Nonfiction

New Nonfiction – October 2008

Lynne

Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer’s Life Kathleen Norris – What is acedia? Ruminations from a noted author.

American Lightning: Terror, Mystery, The Birth of Hollywood, and the Crime of the Century Howard Blum – On the morning of October 1, 1910 the Los Angeles Times Building was bombed. This was a prelude to the devastation to come.

The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British Sarah Lyall – As a young reporter for The New York Times, the author moved to London and began a chronicle of her adopted country.

Being Catholic Now: Prominent Americans Talk about Change in the Church and the Quest for MeaningKerry Kennedy – The daughter of Robert and Ethel Kennedy relates the importance of faith and showcases the thoughts of other Americans.

The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics Leonard Susskind – What is the true nature of black holes? Is our understanding of the entire universe at stake?

China: Getting Rich First Duncan Hewitt – Is it possible for the new China to reconcile its ancient past with the new dreams of modernization and globalization?

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the WorldVicki Myron with Bret Witter –How is possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save an American town, and become famous around the world?

Emotional Awareness: Overcoming the Obstacles to Psychological Balance and Compassion A Conversation Between the Dalai Lama and Paul Ekman – A remarkable exchange that delves into the nature of our emotional lives from the perspectives of science and spirituality.

Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World Roger Crowley – In 1521, Suleiman the Magnificent sent an invasion fleet to the Christian island of Rhodes. This was the opening shot in the struggle between rival empires and faiths for control of the Mediterranean.

The First Billion Is the Hardest T. Boone Pickens – At the age of 68, down and out, Pickens turned his remaining investment funds of $3 million into $8 billion in profit. Now, at age 80, he explains what he believes will be the future of energy in America.

Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the Tracks of the Great Railway Bazaar Paul Theroux – The prolific and noted author of travel narratives describes his recent journey through Asia.

Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men Michael Kimmel – A look at the cultural and social world of young men through the years between 16 and 26.

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution—and How It Can Renew America Thomas L. Friedman – The noted author of The World Is Flat takes a look at America’s loss of focus and the global environmental situation and how these two problems are linked.

The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington Jennet Conant – The story of the British spies who infiltrated the upper echelons of Washington during the early days of World War II.

The Last Undercover: The True Story of an FBI Agent’s Dangerous Dance with Evil Bob Hamer – Posing as everything from a drug dealer to an aging pedophile, the author describes his life as an undercover agent.

The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism Andrew J. Bacevich – The author identifies a triple crisis that confronts America and offers solutions to cope realistically with the future.

Moral Clarity: A Guide for Grown-Up IdealistsSusan Neiman – How is moral philosophy relevant to everyday life? The author presents a philosophical framework for forming clear opinions and taking responsible actions on today’s questions.

Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life Wynton Marsalis with Geoffrey C. Ward – The award-winning musician relates the lessons he has learned from jazz that can help move us all to higher ground.

The Necklace: Thirteen Women and the Experiment that Transformed Their Lives Cheryl Jarvis – The author bought a beautiful, expensive necklace along with twelve other women who agreed to share it equally throughout the year. Here’s their story.

Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein – The authors demonstrate how “choice architecture” can be established to help individuals be nudged in beneficial directions, rather than to make those choices that make us poorer and less healthy.

A Path Out of the Desert: A Grand Strategy for America in the Middle East Kenneth M. Pollack – A leading Middle East policy analyst advises a more realistic and cohesive approach to the Arab world.

Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children Philip Shabecoff and Alice Shabecoff – The authors’ research links current rise in childhood disease to industrial toxins that are found both outside and in everyday products.

The Sea Is So Wide and My Boat Is So Small: Charting a Course for the Next Generation Marian Wright Edelman – The founder of the Children’s Defense Fund calls on Americans to create a better world for all of our children.

Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief James M. McPherson – With virtually no military experience, President Lincoln emerged as the greatest commander in chief in American history.

The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators Must Do Peg Tyre – Struggling throughout elementary and secondary school, boys now account for less than 43% of those enrolled in college.

Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip—Confessions of a Cynical Waiter Steve Dublanica – An inside look at a waiter’s life at an upscale New York restaurant.

The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008 Bob Woodward – The author’s fourth book about the Bush administration takes the reader through the highest levels of decision-making at the White House, Pentagon and State Department.

New Nonfiction – September 2008

Lynne

Ahead of the Curve: Two Years at Harvard Business School Philip Delves Broughton – A Harvard MBA has been the golden ticket to American business. The author relates his experiences at this vaunted institution.

The Billionaire’s Vinegar: The Mystery of the World’s Most Expensive Bottle of WineBenjamin Wallace – In 1985, in an auction by Christie’s, a 1787 bottle of Bordeaux was sold for $156,000 to a member of the Forbes family.

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School John Medina – What scientists know about how our brain works and how that can affect our daily lives.

Catching Life by the Throat: How to Read Poetry and Why: Poems from Eight Great Poets Josephine Hart – An introduction to eight great poets that includes a CD featuring readings by notable actors.

Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America Charles Leerhsen – A hundred years ago, the most famous athlete in America was a horse and became the first celebrity sports endorser.

Descent Into Chaos: The United States and the Failure of Nation Building in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia Ahmed Rashid – A Pakistani journalist reports the situation surrounding the United States’ involvement in Central Asia.

For the Thrill of It: Leopold, Loeb, and the Murder that Schocked Chicago Simon Baatz – The brutal murder of a child in Chicago, 1924, became a riveting trial in a city on the brink of anarchy.

The Forger’s Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century Edward Dolnick – A true story of Johannes Vermeer and the Dutch painter who impersonated him centuries after his death.

The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully Joan Chittister – The noted spiritual writer reviews the challenges and rewards of aging.

Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba…and Then Lost it to the Revolution T.J. English – The true tale of organized crime, political corruption and roaring nightlife that preceded the Cuban Revolution.

The House on First Street: My New Orleans Story Julia Reed – Fifteen years after falling in love with New Orleans, the author bought a house in the Garden District. Four weeks later, Hurricane Katrina struck.

Iroquois Diplomacy on the Early American Frontier Timothy J. Shannon – The story of the intricate political maneuvering that the Iroquois employed to maintain their way of life against the onslaught of colonial settlers.

Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man’s Attempt to Understand the World’s Most Mystifying Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid J. Maarten Troost – The complex, fascinating country is viewed through entertaining lens.

Love as a Way of Life: Seven Keys to Transforming Every Aspect of Your Life Gary Chapman – The author of The Five Love Languages returns with wisdom for improving your life.

The Numerati Stephen Baker – Companies like Google are harvesting an average of 2,500 details about each of us every month. An investigation into the mathematical modeling of humanity.

Putin’s Labyrinth: Spies, Murder, and the Dark Heart of the New Russia Steve Levine – Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russia is veering toward its authoritarian roots.

Save the Males: Why Men Matter, Why Women Should Care Kathleen Parker – The author asserts that men, maleness and fatherhood have been under siege in American culture for decades.

Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey Through China Jen Lin-Liu – The exploding food scene of China is depicted in this cook’s tour that includes a variety of recipes.

Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China Fuschia Dunlop – Travel, culture and food all merge in this unique look at China from a British food writer.

Slavery by Another Name: The Re-enslavement of Black People in America from the Civil War to World War II Douglas A. Blackmon – The author exposes the “Age of Neoslavery” that existed after the Civil War and forced thousands of African-Americans into servitude.

So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids Diane E. Levin and Jean Kilbourne – An examination of popular culture and its adverse effects on young people.

Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us) Tom Vanderbilt  – A fascinating tour through the mysteries of the road.

The War for Wealth: The True Story of Globalization, or why the Flat World is Broken Gabor Steingart – An examination of globalization and how this has affected to world’s economy and the outlook for the West.

The Way We’ll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream John Zogby – The well-known pollster views the way Americans are headed — politically, culturally and spiritually.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A Memoir Haruki Murakami – The author discusses the influence that running has had on his life and his writing.

Who Killed the Constitution? The Fate of American Liberty from World War I to George W. Bush Thomas E. Woods, Jr. and Kevin R.C. Gutzman – The authors contend that the purpose of the Constitution—to limit the power of government—has been eroding for many decades.

Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millennium Dick Meyer – What is behind America’s 21st century mood disorder?

New Nonfiction – July 2008

Lynne

Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy Eric G. Wilson – Are Americans addicted to happiness? Are we supposed to always be happy?

April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Death and How It Changed America Michael Eric Dyson – A review of the impact of the death of the leader whose last speech ended with, “I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight, that we as a people will get to the Promised Land.”

Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism Kevin Phillips – Has the financial sector hijacked the American economy and put the country’s future at risk?

Bastard Tongues: A Trailblazing Linguist Finds Clues to Our Common Humanity in the World’s Lowliest Languages Derek Bickerton – The firsthand story of the scientific investigation of what language is, how it works, and how it passes from generation to generation.

The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest Dan Buettner – The author relates nine lessons that can help individuals have a longer life.

Cancer on Five Dollars a Day* (*Chemo Not Included) How Humor Got Me Through the Toughest Journey of My Life Robert Schimmel – A stand-up comedian is confronted with stage III non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America’s Finest Hour Andrei Cherny – The saga of the men who made the Berlin Airlift a great military and humanitarian success.

The China Price: The True Cost of Chinese Competitive Advantage Alexandra Harney – How can China offer low prices on goods to the rest of the world?

Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob Bob Delaney – Currently an NBA referee, the author relates his tale as an undercover agent who infiltrated the New Jersey Mob.

Forward from Here: Leaving Middle Age—and Other Unexpected Adventures  Reeve Lindbergh – As the author turns sixty, she reflects on what her mother, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, once described as “the youth of old age.”

The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In Hugh Kennedy – A readable history of the Islamic expansion that created an empire from Spain to China.

Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon and the Journey of a Generation Sheila Weller – Although these three women were the musical representatives of the girls who came of age in the 1960s, each artist is portrayed individually.

Havanas in Camelot: Personal Essays William Styron – A collection of the late author’s essays including the title essay about the cigar smoking President Kennedy.

Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of CivilizationNicholas Baker – A wide-ranging chronological look at the political and social landscape that gave rise to World War II .

In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams Tahir Shah – Tahir travels across Morocco and collects traditional stories and reveals the layers of culture of which most visitors are unaware.

Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation Cokie Roberts – The story of early America’s influential women and their public roles and private responsibilities.

Liberty of Conscience: In Defense of America’s Tradition of Religious Equality Martha C. Nussbaum – Is the legacy of religious freedom that was a triumph of early American history in danger?

Maps and Legends: Reading and Writing Along the Borderlands Michael Chabon – Essays celebrating the creativity and verve of various authors and literary traditions.

Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope Don Van Ryn – From a national news case, the story of two families whose daughters were misidentified and one was buried under the wrong name.

Pure Goldwater John W. Dean and Barry M. Goldwater, Jr. – The writings of the presidential candidate and an early leader of the conservative movement.

Reappraisals: Reflections on the Forgotten Twentieth Century Tony Judt – Today’s world is so unlike the world of even 20 years ago that we are now part of an “age of forgetting.”

Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45 Max Hastings – The final year of the Pacific war by a notable author.

Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death Irvin D. Yalom – An encouraging approach to the universal issue of mortality.

The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments George Johnson – Ten of the most fascinating experiments in the history of science are depicted by the New York Times science writer.

Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea and One of the World’s Deadliest Jobs Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand – Fishing in the Bering Sea is a lucrative, but deadly occupation. Two of the masters of this trade have been the focus of TV’s Deadliest Catch and relate the background story of their life’s work.

Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: The Story of an African Childhood Robyn Scott – When the author was 7-years-old, her family decided to move from New Zealand to a converted cowshed in rural Botswana.

Uncertain Peril: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Seeds Claire Hope Cummings – The stories behind the rise of industrial agriculture and plant biotechnology are related along with a description of the Arctic Doomsday Vault that houses millions of seeds.

The World that Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square Ned Sublette – The remarkable tale of the New Orleans’ first century.

New Biographies – May 2008

Lynne

Audition: A Memoir Barbara Walters – The legendary television journalist examines her own life and the many individuals she has known and interviewed.

The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century Steve Coll – The history of the family that within two generations emerged from a poor desert canyon to being oil rich millionaires.

Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World Samantha Power – Mello, the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, was killed in a terrorist attack on UN headquarters in Iraq in 2003.

Freedom’s Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the Black Founding Fathers Richard S. Newman – Securing his freedom during the American Revolution, Bishop Allen was a tireless minister, abolitionist and reformer and a very influential figure of the nineteenth century.

The Good Fight: Hard Lessons from Searchlight to Washington Harry Reid – The Senate majority leader recounts the story of his life from very humble beginnings.

Hats & Eyeglasses: A Family Love Affair with Gambling Martha Frankel – The author grew up in a warm, loving family of die-hard gamblers, where just about everything was a situation for a bet.

Home: A Memoir of My Early Years Julie Andrews – The story of the famous actress/singer during her childhood in war-torn Britain and to her new stardom in America.

Hope’s Boy Andrew Bridge – At the age of seven, the author was taken from his mother and spent the next decade in foster care. Having graduated from Harvard Law School, he is now an advocate for children’s rights.

I’m Looking Through You: Growing Up Haunted: A Memoir Jennifer Finney Boylan – The author, an English professor, grew up in a haunted house in Pennsylvania as a boy who longed to become a girl.

The Last Lecture Randy Pausch – The professor of CMU who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer gave a “last lecture” that was a summation of all that he had come to believe.

The Legend of Colton H. Bryant Alexandra Fuller – The short and tragic life of a Wyoming cowboy who goes to work on an oil rig.

Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter Sidney Poitier – The famous actor and author reflects on his amazing life and offers inspirational advice and personal stories.

A Life with Karol: My Forty-Year Friendship with the Man Who Became Pope Stanislaw Dziwisz – A close-up glimpse into the beloved Pope’s life and the critical events of his papacy.

Madness: A Bipolar Life Marya Hornbacher – At the age of 24, the author was diagnosed with Type I rapid-cycle bipolar, the most severe form of bipolar disorder.

Magnifico: The Brilliant Life and Violent Times of Lorenzo de’Medici Miles J. Unger – The uncrowned ruler of Florence during its golden age was a pivotal figure of the Renaissance.

The Man Who Loved China: The Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom Simon Winchester – An eccentric Englishman who explored the scientific advances of the Chinese people, is depicted by the author of The Professor and the Madman.

The Man Who Made Lists: Love, Death, Madness, and the creation of Roget’s Thesaurus Joshua Kendall – At the young age of eight, Roget began his quest to put everything in its rightful place, one word at a time.

Marie-Thérèse, Child of Terror: The Fate of Marie Antoinette’s Daughter Susan Nagel – The remarkable story of the royal child who was imprisoned and orphaned during the French Revolution.

Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration Marcia Ann Gillespie, Rosa Johnson Butler and Richard A. Long– The life story of Dr. Angelou is featured along with numerous photographs and letters from her years as an activist, writer, performer, and teacher.

Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate Arlen Specter – The senator from Pennsylvania tells the story of his work in the senate and as a cancer survivor.

The Place to Be: Washington, CBS, and the Glory Days of Television News Roger Mudd – A chronicle of the consuming passion for news during this reporter’s career.

The Prince of Frogtown Rick Bragg – The author of All Over but the Shoutin’ and Ava’s Man continues with a tale about fathers and sons.

Shakespeare’s Wife Germaine Greer – The author resets the story of Shakespeare’s marriage in its social context and disputes the negative impression that many authors have assumed about the wife of the Bard.

sTori Telling Tori Spelling – The life of the actress, and daughter of producer Aaron Spelling, who was known for her role in Beverly Hills, 90210.

The Sum of Our Days Isabel Allende – The famous Chilean writer, relates the story of her life after the death of her daughter and shares her thoughts on love, marriage, motherhood, spirituality and memory.

Swallow the Ocean Laura M. Flynn – The author and her two sisters experienced life with a difficult mother who was suffering from schizophrenia.

A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father Augusten Burroughs – The author of Running with Scissors returns with a heartbreaking look at life with his father.

Woman of the House: The Rise of Nancy Pelosi Vincent Bzdek – A look at the life and career of the country’s most powerful woman.

New Nonfiction – January 2008

Lynne

Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life) Cathie Black – Insights and fascinating stories from the president of Hearst Magazines that can help you move ahead.

Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting: Real Talk for When There’s Nowhere to Go But Up Terrie M. Williams – The author deals with the problem and solutions to depression as experienced by African-Americans.

Blooding at Great Meadows: Young George Washington and the Battle that Shaped the Man Alan Axelrod – As a 22-year-old, Washington led 400 American militiamen against an experienced French army.

The Brain Trust Program: A Scientifically Based Three-Part Plan to Improve Memory, Elevate Mood, Enhance Attention, Alleviate Migraine and Menopausal Symptoms, and Boost Mental Energy Larry McCleary – Ways to improve the overall health of your brain.

Coal River Michael Shnayerson – Dramatic environmental battles are being fought in the mountains of West Virginia, especially against mountain top removal.

Chic: The Guide to Life as It Should Be Colin Cowie – The noted event planner explains how to live a gracious life on any budget.

Come to Think of It: Notes on the Turn of the Millennium Daniel Schorr – The author’s observations on politics and American life over the years from 1990 to the present by the well known commentator.

Details Men’s Style Manual: The Ultimate Guide for Making Your Clothes Work for You Daniel Peres – A well-illustrated guide to the apropos in men’s fashion.

Discover Your Inner Wisdom: Using Intuition, Logic, and Common Sense to Make Your Best Choices Char Margolis – How to make wise choices by tapping in to your own intuition.

Discovering God: The Origins of the Great Religions and the Evolution of Belief Rodney Stark – The origins and development of the great religions from the Stone Age to modern times is discussed in this extensive examination.

Get Rich, Stay Rich, Pass It On: The Wealth Accumulation Secrets of America’s Richest Families Catherine S. McBreen and George H. Walper, Jr. – The authors state that there may be many ways to get rich, but only two ways to ensure perpetual wealth.

Grow Your Money! 101 Easy Tips to Plan, Save, and Invest Jonathan D. Pond – Financial advice from a well-know advisor.

Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out Marci Shimoff – The author explains how to be a happier person regardless of one’s circumstances.

How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Way to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better Charla Krupp – Another look at an age-old problem.

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto Michael Pollan – The author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma states that what we should eat comes down to: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

In Pursuit of Excellence: How to Win in Sport and Life Through Mental Training Terry Orlick – The author, a noted sports psychologist, provides a plan to enhance excellence in life as well as sports.

Isn’t It Their Turn to Pick Up The Check? Dealing with All of the Trickiest Money Problems Between Family and Friends—from Serial Borrowers to Serious Cheapskates Jeanne Fleming and Leonard Schwarz – A look at the embarrassing, annoying, and often emotionally charged money-related dilemmas that everyone faces.

Jim Cramer’s Stay Mad for Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer) James J. Cramer with Cliff Mason – Lifetime investing for readers of any age from the TV guru.

Living Your Unlived Life: Coping with Unrealized Dreams and Fulfilling Your Purpose in the Second Half of Life Robert A. Johnson and Jerry M. Ruhl – Realizing the unmet dreams and hopes from earlier years can provide peace and wholeness in later years of life.

My Answer Is No…If That’s Okay with You: How Women Can Say NO and (Still) Feel Good About It Nanette Gartrell – How to set limits without jeopardizing important relationships.

Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream: A Day in the Life of Your Body Jennifer Ackerman – An exploration of the human body that reveals the importance of synchronizing our actions with our biological rhythms.

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain John J. Ratey and Eric Haterman – The latest research shows that for your brain to function at its peak, your body needs to move.

Strong at the Broken Places: Voices of Illness, A Chorus of Hope Richard M. Cohen – The author spent three years chronicling the lives of five “citizens of sickness” and examines the situations of the chronically ill.

Surrender Is Not an Option: Defending America at the United Nations and Abroad John Bolton – The former secretary to the United Nations takes a behind-the scenes look at his work there and outlines his vision for a realistic global security arrangement.

Terra: Our 100-Million-Year-Old Ecosystem—and the Threats That Now Put It at Risk Michael Novacek – The author’s synthesis of evolutionary biology, paleontology, and modern environmental science provides an explanation of the current state of the planet.

Truth and Consequences: Special Comments on the Bush Administration’s War on American Values Keith Olbermann – Commentary from the host of Countdown with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC.

Vermeer’s Hat: The Seventeenth Century and the Dawn of the Global World Timothy Brook – A look at how rapidly the world was changing as illuminated through the paintings of Vermeer.

Winning Nice: How to Succeed in Business and Life Without Waging War Dawna Stone – How to be yourself and also have success in life.

New Nonfiction – January 2008

Lynne

Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin Nicholas Ostler – An examination of the one constant in the cultural history of the west for over two thousand years.

America 1908: The Dawn of Flight, the Race to the Pole, The Invention of the Model T and the Making of a Modern Nation Jim Rasenberger – Life in America a century ago.

American Crescent: A Muslim Cleric on the Power of His Faith, and the Struggle against Prejudice, and the Future of Islam and America Hassan Qazwini – The author reviews the tenets of Islam and defends it as a faith of peace and diversity.

Boom! Voices of the Sixties: Personal Reflections on the ‘60’s and Today Tom Brokaw – The author of The Greatest Generation gives us another portrait of a defining era in American history.

Breaker Boys: The NFL’s Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship David Fleming – The author recounts the story of how the Pottsville Maroons, a semi-pro football team from the heart of Pennsylvania coal country, was stripped of its championship title.

Children at Play: An American History Howard P. Churdacoff – A fascinating study of the changes throughout American history of children at play and what it tells us about ourselves.

Copernicus’ Secret: How the Scientific Revolution Began Jack Repcheck – The story behind the publication of Copernicus’ masterwork that changed humanity’s view of the cosmos.

Day of Reckoning: How Hubris, Ideology, and Greed Are Tearing America Apart Patrick J. Buchanan – The author asks the question as to whether the America we know will be able to survive.

The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War Graham Robb – The story of the remarkable country of France during a tumultuous century.

The Far Traveler: Voyages of a Viking Woman Nancy Marie Brown – Five hundred years before Columbus, a Viking woman named Gudrid sailed off the edge of the known world.

The Ghost Mountain Boys: Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea—The Forgotten War of the South Pacific James Campbell – In 1942, the 32nd Division’s Ghost Mountain Boys were assigned the most grueling mission of the entire Pacific campaign.

Girls Gone Mild: Young Women Reclaim Self-Respect and Find It’s Not Bad to Be Good Wendy Shalit – The author reports on the young women who are rebelling against the current state of teen fashion.

It’s Not About the Hair: And Other Certainties of Life and Cancer Debra Jarvis – An illuminating look at surviving adversity and living through illness and life.

Heroes: From Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar to Churchill and De Gaulle Paul Johnson – An intriguing examination of heroes throughout the centuries that include not only Abraham Lincoln and Joan of Arc, but also Marilyn Monroe and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit Lou Dobbs – What has happened to America?

Leading Ladies: American Trailblazers Kay Bailey Hutchison – Sixty-three pioneers in many fields of endeavor are illuminated by the first woman senator elected from the state of Texas.

The Living Cosmos: Our Search for Life in the Universe Chris Impey – The fast growing field of astrobiology is depicted in this study that looks at where it’s going, and what it’s likely to find.

Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes, and the Man Who Makes War Possible Douglas Farah and Stephen Braun – Who is the immensely wealthy and powerful arms dealer who has flooded Africa and Southeast Asia with weapons of war?

The Power of Body Language: How to Succeed in Every Business and Social Encounter Tonya Reiman – Learn what others are saying to you without using words.

The Secret History of the War on Cancer Devra Davis – The official war on cancer has focused on treatment rather than concentrating on the preventable aspects of cancer. Written by a leading researcher from the University of Pittsburgh.

See You in a Hundred Years: Four Seasons in Forgotten America Logan Ward – The author and his wife travel back in time to live the life of a farming family in rural Virginia, 1900.

Shadow Warriors: The Untold Story of Traitors, Saboteurs, and the Party of Surrender Kenneth R. Timmerman – What happens behind the scenes of governmental agencies such as the CIA and the State Department?

Soldier’s Heart: Reading Literature Through Peace and War at West Point Elizabeth D. Samet – What does literature mean to cadets who are preparing to fight a war? The author’s former students also relate what books and movies are meaningful to them after returning from Iraq.

The Terror Dream: Fear and Fantasy in Post- 9/11 America Susan Faludi – An examination of the country’s psychological response to assault of 9/11.

The Ultimate Battle: Okinawa 1945—The Last Epic Struggle of World War II Bill Sloan – The story of the last great clash of World War II which resulted in the deaths of at least 115,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen from both the United States and Japan.

What’s the Matter with California: Cultural Rumbles from the Golden State and Why the Rest of Us Should Be Shaking Jack Cashill – An intriguing look at the cultural landscape of California.

New Biographies – January 2008

Lynne

Beyond the White House: Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope Jimmy Carter – The former president reviews his accomplishments during his post-presidential years.

Blue Skies, No Fences: A Memoir of Childhood and Family Lynne Cheney – The author recounts her childhood in the small town of Caspar, Wyoming.

Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life James Blake – The well-known tennis star recounts a tumultuous year in his life and the perseverance that helped him through it.

The Case of Abraham Lincoln: A Story of Adultery, Murder, and the Making of a Great President Julie M. Fenster – The story of Lincoln’s rise to the head of the new Republican Party in Illinois, against the backdrop of one of his most important legal cases.

Cheney: The Untold Story of America’s Most Powerful and Controversial Vice President Stephen F. Hayes – A view of the life of the enigmatic and influential vice president.

Clapton: The Autobiography Eric Clapton – The personal and professional journey of the noted rock star.

Come Be My Light Mother Teresa – A collection of writings that reveal the inner spiritual life of an important religious figure.

The Confidante: Condoleezza Rice and the Creation of the Bush Legacy Glenn Kessler – A portrait of the Secretary of State and her important role in United States foreign relations.

Crisis, Pursued by Disaster, Followed Closely by Catastrophe: A Memoir of Life on the Run Mike O’Connor – The author didn’t discover the mystery behind his family’s bizarre life until he became an investigative reporter.

Don’t Bet Against Me: Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer and in Life Deanna Favre – The wife of the Packers quarterback examines her life as a breast cancer survivor and activist.

Elizabeth & Leicester Sarah Gristwood – What was the truth about the relationship between Elizabeth I and the Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley?

First Class Citizenship: The Civil Rights Letters of Jackie Robinson Michael G. Long, ed. – His letters show Robinson as a fearless advocate for racial justice at the highest levels of American politics.

How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else Michael Gates Gill – After losing almost everything, a former ad agency executive learns about life as a barista.

Journals: 1952-2000 Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. – Observations on a half-century of public life from a noted historian.

The Last Mazurka: A Family’s Tale of War, Passion, and Loss Andrew Tarnowski – The lost world of pre-war Poland is mirrored in this tale of a once powerful family.

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s John Elder Robison – Being told, at the age of 40, that he had Asperger’s Syndrome transformed the way the author saw himself—and the world.

Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu Laurence Bergreen – Marco Polo’s odyssey–along the Silk Road and through all the adentures of his life–is chronicled in illuminating detail.

Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far Amy Grant – Reminiscences and inspiration from a popular gospel and country singer.

My Grandfather’s Son: A Memoir Clarence Thomas – The Supreme Court justice relates the journey of his life, from rural Georgia to Washington, D.C.

One Drop: My Father’s Hidden Life—A Story of Race and Family Secrets Bliss Broyard – Shortly before his death, literary critic Anatole Broyard revealed to his grown children that he was black and that his parents had resorted to “passing” in order to get work.

Out of the Frying Pan: A Chef’s Memoir of Hot Kitchens, Single Motherhood, and the Family Meal Gillian Clark – A memoir of a chef’s rise from beginner to a top chef, replete with recipes.

The Preacher and the Presidents: Billy Graham in the White House Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy – No one has ever been in a position to see the presidents, and the presidency, so intimately, over so many years as the well known evangelist.

Sage-ing While Age-ing Shirley MacLaine – The noted actress reviews her life and sees the powerful force of synchronicity at work around her.

Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography David Michaelis – The first biography of the brilliant, unseen man behind Peanuts.

A Skating Life Dorothy Hamill – The Olympic gold medal winner reviews her life on and of the ice.

Song Without Words: The Photographs & Diaries of Countess Sophia Tolstoy Leah Bendavid-Val – A collection of photographs and diary entries from a remarkable woman and the wife of Leo Tolstoy.

Touch and Go: A Memoir Studs Terkel – At the age of 95, the writer who has written about so many other people, reviews the highlights of his own life.

Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me Pattie Boyd – The rock and roll muse to two exceptionally famous rock stars tells her side of the story.