Thankfully mollifying the deep anxiety I feel as I await in great anticipation for the Nobel Prize announcements tomorrow, the National Book Award Finalists have been announced.

I’m a bit embarassed however as I have only read one of the cited titles, Christopher Hitchens’ rabble-rousing “God is Not Great.” (It’s good. Not great.)

But if you liked it and/or Hitchens then you really, really need to read his expose on Mother Teresa, The Missionary Position. (Great book. Great title.)

And if you want to read from one of the Super-Genres on bookshelves today (Bush Books, Dog Books, God Books), and decide on God Books, then you would be better off reading Sam Harris’ “The End of Faith.” Or if you’re too cheap or suffer from commitment issues with longer books, then grab a copy of his slender follow-up, “Letter to a Christian Nation.” It’s also very good, encapsulates and summarizes many of the same themes, and you’ll be done with it in a mere 45 minutes on a couch in Barnes & Noble.

As a fan of his, I’m happy to see Robert Hass again recognized for his first new poetry in a decade. But do not confuse the also-nominated Mischa Berlinski’s “Fieldwork” with Hass’ 1973 collection “Field Guide.”

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