The $64 Tomato

Author: William Alexander

First line: "Why can't Dad be more like other dads?" Katie asked my wife recently.

Why you should read this book: If you've ever invested hours of backbreaking labor and hundreds of dollars of dirt into a backyard garden with produce yields that represent a fraction of your investment, you've glimpsed the world of William Alexander, Gentleman Farmer. With tragicomic honesty, he relates his odyssey, doing battle with a 2000 square foot kitchen garden, along with a planned meadow, small orchard, other assorted gardens, and the creatures that love to munch on the fruits of his labor. Heirloom brandywine tomatoes, fresh sweet corn, winter herbs, super-intelligent groundhogs, sarcastic teenagers, and wave after wave of insect invader turn an idyllic pastime into a fast-paced amusement park ride through the understanding of man's place in nature and his relationship to food.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Pesticides help you feel safe.