The Savage Detectives

Jose Saramago - The Cave because it the language was so beautiful even in translation that it made me want to learn Portuguese. Roberto Bolano - The Savage Detectives because what's not to love about tough guy poets? David Bain - Empire Express because it put startups and business in a new light.

is fiction ok? i live in chile and stumbled across bolano's books (particularly the savage detectives and 2666) in spanish just as they became popular in english in the usa (2666 was released in translation). savage detectives is a funny account of adolescent "poets" in mexico; 2666 is a much darker, somewhat rambling tome that addresses "evil". they're very different, but both great books. for non-fiction the book i've used most this year is an old classic - harbison & steele's "c a reference manual". it's invaluable (if you're writing c). i don't know how people can prefer kernighan & ritchie...