READING L.A.

Sara Melzer, professor of French and communication studies, UCLA:

“The History of New France” by Marc Lescarbot (Champlain Society).

“We forget how important France was in our colonial heritage. This book gives a fascinating account of our shared history and how the French encouraged interracial marriages between themselves and Indian natives.”

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Doug Kaback, artist in residence, Music Center:

“Schrodinger’s Cat” by Robert Anton Wilson (Dell).

“If Pavlov’s dog helped us see the connection between stimulus and response, ‘Schrodinger’s Cat’ unlocks the riddle of quantum causality. It’s a trip into an alternate universe, with plenty of profound and hysterical insights.”

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Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, filmmaker:

“Rebel Without a Crew” by Robert Rodriguez (Penguin).

“Rodriguez’s account of making ‘El Mariachi’ is an inspirational story about making a film without a huge crew or budget. He clearly proves that movie-making today takes less money than most schools and studios would have you believe.”

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Tom Himrod, attorney:

“Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus” by Orson Scott Card (Tor Books).

“This story of time travel speculates about what would have happened if Columbus hadn’t destroyed the culture of the New World. The Mayas and Tainos would have flourished, which, of course, changes the present and creates an interesting problem for Card’s protagonists.”