Nonfiction

Musicophilia : tales of music and the brain

Oliver W Sacks

Oliver Sacks explores the place music occupies in the brain and how it affects the human condition. In Musicophilia, he shows us a variety of what he calls "musical misalignments." Among them: a man struck by lightning who suddenly desires to become a pianist at the age of forty-two; an entire group of children with Williams syndrome, who are hypermusical from birth; people with "amusia," to whom a symphony sounds like the clattering of pots and pans; and a man whose memory spans only seven seconds - for everything but music. Dr. Sacks describes how music can animate people with Parkinson's disease who cannot otherwise move, give words to stroke patients who cannot otherwise speak, and calm and organize people who are deeply disoriented by Alzheimer's or schizophrenia.

Added by Jason

Elements of style : designing a home and a life

Erin T Gates

747 /Gates
Nonfiction, Home

"From the star blogger and designer Erin Gates, Elements of Style is a fresh, approchable interior design book that shows how designing a home is also a method of personal expression and self-discovery. Drawing on her 10 years of experience running her own design firm, Erin combines practical, honest design advice and gorgeous professional photographs and illustrations with personal essays about lessons she has learned while designing her own home and her own life--the first being: none of our homes or lives are perfect. She reveals the disasters she confronted in her own kitchen renovation, her struggles with anorexia, her epic fight with her husband over a plexiglass table, and her secrets for starting a successful blog. Organized by rooms in the home, Elements of Style is brimming with design inspiration and ideas as well as advice on practical matters like choosing kitchen counter materials, dressing a bed with pillows, hanging a curtain rod, and decorating a nursery without using pink or blue. The book also contains a Foreword by Erin's husband, Andrew, and an extensive Resource Guide"--

Need to surround yourself with a little more glamor? The Elements of Style by Erin Gates is your best bet. This book shows off Gates’ personality from beautiful, dramatic dining rooms to elegant, yet serene bedrooms. If you are interested in adding bold prints and lush rugs to your abode, this book is for you. -Anne M

The telling room : a tale of love, betrayal, revenge, and the world's greatest piece of cheese

Michael Paterniti

641.373 /Paterniti
Nonfiction, Travel

In the picturesque village of Guzmán, Spain, in a cave on the edge of town, there is a cramped limestone chamber known as "the telling room." This is where villagers have gathered for centuries to share their stories and secrets--usually accompanied by copious amounts of wine. It was here, in the summer of 2000, that Michael Paterniti found himself listening to a Spanish cheesemaker as he spun an odd and compelling tale about a piece of cheese. Made from an old family recipe, Ambrosio's cheese was reputed to be among the finest in the world, and was said to hold mystical qualities. But then, Ambrosio said, things had gone horribly wrong. Paterniti was hooked. Soon he was fully embroiled, relocating his young family to Guzmán in order to chase the truth about this fairy tale-like place. What he ultimately discovers is nothing like the idyllic fable he first imagined. Instead, he's sucked into the heart of an unfolding mystery, a blood feud that includes accusations of betrayal and theft, death threats, and a murder plot.--From publisher description.

Added by Jason

Can't we talk about something more pleasant?

Roz Chast

BIOGRAPHY Chast, Roz
Graphic Novels, Nonfiction

A graphic memoir by a long-time New Yorker cartoonist celebrates the final years of her aging parents' lives through four-color cartoons, family photos and documents that reflect the artist's struggles with caregiver challenges.

Added by Jason

English decoration : timeless inspiration for the contemporary home

Ben Pentreath

747.0942 /Pentreath
Nonfiction, Home

In English Decoration, London-based architectural and interior designer Ben Pentreath presents a major new survey of the best of the English style. Eighteen homes, many of which have never been previously photographed, provide the source material for his wide-ranging investigation of this classic look. The houses include Ben's own homes in London and West Dorset, alongside those of Earls and artists, writers and architects, book designers and gardeners. The book is arranged room by room and Entrance Halls, Living Rooms, Kitchens and Dining Rooms, Bedrooms and Bathrooms are considered in turn, together with simple Rooms of Utility and spectacular Rooms of Display. The book begins with an essay on the English style in decoration and ends with a style directory, helping you to achieve the look wherever you live.

Perhaps you would prefer to go traditional? For this, check out Ben Pentreath’s English Decoration, inspired by British manor houses and country cottages. Some of Pentreath’s work isn’t practical for us Iowans; there is an entire chapter on “Rooms of Display.” Nonetheless, there are some beautiful color combinations and intriguing room arrangements -Anne M

The psychopath test : a journey through the madness industry

Jon Ronson

616.8582 /Ronson
Nonfiction

"In this madcap journey, a bestselling journalist investigates psychopaths and the industry of doctors, scientists, and journalists who study them"--Provided by publisher.

Added by Jason

Mysterious Celtic mythology in American folklore

Bob Curran

398.0973 /Curran
Nonfiction

The darkest fears and wildest dreams of people throughout history survive in legends, fairy tales, and bedtime stories. A respected Celtic expert, Bob Curran explores nineteen regional tales from all over the United States and traces their origins to the ancient mythology of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Celtic Europeans brought their folktales with them to America. Once they reached American soil, they adapted their stories, replacing details popular in the old country with those more relevant to the new world. Divided into chapters, these regionally distinct stories trace the beginnings of vampires, headless horsemen, witches, banshees, and other mythical creatures.

Added by Melody

That's what she said : what men need to know (and women need to tell them) about working together

Joanne Lipman

331.4 /Lipman
Nonfiction

Outlines anecdotal solutions for harmonious working relationships between the sexes, citing the unique contributions of professional women and how their male counterparts can implement a healthier business culture that bridges gender gaps.

It doesn’t take long to realize that gender equity isn’t possible when over-excited hormones are running the office. What’s attractive about this book is that it does its best to shame no one and include everyone in the solution. No diversity training required. -Melody

How to kill a vampire : fangs in folklore, film and fiction

Liisa Ladouceur

133.423 /Ladouceur
Paranormal, Nonfiction

Citing examples from folklore, as well as horror films, TV shows, and works of fiction, this book details all known ways to prevent vampirism, including how to protect oneself against attacks and how to destroy vampires. While offering explanations on the origins and uses of most commonly known tactics in fending off vampirism, the book also delves much deeper by collecting historical accounts of unusual burial rites and shocking superstitions from European history, from the "real" Serbian vampire Arnold Paole to the unique Bulgarian Djadadjii.

Added by Melody

Well fed, flat broke : recipes for modest budgets and messy kitchens

Emily Wight

641.552 /Wight
Nonfiction, Cookbooks

Added by Melody

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