9 of 10. This book builds on one of my favorite reads from last year, Types and Programming Languages. It contains a collection of essays on topics ranging from precise type analysis, lower level type systems (e.g. a typed assembly language), reasoning about programs, and ML type inferencing. I've not yet completed it, but it is generally very well written. I highly recommend both of these books.

8 of 10. Fascinating read by one of the most knowledgeable and provocative experts on the topic of both historical and modern intellectual property. This book takes a careful look (without too much lawyer speak) at the impacts IP law have had on culture as a whole, and examines the impacts on the future of ideas and the ability to act out on such creativity. Lawrence has a blog over at http://www.lessig.org/blog/, and has a great collection of presentations over at the IT Conversations website.

7 of 10. This is a fun book. While some of the topics covered aren't necessarily hacks, the author's do a great job of discussing some interesting facets of how the brain functions. While coverage doesn't go very deep in any one area, the book provides plenty of (mostly web) references to follow up on if you end up wanting more details. The prose is very computer/geekish which just adds to the reading pleasure.