Top 10 Books That Lawyers Didn't Have Time to Read in 2012

Remember books? Not the books made for lawyers, full of cases and legal codes and moderately interesting footnotes. We mean books that don't include case summaries or require cross-referencing.

We're going to go out on a limb and say you probably didn't have time to get to reading many of the new books that came out this year. But this holiday week may be your chance.

To help you figure out how to spend your limited reading time, we've put together a list of great books that came out in 2012. No matter what kind of read you're looking for, this list should include at least a few suggestions that will keep you entertained well into the new year.

1. "Gone Girl." A murder mystery that centers around the disappearance of a woman on the morning of her anniversary. All fingers point to her husband, but did he do it?


2. "America Again." Stephen Colbert is at it again with a new book on the (sometimes imagined) virtues of his favorite country.


3. "Fifty Shades of Grey." This novel took the country by storm and may be the most-read book of the year. A sexy romance novel about erotic desires, it's a good light read.


4. "The Secret Race." If you've been captivated by the Tour de France, this peek into the world of professional cycling will have you glued to your chair.


5. "Life of Pi." This book wasn't published this year, but it did become a movie in 2012. Read it now and then see the movie to double your holiday entertainment.


6. "The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook." If you like being in the kitchen or just looking at the pictures, this beautiful cookbook will fulfill both needs. It also includes cute stories and tips for throwing parties at home.


7. "The Racketeer." For attorneys who just can't get enough, John Grisham's new novel follows a former attorney who is now incarcerated in a federal prison. Intrigued yet?


8. "The Casual Vacancy." J.K. Rowling's first post-"Harry Potter" novel has gotten rave reviews and it's clear why. The story of the small town of Pagford is nothing like the world of Potter, but it's just as compelling.


9. "Thank You Notes." If you're a fan of NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," you'll probably enjoy this collection of his popular "Thank You Notes" segment. It's light and funny and easy to read.


10. "The Power of Habit." Why do we do what we do? Well, some of it is because of patterns that fundamentally change us. This book explores the power of habits and their effects on our everyday lives.

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