So far this year, I've read:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, about the HeLa cell culture line and the woman it came from (and her family). It's got interesting science, and even more interesting social issues raised. Well done, even if it does meander a bit in the middle.
Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin. Well-done, but very, very medieval. They've got the whole barbarian pentathlon in there: Murder, rape, pillage, torture, plunder. And you have to assume that every character you love will die a gruesome, medieval death, with no detail spared. First of a series that the author is still writing. I normally cringe from topics like this, and I found the book irresistible. Can't wait to start on the rest of the series.
The Checklist Manifesto: A guide to getting things right, by Atul Gawande. I find Atul Gawande one of the best writers about medicine around today. He occasionally write for the New Yorker, when he's not busy being a surgeon and all that. This book is about how simple checklists can increase positive results in complicated situations (like surgery, flight, emergencies and -- yes -- investing). It's a lively, interesting read and one I'd highly recommend.
365 Thank Yous, by John Kralik. Here's the short version: This guy is an attorney. His life is in the crapper. He's not sure what to do. He decides to write 365 thank you notes in a year. He does this, more or less. His life begins to get a lot better. Liked the story, but felt that the writing and editing of the book left quite a lot to be desired. Upside: it's not a big book, and it's an easy read to get through in an evening. A fine take-it-on-the-plane-and-leave-it-for-the-next-person-book.
And I just started Carsten Jensens's "We, the Drowned," a 678-page Nordic seafaring saga. On page 10. Love it already -- witty, quick and interesting so far. We'll see how I feel in a few hundred pages.
Oh, and I've burned through about six period romances by Lisa Kleypas, which are all set in Victorian England and are all quite entertaining, but are all basically the same book. You know how it is with those romances.