Last May, as the school year was winding down and his economics students were getting ready to take their AP exams, Dale Stahl wrote from Hopkins High School, with this thought. I haven't gotten around to reading his recommended book, but as I reread his note, I'm tempted. Anyone else read this? "I am almost finished with a really intriguing book called The Human Stain, by Philip Roth. I'd love to get your take on it, and for some reason I thought of Dan Conrad also. There is some language, which Dan does not appreciate, but this is unmistakably thought provoking literature. The way Roth describes American society during the late '90s, I think, perfectly captures the silly, sanctimonious way people in power have diverted the public's attention away from meritorious issues and toward superficial moral scrutiny. "A quote from the book has become a favorite with me: "'All that we do not know is astonishing. Even more astonishing is what passes for knowing.'" Well, that quote certainly reflects a main idea of Bill Bryson's book, even if the context is very different. If thinking about the political state of the world weren't so inherently dispiriting, I'd be enthusiastic about reading Roth's book. In addition, knowing that making the public business depressing is a goal of some politicians is not inspiring. Am I going to let them get away with that? Are you?

• A review from Good Reports
• A review from the NYU Database
• Random House's Readers' Guide