NIGHT-TABLE READING

NATALIE MASSENET

FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, NET-A-PORTER

THAT WOMAN: THE LIFE OF WALLIS SIMPSON, DUCHESS OF WINDSOR, BYANNESEBBA

I find Wallis Simpson a most intriguing historical figure who defied her circumstances and willed herself a different life.

DAVID STEINBERG

COMEDIAN, ACTOR, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR

LUCKY BRUCE, BY BRUCE JAYFRIE DMAN

It's a hilarious and touching look back, focusing on the 60s to now. It features everyone from Joseph Heller and Joey Gallo Bruce's own gang of writers at Elaine's. I especially love Mario Puzo's dying words to Bruce: "Thank God I won't have to deal with the Internet."

RACHEL MADDOW

HOST OF MSNBC'S THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW

THIS PLACE ON THIRD AVENUE:

THE NEW YORK STORIES OF JOHN McNULTY, BY JOHN McNULTY

I worry sometimes that working in TV sands down my edges and instead rewards the small-c conservative suburbanite in me. So I'm reading wonderful city stories to try to make myself think like New York instead of thinking like TV.