Music:
I can honestly say I like all kinds of music, as long as I 'feel it'(cause isnt that what its all about?)...to throw out a few... Notorious, Snoop, Massive Attack, Prince (classic Prince), Sade, Everything But the Girl, Smashing Pumpkins, Mos Def, Luda, Dido, Sarah McL, Missy E, Depeche Mode, Deep Dish, Beastie Boys, No Doubt...
Books:
Scar Tissue, Memoirs of a Geisha, Harry Potter series, Moloka'i, The Glass Castle, Kite Runner... way too much to remember, but these are the ones I can think of right now.