Books: My wishlist

For my studies of history:

On writing:

About Eastern Europe:

About South America:

On travel:

Non-fiction:

Fiction:

Useful information:

109 Responses to Books: My wishlist

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  2. jlheuer says:

    Very heavy reading, but books are always great gifts ( this from an ex-librarian). Can you get those non-fiction title in German?

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  9. Kenny says:

    I can’t believe that someone, anyone, has drawn up a book list & there’s only one on there that I’ve read! (The Dice Man – years ago)

    I was involved in a book club through my work a few years ago & one of the people organising it once asked me if I read all the time when I wasn’t working. I said they had it the wrong way round – I came in and did some work sometimes when I wasn’t reading!

    Btw if you don’t have a Kindle you ought to give it a go – I wasn’t sure if I would like it but I’m a bit of a Kindle convert now – it’s so convenient to buy books, & the newer Kindles are small enough to carry around inside your jacket pocket.

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  16. Ryan says:

    Have you read ‘The last escape’ by John Nichol and Tony Rennel? It’s about WW2 Prisoners of war in Germany and it’s one of my favourite books. I think you’ll like it :) though it is very sad.

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  18. MsAidyl says:

    This is a great idea. if I can lay my hands on any of these I’ll definitely be sending them your way!
    I’m bookmarking this lol.
    Good luck. some of my favourite gifts are books too. Check out my fave reads here http://artbecomesyou.com/2013/01/03/10-books-ive-read-and-would-read-again/

    cheers!

  19. @thelepathy says:

    Vielen Dank für die wirklich interessanten Blogbeiträge aus aller Herren Länder, Herr Moser!

    Allerdings wundert mich der ungesundene Bias, den sie zum Thema Israel/Palästina an den Tag legen, nicht, wenn ich bereits an fünfter Position Ihrer Bücher-Wunschliste das Plagiat “The Case For Israel” vom Folter-Advokaten Alan Dershowitz entdecke.
    Immerhin kann man der Lektüre dieses Bestsellers auch gleich für sich in Anspruch nehmen, Joan Peters’ Hoax “From Time Immemorial” gelesen zu haben. Ein Buch, in dem sie (fälschlicherweise) behauptet, das ehemalige britische Protektorat Palästina sei im Großen und Ganzen ein Land ohne (muslimische) Einwohner gewesen.
    Legen Sie Ihre Vorurteile gegenüber der palästinensischen Seite besser ab, und lesen Sie ernsthafte Bücher zur Thematik, wie z.B. Norman Finkelstein’s “Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict”. Insbesondere aber sein Buch “Beyond Chutzpah” (alternativ die Finkelstein-Dershowitz-Debatte bei Democracy Now) sollte helfen, schlechte Kopien einer Geschichtsklitterung sachlich und fundiert zu demontieren.

    Für die Zeit im ehemaligen Ostblock würde ich Ihnen “Sex, Drugs and Libel in the New Russia” von Mark Ames und Matt Taibbi empfehlen. Die ideale Lektüre für Expats.
    Taibbi hat übrigens auch einen ganz witzigen Beitrag zu Broadwell’s Petraeus-Blowjob “All In” geschrieben.

    http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/02/exile-201002

    • Ich weiß nicht, wie ein Buch, das ich noch nicht gelesen habe, meine Meinung beeinflussen kann. Aber wie der Zufall es will, habe ich heute “The Case for Israel” von einer Leserin übersandt bekommen, so daß ich es in den nächsten Monaten lesen werde.
      Vielen Dank für die anderen Empfehlungen!

      Grundsätzlich glaube ich jedoch, daß die Bücher, die wir lesen, uns weniger beeinflussen als gemeinhin angenommen. Insbesondere im fortgeschrittenen Lebensalter halte ich mein Weltbild für auf breiterer Basis stehend, als daß ein Autor oder ein Buch es komplett auf den Kopf stellen könnten.

      Abgesehen davon, daß ich in meinem Blog noch keine Vorurteile gegenüber Palästinensern entdeckt habe, halte ich nichts davon, eine grundsätzliche Diskussion über Israel und Palästina unabhängig von spezifischen Fragen zu diskutieren. Schließlich diskutiere ich auch nicht grundsätzlich, ob ich Deutschland oder Dänemark sympathischer finde. Ich sehe bei solchen Fragen keinen Grund, mich zu 100% auf eine Seite zu schlagen – und verdächtige konsequenterwese alle, die dies tun, der Oberflächlichkeit.

  20. @thelepathy says:

    Ich denke, dass ich genug anerkannte Autoren (Morris, Segev, Maoz, Pappe, Finkelstein, Beinart…) zu dem Thema gelesen habe, um mit klarem Blick die Gründe für eine jahrzehntelange Stagnation der Friedensbemühungen in Israel/Palästina identifizieren zu können. Eine Parteinahme will ich, wenn überhaupt, nur im Sinne des Friedens in Anspruch nehmen.

    Die Narrative, welche Sie in Ihren meines Erachtens sogar äusserst parteiischen ( = pro-israelischen) Beiträgen repetieren, dienen der Festigung der israelischen Okkupation, dem Landraub und Ausbau illegaler Siedlungen in der Westbank, der Ausbeutung palästinensischer Ressourcen, massiv gefördert durch die USA und Europa, welche damit auch nicht als “honest broker” in einem wie auch immer gearteten Friedensprozess gelten können.
    Es ist auch im Sinne der Israelis (und damit pro-israelisch), diesen Prozess einer “creeping annexation” (und zunehmenden Unmöglichmachung einer Zweistaaten-Lösung) zu beenden und die advisory opinion des ICJ von 2004 anzuerkennen: Ost-Jerusalem, Gaza und die Westbank sind besetzte palästinensische Gebiete. Israel hat keinen Titel auf dieses Land.

    Sie schreiben:
    “Die Unterstützung dieses Landes, dieses einzigen Brückenkopfes westlicher Zivilisation und abendländischer Werte in der gefährlichsten Region der Welt soll “überproportional” sein?”

    Ich antworte Ihnen mit Chomsky:
    “The U.S. should stop at once supporting any Israeli action in the occupied territories.”

    Quelle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5F3GBihGMM

    Sollten Sie “Beyond Chutzpah” tatsächlich als Vergleichstitel zu “A Case For Israel” lesen, bin ich ganz zuversichtlich, dass Sie positiv überrascht werden von Finkelstein.

  21. Javier says:

    The House Of The Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
    Candor by Pam Bachorz
    Immortal Technique: Rapper/Activist
    ^ You mind find those books and the rapper interesting i would suggest you checking them out!
    I just found you blog but i love it, im just 15 but i hope that one day i can travel the world like you!
    “The purpose of life is a life with a purpose
    So I’d rather die for a cause than live a life that is worthless”
    —Immortal Technique

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  24. Quinn Bradford says:

    Hello,
    I appreciate what you have posted about living in Germany or trying to at least. I just had a couple of questions, but before I ask anything I wanted to know if the books you wanted on the list are up to date. I don’t want to get you something you already have.

    Thanks Quinn

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  29. Vedo says:

    Hi, how does this work? I would like to help you get one of those books in exchange of your german immigration knowledge..
    But how do i do this?

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  31. Shammaz says:

    Dear Sir hope you are fine and enjoying your life.
    I have a question and i hope i am not disturbing you.I am an international student from Pakistan in Germany.I have read in your website that after 8 years of residency German passport can no longer be denied.My question is that is my study duration is also included in that 8 years?
    for example if i live 3 years on my bachelor degree and 5 more years then it will count 5 years or eight?
    i will really apritiate if you help me out in this
    thanks in advance

    • Because you commented on my wishlist of books, I suggest that you pick one of them and mail it to me. Then I will gladly answer your question.

  32. Raul says:

    Dear Andreas Moser,
    I was searching for some divorce laws in Germany and came across your blog. I am really impressed by you as a person and I really enjoyed reading your blog which was full of fun facts and information. I have a question regarding filling a divorce. Me and my wife are Indians and living in Germany for the past 6 years. We came to Germany for doctoral studies, which we finished recently. We got married 4 years ago and things did not work out so we are looking for filling a divorce, mutually. We have been living separate from each other for about an year now. We got married by Indian Hindu marriage act and have no other issues such as kids or alimony. Its a mutual decision without any complications. I know that if we want to file a divorce from India we both have to go to India, which we both would like to avoid. We want to have a divorce in Germany. I read the FAQ written by you which was very informative and prompted me to contact you. I was just wondering how expensive it would be for us to get a divorce in Germany (approximately). I tried to send you your book Tatiana via Amazon, so that you might reply me :-) somehow my amazon account says that it can not deliver it. but I will try sending it again. Thanks a lot for lots of very crisp and clear information to help out people like us. Would be waiting for your reply.

    • I’ll be happy to tell you how much a divorce in Germany would cost you, but I would need to know both your monthly income for that. The court and lawyer’s fees are based on that.

      Let’s hope the book order goes through, and then once I receive it, I’ll be happy to do the calculation of the fees. I could then also tell you if you might qualify for legal aid.

  33. Patricia Gwala says:

    Hi Andreas, im not married- i have a son with a german citizen.i need to register my son with the german consulate and get his german passport, problem is my unabridged birth certificate is in my mom’s surname and all my documents are in my fathers surname(passport,Identity document,qualifications and so on) do you maybe know what would the german embassy/consulate require from me when i submit the passport application with different surnames?

    kind regards
    Trish

    • Because you are making this comment on my wishlist of books, you have already come very close to me answering your question. Now I am just waiting for the book. Thank you in advance!

  34. L. says:

    Hi Andreas,

    I emailed you on Feb 11th and send you the book “Shah of Shahs” the same day. I was wondering if you have received my email and also book as i have not received any reply from you yet.

    Best Regards,

    • Sorry, I have not received the book yet. :(
      If it will arrive this or next week, I will only get it on 23 March because I am in Israel until then.

    • L. says:

      Thanks for letting me know. Amazon says tracking is not possible, however the delivery estimate is mentioned as Monday, 23 February 2015 :(
      I will check this.

    • L. says:

      The order was shipped via ASENDIA, and is lost in transit.
      The estimated delivery date for the replaced order is Thursday, 19 March 2015 – Monday, 23 March 2015. So it should arrived on time :-)

    • Ok, that’s great news, thank you!

    • L. says:

      Hallo, any news regarding the book? :-(

    • Yes, I have received the “Shah of Shahs” already, thank you very much!

      I am traveling in Hungary until 23 April, I hope to find time to reply to your question as soon as I return from that trip.

    • L. says:

      ok, great! Thanks.

  35. Karin a Resnick says:

    I feel almost guilty for asking much of anything while you are on sabbatical. However, I will risk the guilt and the embarrassment. While I understand the citizenship laws intellectually, my heart says there may be hope yet. Born in Germany (1957), came to US with German Visa having been adopted by US officer (second generation German traceable to 1500’s), naturalized as a child… of course had no right to choose. Birth mother known to me however, father has never been disclosed.. Birth family fled from Prussia to Leipzig then fled to Stuttgart. I, in orphanage until 1959. At that time, Germany was still in quite a crisis. When coming to states was referred to as “War Orphan” by newspaper article with troubling and horrible repercussions. Never accepted by adoptive relatives as was cited as not really being considered “one of theirs”.. Question has haunted me my entire life with regards to returning to Germany and now have knowledge of 3 half sisters, uncles, cousins, etc., who I have communicated with by telephone, whom I would like to know. No more family in US, all are dead. So, my questions are these:(1. Are there any loopholes in German law for someone of the description above to reclaim their citizenship? (2. Alternatively, pack, move and go through normal channels, i.e. moving there, reside 8 years, etc. Please accept my apologies for such questions and for disturbing you during your travels.. What you are doing on this forum is a great kindness and a marvelous deed. Kindest Regards, Karina

  36. Monika says:

    Hi,
    I split up with my partner, we have son (my son- almost 3 years old, and expartner have German passports, I’m Polish). I have full right to my son, but he have his name. I come over to England year ago, and my ex partner try take my son from me by German low. He went to court and he try take my son to germny. What is my rights here in England, how I can prevent.I live here, I have work here, my son will go soon to nursery. I have custody to my son and I dont know what I can do now, should I go
    to court here? Please give me some advice. where I can try find help?Im really scared and distraught.
    Monika Przywarska

  37. Ms. R says:

    Hi I want to know if you in fact helped the people who have gifted you books its a good trade however a bad one if its a one way street I have questions I would like help with but how do I know I will be helped in return for one of you books in your wish list? Has urser name L.’s book come threw and have you helped her / him or anyone ells who has gratefully gifted you a book?

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  39. DA says:

    Andreas – Hope you got the book I sent. I never checked Amazon to see if it made its way to you

  40. Dear Andreas Moser, I would like to give you a book, a cigars and coffee or whiskey?
    But I would like it in person. I do this not because I owe you a favor ( because I do not) but what little I know about you, I admire you as a professional and as a person.
    Please, receive my intentions or come here.

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  43. E.k says:

    Mr.Moser,am absolutely not able to send any of the above books but the only offer i can give you even if u want from tomorrow. If you have any plan of visiting Uganda for safari, i will pay for you minimum accommodation for one week. But i need your help. I don’t have any one to help me here in Germany for the case of any online transaction now

    • I appreciate your offer, but I am very sorry, I have no idea when/if I will come to Uganda. I would certainly like to, but it’s a bit expensive to get there.

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  50. Tayebe Shekarbeygi says:

    You might wanna update your wishlist

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  53. Smokey says:

    I love the fact that you ask for books as payment. I wish more folk did this….Question: What do you do with all the books once you have loved them enough?

    • When I happen to finish a book while traveling far away and I need to reduce my luggage, I just leave it on the train or at the hotel, hoping that someone else will find and appreciate it.
      Sometimes, I also know of friends who would enjoy the book. Then I pass it to them.
      And each time I move, I have a pile of read books that I donate to the local library. I try to recycle most books in that way because I like libraries myself. This way, if you are mailing me a book, more than just me will hopefully benefit from it.

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  55. Ng says:

    Hello Andreas,

    By chance I saw your website. Lots of very interesting and helpful information. Thank you for sharing. I would like to ask you a question regarding your post “10 FAQ on citizenship law in Germany”. In there, you mentioned the following

    “Germany requires the foreigner to give up his or her original citizenship in order to obtain a German passport (§§ 9 I Nr. 1; 10 I Nr. 4 StAG). There are quite a number of exceptions to this requirement (§ 12 StAG), for example if your home country does not allow you to renounce citizenship, or if the loss of your original citizenship would result in the loss of economic rights in your home country, and for all citizens of another EU country”.

    As I am currently applying for German citizenship and would have the risk to loose the lots of economic rights in my country (can not be owner of real estates), can you please advise on the process to request for exceptions to the requirement to give up my original citizenship?

    Many thanks in advance,
    NH

    • 1) What country are you from?
      2) What kind of real estate do you own?
      3) As you have already found my wishlist of books, I will gladly wait until I receive a few books as payment for my advice. Thank you very much already!

  56. Roger Close says:

    I have a question. I was born in 1965 to a married couple in Englnad (my German mother and my English father (my mother’s parents were German)). Can I apply for German citizenship? I don’t think I can because those born before 1975 are only eligible for German citizenship if their father NOT their mother was a German citizen? Is that right? I live and work in England, but am keen for a German passport because of Brexit and because my son might wish to live and work in Germany in the future…

    • There is a way for you. Please see no. 8 of my FAQ on naturalization from abroad.
      But you would need to show strong ties to Germany and fluency in German. The naturalization would cover your son if he is still a minor and if he also speaks reasonable German.
      Lastly, because you have already found my wishlist, I thank you very much in advance if you decide to send something!

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  59. Plain Jain says:

    Enjoy Adventures in the Anthropocene: A Journey to the Heart of the Planet We Made by Gaia Vince
    All the best.

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  65. Rohit Gala says:

    Lieber Andreas
    I read your blogs , I am quite impressed with your approach . I have few questions on naturalization in Germany . How do I get in touch with you for a consultation . Thanks

    Rohit Gala

  66. Thanks to the anonymous donor of “Night Train to Lisbon” by Pascal Mercier, which I got for my birthday!

  67. Justus says:

    Do you have an archive of books that were on this list?

  68. Ann says:

    I have a few questions about German citizenship, and would be more than happy to send you something for your trouble, and your wonderful blog, but to where would you like it sent, and what would you like?

    • Hello Ann,
      that’s very lovely!
      My mailing address is at the bottom of the wishlist, and feel free to pick what you find interesting.
      The more, the better, obviously. ;-)
      It’s not about the price, so if you find used copies, that’s absolutely fine.

    • aamorsel says:

      Do you have a preference for paperback books, or hardbound?

    • Always go for the cheapest. ;-)
      But if they are the same, then paperback, to reduce the weight of the backpack.

  69. Thanks to Jacqueline Danson for the birthday package, which included “Slow Train to Switzerland”, “Travelers in the Third Reich”, “A Room of One’s Own” and – in preparation of my upcoming stay in Stockholm – “The Almost Nearly Perfect People”.
    Thank you very much for remembering my birthday!

  70. Thanks a lot to Ann Hensel for sending “Utopia for Realists”!

  71. Thanks for the anonymous birthday gift of “Travels with Myself and Another” by Martha Gellhorn!

  72. Cristian Prano says:

    I’ve ordered the below books to your listed address. I hope you enjoy! From the titles alone, I’m tempted to buy copies for myself as well.

    Along the Enchanted Way: A Story of Love and Life in Romania
    Guide to the Perfect Latin American Idiot
    Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere
    The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody

    • Hello Cristian,
      wow, that is a wonderful surprise, thank you very much indeed!! (And thank you as well for the donation to my blog. You are really very generous!)
      And you picked some of the books I have wanted for a long time already. (Another client once promised the “Latin American Idiot”, but never sent it. :/ )
      I would send them to you after reading them, but the postage to Florida would probably cost more. Also, I try to read books in the suitable environment, so I will probably finish the Trieste book exactly there, and the Romania book in that wonderful country.

      I’ll get to your e-mail regarding German citizenship today!

    • I have already began to read “The Decline and Fall …”, and it is absolutely hilarious. A real gem of historiography!

  73. Thank you very much to Vijaya-Bhaskar Gummala for sending “The Salt Path” by Raynor Winn, “Ask an Adventurer” by Alastair Humphreys, “The Spy and the Traitor” by Ben MacIntyre and “Why Women have better Sex under Socialism” by Kristen Ghodsee!

  74. Thank you very much to Colleen Davis for sending “Late Victorian Holocausts: El Nino Famines and the Making of the Third World” by Mike Davis, “McTeague” by Frank Norris, “Educated” by Tara Westover and “Down and Out in Paris and London” by George Orwell!

  75. Thank you very much to Amira Elbakry for “Educated” by Tara Westover, “Revolution for Dummies” by Bassem Youssef and “The Thing around your Neck” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie!

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