Journalism Reading List

Some books change the way we see the world. Each year, professors in the Department of Journalism compile a list of books that could change the way students see the profession.

From writings by journalists to writings about journalists, these books offer students a glimpse into covering the news from war’s frontline to Washington to the red carpet.

These books aren’t required reading. But they should be. Students who read even a quarter of the titles are better informed and enter the profession with both eyes open, ultimately making them better journalists.

War and Conflict
Politics
Muckrakers
Race and Gender
Environment
Excellent Reporting
More Non-Fiction
Writing
Sports
Hollywood/Entertainment

War and Conflict

•  Adams, Eddie and Suu, Vo. Associated Press photograph and NBC
television footage of a Saigon execution. 1968
•  Arendt, Hannah. "Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil."
Collected articles. 1963
•  Bigart, Homer. Account of being over Japan in a bomber when World War
II came to an end. In the New York Herald-Tribune. 1945
•  Bourke-White, Margaret. Photographs following the defeat of Germany. For
Life magazine. 1945
•  Bowden, Mark. "Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War." Book. 2000
•  Capa, Robert. Spanish Civil War photos for Life. 1936
  Ten photographs from D-Day. 1944
•  Cronkite, Walter. CBS television documentary on Vietnam. 1968
•  Davis, Richard Harding. Coverage of German march into Belgium. For the
Wheeler Syndicate and magazines. 1914
•  Gellhorn, Martha. "The Face of War." Collected articles. 1959
•  Gordon, Michael R. and Trainor, Bernard E. “Cobra II: The Inside Story of
the Invasion of Iraq.”  Book. 2006
• Hedges, Chris, “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning.” Book. 2002
•  Hemingway, Ernest. Reports on the Spanish Civil War. In the New
Republic. 1937-38
•  Herr, Michael. "Dispatches." Book. 1977
•  Hersey, John. "Hiroshima." Book. Reprint 1989 and "Here to Stay."
Collected articles. 1963
•  Hersh, Seymour.  
   “Chain Of Command: The Road From 9/11 to Abu Ghraib.” Book. 2004  
   “Cover-up: The Army’s Secret Investigation of the Massacre at My Lai.”
Book 1972. For Dispatch News Service. 1969
  “Chain of Command: The Road From 9/11 to Abu Ghraib.” Book 2004
  “The Dark Side of Camelot.” Book. 1998
   “Iraq Confidential: The Untold Story of the Intelligence Conspiracy to
Undermine the U.N. and  Overthrow Saddam Hussen.” Book 2005
•  Kamm, Henry. "Descending Dragon." Book. 1996
•  Karnow, Stanley. "Vietnam: A History." Book. 1997
•  Knightley, Phillip and Pilger, John. "The First Casualty: The War
Correspondent As Hero and Myth-Maker from the Crimea to Kosovo." Book.
2002
•  Kramer, Jane. "The Politics of Memory: Looking for Germany in the New
Germany." Collected articles. 1996
•  Mailer, Norman. "The Armies of the Night." Book. 1968
•  Murrow, Edward R. "This is London . . ." Radio reports for CBS on the
German bombing of London. 1940
•  Murrow, Edward R. Report of the liberation of Buchenwald for CBS radio.
1945
•  Orwell, George. "Homage to Catalonia." 1952
•  Pyle, Ernie. Reports from Europe and the Pacific during World War II for
the Scripps-Howard newspapers. 1940-45
•  Reed, John. "Ten Days That Shook the World." Book. 1919
• Ricks, Thomas. “Fiasco: The American Military Adventure In Iraq.” Book.
2006
•  Rosenthal, Joe. Photograph of Marines raising a U.S. flag on Mount
Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima. For the Associated Press. 1945
•  Safer, Morley. Report for CBS television on atrocities committed by
American soldiers on the hamlet of Cam Ne in Vietnam. 1965
•  Sheehan, Neil. "A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in
Vietnam." Book. 1988
•  Shirer, William. "Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent,
1939-1941." Book. 1941
•  Sontag, Susan. "Notes on 'Camp'." In the Partisan Review. 1964
•  The New Yorker. "The New Yorker Book of War Pieces." Collected articles.
1947
•  Thompson, Dorothy. Reports on the rise of Hitler in Cosmopolitan and
Saturday Evening Post. 1931-34
•  Ut, Huynh Cong. Photograph of a burning girl running from a napalm
attack. For the Associated Press. 1972

Politics

•  ABC. Live television broadcast of Army-McCarthy hearings. 1954
•  Barlett, Donald L. and Steele, James B. "America: What Went Wrong?"
Series in Philadelphia Inquirer. 1992
•  Carter, Hodding, Jr. "Go for Broke." Editorial in Carter's Delta Democrat-
Times (Greenville, MS). 1945
•  Clarke, Richard. "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terrorism."
Book. 2004
•  Cramer, Richard Ben. "What It Takes: The Way to the White House." Book.
1992
•  Franken, Al. "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced
Look at the Right.” Book 2003
  “The Truth (with jokes).” Book. 2005
•  Goldberg, Bernard. "Arrogance." Book. 2003
•  Herblock (Herbert Block). Cartoons on "McCarthyism." In the Washington
Post. 1950
• Lewis, Michael. “Trail Fever: Rented Strangers, Thumb Wrestlers, Toe
Suckers, Grizzly Bears.” Book. 1997
•  McGinniss, Joe. "The Selling of the President 1968." Book. 1969
•  Moore, Michael. "Dude, Where's My Country?" Book. 2003
  “Stupid White Men...and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation!”
Book 2004
  “Downsize This!” Book 2002
•  Murrow, Edward R. and Friendly, Fred. See It Now CBS television
documentary taking on Senator Joseph McCarthy. 1954
•  New York Times. Publication of the Pentagon Papers. 1971
•  Remnick, David. "Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire."
Book. 1993
•  Salisbury, Harrison. Reporting from the Soviet Union for the New York
Times. 1949-54
•  Thompson, Hunter S. "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail." Book.
1973
•  White, Theodore. "The Making of the President: 1960." Book. 1961
•  Woodward, Bob and Bernstein, Carl. "Watergate Investigations for the
Washington Post. 1972-73" and "All the President's Men." Book. 1974
•  Woodward, Bob. "Plan of Attack." Book. 2004

Muckrakers

•  Mitford, Jessica. "American Way of Death Revisited." Book. 1999
•  Steffens, Lincoln. "The Shame of the Cities" investigation. In McClure's
magazine. 1902-1904
•  Tarbell, Ida. "The History of the Standard Oil Company" Investigation. In
McClure's magazine. 1902-1904

Race and Gender

•  Branch, Taylor. "Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954-63."
Book. 1988
•  Brown, Earl. Series of articles on race for Harper's and Life magazines.
1942-1944
•  Dash, Leon. "Rosa Lee's Story." Series in the Washington Post. 1994
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
srv/local/longterm/library/rosalee/backgrnd.htm
•  DuBois, W.E.B. Columns on race during his tenure as editor of The Crisis.
1910-1934 and "Souls of Black Folk." Collected articles. 1903
•  Friedan, Betty. "The Feminine Mystique." Book. 1963
•  Greene, Melissa Fay. "Praying for Sheetrock." Book. 1991
•  Hampton, Henry. "Eyes on the Prize." Documentary. 1987
•  Lemann, Nicholas. "The Promised Land: The Great Black Migration and How
It Changed America." Book. 1991
•  Poston, Ted. Coverage of the "Little Scottsboro" trial. In the New York Post.
1949
•  Schell, Jonathan. "The Fate of the Earth." Book. 1982
•  Swope, Herbert Bayard. "Klan Exposed." In the New York World. 1921  

Environment

•  Carson, Rachel. "Silent Spring." Book. 1962
•  Gelbspan, Ross. "The Heat Is On." 1995
•  Quammen, David. "Song of the Do Do." 1996
•  Stauber, John and Rampton, Sheldon. "Toxic Sludge is Good for You." 1995
"Trust us, We're Experts! How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles
with Your Future." Book. 2002  

Excellent Reporting

•  Bowden, Mark. “Blackhawk Down.”  Book. 1999  
•  Agee, James and Evans, Walker. "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men." Book.
1941
•  Baker, Russell. "Francs and Beans." In the New York Times. 1975
•  Berger, Meyer. Report on the murderer Howard Unruh. In the New York
Times. 1949
•  Capote, Truman. "In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and
Its Consequences." Book. 1965
  “Music For Chameleons.” Book. 1980
• Clarke, Gerald. “Capote, A Biography.” Book. 1988
•  Didion, Joan. “A Year Of Magical Thinking.” Book. 2006
   “After Henry.” Book. 1992
   “ El Salvador.” Book. 1982
   "Slouching Towards Bethlehem." Collected articles. Book. 1968
  “The Year of Magical Thinking.” Book. 2005
•  Ehrenreich, Barbara.  “Bait and Switch.”  Book. 2005
  "Nickel and Dimed." Book. 2001
•  Hecht, Ben. "1001 Afternoons in Chicago." Collected articles. 1922
• Hemingway, Ernest. “Dateline: Toronto.” Book. 1983
•  Kidder, Tracy. “Mountains Beyond Mountains.”  Book. 2003
  “The Soul of a New Machine.”  Book. 1981
• Langewiesche, William. “American Ground: Unbuilding The World Trade
Center.” Book. 2002
    “The Outlaw Sea: A World Of Freedom, Chaos, and Crime.” Book. 2004
“Sahara Unveiled: A Journey Across the Desert.” Book 1996
•  Lippmann, Walter. Early essays for the New Republic. 1914
•  Lukas, J. Anthony. "Common Ground: A Turbulent Decade in the Lives of
Three American Families." Book. 1985
  "The Two Worlds of Linda Fitzpatrick." In the New York Times. 1967
•  McPhee, John. "The John McPhee Reader." Collected articles. 1976
  “A Sense of Where You Are.” Book. 1999
  “Basin and Range.” Book. 1981
  “Coming into the Country.” Book. 1976
  “Levels of the Game.” Book. 1969
  “The Curve of Binding Energy.” Book. 1973
  “The Second John McPhee Reader.” Book. 1996
•  Mencken, H.L. Coverage of the Scopes "monkey" trial. In the Baltimore
Sun. 1925
•  Mills, Eleanor and Cochrane, Kira. “Journalists: 100 Years of the Best
  Writing and Reporting by Women Journalists.” Book. 2005
•  Mitchell, Joseph. "Up in the Old Hotel and Other Stories." Collection of
much older articles. 1992 and "McSorley's Wonderful Saloon." Collected
articles. 1943
•  Murrow, Edward R., Lowe, David and Friendly, Fred. CBS Reports television
documentary "Harvest of Shame." 1960
•  Preston, Richard. "The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story." Book. 1995
  “The Demon in the Freezer.” Book. 2002
• Rhodes, Richard. “The Making Of The Atomic Bomb.” Book. 1986
•  Ross, Lillian. "Reporting." Collected articles. 1964
•  Runyon, Damon. Crime reporting in the New York American. 1926
•  Snyder, Louis L. and Morris, Richard B. "A Treasury of Great Reporting."
Book. 1962
•  Stone, I.F. I.F. Stone's Weekly. 1953-67
•  Wiseman, Frederick. "Titicut Follies." Documentary. 1967
•  Wolfe, Tom. "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test." Book. 1968 and "The Kandy-
Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby." Collected articles. 1965
  "The Right Stuff." Book. 1979  

More Non-Fiction 

•  Baldwin, James. "The Fire Next Time." Book. 1963 and "Letter from the
South: Nobody Knows My Name." In the Partisan Review. 1959
• Boynton, Robert S. “The New New Journalism: Conversations With
America’s Best Nonfiction Writers On Their Craft.” Book. 2005
•  Conover, Ted. “Coyotes: A Journey Through the Secret World of American
Illegal Aliens.” Book. 1987
  “Newjack.” Book. 2000
  “Rolling Nowhere: Riding the Rails With American Hoboes.” Book. 1981
•  Davis, Mike. "City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles." Book.
1990
•  Flanner, Janet (Genet). "Paris Journals" chronicling of Paris's emergence
from the Occupation. In The New Yorker. 1944-45
•  Goldberg, Bernard. "Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the
News." Regency Publishing. 2001
•  Junger, Sebastian. “A Death In Belmont.” Book. 2006
   “Fire.” Book. 2001
   “The Perfect Storm.” Book. 1997
•  Kempton, Murray. "America Comes of Middle Age: Columns 1950-1962."
Collected articles. 1963
  "Part of Our Time: Some Ruins and Monuments of the Thirties." Book. 1955
• Krakauer, John. “Under The Banner Of Heaven: A Story Of Violent Faith.”
Book. 2003
•  Kramer, Jane. "Europeans." Collected articles. 1988
•  Lewis, Michael. “The Blind Side.” Book. 2006
   “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game.” Book. 2003
   “Liar’s Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street.” Book. 1989
•  Liebling, A. J. "The Wayward Pressman." Collected articles. 1947
  "The Earl of Louisiana." Book. 1961
  "The Road Back to Paris." Collected articles. 1944
•  Mailer, Norman. "The Executioner's Song." Book. 1979
•  McCourt, Frank. "Angela's Ashes." Book. 1996
•  Moore, Michael. "Stupid White Men ...and Other Sorry Excuses for the
State of the Nation!"
•  Nader, Ralph. "Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the
American Automobile." Book. 1965
•  Orlean, Susan. “The Orchid Thief.” Book 1998
•  Pegler, Westbrook. "The Dissenting Opinions of Mister Westbrook Pegler."
Book. 1938
•  Schlosser, Eric. "Fast Food Nation." Book. 2001
•  Sheean, Vincent. "Personal History." Book. 1935
•  Shenk, David. "Data Smog."
•  Shilts, Randy. Reports on AIDS for the San Francisco Chronicle. 1981-85
•  Steinbeck, John. Reports on Okie migrant camp life for the San Francisco
News. 1936
• Thompson, Hunter. “Hells Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga.” Book.
1966
  “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Book. 1971
• Weingarten, Marc. “The Gang That Wouldn’t Write Straight.” Book. 2006
•  White, William Allen. "To an Anxious Friend." In the Emporia (Kansas)
Gazette. 1922. http://www.ukans.edu/~jschool/school/wawhite.shtml

Writing

•  King, Stephen. "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft." Book. 2000
•  Strunk, William and White, E. B. "The Elements of Style." Book. 1999
•  Zinsser, William K. "On Writing Well." Book. 2001  
  "Writing to Learn: How to Write and Think Clearly about Any Subject at
All." Book. 1989
  "Speaking of Journalism: Twelve Writers & Editors Talk About Their Work."
Book. 1995

Sports

•  Angell, Roger. "Five Seasons: A Baseball Companion." Book. 1978
•  Bentley, E.C. "The Best of Damon Runyon." Book. 1945
•  Blount, Roy, Jr. and Pierce, Charles. "Sports Guy: In Search of Corkball,
Warroad Hockey, Hooters Golf, Tiger Woods, and the Big, Big Game."
Book. 2001 and "About Three Bricks Shy of a Load: A Highly Irregular
Lowdown on the Year the Pittsburgh Steelers Were Super But Missed the
Bowl." Book. 1980
•  Boswell, Tom. "How Life Imitates the World Series." Book. 1983 and "Why
Life Begins on Opening Day." Book. "The Heart of the Order." Book. 1990
•  Bouton, Jim. "Ball Four: My Life and Hard Times Throwing the Knuckleball
in the Big Leagues." Book. 1970.
•  Breslin, Jimmy. "Can't Anybody Here Play This Game." Book. 1963
•  Cannon, Jimmy. "Nobody Asked Me But...: The World of Jimmy Cannon."
Book. 1983
•  Considine, Bob. "The Babe Ruth Story." Book. 1992
•  Creamer, Richard Ben. "Joe DiMaggi The Hero's Life."
•  Deford, Frank. "The Best of Frank DeFord: I'm Just Getting Started." Book.
2001
   “Everybody’s All-American.” Book. 2004 (re-issued)
•  Halberstam, David. "Summer of '49." Book. 1989
  "The Amateurs: The Story of Four Young Men and Their Quest for an
Olympic Gold Medal." Book. 1996
  "The Teammates." Book. 2003
•  Hillenbrand, Laura. “Seabiscuit.” Book. 2001
•  Jenkins, Dan. "Fairways and Greens: The best golf writing of Dan Jenkins."
Book. 1995 and "I'll Tell You One Thing: The Untold Truth about Texas,
America and College Football, with Pictures to Prove It." Book. 1999
•  Kahn, Roger. "The Boys of Summer." Book. 1972
•  Krakauer, Jon. “Into Thin Air.” Book. 1997
  “Under the Banner of Heaven.” Book. 2003
•  Lardner, Ring. "The Portable Ring Lardner" ( Edited and with an
introduction by Gilbert Seldes. Viking. 1946 ) and "The Ring Lardner
Reader" ( Edited by Maxwell Geismar. Scribner's. 1963) are representative
collections. "Shut Up, He Explained: A Ring Lardner Selection" was edited
by Babette Rosmond and Henry Morgan. Scribner's, 1962. "Some
Champions: Sketches and Fiction." by Ring Lardner was published by
Scribner's in 1976. See also "The Annotated Baseball Stories of Ring W.
Lardner." 1914-1919 Edited by George W. Hilton.
•  Murray, Jim. "The Best of Jim Murray." Book. 1965
•  Pegler, Westbrook. "The Dissenting Opinions of Mister Westbrook Pegler."
Book. 1938
•  Remnick, David. "King of the World: Muhammad Ali and the Rise of an
American Hero." Book. 1998
•  Rice, Grantland. "Notre Dame's 'Four Horsemen'." In the New York Herald-
Tribune. 1924
•  Roy, Travis and Swife, E.M. "Eleven Seconds: A story of tragedy, courage,
& triumph." Book. 1997
•  Schaap, Dick. "Instant Replay." Book. 1986
•  Smith, Red. "The Red Smith Reader." Book. 1983
•  Stanford. 1995. Notes and photographs. "Ring Around the Bases: The
Complete  
•  Swife, E.M. and Gordeeva, Ekaterina. "My Sergei." Book. 1997
  Baseball Stories" of Ring Lardner is edited by Matthew Bruccoli and
published by Scribner's. 1992  

Hollywood/Entertainment 

•  Kael, Pauline. "Trash, Art, and the Movies." In Harper's. 1969
•  Marcus, Greil. "Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music."
Book. 1975
•  Ross, Lillian. "Picture." Book. 1952
•  Talese, Gay. "Fame and Obscurity: Portraits by Gay Talese." Collected
articles. 1970