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Gwennie-Gwen-Gwen's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge continues with a look at the books that have defined our year.  Reading is good for your brain.  Make your brain like you again.

'Change My Life Book'

I Will Teach You To Be Rich (by Ramit Sethi) was a gift from our beloved happybuela – probably the best gift I received all year.  I'm a big fan of Ramit's blog (and am even enrolled in his Financial Boot Camp right now) and his book is just as great.

Wanting to sort things out with the way you think about money, the way you spend money, the way you bank, the way you talk to creditors?  Ramit's your guy – I couldn't recommend this book highly enough.

'Can't Wait To Read Again Book'

The Enchantress of Florence (by Salman Rushdie) was the only piece of fiction I read more than once this year.  I finished it in two days and started it all over again on the third.  It was that hard for me to remove myself from its magic, it just wouldn't let me go.

The novel cannot be described properly in a  mere mortal Blog post (uhmm… or something) – it's a deliciously complex 370 pages based on Indian history/folklore, trickling into Italian nobility, pirate ships…  from the Medicis to Indian Mughal Emperors to a pair of unlikely prostitutes to an invisible empress.  Salman is a genius (and totally should have won another Booker Prize for this one, but I digress).

'Creative Juices Flowing Book'

The Engines of Our Ingenuity (by John Lienhard) is a book I revisited this year and loved as much as the first read.  You can check out my 'book report' on this one on the Business Maker's Overtime Show I co-host here.

Imagine this, an engineering / history book that is an outstanding pleasure to read.  If you're an NPR fiend like me, you may already be familiar with Dr. Lienhard's regular 'Engines of Our Ingenuity' segment – this book fleshes out those thoughts and ideas beautifully.

Consider it more of a narrative on the human experience and a dive into the psyche of our species that drives the desire to invent, create and marvel.

'Never Left My Kitchen Book'

Vegan Brunch (by Isa Chandra Moskowitz) I'm a cookbook nut and a recent purchase has been tops in our bellies for the last couple of months.  OMG it's so good.  OMG OMG OMG.  Buy it.  I don't care if you're vegan or not – just buy it.

Library photo thanks to Flickr user ciro@tokyo