New Non-Fiction Books – August 2009

The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal
Ben Mezrich
338.761 MEZ 2009
Two Harvard undergraduates looking for a way to win social success, hacked into the university’s computer system.  The framework for Facebook was born in a Harvard dorm room.

The Age of the Unthinkable: Why the New World Disorder Constantly Surprises Us and What We Can Do About It
Joshua Cooper Ramo
973.931 RAM 2009
How to thrive in a world of unpredictability.

American Passage: The History of Ellis Island
Vincent J. Cannato
325.7 CAN 2009
Between 1892 to 1924 over twelve million immigrants passed through the gates at Ellis Island.

And Then the Roof Caved In: How Wall Street’s Greed and Stupidity Brought Capitalism to Its Knees
David Faber
332.63 FAB 2009
The author relates the story behind the economic crisis: the defining theme of which has been greed, coupled with the regulatory failure of the government.

Busted: Life Inside the Great Mortgage Meltdown
Edmund L. Andrews
332.722 AND 2009
Even as a New York Times economics reporter, the author succumbed to the temptation of subprime lending and became part of the economic catastrophe.

Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle
Chris Hedges
302.23 HED 2009
The author asserts that a culture that cannot distinguish between reality and illusion dies; the society that retreats into fantasy will eventually turn to demagogues and charlatans.

Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur
Pamela Slim
658.11 SLI 2009
How to make a getaway from the corporate grind.

The Evolution of God
Robert Wright
200.9 WRI 2009
The author presents a sweeping journey through history and the development of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

A Failure of Capitalism: The Crisis of ‘08 and the Descent Into Depression
Richard A. Posner
330.973 POS 2009
The author presents a non-technical examination of the current financial disaster and the efforts to cope with it.

Halfway to Heaven: My White-knuckled and Knuckleheaded Quest for the Rocky Mountain High
Mark Obmascik
796.522 OMB  2009
A look inside the culture of the mountaineering obsessives who try scaling all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains in one year, to become part of an elite group known as the  Fourteneers.

Holy Roller: Finding Redemption and the Holy Ghost in a Forgotten Texas Church
Julie Lyons
289.9 LYO 2009
An inspiring story of a journalists firsthand investigation into the results of faith and prayer in the lives of society’s overlooked people.

Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of U.S. Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan
Doug Stanton
958.1047 STA 2009
The dramatic account of a small band of Special Forces soldiers who secretly entered Afghanistan following 9/11 and rode to war on horses against the Taliban.

How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In
Jim Collins
338.7 COL 2009
Every institution is vulnerable to decline, but it can be avoided.  By the author of Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t.

How Rome Fell
Adrian Goldsworthy
937.09 GOL 2009
During the second century, the Roman Empire controlled most of the known world.  By the end of the fifth century, the empire had disintegrated, a shadow of its former might.

The Language of Things: Understanding the World of Desirable Objects
Dyan Sudjic
745.401 SUD 2009
An informative look at the intersection between art, design, and commerce.

The Last Best Hope: Restoring Conservatism and America’s Promise
Joe Scarborough
320.52 SCA 2009
A new take on the nation’s political and economic situation.

Packing the Court: The Rise of Judicial Power and the Coming Crisis of the Supreme Court
James MacGregor Burns
347.7326 BUR 2009
A penetrating look at the nation’s top court by a noted author.

Portfolios of the Poor: How the World’s Poor Live on $2 a Day
Daryl Collins, et.al.
339.46 POR 2009
About 40% of the world’s people live on incomes of $2.00 a day or less.  How do the poor find solutions to living on such an amount?  A thoughtful report on the “bottom billion.”

Renegade: The Making of a President
Richard Wolffe
324.973 WOL 2009
The story of how a political newcomer with no money became the world’s most powerful leader.

Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon
Craig Nelson
629.45 NEL 2009
The dramatic story of the first trip to the moon aboard the 30-story-high Apollo II-Saturn V spaceship.

Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work
Matthew B. Crawford
331 CRA 2009
The author discusses the experience that was once quite common: the activity of making and fixing things with our hands.

Soul Survivor: The Reincarnation of a World War II Fighter Pilot
Bruce and Andrea Leininger
133.90135 LEI 2009
The parents of James Leininger were puzzled and disturbed by the nightmares their two-year-old son was having.  They set out on a journey of discovery that led to one conclusion.

Stay Close: A Mother’s Story of Her Son’s Addiction
Libby Cataldi
362.29 CAT 2009
The poignant story of a mother’s love and her struggles with her son’s drug addiction.

Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played
L. Jon Wertheim
796.342 WER 2009
All the details of the classic tennis match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on July 6, 2008.

The Third Reich at War
Richard J. Evans
940.53 EVA 2009
A narrative of the war along with the personal stories from a wide range of people during the rise and demise of German military might.

The Whole Five Feet: What the Great Books Taught Me About Life, Death, and Pretty Much Everything Else
Christopher R. Beha
011.73 BEH 2009
The Harvard Classics were compiled a century ago by Charles Eliot.  The author decides to revisit these classic books over the course of a year.

You Are Here: Why We Can Find Our Way to the Moon, but Get Lost in the Mall
Colin Ellard
153.752 ELL 2009
How has modern culture become so directionally challenged?

New Non-Fiction, June/July2009

The Addict: One Patient, One Doctor, One Year
Michael Stein
362.293 STE 2009
The world of prescription drug addiction seen through the  story of a woman whose life was taken over by her desire for the next pill.

The American Future: A History
Simon Schama
973 SCH 2009
The noted historian looks at the multiple crises facing the United States with references to America’s past history.

Are You Kidding Me? The True Story of Rocco Mediate’s Extraordinary Battle with Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open
Rocco Mediate and John Feinstein
796.352 MED 2009
The dramatic showdown at the 2008 U.S. Open.

The Armchair Birder: Discovering the Secret Lives of Familiar Birds
John Yow
598 YOW 2009
Interesting facts about the lives of birds  outside your window.

Columbine
Dave Cullen
371.782 CUL 2009
A recounting of the horrific events at Columbine High School.

Complexity: A Guided Tour
Melanie Mitchell
501 MIT 2009
Fascinating and elusive questions are presented that the science of complexity is attempting to answer.

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite
David E. Kessler
613.2 KES 2009
Why is it so difficult to resist certain foods and so easy to overindulge?

Essential Pleasures: A New Anthology of Poems to Read Aloud
Robert Pinsky, ed.
808.81 ESS 2009
A wide range of poetry for speaking and listening enjoyment.

Faith Under Fire: An Army Chaplain’s Memoir
Roger Benimoff
956.7044 BEN 2009
The author’s time as an Army chaplain in Iraq created a crisis of faith and a turning point in his life.

The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found
Mary Beard
937.7 BEA 2008
A penetrating look at the world famous archaeological site.

The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women & a Forty-Year Friendship
Jeffrey Zaslow
302.34 ZAS 2009
Eleven childhood friends formed a special bond growing up in Ames, Iowa.  A bond that has lasted through the years.

Go Down Together: The True Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde
Jeff Guin
364.1552 GUI 2009
The real story of Bonnie and Clyde is different from the myths that have grown up around them.  Fascinating.

The Horse Boy: A Father’s Quest to Heal His Son
Rupert Isaacson
618.92 ISA 2009
The author was devastated with his son’s diagnosis of autism. Discovering his son’s connection with animals, they went to Mongolia.

House of Cards: A Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street
William D. Cohan
332.66 COH 2009
With the collapse of Bear Stearns in March 2008, the meltdown on Wall Street officially began. How and why?

K Blows Top: A Cold War Comic Interlude Starring Nikita Khrushchev, America’s Most Unlikely Tourist
Peter Carlson
947.085 CAR 2009
The true story of a stranger in a strange land: Khrushchev’s tour across America in 1959.

Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto
Mark R. Levin
320.52 LEV 2009
The talk radio host discusses a conservative approach to government that includes greater freedom for individual Americans.

A Lion Called Christian
Anthony Bourke and John Rendall
599.757 BOU 2009
The heartwarming story of he reunion of two young men and their pet lion, Christian.

Old World Daughter, New World Mother: An Education in Love and Freedom
Maria Laurino
306.874 LAU 2009
The author of Were You Always an Italian? returns with a spirited look at life as a second-generation American.

One Hundred Essential Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know: Math Explains Your World
John D. Barrow
510 BAR 2009
The uses of mathematics in explaining many of life’s most intriguing questions are entertainingly presented.

One Square Inch of Silence
Gordon Hempton and John Grossmann
333.78 HEM 2009
Silence is our nation’s fastest-disappearing resource.  The author is recording the natural terrestrial soundscapes before they vanish.

Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World’s Holy Dead
Peter Manseau
203.7 MAN 2009
The author traces the trail of religious relics over the centuries.

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith
Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg
232.9 SPA 2009
An inspirational tour of Jewish culture during the time of Jesus.

Soldiers Once: My Brother and the Lost Dreams of America’s Veterans
Catherine Whitney
305.90697 WHI 2009
When the author’s brother, a Vietnam veteran, died, he was 53 years old and living in poverty and had not seen his family in 16 years.

Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
Chris Gardner
158.1 GAR 2009
The author of The Pursuit of Happyness presents a look at  beginning anew.

The Towering World of Jimmy Choo: A Glamorous Story of Power, Profits, and the Pursuit of the Perfect Shoe
Lauren Goldstein Crowe and Sagra Maceira de Rosen
338.76 CRO 2009
The behind-the-scenes story of the one of the most talked-about brands. “A smart, sexy business book.”

Unfinished Business: What the Dead Can Teach Us About Life
James Van Praagh
133.91 VAN 2009
Emotional stories from a well-known medium

The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier’s Education
Craig M. Mullaney
958.104 MUL 2009
The author had been graduated from West Point, attended Oxford as a Rhodes scholar, but was he prepared for war in Afghanistan?

Valkyrie: The Story of the Plot to Kill Hitler, By Its Last Member
Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager
943.086 BOE 2009
The author’s patriotism turned to disgust as he learned of the atrocities of the SS.  He and his brother joined a conspiracy to kill Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler.

Weather’s Greatest Mysteries Solved!
Randy Cerveny
304.2 CER 2009
Sample mystery:  Why did T. Rex become extinct?  And there’s many more weather conundrums in this fascinating book.

Why Don’t Students Like School? A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What it Means for the Classroom
Daniel T. Willingham
370.1523 WIL 2009
Why can kids remember the smallest details from their favorite television program, yet miss the most obvious questions on theiw history test?

New Non-Fiction May 2009

13 Things That Don’t Make Sense: The Most Baffling Scientific Mysteries of Our Time
502 BRO 2008
Michael Brooks
A look at the frontiers of science where there may be  breakthroughs in the near future.

An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith
Barbara Brown Taylor
248.4 TAY 2009
A noted author and Episcopal priest discovers the sacred in the small things we do and see.

A Comrade Lost and Found: A Beijing Story
Jan Wong
951 WON 2009
As a foreign student in Beijing during the Cultural Revolution, the author was asked by a young woman about getting into the United States.  To her lasting regret, Wong turned her into the authorities.

Confessions of an Alien Hunter: A Scientist’s Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
576.8 SHO 2009
Seth Shotak
The senior astronomer at the SETI Institute pits scientific truth against speculation and delivers some important news on the current state of our knowledge.

The Gamble: General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008
Thomas E. Ricks
956.7044 RIC 2009
The author of Fiasco recounts the inside story of the Iraq war since late 2005 and the launching of the surge strategy.

The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World Largest Unsolved Art Theft
364.162 BOS 2008
Ulrich Boser
Shortly after midnight on March 18, 1990, two men broke into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and committed the largest art heist in history.  The mystery is still unsolved.

The Great Decision: Jefferson, Adams, Marshall, and the Battle for the Supreme Court
347.73 SLO 2009
Cliff Sloan and David McKean
The power of the Supreme Court was established as John Marshall laid the cornerstone of the distinctive American rule of law in the case of Marbury v. Madison.

How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist
612.8 NEW 2009
Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman
Based on evidence culled from brain-scan studies, and other research, the authors have concluded that positive spiritual belief changes the human brain for the better.

How We Decide
153.83 LEH 2009
Jonah Lehrer
How does the human mind make decisions? How can we make those decisions better?

Lucy’s Legacy: The Quest for Human Origins
Donald C. Johanson
569.9 JOH 2009
Groundbreaking discoveries that are transforming our understanding of how humans have evolved.

The Madness of March: Bonding and Betting with the Boys in Las Vegas
796.323 ZAR 2009
Alan Jay Zaremba
And you thought the madness was on the basketball court.

Madness Under the Royal Palms: Love and Death Behind the Gates of Palm Beach
305.5234 LEA 2009
Laurence Leamer
An inside look at an exclusive enclave of wealth and privilege.

No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels
364.106 DOB 2009
Jay Dobyns and Nils Johnson-Shelton
The author was the first federal agent to infiltrate the inner circle of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.

Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English
John McWhorter
420.9 MCW 2009
Hundreds of years of fascinating language lore is found in this lively history of the English language.

Out of Captivity: Surviving 1,967 Days in the Colombian Jungle
Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Tom Howes
986.1 GON 2009
Three American contractors crash-landed in the jungle of Colombia and became prisoners of the terrorist group, FARC, for over five years.

Passing Strange: A Gilded Age Tale of Love and Deception Across the Color Line
305.896 SAN 2009
Martha A. Sandweiss
The noted 19th century scientist, Clarence King, led a double life: as a white explorer and geologist and as a black Pullman porter and steelworker named James Todd.

The Persian Night: Iran Under the Khomeinist Revolution
Amir Taheri
955.054 TAH 2009
Who really rules Iran?  A look at one of the most secretive regimes in the world traces the historical, religious, cultural, and political roots of the current power structure.

Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution
Richard Beeman
973.313 BEE 2009
The title comes from a quote by Pennsylvania delegate Robert Morris as he describes the summer of 1787 and their work to form a radically new form of government.

Practicing Catholic
282 CAR 2009
James Carroll
The author recounts his own personal story as a young priest and discusses the transformation of the Catholic Church.

A Saint on Death Row: The Story of Dominique Green
Thomas Cahill
364.66 CAH 2009
Imprisoned on death row for his role in a fatal shooting during a robbery, 18-year-old Green was transformed by the time of his execution at the age of 30.

Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance
170.44 DUN 2009
Tony Dungy
The noted football coach discusses what is really important in each person’s life.

Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa
R.A. Scotti
759.5 SCO 2009
On August 21, 1911, the unthinkable happened — the Mona Lisa vanished from the Louvre.  The theft captured the imagination of the world.  Here’s the story.

Vicksburg 1863
973.7 GRO 2009
Winston Groom
The important Battle of Vicksburg permanently turned the tide of the Civil War.  An engrossing narrative.

Where Our Food Comes From: Retracing Nikolay Vavilov’s Quest to End Famine
581.632 NAB 2009
Gary Paul Nabhan
A pioneer in the effort to buffer humankind against widespread famine was imprisoned by Stalin.  The author tells this extraordinary story along with his own efforts to ensure that the seeds which are the future of our food are preserved.

Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the Twenty-First Century
355.020112 SIN 2009
P. W. Singer
What happens when science fiction starts to become reality on the battlefield?

You Are Here: A Portable History of the Universe
Christopher Potter
523.1 LYO 2009
The life of the universe, now 13.7 billion years old.

New Nonfiction March 2009

A Jury of Her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx
Elaine Showalter
810.9 SHO 2009
A comprehensive history of American women writers from 1650 to 2000.  Well known writers as well as more obscure authors are highlighted.

Blank Spots on the Map: The Dark Geography of the Pentagon’s Secret World
Trevor Paglen
355.3432 PAG 2009
The author undertakes a road trip to investigate the U.S. military and CIA “black ops” sites.

A Case for the Existence of God
Dean L. Overman
212 OVE 2009
Why is there something rather than nothing?

The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even the Toughest Times
Jean Chatzky
332.024 CHA 2009 FIN
The financial coach shares her research into the similarities among the self-made wealthy.

Einstein’s Telescope: The Hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe
Evalyn Gates
523.1126 GAT 2009
Astronomers are using the theory of Einstein in ways that allow them to view the invisible aspects of the universe.  Exciting research that is pursuing one of science’s great mysteries.

Embracing the Wide Sky: A Tour Across the Horizons of the Mind
Daniel Tammet
612.82 TAM 2009
The author of Born on a Blue Day who has autistic savant syndrome, discusses the similarities between his thinking abilities and the kind that we all do.

Enough Already: Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You
Peter Walsh
646.7 WAL 2009
How to deal with the overwhelming “stuff” in our lives.

Expect to Win: Proven Strategies for Success from a Wall Street Vet
Carla A. Harris
650.1 HAR 2009
The Wall Street superstar relates her “key survival tools” to those who are advancing their careers.

Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security
Richard B. Myers
355.0092 MYE 2009
With an insider’s view of the war on terror, the author presents a  plan to prepare the United States for challenges in the 21st century.

The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
641.306 MAS 2009
The prolific author provides insight into the psychological factors that influence decisions about what we eat and why.

Fight for Your Money: How to Stop Getting Ripped Off and Save a Fortune
David Bach
332.024 BAC 2009 FIN
The author of the Automatic Millionaire explains how to take on the “corporate machines.”

Freedom in My Heart: Voices from the United States National Slavery Museum
306.362 FRE 2008
Never-before-seen artifacts, images and documents that trace the history of slavery in North America are presented.

In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed Their Past
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
973.0496 GAT 2009
In tracing their family’s past, most African Americans face a series of daunting, but not insurmountable, obstacles.

The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts and the Challenges to American Power
David E. Sanger
327.73 SAN 2009
An intelligence briefing on the world America faces from a noted Washington journalist.

Is God a Mathematician?
Mario Livio
510 LIV 2009
How can mathematics accurately describe and even predict the world around us?

Legacy of Secrecy: The Long Shadow of the JFK Assassination
Lamar Waldron
973.922 WAL 2008
An extensive look at the cover-ups and conspiracies surrounding the Kennedy assassination.

Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
Liaquat Ahamed
332.1092 AHA 2009
Four men, four banks and the economic collapse of the 1920’s.

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
David Grann
918.1 GRA 2009
A mystery that reaches back centuries and a sensational disappearance are featured in this tale of death and madness.

Meltdown: A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make things Worse
Thomas E. Woods
332.4 WOO 2009
Are the culprits in the collapse of housing values and stocks located on Wall Street or in Washington?

Moments of Clarity: Voices from the Front Lines of Addiction and Recovery
Christopher Kenney Lawford
606.86 LAW 2009
What finally forces any person to choose life over death?  The author of Symptoms of Withdrawal presents the stories of others who have confronted and triumphed over addiction.

The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century
George Friedman
303.49 FRI 2009
What are the changes we can expect during the twenty-first century?

The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet
Neil DeGrasse Tyson
523.49 TYS 2009
The story of the extraterrestrial underdog.

Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People
Ken Watanabe
153.43 WAT 2009
How good are you at solving real-world problems?

The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008
Paul Krugman
330.9 KRU 2009
Is a replay of the 1930’s possible?  A Nobel prize winner presents his informed opinion.

Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
153.9 COL 2008
What is the solution to the mystery of high performance?

A Tolerable Anarchy: Rebels, Reactionaries, and the Making of American Freedom
Jedidiah Purdy
320.973 PUR 2009
An examination of the nature and concept of freedom that is at the heart of American identity.

The Triple Bind: Saving Our Teenage Girls from Today’s Pressures
Stephen Hinshaw with Rachel Kranz
155.533 HIN 2009
The opportunities available to today’s young women are accompanied by stresses from conflicting messages.

Why Evolution Is True
Jerry A. Coyne
576.8 COY 2009
An accessible summary of the facts supporting the Darwinian concept of evolution.

Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average
Joseph T. Hallinan
153 HAL 2009
Why do we make mistakes?  Could we do a little better?

New Non-Fiction Titles 2/18/09

Angels and Ages: A Short Book about Darwin, Lincoln, and Modern Life
Adam Gopnik

Two babies were born on February 12, 1809 an ocean apart. One in a log cabin. The other on an English country estate.

Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals
Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson

The animal scientist and autism advocate looks at the way animals are treated and explains what animals want and need.

Banquet at Delmonico’s: Great Minds, the Gilded Age, and the Triumph of Evolution in America
Barry Werth

An inside look at the circle of philosophers, scientists, politicians and businessmen who brought Darwin’s ideas to America in the years after the Civil War.

The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama
Gwen Ifill
The veteran journalist provides an introduction to emerging African American politicians and the impact of the election of Barack Obama.

The Decline and Fall of the British Empire, 1781-1997
Piers Brendon

A sweeping chronicle of the far-reaching British Empire following the American Revolution.

Disquiet, Please! More Humor Writing from The New Yorker
David Remnick and Henry Finder, eds.
Amusing essays from the pages of the noted magazine.

Every Living Thing: Man’s Obsessive Quest to Catalog Life, from Nanobacteria to New Monkeys
Rob Dunn

A look at the exhilarating quest to study the natural world.

Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People
William L. Iġġiaġruk Hensley
This memoir of a native Alaskan recounts his upbringing and the formation of the Northwest Alaska Native Association and its work to protect the rights of the people who have called Alaska home for thousands of years.

God in the Foxhole: Inspiring True Stories of Miracles on the Battlefield
Charles W. Sasser
A collection of true personal accounts from generations of American soldiers who faith has been born or transformed under fire.

History’s Greatest Heist: The Looting of Russia by the Bolsheviks
Sean McMeekin
How did the Bolsheviks manage to stay in power? During the early years the Russian Revolution was financed largely through artistic thievery.

How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth
Henry Alford
The author interviews famous and/or accomplished people over seventy in this witty search for enlightenment.

The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets: How to Keep Your Portfolio Up When the Market Is Down
Peter D. Schiff
How to protect your assets and invest your money.

Living Rich for Less: Create the Lifestyle You Want by Giving, Saving, and Spending Smart: How You Can Save $30,000 This Year
Ellie Kay
New tips for saving during tough times.

The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes for a Longer and Healthier Life
Joseph Maroon
The noted Pittsburgh neuroscientist explains the recent scientific advances that have identified the natural substances that will promote health and longevity.

Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life
David Allen
Following up on his previous book, Getting Things Done, the author explains how to figure out where you are in life and how to get where you want to be going.

Note To Self: 30 Women on Hardship, Humiliation, Heartbreak and Overcoming It All
Lessons learned from defining moments form the basis of these inspirational stories.

Nothing to Fear: FDR’s Inner Circle and the Hundred Days that Created Modern America
Adam Cohen
An account of the critical first days of FDR’s presidency during the worst time of the Great Depression.

Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive
Barbara L. Fredrickson
What is positivity? Can it transform our lives?

The Power of Less: the Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential…in Business and in Life
Leo Babauta
Simple steps to help individuals increase productivity and efficiency and learn to work simply.

Racing Odysseus: A College President Becomes a Freshman Again
Roger H. Martin
After surviving cancer, the author in enrolled in St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland as a 61-year-old freshman.

Rich Like Them: My Door-to-Door Search for the Secrets of Wealth in America’s Richest Neighborhoods
Ryan D’Agostino
The author knocked on 500 doors in nearly two dozen of the most affluent towns in America to discover insights into what it means to have money and how to get it.

So Damn Much Money: The Triumph of Lobbying and the Corrosion of American Government
Robert G. Kaiser
The author discusses how the increased growth of lobbying has had negative effects on politics and government.

Split: A Memoir of Divorce
Suzanne Finnamore
On a list for one of a “best books of 2008,” this title captures the reality of one woman’s life after those four words: “I want a divorce.”

Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street
Michael Davis
The saga of the influential and long-lasting children’s program.

The Third Chapter: Passion, Risk, and Adventure in the 25 Years After 50
Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot
A new look at a time of potential change, growth and new learning for older individuals.

The Time Paradox: The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life
Philip Zimbardo and John Boyd
There are seven common ways that people relate to time, each of which create benefits and pitfalls. The authors relate a plan for optimizing your time perspectives.

The World is Curved: Hidden Dangers to the Global Economy
David M Smick
The author contends that the mortgage mess is a symptom of potentially more devastating trouble.

New Non-Fiction 10/30/08

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 Meaning
Kerry 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 World
Vicki 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 Idealists
Susan 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 Non-Fiction 9/12/08

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 Wine
Benjamin 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 Non-Fiction 7/07/08

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 Civilization
Nicholas 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 Non-Fiction 1/31/08

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 Non-Fiction 1/03/08

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 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.

Why Marines Fight 359.96 BRA 2007