NIGHT TABLE READING

ANDERSON COOPERCNN anchor

The Quiet American, by Graham Greene (Penguin). "I went to school in Vietnam, and this book always takes me back there. To me, it's a cautionary tale about the dangers of idealism and cynicism, but it's the writing that makes me reread it every few years."

LARS NILSSONcreative director, Nina Ricci

A Million Little Pieces, by James Frey (Doubleday). "It's an incredible journey through rehabilitation—a modem version of the phoenix rising from its ashes."

PETER GALLAGHERactor, The O.C. (Fox)

The Making of a Philosopher, by Colin McGinn (HarperCollins). "It's the first time I've read an autobiography by a friend, and he's the first friend I've had who makes his living as a philosopher. The journey, both personal and philosophical, is really fascinating, fun, and illuminating."

LAURA DERNactor

Trees Make the Best Mobiles: Simple Ways to Raise Your Child in a Complex World, by Jessica Teich and Brandel France de Bravo (St. Martin's). "This book encourages parents to do less, buy less, and plan fewer activities. It's about learning to be with your baby, and letting your baby be."