Mark Ford

From Mark Ford, editor, Creating Wealth: I was familiar with the title, but I had no idea what it was. A movie? A play? An autobiography of Sammy Davis, Jr.?

What Makes Sammy Run? happens to be a book—and a very good one, at that. It was this month’s selection for “The Mules,” the all-guys book club I belong to.

In fact, it got an immediate perch on my mental list of the 10 best books written about America. At first glance, you wouldn’t think it was a book about America. It seems to be about Hollywood… or Jewish Americans… or both.

But like Huckleberry Finn, The Great Gatsby, and Lolita (my three favorite books in this category), What Makes Sammy Run? tells a compelling story about a certain slice of American life.

And in doing so, it illuminates many of the dark corners of our culture.

Like Huckleberry Finn, this book has an arresting plot, compelling characters, and smart and funny dialogue.

Like The Great Gatsby, you get to know the protagonist—an unforgettable character—through an equally interesting narrator.

And like Lolita, the language is often beautiful, and the thought is deep.

It’s 300 pages of thoughtful, challenging fun. I give it five stars.