Bill Walton may have been born and raised in SoCal, but he was an Oregonian at heart. And I don't mean the current crop of Oregonians from the last 20-30 years who are imported with radical social ideas, but Oregonians bred with the pioneer genes of the 1800s, not unlike prototypical governor Tom McCall, who led a "progressive" coalition in the 1960s that included fishermen, lumbermen, farmers, ranchers, bankers and manufacturers. All were interested in Keeping Oregon Green (a 60s slogan), meaning ecologically balanced and ideologically free. I will miss BW
Wouldn't that be something?! I think though you would also need to clone all the reasonable, politically moderate voters of that era. Tom McCall, even if cloned, would not stand a chance of getting elected in Oregon today.
Thanks for the list John. Have a read a few of these, and they were all good books. Based on that I will have to try a few more. Wide range of topics and views represented in this list, shows the breadth of Bill's knowledge. Thanks for sharing
I’ve read several of these too. Rinker Bucks’ ‘The Oregon Trail’ is especially good, a modern travel tale of the Oregon Trail using a recreated Conestoga wagon. There are several on Walton’s list that are new to me and will check out, starting with Geography of Genius.
I was on a very long walk, well at least long for me, and I VERY fondly remember listening, when you had Bill on your show during the Pandemic. I would say it was a great interview, but did anyone actually interview Bill? 😁. You sincerely seemed like you were able to have a bit of a conversation with him, which is rare. I was thoroughly entertained the entire time!
Yesterday, I listened to the Axe Files with David Axelrod and he ran his interview with Bill Walton from a few years back. As they say, available wherever you listen to podcasts. 🙂
Bill Walton was a true Renaissance Man, in a 6'11" body. His reading list, for Bill, is probably a better epitaph than his hoop successes.
I am especially struck by the bookends of Callenback's Utopian "Ecotopia," and Lewis' Dystopian--and prescient, given America 2024--"It Can't Happen Here." While his style was not for everyone, I cannot imagine ANYone disliking Walton. A truly amazing human being who will definitely be missed. Thanks for the reading list--my own just got longer.
Proud to say I have read seven of these! Halberstam was a fantastic writer, who also wrote a great book on the 78-79 Blazers. (All the way, with Billy Ray!). Great list.
Not surprised two of David Halberstam books are on the list. I've read the Best and the Brightest. I was to young when the Vietnam War was happening. I needed to learn more and the Author of The Making of a Quagmire seem like a good place to learn. I've read other books by Halberstam, including Breaks of the game. I was a huge Blazer fan while reading it. I read all 700 pages in about 4 days.
I just picked up Kevin Baker's book: The New York Game - Baseball and the Rise of a New City. I heard Kevin discussing the book on Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo's radio show while driving. Kevin is a fascinating writer. It is very Halberstam like in that it is about baseball as well as the changes in society taking place during the various eras to impact the sport as well as its fans. I can't wait until we look back at this era in college sports 10 to 20 years from now and how what is happening right at this point in time, so dramatically changed the landscape of college sports. You will be one of the key story tellers in particular for those of us with a predominant left coast focus!
He may have been little Billy, but the impact he made on people was astounding. This list of his books read is an indication of the incredible person that he was. His being will continue to inspire and motivate people for quite a long time. May he not be forgotten. This world needs more little Billies.
Ambitious! I have only read a couple of them, including Irving Stone's "Origin" (the story of Charles Darwin) and "Shoe Dog". It looks like a great, eclectic mix, heavy on biographies of ground-breaking people.
I've read a handful on the list - some were very good, others not so much. As for Oregon, Washington and northern California seceding from the union and forming some kind of eco"utopia", those regions are pretty friggin' far from any kind of utopia, but Bill was always a dreamer - far from a pragmatist - and good for him. He died happy...shouldn't we all?
Bill Walton may have been born and raised in SoCal, but he was an Oregonian at heart. And I don't mean the current crop of Oregonians from the last 20-30 years who are imported with radical social ideas, but Oregonians bred with the pioneer genes of the 1800s, not unlike prototypical governor Tom McCall, who led a "progressive" coalition in the 1960s that included fishermen, lumbermen, farmers, ranchers, bankers and manufacturers. All were interested in Keeping Oregon Green (a 60s slogan), meaning ecologically balanced and ideologically free. I will miss BW
Oregon, California and Washington too, would all be better off if some cloned Tom McCalls could make it to head their states.
Wouldn't that be something?! I think though you would also need to clone all the reasonable, politically moderate voters of that era. Tom McCall, even if cloned, would not stand a chance of getting elected in Oregon today.
That’s true. People elect those who are like themselves
Still "blocking" me, Brian?
Emotionally and intellectually weak people use the "block" button.
Maybe you could publish Bill’s list on the anniversary of his death each year? Seems a good way to remember him.
I like that idea. Gives us a good reminder of some good reads
Thanks for the list John. Have a read a few of these, and they were all good books. Based on that I will have to try a few more. Wide range of topics and views represented in this list, shows the breadth of Bill's knowledge. Thanks for sharing
I’ve read several of these too. Rinker Bucks’ ‘The Oregon Trail’ is especially good, a modern travel tale of the Oregon Trail using a recreated Conestoga wagon. There are several on Walton’s list that are new to me and will check out, starting with Geography of Genius.
I was on a very long walk, well at least long for me, and I VERY fondly remember listening, when you had Bill on your show during the Pandemic. I would say it was a great interview, but did anyone actually interview Bill? 😁. You sincerely seemed like you were able to have a bit of a conversation with him, which is rare. I was thoroughly entertained the entire time!
Yesterday, I listened to the Axe Files with David Axelrod and he ran his interview with Bill Walton from a few years back. As they say, available wherever you listen to podcasts. 🙂
Bill Walton was a true Renaissance Man, in a 6'11" body. His reading list, for Bill, is probably a better epitaph than his hoop successes.
I am especially struck by the bookends of Callenback's Utopian "Ecotopia," and Lewis' Dystopian--and prescient, given America 2024--"It Can't Happen Here." While his style was not for everyone, I cannot imagine ANYone disliking Walton. A truly amazing human being who will definitely be missed. Thanks for the reading list--my own just got longer.
Those two rang a bell for me as well.
I want to add to this list (and surprised he didn't have this already) Larry Colton's "Goat Brothers". Definitely on my all-time list.
Frat Bros in the 60s at Berkeley in later lives--might be interesting. Thanks Bob.
Proud to say I have read seven of these! Halberstam was a fantastic writer, who also wrote a great book on the 78-79 Blazers. (All the way, with Billy Ray!). Great list.
I was surprised to not see “One flew over the cuckoos nest” or “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” nonetheless what an amazing list! Thanks Canzano.
What about southern Cali native Bukowski?--guess buk to real
Wow! Thanks to Bill, and to you, we now have a great booklist to enjoy and learn from. Thanks so much for this—and good luck with the reading project!
Not surprised two of David Halberstam books are on the list. I've read the Best and the Brightest. I was to young when the Vietnam War was happening. I needed to learn more and the Author of The Making of a Quagmire seem like a good place to learn. I've read other books by Halberstam, including Breaks of the game. I was a huge Blazer fan while reading it. I read all 700 pages in about 4 days.
Thanks JC great list!!!
I just picked up Kevin Baker's book: The New York Game - Baseball and the Rise of a New City. I heard Kevin discussing the book on Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo's radio show while driving. Kevin is a fascinating writer. It is very Halberstam like in that it is about baseball as well as the changes in society taking place during the various eras to impact the sport as well as its fans. I can't wait until we look back at this era in college sports 10 to 20 years from now and how what is happening right at this point in time, so dramatically changed the landscape of college sports. You will be one of the key story tellers in particular for those of us with a predominant left coast focus!
I have The Earth is Weeping and Blood and Thunder. Good history books that are now at the top of my summer 📚 list.
I am going to try to read them all. Let's see how I do.
Keep us up to date on your progress!
He may have been little Billy, but the impact he made on people was astounding. This list of his books read is an indication of the incredible person that he was. His being will continue to inspire and motivate people for quite a long time. May he not be forgotten. This world needs more little Billies.
Ambitious! I have only read a couple of them, including Irving Stone's "Origin" (the story of Charles Darwin) and "Shoe Dog". It looks like a great, eclectic mix, heavy on biographies of ground-breaking people.
Big order to Amazon or Powells?
Wow-this great list; wish I had seen this at the start of Covid!
Awesome - thanks John
Go Ducks!
GO DAWGS
Wish I could give you a thumbs down!
Great idea to share the book list - love it!
I've read a handful on the list - some were very good, others not so much. As for Oregon, Washington and northern California seceding from the union and forming some kind of eco"utopia", those regions are pretty friggin' far from any kind of utopia, but Bill was always a dreamer - far from a pragmatist - and good for him. He died happy...shouldn't we all?
Sapiens. Great read. Read it twice.
I’ve read six of those books. Looks like I still have a lot of good reading ahead of me!