Ok, I'm tired. I admit it. I didn't get much sleep last night. Three hours or so. Overall, I'm holding up ok so far. Adrenaline and rocks. Of course, it also helps that I had paid off most of my sleep debt Saturday. (If I haven't recomended this book yet, let me do it now. It's an owner's manual for sleep.)

Speaking of books. Someone asked me today, just as a conversation point (because, who wants to work, really?) just what are my top five favorite books? That's hard. That's really hard. I realized it was kind of like asking me to choose a favorite child. I use books in such very different ways and approach each one as an individual.

Some of them I use just to learn about writing. Some of them I want to learn something (like the sleep book that I evangelize about above). Some of them I see as spiritual nourishment - the kinds of books you can really sink your teeth into. Others I love just as much, but for very different reasons. For instance, Alexander's Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day.

It's a children's story, but it does a better job of really illustrating what a true child's life is like than any other book I know. It tells a story, lets you get to know and connect with real characters, tells you something about their life and really communicates - not some weepy message about love and family, just a pure example of dealing with day-to-day frustrations. ("There was kissing on TV. I hate kissing.")

But you see - I can name my top 5 children's books, or I can name my top five books that brought on a paradigm shift for me personally, or I can name my top five science books..... I can even name the top five books I've heard about but haven't read yet. (Have I mentioned Beyond the Quantum? Must read that. Sounds way too cool not to.)

I need more hours in a day.