ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our first battles, harry crocker. [applause] >> thank you. i have worked in the book business most of my working life. i never thought you parrot the pleasure of holding a ook as to holding my le. out of the house she would take a. i would say i love you as much as i love holding the road to serfdom. [laughter] >> i remember -- they usually have is recommended book list for christmas. and asked him what books he would recommend. and said well, for you ericans i think you ought to start with the bible and shakespeare and work your way up from there. likewise, i think we need to start with the bible her. it seems to me fundamental to read the bible. aside fm whatever divine nature we might attribute to it, you cant be a literatperson in western civilization without having rd the bible. and i'm not overly concerned with what translation you might choose. personally, i think it is important to read the king jam james, but the revised standard, they are all good. i ink it is fundamental to start with the bible. [applause]