READING L.A.

Peter J. Lucas, actor:

“Battleground Berlin,� by David E. Murphy, Sergei A. Kondrashev and George Bailey (Yale University Press).

“Even if we only trust half of what these spymasters reveal, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know what happened during the Cold War.�

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Bonnie O’Brian, supervisor of library services:

“Eleanor,� by Barbara Cooney (Viking).

“This well-researched biography of Eleanor Roosevelt captures the sadness and loss of her early years and her development into a remarkable woman. Detailed mauve and blue illustrations of the period enhance Cooney’s lively prose.�

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Estela Herrera, journalist, educator:

“Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life,� by Jon Lee Anderson (Grove Atlantic).

“This book brought me back to my Argentine homeland and my youth. It rekindled an intense nostalgia for a generation who dreamed Che’s dreams for social justice and buried them. Not in Bolivia or Havana, but in the obstinate realism of realpolitik and the free market.�

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Annie Tien, personal assistant:

“The Princessa: Machiavelli for Women,� by Harriet Rubin (Doubleday).

“In a book reminiscent of Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince’ and Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of War,’ Rubin breaks down not only the tactics but the psychological effects of a woman’s feminine power in negotiating tough business wars.�