reading list help?

you may have noticed changes happening to the blog (i.e new top design, blogroll on the right hannd side, flickr zietgeist, etc.). i'm finally beginning to understand a little bit of the coding of this css stuff. i still don't get most of it but i do at least understand a little. i'm presently trying to figure out how to add an automated "reading list" to the blog. i've seen this on several other sites. unfortunately i can't find which ones had the reading list and therefore i can't ask them how to do it. so if you know how to put an automated reading list and feel like passing a little help my way i would appreciate it.