There is a lot to like about The Library Book. Author Susan Orlean chronicles the 1986 fire that devastated the Los Angeles Central Library, at the same time using it as a vehicle to explore the history of the library, the mission and future of libraries in general, and share her own poignant history and relationship with libraries. Continue reading
Category Archives: Nonfiction
Book Review: Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think, by Hans Rosling
The title of this book says it all. This is a fact based look at the world, and the facts show that, on the whole, the world is improving in most key areas, including education, income and life expectancy. Written by a gifted storyteller and accomplished scientist, Factfulness is a powerful antidote to people’s tendency to think that the sky is perpetually falling. Continue reading
“The Woman Who Smashed Codes,” by Jason Fegone
“The Woman Who Smashed Codes” is the true story of how a brilliant female cryptologist, Elizebeth Friedman, helped write the rules for modern cryptology and used her skills like a hammer to smash enemy codes during both world wars. Continue reading
“The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit”, by Michael Finkel
What would motivate a man to abandon society to live alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years? Author Michael Finkel does his best to answer this and many other questions in this study of Christopher Knight, “the last true hermit.” Continue reading
“American Fire: Love, Arson and Life in a Vanishing Land”, by Monica Hesse
Sad, strange events are brought to life in Monica Hesse’s “American Fire”. Hesse takes what would probably be just an average true crime story and elevates it to something more by providing social, economic and historic context. The result is a very interesting and sometimes sympathetic look at a crime wave that shook a small Virginia community. Continue reading
Book Review: The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas Preston
The Lost City of the Monkey God is a fascinating mash-up of archaeology, cutting edge technology, treasure hunting, history, Central American politics and epidemiology. Author Douglas Preston, who also writes about archaeology for National Geographic, covers some complex topics in a manner that’s easy to understand and also very interesting. Continue reading
January’s Kind of Like a Book Club Book
I thought it would make sense for the group read to take a hiatus over the holidays, so the next “kind of like a book club” book will be discussed at the end of January. I seem to have lost a few participants with the last pick (Ready Player One), so hopefully this one will appeal to more people. Continue reading
Book Review: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
In The Wright Brothers, author David McCullough brings to life Wilbur and Orville’s race to be the first to conquer the skies. Continue reading
“Rewrite Man: The Life and Career of Screenwriter Warren Skaaren”, by Alison Macor
I’m doing something a little different this week. In lieu of a book review, I’m shamelessly plugging my good friend and former college roommate’s new book, “Rewrite Man: The Life and Career of Screenwriter Warren Skaaren”. Continue reading
“Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines and Habits of Billionaires, Icons and World-Class Performers”, by Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss has a highly successful podcast in which he interviews people who are tops at what they do and tries to uncover some of the secrets of their success. He’s good at this because he seems to be genuinely curious about his guests and he likes to apply some of their methods to his own life in an ongoing effort to improve himself. Continue reading
