Hrecommended: My favorite books of 2005

It was an amazingly good year for books on many subjects. Here's a cross-section of books that caught my eye, survived a quick scan and in some cases were added to my personal library.

• There are no shortcuts by Rafe Esquith: I picked this one up after seeing the PBS POV Episode The Hobart Shakespeareans.
  
• Masters of deception : Escher, Dali & the artists of optical illusion by Al Seckel: There have been many books that address Escher and Dali. This book covers the heighth and breadth of the topic. It deals with asthetics, math and process.
  
• Mongo : adventures in trash by Ted Botha: Yes, Virginia, trash can be interesting. Botha addresses the mongo culture in all of its variety. My favorite chapter covers a couple guys that gain permission to dig up backyard privies.
  
• God's politics : why the right gets it wrong and the left doesn't get it by Jim Wallis. Wallis argues effectively that the religious right's focus on gay rights and abortion is misguided and should be trained on ending poverty and war.
  
• The joy of digital photography by Jeff Wignall. Photography is not PhotoShop. Repeat ten times. Photography is about learning to see and to tell stories with images. Wignall approaches digital photography as art first.
  
• Mouthsounds : how to whistle, pop, click and honk your way to social success by Frederick R. Newman: Annoy your friends, impress your parents. Comprehensive treatment of an ignored (perhaps rightly) topic.
  
• Animals In Translation : Using The Mysteries Of Autism To Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin. A fascinating treatment from a unique perspective.
  
• Real sex : the naked truth about chastity by Lauren Winner. Cogent arguments on a controversial topic.
  
• I miss you : a first look at death by Pat Thomas. Finding ways to explain the loss of a friend or grandparent can be among the hardest conversations to have with children. Thomas treats the topic with respect and grace. Highly recommended.
  
• It's hard to make a difference when you can't find your keys : the seven step path to becoming truly organized by Marilyn Paul. Paul collects ideas on organization from authorities both hard and soft, economics to feng shui. No other book addresses the root causes of mental and physical clutter from as many vantage points.
  
• The snowflake : winter's secret beauty by Kenneth Libbrecht with photography by Patricia Rasmussen. Everyone is familiar with snowflakes. Libbrecht and Rasmussen takes us to school and teach us te truly appreciate the wonder and beauty of the snowflake.
  
• In praise of slowness : how a worldwide movement is challenging the cult of speed by Carl Honore. Honore takes the most comprehensive look thus far on the topic of hurry sickness. Fast education, fast dating, fast parenting, fast sex: where will it all end? Honore identifies and discusses the counterposing forces on these trends.
  
• The ultimate guide to sex and disability : for all of us who live with disabilities, chronic pain, and illness by Miriam Kaufman, Cory Silverberg and Fran Odette. A frank and informative treatment of lovemaking for those of us who are not 20, thin, pain-free and fully-abled.