Library Goddesses Adult Nonfiction

Stuff White People Like

2008-09-09T12:17:00.000-04:00

Based on the blog of the same name, this collection of witty posts pokes gentle(and often achingly true) fun of the quirks of caucasionness. A great gift idea--since we are rapidly approaching that season!--for a college student or any witty trendster you may know.

Book Smart: Your Essential Reading list for Becoming a Literary Genius in 365 Days by Jane Mallison

2008-07-01T11:06:00.001-04:00

Every few years one of these types of books comes out. This one is interestingly subdivided and includes quite a few modern writers to balance the classics. Mallison's subtitle notwithstanding, the book is worth a glance.
Skip the Preface. Mallison's writing shows quite clearly why she teaches writing rather than writes herself. And, really, do we need to have the concept spelled out for us?

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

2008-08-13T13:44:00.000-04:00

I hope Oprah talks about this book on her show so it reaches the audience it deserves! I honestly believe that this should be required reading for everyone in America. Pollan calls for common sense and advises that we listen to our bodies to find what we need to feel good and healthy. He gives honest statistics, presented with no agenda. He uses enough science to help understand the issues but not so much that the layman is overwhelmed.
We are so inundated with food information it's wonderful to hear a calm and reasoned voice above the din.

Skinny Bitch by Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman

2008-08-13T13:44:00.001-04:00

I read this book intending to give it the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't as vapid as I thought. Barnouin and Freedman spend a good amount of time encouraging health over skinniness--though obviously if you are healthy, you will also be the proper weight and overall the book is too shallow to be of any real benefit.
The authors also pay lip service to everyone making their own choices and doing what's right for them but any actual science is clouded by their own political opinions. (If you do read it, skip the PETA driven Chapter 6). The recipes aren't bad but the science is largely outdated. Buy yourself a subsription to "Cooking Light" magazine instead. Better yet, read In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan!

Outstanding in the Field by Jim Denevan

2008-07-01T11:06:00.000-04:00

As the interest in local food continues to grow, Jim Denevans beautiful cookbook is perfectly timed. The photography alone is worth the cover price of the book. But much more than that, the recipes are wonderful (and give the home cook ideas for all those unusual veggies one can find at farm stands!) and he includes lots of references about how to find Community Farms.
Much more than a cookbook, this is an eaters manifesto. Don't miss.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

2008-05-29T16:52:00.000-04:00

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins is an exposé of international corruption— and an inspired plan to turn the tide for future generations. Suggested reading from a Peace and Conflict Studies course, this work does take a hard look at the U.S. military in Iraq to infrastructure development in Indonesia, from Peace Corps volunteers in Africa to jackals in Venezuela, Perkins exposes a conspiracy of corruption that has fueled instability and anti-Americanism around the globe, with consequences reflected in our daily headlines. John Perkins passionately addresses how Americans can work to create a more peaceful and stable world for future generations. Today the author serves as a founder and board member of Dream Change and The Pachamama Alliance, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating a stable, sustainable, and peaceful world. How inspiring to think each and every one of us has a role in creating a more peaceful and stable world.
Aurora

Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume

2008-03-11T23:25:00.001-04:00

Growing up, Judy Blume was one of my favorite authors and one who accompanied me, physically and emotionally, as I passed through adolescence: I learned about having a period from Margaret, commiserated with Peter about the problems of spoiled, destructive younger brothers, and cried with Davey after her father's death. So, I was attracted to this collection of essays from authors (they are mainly YA or chick-lit writers) who also grew up with Judy Blume from the time I first saw it reviewed. It didn't disappoint. The essays discuss the impacts of Blume's works on everything from their developing sexuality to their perspectives on intrafamily conflict to how they handled a parental divorce. Though the essays focus on only a few of Blume's books (including Deenie, Are You There God . . . , and Forever), they are sure to touch and evoke flowing memories from anyone who considered themselves a fan. --Inanna

Escape

2008-01-14T23:45:00.000-05:00

by Carolyn Jessop and Laura Palmer

A memoir of Jessop's life with and eventual escape from the breakaway Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) sect, this book reads more like a thriller. Beginning with the story of how she fled with her eight children in the dead of night (Jessop broke ground not only by being the first woman to escape the FLDS with all her children but also by being awarded custody through a court system that traditionally had closed its eyes to FLDS abuses). From there, the storyline returns to Jessop's childhood and moves forward chronologically, finally returning the reader to her current life. Hers is a fascinating story of indoctrination, dreams and attempts for personal growth in a restrictive life and culture, and accessing reservoirs of strength as danger grows around her. This book would be a strong followup to readers who enjoyed Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven, with its perspective of an FLDS insider. -Inanna

A Charmed Life(Growing Up in MacBeth's Castle) by Liza Campbell

2008-01-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

Though I'm a bit over the child-of-an-alcoholic breed of memoir, I found this one truly gripping. Admittedly, I was initially interested because I am of Scottish descent and I was hoping for lots of history and descriptions of Scottish scenery. I was not disappointed. Campbell's own story is so intricately woven into the history of Scotland and her family that it is hard to see sometimes where the Cawdors end and she begins--a truly Scottish quality. Campbell asks for no sympathy; in fact, she barely asks the reader for understanding. She seems to be aware that her coming of age was so wildly different from that of anyone reading her book, there can be little common ground... After all, how many of us came of age in the British Aristocracy in the 60s and 70s?
Don't miss.

Child Free and Loving It!

2008-01-01T23:31:00.000-05:00

by Nicki Defago

Adults who choose not to have children are gaining more attention on a variety of levels, from in the media to within families, and Defago's book provides a strong introduction to the topic. She weaves the story of the childfree using sources including personal narratives, interviews with experts, and statistical information and covers the range of reasons why people might choose this path. Defago is a British writer and the book is written mainly for a British audience, but her materials cover a variety of nations, including the United States. Despite being chock full of information, the writing flows well and is not overly heavy in tone. This will be a useful book for all no matter what their personal decision on procreation. -Inanna

Free for All by Don Borchert

2007-11-25T18:02:00.000-05:00

Borchert's loosely collected book of anecdotes about his life at a public library in California will be of interest to library workers of all sorts, though there's not much here readers won't have seen multiple times in the blogosphere. Those in public libraries especially will find commiserate with his tales of middle schoolers gone wild, parents who pathologically lie, and coworkers who are all about the politics. Some will play the I-can-do-better game: “Drug dealers?! I had a prostitute giving $10 blowjobs in the bathroom!” Some stories are of the heartwarming variety, though they are outnumbered. -Inanna

1 Dead in Attic, by Chris Rose

2007-10-30T21:58:00.000-04:00

This book is a collection of columns about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that originally appeared in the Times-Picayune. They begin just after the hurricane passed through the Gulf Coast, when Rose was holed up in a New Orleans home with a few other reporters from the paper. They continue into 2006 to the one-year anniversary. The columns are especially effective in demonstrating the human toll, including to Rose's own life.But there is an element of hope as well, and the author's love for his city shines through. This book is essential reading for those interested in what happened to the people of New Orleans after the levees broke.

Five Wishes

2007-10-24T16:36:00.000-04:00

Five Wishes: How Answering One Simple Question Can Make Your Dreams Come True

For all of us seeking to live authentically, Gay Hendrick's easy to understand, five questions will lead the way...Inspiring insight that just may change the entire course of your life!
-Aurora

Deer Hunting With Jesus

2007-08-12T17:35:00.000-04:00

by Joe Bageant

Bageant hits the nail on the head with this look at his hometown―Winchester, Virginia―and how it reflects general trends in the United States in which many lower-class folks vote against their own interests so consistently (often based on ignorance and bias whipped up by the political machine) as well as the manner in which the progressive movement continues to be blind to their needs. Subtitled “Dispatches from America's Class War,” Bageant examines the present lives of Winchester's continually down-trodden (through they may not realize their status as such), while taking a historical look at how the current situation has developed, the role of culture (particularly that of the Scots-Irish) and how it lives today, and the slim opportunities for change. His is a perspective that no prep school-educated policy wonk will ever have: This world is completely outside the frame of reference of the people who drive politics in this country. A world where people don't have careers, they have jobs, usually in the same factory or processing plant where their parents worked; where a slot in a low-income apartment complex in a step up in terms of housing; where the local paper might include three stories pulled from the AP wire but features on its front page feel-good pieces about the cronies of the editor, and worse yet, most people don't read it anyway, except for perhaps local high school sports scores. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in how the invisible people of this country live and what they face. --Inanna

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Christine Northrup

2007-06-24T13:28:00.000-04:00

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Christine Northrup
Dr. Northrup, an OB/GYN, illuminates the tricky connection between mind and body in this superb book on women's health. She opens in a rather new-agey way which nonetheless struck close to home, as she talked about chakras and the diseases connected with them. Chakras are pretty new to me, but her descriptions closely fit my experiences. As a Western medicinal background, she advocates combining emotional therapies with traditional medicine, never saying, "Just get over yourself and the problem with go away."

The next section covers specific areas of women's health – cycle problems, childbirth, menopause, to name just a few. Each section includes potential problems and cures ranging from least to most invasive, nutritional therapy through surgery. Also included are the specific energy issues from the first section. All of them include both personal stories and research from studies, both of which I find very helpful.

After the health problems, she turns to how to create “vibrant health”, including diet, sex and exercise. Mindfulness is key. I found her coverage of exercise particularly nice, since she acknowledged that she herself did not exercise when her children were small, and discussed how she made time for it and got her children to accept her exercising. I am now recommending this book to every woman I know, especially to those suffering from health problems that are difficult to identify or cure. It’s a tome, but you can easily skim the introduction and then flip to your specific problem. Unless you get sucked into it, as I did.

-Idun

American Fascists

2007-06-01T23:53:00.000-04:00

by Chris Hedges

In 1935, American novelist Sinclair Lewis wrote in his book It Can't Happen Here: "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." And more than 20 years ago, Harvard Divinity School student Hedges was warned by a professor – who worked with dissidents like Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Germany's Confessing Church during the mid-1930s -- that someday he and his classmates would be battling “Christian fascists” like the legion of televangelists then gaining prominence over the airwaves. In this new book, Hedges demonstrates how far the United States has moved in that direction courtesy of “Dominionists” who straddle the line between politics and religion in their efforts to transform the country into their vision of a "Christian nation." To that end, Hedges reports from the front lines (he has been a journalist for many years), attending proselytization training sessions, programs dedicated to the Apocalypse, conferences about “conversion therapy” for gays, the recently opened Creation Museum, and political-religious rallies that combine symbols of war and patriotism with faith. The words of the leaders of the theocratic movement provide the most damning evidence in support of his thesis. --Inanna

Love Is a Mix Tape

2007-05-10T21:34:00.000-04:00

by Rob Sheffield

This memoir portrays simultaneously the author's love of music, a woman who shared that love, and the life they had together for a brief time. But it is also about a young man's grief and his attempts to rebuild his world after loss. Music, in particular the mix tapes that flourished in the late 70s into the 90s (though the concept continues in the iPods of today) and that Sheffield has made throughout his life, is the thread that weaves these pieces together. Sheffield, a writer for Rolling Stone, literally provides the soundtrack to his life. Sheffield's informal language (and his tone, in the audiobook edition) is that of a friend chatting over a couple of beers; it which works here, even during the more tragic portions of the book and makes them even more poignant. --Inanna

Hope and Lessons for Living

2007-03-27T14:31:00.000-04:00

The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage

The dark cloud of disaster can't hide the brilliant light of joy and altruism in the human spirit. Somedays I don't turn on the news; it's too depressing to bear. But in this book, author Mark Klempner gazes unflinchingly at one of the blackest episodes in human history . . . and finds there hope and lessons for living.

Klempner interviewed ten of the "Righteous Gentiles": people who risked all to save Jewish children from the Nazis. A folklorist and oral historian, Klempner lets his subjects take center stage and tell their stories in their own words. This is precious documentation of the experiences of a generation that is passing on.

As counterpoint, Klempner relates the autobiographical saga of his own search for an ethical compass. This journey led him from the amoral canyons of the Los Angeles music scene to explore his Jewish immigrant roots in Europe. Klempner also includes historical and political essays that place the individual stories in the context of world events. The narratives are not homogenized into a smooth package. Think of these gems as displayed in their natural state, not cut and mounted so as to preserve the authenticity of the historical record.

To sum up, this book contains:

Fascinating true stories, very accessible to the casual reader.
Primary source historical material, lovingly preserved.
Troubling questions about ethics, psychology and the meaning of life; pat answers not included.
Inspiration, and proof that in the face of the most horrifying threats imaginable, some people will step forth and risk all to do the right thing.

Wine, Food and Friends by Karen MacNeil

2007-03-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

I've recently come into that phase of my life where everyone I know is buying a house and I therefore spend many saturday afternoons and evenings at housewarming parties. This book is my new go-to gift (because no one needs another vase). Even if you're not much of an entertainer, this book has something for you. The recipes are from Cooking Light magazine and are therefore delicious and guilt-free. MacNeil (author of The Wine Bible) makes wine suggestions for a variety of budgets and her capsule descriptions of each type of wine are really all the average person needs to know before inviting friends for dinner. All the wines are easily found at any decent-sized liquor store. The illustrations are beautiful and inspirational and don't make the reader feel like they have to be Martha Stewart to pull off a dinner party.

Knit Fix

2007-03-04T23:25:00.000-05:00

by Lisa Kartus

Having purchased this one for our library after reading a review, I never got a chance to do more than flip through it once it went out on the shelves because it circulated so frequently. So, I bought a copy for myself, and I am glad because this book is a strong reference for knitters of all levels. Though much of the book is aimed at more advanced knitters who have gotten past simple knit-and-purl scarves, Kartus provides a strong foundation in the basics, such as how to count rows vertically as well as horizontally in both knit and purl. She builds on this information to get to the meat of the book and topic of the title: techniques for repairing various mistakes in a knit work, from simple dropped stitches to trimming a too-large sweater. The text is well-depicted with color photos, and in many, contrasting colors of yarn are used to better illustrate what the reader should be seeing. Additionally, the spiral binding makes it easy to set the book on a table or a stand in front of you. --Inanna

Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports

2007-02-27T14:38:00.000-05:00

This book is an absolute "must-have" for your family's bookshelves. It covers everything from what to pack for games to how to balance athletics with your child's schoolwork and social obligations. Drawing from an extensive bibliograpy, Brooke de Lench has written an essential resource for mothers of athletes. De Lench also co-edits the on-line publication, MomsTeam.com--which also provides constructive and practical advice to moms.

Safe Area Gorazde

2007-02-25T19:07:00.000-05:00

by Joe Sacco.

Note: I'm putting this in adult nonfiction rather than graphic novel because this is “graphic nonfiction,” so to speak, and graphic novel on LG is associated with younger readers, which would not be appropriate in this case.

In this work, Sacco brings to readers the story of the town of Gorazde, one of the so-called “safe areas” established by the United Nations during the war in Bosnia during the 1990s, in illustrations that are both gorgeous and grotesque. A war correspondent, Sacco made friends with and interviewed locals as well as the Muslim refugees who fled to the town from other “ethnically cleansed” communities. This work is a combination of the results of those interviews, his experience of daily life in Gorazde, and representations of other scenes based on external research. His drawings convey the harsh realities of a land destroyed and a people slaughtered, as well as hope as peace approached and arrived. The text lays out in clear language the history of the conflict, going back to World War II. Sacco brings home the impact of war on human beings in a format that entertains as it educates. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll rage, but you won't regret picking up this one. -- Inanna

"The Dance of the Dissident Daughter" by Sue Monk Kidd

2007-02-01T21:52:00.000-05:00

When I came across this book sitting at the tech services workstation, the subtitle, “A Woman's Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine,” intrigued me. After all, I'd been there, done that. Reading the book, I tried to be wowed, I really did. Then I tried to just like it. That didn't happen either. Though Kidd's story is certainly interesting and heartfelt, I didn't get any sense of passion from her. For instance, occasionally she talks about her anger in certain situations, but the emotion just doesn't convey to the reader. The writing, to me, was insipid; Kidd got her publishing start in writing “Christian motivation” books, and it shows. I don't mean that in a good way. There are memoirs out there covering this same ground that are so much more well written and more captivating. (Phyllis Curott's first book comes to mind.) I'd recommend that readers find one of those. -- Inanna

Jesus Land:A Memoir

2007-01-31T16:55:00.000-05:00

In this riveting memoir, the author, Julia Scheeres, takes us with her as she grows up; a white girl with two adopted black brothers in 1970's rural Indiana, and then as the teens are sent to a fundamentalist Dominican Republic reform school. These children endure brutal abuse and cruel racism but the work is successful due to the author's distanced and uncritical tone and the lack of malice and vindictiveness. This is an earnest examination of the meaning of family and Christian values. A strong story tinged with sadness yet pervaded by a sense of triumph and courage. -Aurora

Born in the USA

2007-01-31T10:49:00.000-05:00

Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First by Marsden Wagner, M.D., M.S. It’s a little-known fact that the maternal mortality rate in the United States has been rising for the past 25 years, and both our maternal mortality and infant mortality rates are among the worst in the industrialized world. Wagner uses both hard scientific evidence* and lots of personal experience to wade through the tangles of modern obstetrical care. Doctors and scientists are in conflict, he says, because while a scientist must assume that everything is known, a doctor must assume that he or she knows what the problem is and how to treat it in order to get anywhere. A lack of oversight, love of technology, lack of knowledge of normal birth, and a fear of litigation combine to make hospital births downright dangerous for mother and child. ** After documenting these grim facts, Wagner goes on to paint a picture of an ideal maternity system run primarily by midwives, similar to those already existing in other countries, which have been established even without the approval of the obstetrical community. It seems like a long haul, but this book is a good start.

* For those interested in doing their own medical research, Wagner frequently cites the Cochrane Library, http://www.cochrane.org . This is a medical nonprofit working towards evidence-based medical practice. They synthesize and analyze medical studies, providing both their reports and the original studies in their on-line library.