I’ve had a problem since teenhood, when I first began buying entire albums* of music.

My problem persists even as digital formats allow us to purchase individual songs rather than entire albums: almost invariably my favorite song from an album or by a band is not one of those that get released as a single, or those that make it big if they are released.

My favorite Garbage song is not the grump-goth favorite “Only Happy When It Rains;” it’s a tie between “As Heaven is Wide” and “Hammering in my Head.” My favorite Kenny Loggins song? “Heaven Helps,” not “Footloose” or “Danger Zone.” I like Mix-A-Lot’s “My Hooptie” better than “Baby Got Back.” From the new Paramore album, the Alison Krauss-esque “Hate to See Your Heart Break” is my favorite. (There might be a Letter H theme going on here…)

So, when I see Jacqueline Sahagian‘s list of “10 Better Books by the Authors You Read in School,” I felt a glimmer of recognition. Often, an artist’s best work (at least in someone’s opinion) isn’t the most famous.

You can check out the rest of Sahagian’s list here, but one of her suggestions resonated deeply with me, so bear with me while I rant—Cat’s Cradle is by far Kurt Vonnegut’s best book. Continue reading →