AD Miller _ pen name of Andrew Miller _ is a journalist at The Economist and an upcoming writer. His first non-fiction book, The Earl of Petticoat Lane, garnered rave reviews. His second work, the novel Snowdrops, was shortlisted for the Book Prize in 2011.
Miller, who is working on his next book, is the quintessential professional reader who loves talking about good books and sharing his reading list on his Facebook page. A graduate in literature from Cambridge University and Princeton University, Miller's choices are always classic works _ Moby Dick, Lolita, The Brothers Karamazov and Heart of Darkness.
New journalism _ a lengthy form of news feature, investigative pieces and essays _ is also part of his literary diet. For journalists who aim to become writers, or journalists who wish to explore new journalism or creative non-fiction, Miller offers a highly interesting reading list.
_ Anchalee Kongrut
The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer
"This is my favourite book. Mailer's work is a landmark of new journalism. I cannot recommend Truman Capote's work anymore as it turns out that he made things up. I think In Cold Blood is fantastic but he actually fabricated a lot of things."
The book: In The Executioner's Song, which has been dubbed a model of new journalism, journalist and famed writer Norman Mailer followed in the footsteps of Capote in doing investigative journalism. As Capote visited a death row convict in In Cold Blood, Mailer explored the life of death row convict Gary Gilmore. More than a scoop criminal profile, The Executioner's Song examines life on the wrong side of the tracks as well as reflecting on violence and alienation in the US.
Less Than One by Joseph Brodsky
"This book is a brilliant essay and the essay is an art form in itself," said Andrew Miller.
The book: Nobel prize laureate poet Joseph Brodsky is also a respected translator and essayist.
This book offers his insights into the works of Dostoyevsky, Mandelstam and Platonov as well as non-Russian poets Auden, Cavafy and Montale. The book, which won a National Book Critics Circle Award, opens and closes with revealing autobiographical essays.
A Collection of Essays by George Orwell
"Orwell is best known for his political satire novels Animal Farm and 1984. Yet, a great numbers of his works are outstanding examples of new journalism, which blends between creative writing and fact-based journalism.
A Collection of Essays is good start for anyone who wants to read essays. It is also the best choice to get to know Orwell as an essayist."
The book: Known as the most thought-provoking and vivid essayist of the 20th century, Orwell offers glimpses of his life in essays covering a variety of topics, including his recollections of life at an English prep school, his perspectives on the Spanish Civil War and British imperialism, including his experiences in Burma.
