Night-table Reading

Richard Ingrams (editor of The Oldie A' Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov (Vintage). "It's a good lesson for people to write about sex without being obscene. It isn't pornographic at all, and it has wonderful descriptions of America."

Lady Kier Kirby (singer-songwriter of Deee-lite): Food of the Gods, by Terence McKenna (Bantam). "It explores the importance that natural hallucinogens played in our human evolution. "

Julian Niccolini (manager, the Four Seasons): The Prize, by Daniel Yergin (Simon & Schuster). "It's about the oil cartel and the epic quest for oil, money, and power. I like to know who controls the incredible amounts of money and power."