Ahhhhhh, 2009. Another year is upon us, and a whole new slew of New Year’s resolutions have been made and probably already broken. We want to be thinner, happier, smarter, and all other what-have-yous; we want to alternately be less and more. I’m on record with friends as wanting to eat better. I have also consumed a slice of pizza topped with the least real cheese I have ever encountered, as well as a carne asada quesadilla since the clock struck Midnight and 2009 rolled onto my life. However, baby steps need to be taken, and if one of your resolutions was to read more, then I will make myself a mason for you and lay the bricks beneath your literary feet. Which is all a long-winded way of saying….here are the few selections off of my rapidly expanding list of Books You Should Read in 2009.

1. Stuff White People Like: The Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions by Christian Lander

Yes, the creator of the eponymous blog was given a book deal, falsely bolstering the self righteousness of millions of bloggers the world over. I received this book as a Christmas gift, and couldn’t put it down until I was done. I know, I know: why would you want to buy something that you can read for free on the internet? Well, because a) books are better (period), and it’s harmful for your eyes to stare at a computer screen all day, and b) you can display this book in your living room and it becomes an instant conversation piece. Christian is witty, eerily accurate, and unafraid to pull some punches here and there, and I predict his brand of sarcasm will be the new black in 2009. If you’re white, you will find facets of yourself within this book no matter how hard you try to scoff and pretend you’re such a unique individual no book with a drawing of someone giving a thumbs up on the cover can hit your nail on the nose. If you’re not white, you can take comfort in the fact that there are some white people in existence who know how ridiculous we are are as a race, and who are actively calling out the others who don’t. And then laugh at their expenses. To tell you a few of the chapter names, white people like Coffee, David Sedaris, Arrested Development, Indie Music, Public Radio, Plaid, Liberal Arts Degrees, Standing Still at Concerts, Noam Chomsky, Hating Corporations, Scarves, Apologies, Not Having Cash, Cheese, and Dive Bars, just to name a few that hit particularly close to home for me. This book is fun, interactive, and a quick read, so it’s a good place to start your Hooked on Phonics-esque New Year’s resolution.

2. Hip: The History by John Leland

This book will make you cooler. Although the entire “hipster” concept is incredibly played out that this point in time, Leland’s take on hipness was first published in 2004 which means he probably first started researching and writing a few years before that and that places him on the intellectual forefront of the hipster phenomenon. Which, ironically, makes him pretty hip. I was also given this book as a present (birthday, not Christmas), and I could not stop talking about it to anyone and everyone who would listen. Leland’s central thesis is that hip is a uniquely American creation that emerged from the intersecting of African and European cultures, with each forging a new identity in a colonial wilderness. For a short hand guide to the musical angle of the book, the intimacy of dependence engendered by the entire system of slavery spawned the blues which transformed into jazz which fed into bebop which paved the way for hip hop and the punks. Literarily, hip originated with the OG’s (Emerson, Thoreau, Melville, and Whitman) who inspired the writers of the Lost Generation (Fitzgerald, Hemmingway, Stein) and the Harlem Renaissance and opened the door for the Beats (Kerouac, Ginsberg, Burroughs) who blew open the literary universe for the rest of us; and the inherently hip are always on the periphery, but somehow always connected to the innermost center of the mainstream: the one needs the other, and vice versa. All of this he wraps up in a discussion of our current moment and our role as consumers; absolutely seamless piece of cultural commentary. Leland makes so many intelligent and interesting connections which span almost 200 ?years of history, and he does so in a way that makes you feel like you’re having a conversation with him at a pub. Brilliant. You will learn a lot, and not even realize you’re being taught. Plus he’ll make you laugh and go “Ahhhuuuummmmm,” while you nod your head and stroke your chin. In a very hip way, of course.

Hopefully these two beauteous works will get you started. And remember, this is only the beginning….you’ll get more of my suggestions very, very soon. Happy New Year, everyone!! Here’s to a more literate 2009…