It’s strange to look back on a goal that was really a struggle to accomplish just a year ago, and think that I’m demolishing that effort in 2009.

Last year I wanted to read 20 books, and had to muster an epic run in the final two months to reach that level. This year, I’d be shocked if I don’t hit 20 before the end of August. In fact, if I do that I’ll be more than doubling my pace at that point in 2008.

Today I polished off No. 17, John Feinstein’s “A Civil War: Army vs. Navy, a Year Inside College Football’s Purest Rivalry.” At 420 pages, it’s another in a long line of books this year that are not only fantastic, but also longer than their counterparts in ’08.

It’s also one of the cheapest books I’ve ever purchased–$0.50–thanks to the Susquehanna University bookstore. If you’re a fan of college football, or sports in general, it’s certainly worth your time even though the events took place in 1995. It culminates in the yearly battle between the two service academies, but builds to that point by giving you an thorough understanding about why football there is different than anywhere else. Feinstein sums it up best by saying football practice is by far the easiest part of those players’ days–and the hardest part for players at other Division I schools.

In my time at Susquehanna there wasn’t a football rivalry that came close to Army-Navy, or even Chips Deluxe-Chips Ahoy. In basketball we had a good stretch against Elizabethtown College, including this gem.

The book stack so far:

I’ve also been catching up on my “This American Life” podcasts. If you’re not familiar, go to iTunes and subscribe (free) right now. Check out the first 8.5 minutes of this show from a few weeks ago. Highly entertaining.