David Simon's Suggested Reads (51 books)

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A list of books recommended by David Simon, journalist, screenwriter, and co-creator of HBO's The Wire.

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1	All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren 4.09 avg rating — 67,930 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 4.14 avg rating — 324,760 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Clockers by Richard Price 4.12 avg rating — 13,976 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Two Nations: Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal by Andrew Hacker 3.88 avg rating — 245 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Let Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee 3.97 avg rating — 4,087 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops and Corruption in an American City by Justin Fenton 4.25 avg rating — 5,186 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the New Face of American War by Evan Wright 4.30 avg rating — 21,179 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Plot Against America by Philip Roth 3.82 avg rating — 71,794 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Ball Four by Jim Bouton 4.05 avg rating — 21,675 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America by Garry Wills 4.16 avg rating — 8,750 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Killshot by Elmore Leonard 3.75 avg rating — 7,434 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 48,039 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Darkness, Take My Hand: A Kenzie and Gennaro Novel (Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro Series, 2) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 34,120 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Sacred: A Kenzie and Gennaro Novel (Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro Series, 3) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 24,704 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Gone, Baby, Gone (Kenzie & Gennaro, #4) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 43,822 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Prayers for Rain: A Kenzie and Gennaro Novel (Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro Series, 5) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 24,800 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Moonlight Mile: A Kenzie and Gennaro Novel (Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro Series, 6) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 3.76 avg rating — 26,165 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Right as Rain (Derek Strange & Terry Quinn #1) by George P. Pelecanos 3.88 avg rating — 5,603 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Hell to Pay (Derek Strange & Terry Quinn #2) by George P. Pelecanos 3.89 avg rating — 3,167 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Soul Circus (Derek Strange & Terry Quinn #3) by George P. Pelecanos 3.93 avg rating — 2,955 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Hard Revolution (Derek Strange & Terry Quinn #4) by George P. Pelecanos 3.98 avg rating — 2,822 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	What It Was (Derek Strange & Terry Quinn #5) by George P. Pelecanos 3.76 avg rating — 2,430 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Lush Life by Richard Price 3.73 avg rating — 15,359 ratings score: 78, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Mystic River by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 173,141 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman (Goodreads Author) 3.50 avg rating — 22,108 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Rum Punch (Ordell Robbie & Louis Gara #2) by Elmore Leonard 3.96 avg rating — 13,871 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Wanderers by Richard Price 3.90 avg rating — 2,060 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Big Blowdown (D.C. Quartet #1) by George P. Pelecanos 4.04 avg rating — 2,885 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	King Suckerman (D.C. Quartet, #2) by George P. Pelecanos 3.97 avg rating — 2,618 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Sweet Forever (D.C. Quartet #3) by George P. Pelecanos 3.98 avg rating — 2,605 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Shame the Devil (D.C. Quartet #4) by George P. Pelecanos 3.90 avg rating — 2,022 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Not in My Neighborhood: How Bigotry Shaped a Great American City by Antero Pietila 4.07 avg rating — 1,129 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David K. Shipler 4.04 avg rating — 5,770 ratings score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman (Goodreads Author) 3.47 avg rating — 11,793 ratings score: 67, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Paths of Glory by Humphrey Cobb 4.22 avg rating — 718 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Show Me A Hero: A Tale of Murder, Suicide, Race, and Redemption by Lisa Belkin 4.30 avg rating — 786 ratings score: 65, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA by Tim Weiner (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 16,202 ratings score: 64, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson 4.17 avg rating — 35,705 ratings score: 63, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies by Michael W. Kauffman 4.16 avg rating — 2,546 ratings score: 62, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 4.09 avg rating — 756,853 ratings score: 61, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh 4.10 avg rating — 21,693 ratings score: 60, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Pimp: The Story of My Life by Iceberg Slim really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 15,425 ratings score: 59, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Difficult Men. Behind The Scenes Of A Creative Revolution: From The Sopranos And The Wire To Mad Men And Breaking Bad by Brett Martin (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 3,584 ratings score: 58, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Gentleman of Leisure: A Year in the Life of a Pimp by Susan Hall 3.84 avg rating — 45 ratings score: 57, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Homicide (Homicide: The Graphic Novel, 1) by Philippe Squarzoni (Adapter/Illustrator) 4.09 avg rating — 577 ratings score: 56, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 by Hunter S. Thompson 4.13 avg rating — 25,227 ratings score: 55, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Hollywood Station (Hollywood Station, #1) by Joseph Wambaugh 3.88 avg rating — 4,494 ratings score: 54, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Hollywood Crows (Hollywood Station, #2) by Joseph Wambaugh 3.93 avg rating — 2,801 ratings score: 53, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Hollywood Moon (Hollywood, #3) by Joseph Wambaugh 3.96 avg rating — 2,528 ratings score: 52, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Hollywood Hills (Hollywood Station, #4) by Joseph Wambaugh really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,903 ratings score: 51, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Night Gardener by George P. Pelecanos 3.69 avg rating — 6,766 ratings score: 50, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars