr
A perfect antidote to watered-down, on-the-one-hand, on-the-other-hand war coverage, and a testament to the power of the individual observer.
Illuminations (1969)
By Walter Benjamin
Essays on the profound changes in art, literature, and the nature of thought during the early 20th century feel current today, as changes in the quality and transmission of information transform how we think and perceive the world.
Alex Kotlowitz
Journalist and author
The Laramie Project (2001)
By Moises Kaufman, et al
Twilight (1992)
By Anna Deavere Smith
Division Street (1993)
By Studs Terkel
The Emperor (1989)
By Ryszard Kapuscinski
Ghetto Life 101 (1993)
By Dave Isay
With all the shouting and preening among journalists, these are reminders that some of the most powerful storytelling is the result of the journalist stepping out of the way.
