Nonfiction
The omnivore's dilemma : a natural history of four meals
Michael Pollan
641.3 /Pollan
Nonfiction
What should we have for dinner? When you can eat just about anything nature (or the supermarket) has to offer, deciding what you should eat will inevitably stir anxiety, especially when some of the foods might shorten your life. Pollan follows each of the food chains--industrial food, organic or alternative food, and food we forage ourselves--from the source to the final meal, always emphasizing our coevolutionary relationship with the handful of plant and animal species we depend on.
The library book
Susan Orlean
027.4794 /Orlean
Nonfiction
"Orlean chronicles the LAPL fire and its aftermath to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives; delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from their humble beginnings as a metropolitan charitable initiative to their current status as a cornerstone of national identity; brings each department of the library to vivid life through on-the-ground reporting; studies arson attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; reflects on her own experiences in libraries; and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the LAPL more than thirty years ago"--
Added by Beth
Maid : hard work, low pay, and a mother's will to survive
Stephanie Land
331.481 /Land
Nonfiction
A journalist describes the years she worked in low-paying domestic work under wealthy employers, contrasting the privileges of the upper-middle class to the realities of the overworked laborers supporting them.
Added by Beth
Girl, wash your face : stop believing the lies about who you are so you can become who you were meant to be
Rachel (Event planner) Hollis
248.843 /Hollis
Nonfiction, Self Help
Drawing from her life experiences as a lifestyle guru, the author presents a guide to becoming a joyous, confident woman by breaking the cycle of negativity and burnout and pursuing a life of exuberance. With unflinching faith-- and rock-hard tenacity-- Hollis shows readers how to give yourself grace without giving up.
Added by Beth
1776
David G McCullough
973.3 /McCullough
Nonfiction, History
In this masterful book, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence—when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper. Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is a powerful drama written with extraordinary narrative vitality. It is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the King’s men, the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known. Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, David McCullough’s 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history.
Added by Beth
Classic
Mary Berry
641.5 /Berry
Cookbooks, Nonfiction
These are my wonderful brand-new recipes - timeless classics, simple British dishes and delicious, modern favourites to tempt family and friends. With my trusted tips and techniques for quick, easy and foolproof cooking, in Classic I'll show you how to make the very best food in my own special, no-fuss way.
GBBO lovers, take heed! The Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry has a cookbook that was just released in the States. So start calling those shrimp "prawn" and set your kitchen scales to metric. On your marks..get set...bake! -Melody
Ballpark : baseball in the American city
Paul Goldberger
796.35709 /Goldberger
Nonfiction, History, Sports
"An exhilarating, splendidly illustrated, entirely new look at the history of baseball: told through the stories of the vibrant and ever-changing ballparks where the game was and is staged, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic. From the earliest corrals of the mid-1800s (Union Grounds in Brooklyn was a 'saloon in the open air'), to the much mourned parks of the early 1900s (Detroit's Tiger Stadium, Cincinnati's Palace of the Fans), to the stadiums we fill today, Paul Goldberger makes clear the inextricable bond between the American city and America's favorite pastime. In the changing locations and architecture of our ballparks, Goldberger reveals the manifestations of a changing society: the earliest ballparks evoked the Victorian age in their accommodations--bleachers for the riffraff, grandstands for the middle-class; the 'concrete donuts' of the 1950s and 60s made plain television's grip on the public's attention; and more recent ballparks, like Baltimore's Camden Yards, signal a new way forward for stadium design and for baseball's role in urban development. Throughout, Goldberger shows us the way in which baseball's history is concurrent with our cultural history: the rise of urban parks and public transportation; the development of new building materials and engineering and design skills. And how the site details and the requirements of the game--the diamond, the outfields, the walls, the grandstands--shaped our most beloved ballparks. A fascinating, exuberant ode to the Edens at the heart of our cities--where dreams are as limitless as the outfields"--
This is more of an architectural history book than a sports book. Goldberger focuses on the relationship between the major league ballpark and the city it serves, discussing the different trends of stadium architectural history. This is more than just for baseball fans. If you are interested in urban development and renewal, I highly recommend it. -Anne M
On democracy
E. B. (Elwyn Brooks) White
320.973 /White
Nonfiction, Political
"Anchored by an introduction by Jon Meacham, this concise collection of essays, letters, and poems from one of this country's most eminent literary voices sheds much-needed historical context on the state of the nation and offers a ray of hope for the future of our society; for "as long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman...the scene is not desolate.""--
This collection of essays, letters, and poetry brings together E.B. White's thoughts on the politics of his day, mostly from the 1930's to the 1970's. All are very relevant to our own time--the role of the free press, freedom of speech, and what democracy means in America. It is a great read. -Anne M
Sorry I'm late, I didn't want to come : one introvert's year of saying yes
Jessica Pan
155.232 /Pan
Nonfiction, Humor
"What would happen if a shy introvert lived like a gregarious extrovert for one year? If she knowingly and willingly put herself in perilous social situations that she'd normally avoid at all costs? Writer Jessica Pan intends to find out. With the help of various extrovert mentors, Jessica sets up a series of personal challenges (talk to strangers, perform stand-up comedy, host a dinner party, travel alone, make friends on the road, and much, much worse) to explore whether living like an extrovert can teach her lessons that might improve the quality of her life. Chronicling the author's hilarious and painful year of misadventures, this book explores what happens when one introvert fights her natural tendencies, takes the plunge, and tries (and sometimes fails) to be a little bit braver."--Provided by publisher.
Love the title of this book. I know a lot of people who can relate to this! -Melody
Nine months : before a baby is born
Miranda Paul
jE Paul
Kids, Health, Nonfiction
"As a baby grows in her mother's tummy, a soon-to-be big sister and her family spend nine months preparing for the newest member of the family to arrive."--
A beautifully written story following a family of three as they prepare for another child, featuring life-size illustrations that highlight fetal development through each month of pregnancy. Backmatter includes tons of information for older readers to peruse, making this a perfect book for sharing with siblings awaiting a familial addition or children curious about where babies come from. -Casey
Such an interesting and well-researched book about America's food culture. It really makes you think about where your meals are coming from and the influences surrounding food creation. -Becky