Cozy Factor: With the warm colors and soft light, I would say pretty darn cozy, although the dining chairs might need a cushion.
The Books: In addition to a shelf of auction catalogs and a shelf of cookbooks and food writing, this person has quite a few book of the month type books and with an emphasis on best selling non-fiction.
- The Chief (bio of Randolph Hearst)
- Titan (bio of Rockefeller)
- Churchill bio
- Thatcher bio
- Driven Patriot (bio of James Forrestal – Truman’s Secretary of Defense)
- The Bell Curve (the controversial book that suggested that there is a correlation between genes and intelligence–with racial overtones)
- Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken (does this balance out all the conservative stuff or was it a gift from a lefty friend?)
- George Stephanopolous’ memoir
- Two books on American financier Bernard Baruch
- The Triumph of Politics by David Stockman – Stockman was Reagan’s budget guy and progenitor of supply-side economics. Interestingly, Stockman was just quoted in Rolling Stone in November saying: “The Republican Party has totally abdicated its job in our democracy, which is to act as the guardian of fiscal discipline and responsibility. They’re on an anti-tax jihad — one that benefits the prosperous classes.”
- Undaunted Courage
- Guns, Germs and Steel
Man, these titles are so typical of the non-creative books that line shelves in DC. Woodward, Iacocca, Trump, Adam Smith… The only fiction I can make out is Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full (also seen in SE#5) The Firm, and The Da Vinci Code.
The Shelves: I like the way the backs are painted in a darker color but I am not sure I like the proportions and profile of the mill work. I particularly don’t like how the TV is built in. Not because it is a TV in a library but because I think building in any appliance is foolish and the proportions of the trip work look terrible.
Is this person a reader? Pretty sure it is a married couple…Yes they are readers, but I don’t think I would find them very interesting.
The book I would read if I had to choose one: Probably the Thatcher bio. It would get me ready for the Meryl Streep portrayal out next year. Plus I wouldn’t mind reading more about that period of British history.
hogglestock 
I find the chandeleire-thingy very distracting. Also, it looks asian but there is not any other asian decor in the room. Am I wrong?
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Not a fan of the distracting chandelier but I love the Herend china.
I think auction catalogs are fascinating and automatically love anyone who collects them.
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The chandaleire-thingy really has to go. And mixing a television with a bookcase is not kosher. Doesn't it look and feel like it should be a fireplace?
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This looks like a Republican library to me. David Stockman? Talk about the dustheap of history-“Trickle down”- was that not Stockman's idea?
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Not a fan of this one. The pagoda-chandelier sort of ruins the view of the shelves. I prefer lighting to be understated. :) I hadn't noticed the backs of the shelves until you pointed them out, but I do like the darker color back there. Other than that…the TV just doesn't fit, and the table doesn't work for me. Overall, the room isn't very cohesive.
But I love this feature!
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c.f. your review of Victorian Chaise-Longue.
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I find this room very confusing — it it a library? A dining room? A TV room? I think this is the room of someone who really doesn't read and is just showing off their books.
I do like the way the bookshelves are painted, but the chandelier is weird. I love Asian things and have some Asian furniture and art in my house, but that's just ugly.
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The shelves aren't thick enough, and as you say, the millwork isn't very good. And while I'm getting slowly resigned to flatscreens everywhere, this one doesn't look right.
As for the books, I note an emphasis on finance (biographies of Jay Gould, the Warburgs, JP Morgan, etc). (Stockman's book, btw, was a memoir of his time in the Reagan administration and no sort of defense of Reagan's tax policies.)
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but, but. the chandelier! I want.
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Don't like this one at all. Cluttery, too much stuff. I would ditch the tv and the eating table.
Lots about Thatcher these days, isn't there? Remember the Kinks song – Dear Margaret?
I do love how you report on the actual books on the shelves. Sometimes I can't get past the arrangement to even look at the titles.
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Oh, yeah and what's with that light?! More clutter. Yikes.
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Thomas you've got one crazy eagle-eye. I couldn't name one title on that shelf if I tried. But the room really is lovely. Thanks for sharing.
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