News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

New non-fiction books: from dragonslayers to nature wars, this month’s selections are extremely varied…..

Fractured times : culture and society in the twentieth century / Eric Hobsbawm.
“Hobsbawm examines the conditions that both created the flowering of the belle epoque and held the seeds of its disintegration: paternalistic capitalism, globalisation and the arrival of a mass consumer society.” (Book jacket)

Dragonslayers : from Beowulf to Saint George / author, Joseph A. McCullough ; illustrator, Peter Dennis.
“With its fiery breath, scaly armour, and baleful, malevolent stare, the dragon became the ultimate symbol of evil and corruption in European folklore and mythology. Often serving as a stand-in for Satan, or the power of evil gods, dragons spread death and hopelessness throughout the land. Only heroes of uncommon valour, courageousness, and purity could hope to battle these monsters and emerge victorious. Those that did became legends. They became dragonslayers. …” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Nature wars : the incredible story of how wildlife comebacks turned backyards into battlegrounds / Jim Sterba.
“In his latest, journalist Sterba (Frankie’s Place: A Love Story) provocatively and persuasively argues that just at the moment when humankind has distanced itself irrevocably from nature, its behavior patterns have put people in conflict with a natural world that they don’t know how to deal with. …Replete with statistics and a historical understanding of the cycles of humankind’s interaction with nature, Sterba tells of forests being cleared and animals hunted to extinction (until the conservation movement stepped in to curtail the damage), and people, already disconnected from the land, sprawled out into new artificial living arrangements that allowed “nuisance” animals to thrive. …(Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Data, a love story : how I gamed online dating to meet my match / Amy Webb.
“In this insightful, funny journey through online dating, Webb, a compulsively organized journalist and digital strategist, tries to find the perfect man by putting herself in his shoes. …Webb’s advice for dating both on and offline is insightful (and data-driven), and her descriptions of meddling family members, bad dates, and worse profiles are hilarious and familiar to anyone who’s tried dating online. …The story of her own experiment is funny, brutally honest, and inspirational even to the most hopeless dater. Agent: Suzanne Gluck and Erin Malone, William Morris Endeavor. (Jan. 31) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Phantom hitchhikers and other urban legends : the strange stories behind tall tales / Albert Jack.
“Jack (Red Herrings and White Elephants) unearths dozens of urban legends, conspiracy theories, weird tales, and entrenched celebrity gossip in this fun, fast-paced collection. Pegging the Internet as the main perpetrator in fostering the culture of hearsay that allows tall tales to thrive, he settles once and for all questions of whether Walt Disney’s body really is cryogenically preserved (it isn’t; in fact, his body met the opposite end: cremation) and whether Adolf Hitler had only one testicle. He also hypothesizes that there were actually two Robin Hoods and claims Captain Kidd wasn’t a pirate. …” Agent: Robert Smith, Robert Smith Literary Agency (U.K.). (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly) (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The road to Wigan Pier / George Orwell ; with a foreword by Victor Gollancz.
“George Orwell’s observations on the appalling living conditions of the unemployed of northern England in 1937, includes evaluations of middle class prejudice and apathy, and a criticism of socialism.” (Syndetics summary)

The International Bank of Bob : connecting our worlds one $25 kiva loan at a time / Bob Harris.
“While on assignment in Dubai to cover the world’s most luxurious hotels, Harris got sidetracked by the stories of the indentured immigrant laborers conscripted to build these palaces of opulence. Determined to do something to help the families of the working poor worldwide, he signed up with Kiva, an organization that allows individuals to lend money via the Internet to people in developing countries by providing microfinancing loans to small family businesses… Not content with merely helping from afar, Harris volunteered to tour the world and meet some of the Kiva recipients, and this is where the story really begins. Traveling to challenging and often war-torn places like Peru, Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Beirut, Lebanon, he checks out the repair shops, furniture businesses, hair salons, yogurt makers, and livestock owners who have been made successful by the microloans, but, most important, he learns firsthand about their personal and political struggles and is deeply impacted by the lives of the new friends he makes along the way.–Siegfried, David Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Cancel the apocalypse : the new path to prosperity / Andrew Simms.
“The horsemen are galloping and there’s more than four. From climate change to financial meltdown, feral elites and social division, food crises and the peak and decline of oil, stressed water supplies and mass extinctions – it’s the age of the complex super system shock. Some sort of apocalypse seems inevitable. Can it be cancelled?These are real threats, but a great transition is in the air. History shows that human beings have an amazing ability to change and adapt. Once our basic needs are met, it’s not more voracious economic growth we need for quality of life, but a different way of organising our days, working lives and neighbourhoods. Cancel the Apocalypse shows how to put the ‘end times’ on hold and start really living.” (Syndetics summary)

Fundamentals of sustainable dwellings / Avi Friedman.
“Architect Friedman (McGill Univ., Canada) covers the principles of residential green buildings, addressing topics ranging from site location to building materials, heating and cooling systems, water efficiency, green roofs, and waste management. The author writes in a reader-friendly manner in layperson’s terms, includes many photographs and illustrations, and provides the basic principles that most architects and builders should know and hopefully follow. …. Each of the 13 chapters is punctuated with case studies relative to that particular topic. …. Summing Up: Recommended. Two-year technical program students, general readers, and professionals/practitioners. B. Rowe Michigan State UniversityCopyright American Library Association, used with permission.” (CHOICE) (adapted from Syndetics summary)

To save everything, click here : technology, solutionism, and the urge to fix problems that don’t exist / Evgeny Morozov.
“Our society is at a crossroads. Smart technology is transforming our world, making many aspects of our lives more convenient, efficient and – in some cases – fun. Better and cheaper sensors can now be embedded in almost everything, and technologies can log the products we buy and the way we use them. But, argues Evgeny Morozov, technology is having a more profound effect on us: it is changing the way we understand human society.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

A Good African story : how a small company built a global coffee brand / Andrew Rugasira.
“Since it was founded in 2003, Good African Coffee has helped thousands of farmers earn a decent living, send their children to school and escape a spiral of debt and dependence. Africa has received over $1 trillion in aid over the last 50 years and yet despite these inflows, the continent remains mired in poverty, disease and systemic corruption.” (Syndetics summary)

Plutopia : nuclear families, atomic cities, and the great Soviet and American plutonium disasters / Kate Brown.
“While many transnational histories of the nuclear arms race have been written, Kate Brown provides the first definitive account of the great plutonium disasters of the United States and the Soviet Union. In Plutopia, Brown draws on official records and dozens of interviews to tell the extraordinary stories of Richland, Washington and Ozersk, Russia – the first two cities in the world to produce plutonium. To contain secrets, American and Soviet leaders created plutopias – communities of nuclear families living in highly-subsidized, limited-access atomic cities. Fully employed and medically monitored, the residents of Richland and Ozersk enjoyed all the pleasures of consumer society, while nearby, migrants, prisoners, and soldiers were banned from plutopia – they lived in temporary “staging grounds” and often performed the most dangerous work at the plant. Brown shows that the plants’ segregation of permanent and temporary workers and of nuclear and non-nuclear zones created a bubble of immunity, where dumps and accidents were glossed over and plant managers freely embezzled and polluted. In four decades, the Hanford plant near Richland and the Maiak plant near Ozersk each issued at least 200 million curies of radioactive isotopes into the surrounding environment – equaling four Chernobyls – laying waste to hundreds of square miles and contaminating rivers, fields, forests, and food supplies. Because of the decades of secrecy, downwind and downriver neighbors of the plutonium plants had difficulty proving what they suspected, that the rash of illnesses, cancers, and birth defects in their communities were caused by the plants’ radioactive emissions. Plutopia was successful because in its zoned-off isolation it appeared to deliver the promises of the American dream and Soviet communism; in reality, it concealed disasters that remain highly unstable and threatening today…..” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

From the Innocence of Objects to the Days of Destruction and Revolt; and from the premise that “coca leaf, the source of cocaine which has been banned in the U.S. since 1914, has been part of Coca-Cola’s secret formula for over one hundred years” to “Ban This Filfth!” this blog of New Non-fiction Books contains some controversial topics, and two books about dogs.

The carbon crunch : how we’re getting climate change wrong–and how to fix it / Dieter Helm.
“…Helm ….concludes that fixing climate change requires that consumers be “willing to vote for politicians who will force them to pay” the costs of a transformed energy policy. Such candor is rare, and if that’s the prerequisite to stave off potentially catastrophic global temperature increases, hope must triumph over experience. Helm superbly articulates why some of the alternate energy sources touted as solutions (such as wind power) aren’t cost efficient, and how countries claim to have reduced harmful carbon emissions only by increasing carbon imports that don’t add up to a net reduction…. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

A secret history of coffee, coca & cola / [written and illustrated by Ricardo Cortes]
“A Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Cola is an illustrated book disclosing new research in the coca leaf trade conducted by The Coca-Cola Company. 2011 marked the 125th anniversary of its iconic beverage, and the fiftieth anniversary of the international drug control treaty that allows Coca-Cola exclusive access to the coca plant. Most people are familiar with tales of cocaine being an early ingredient of “Coke” tonic; it’s an era the company makes every effort to bury. Yet coca leaf, the source of cocaine which has been banned in the U.S. since 1914, has been part of Coca-Cola’s secret formula for over one hundred years.” (Amazon.com)

Outwitting history : how a young man rescued a million books and saved a vanishing civilization / Aaron Lansky.
“”Lansky was a 23-year-old graduate student in 1980 when he came up with an idea that would take over his life and change the face of Jewish literary culture: He wanted to save Yiddish books. With few resources save his passion and ironlike determination, Lansky and his fellow dreamers traveled from house to house, Dumpster to Dumpster saving Yiddish books wherever they could find them – eventually gathering an improbable 1.5 million volumes, from famous writers like Sholem Aleichem and I.B. Singer to one-of-a-kind Soviet prints. …Agent, Carol Mann. (Oct. 1) Forecast: A Jewish Book Council-sponsored national tour should help put this at the forefront of books of Jewish interest this fall and lead to handsome sales. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Ban this filth! : letters from the Mary Whitehouse archive / edited by Ben Thompson ; based on an idea by Jonny Trunk and Jo Wheeler.
“In 1964, Mary Whitehouse launched a campaign to fight what she called the ‘propaganda of disbelief, doubt and dirt’ being poured into homes through the nation’s radio and television sets….For almost forty years, she kept up the fight against the programme makers, politicians, pop stars and playwrights who she felt were dragging British culture into a sewer of blasphemy and obscenity. From Dr Who (’Teatime brutality for tots’) to Dennis Potter (whose mother sued her for libel and won) to the Beatles – (whose Magical Mystery Tour escaped her intervention by the skin of its psychedelic teeth) – the list of Mary Whitehouse’s targets will read to some like a nostalgic roll of honour. Caricatured while she lived as a figure of middle-brow reaction, Mary Whitehouse was held in contempt by the country’s intellectual elite. But were some of the dangers she warned of more real than they imagined?” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The innocence of objects / Orhan Pamuk ; translated from the Turkish by Ekin Oklap.
“The culmination of decades of omnivorous collecting, Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence in Istanbul uses his novel of lost love, The Museum of Innocence, as a departure point to explore the city of his youth. In The Innocence of Objects, Pamuk’s catalog of this remarkable museum, he writes about things that matter deeply to him: the psychology of the collector, the proper role of the museum, the photography of old Istanbul, and, of course, the customs and traditions of his beloved city.”–Jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

The big New Yorker book of dogs / foreword by Malcolm Gladwell.
“The title says it all. It’s from the New Yorker! It’s about dogs! It has a foreward by hot author Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers, 2008)! And, of course, it has wonderful cartoons! This marvelous collection of essays, stories, short humor pieces, drawings, poems and cartoons could not have come from any other source but the New Yorker. What other publication has enough good stuff in the vaults to begin each section … with a piece by James Thurber? ….–Bent, Nancy Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Days of destruction, days of revolt / Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco.
“The first of our country’s sacrifices to the common greed, writes Hedges, were the Native Americans ravaged in the U.S. western expansion from the 1700s onward. Channeling the late Howard Zinn (A People’s History of American Empire), Hedges and Sacco visit four modern “sacrifice zones” where corporate interests have left tire treads all over the environment, the local economy, and the quality of life. Pine Ridge, South Dakota’s exploited and impoverished Native American reservation; the ravaged urban slum life of Camden, New Jersey; the Appalachian degradation wrought by coal mines in Welsh, WV; and the near-slavery conditions of immigrant farm workers in Immokalee, FL, all testify to laissez-faire policies gone foul and the burden economic forces place on every American. ….-M.C. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” (Library Journal)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The divinity of dogs : true stories of miracles inspired by man’s best friend / Jennifer Skiff.
“Our dogs profoundly touch the lives of the humans around them. They teach us about patience and love, they comfort us when we’re feeling most alone and they even perform miracles. In The Divinity of Dogs, you’ll find dozens of inspiring and delightful examples of the many ways thet dogs lead us to spiritual enlightenment. Jennifer Skiff knows first hand the central place a dog can take in your life, weaving her own story through the many others and showing how they comforted her through mistreatment as a child, divorce and a cancer dianosis.” (Book jacket)

A short introduction to climate change / Tony Eggleton.
“A Short Introduction to Climate Change provides a clear, balanced and well documented account of one of the most important issues of our time. It covers developments in climate science over the past 250 years and shows that recent climate change is more than the result of natural variability. It explains the difference between weather and climate by examining changes in temperature, rainfall, Arctic ice and ocean currents. It also considers the consequences of our use of fossil fuels and discusses some of the ways to reduce further global warming. ….” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Wind wizard : Alan G. Davenport and the art of wind engineering / Siobhan Roberts. “In 1964, Davenport received a confidential telephone call from two engineers requesting tests on a pair of towers that promised to be the tallest in the world. His resulting wind studies on New York’s World Trade Center advanced the art and science of wind engineering with one pioneering innovation after another. Establishing the first dedicated “boundary layer” wind tunnel laboratory for civil engineering structures, Davenport enabled the study of the atmospheric region from the earth’s surface to three thousand feet, where the air churns with turbulent eddies, the average wind speed increasing with height. The boundary layer wind tunnel mimics these windy marbled striations in order to test models of buildings and bridges that inevitably face the wind when built. ….” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

A real mixture today! from anarchism to toilet paper, to ‘The Pill’ and ‘Bad Pharma’: and is the human race going to cause its own extinction?

No gods, no masters / edited by Daniel Guerin ; translated by Paul Sharkey.
“This is the first English translation of Guerin’s monumental anthology of anarchism. It details, through a vast array of hitherto unpublished documents, writings, letters and reports, the history, organization and practice of the anarchist movement – its theorists, advocates and activists.” (Syndetics summary)

The fate of the species : why the human race may cause its own extinction and how we can stop it / Fred Guterl.
Describes the greatest threats to the human species, including super diseases, ecological calamities, and technology. “In this provocative, gripping book, “Scientific American” editor Guterl explores looming human extinction scenarios in vivid detail–the way they might really happen–and then proffers the means to avoid them in this grand and necessary thought experiment.” (Syndetics summary)

Bum fodder : an absorbing history of toilet paper / Richard Smyth. “As with all great inventions, China got there first. The first step was the invention of paper. They did that in around 100 CE: somewhat improbably, it’s attibuted to a single man, T’sai Lun. Sadly, the name of the first man to apply this cutting-edge technology to his backside has been lost to posterity. But we do know that paper had made the transition from craft material to bumfodder by the end of the 6th century. This is the story of mankind’s pusuit of gentleness in an unforgiving world….” (Book jacket)

Adam and Eve after the pill : paradoxes of the sexual revolution / Mary Eberstadt. “Though the birth control pill is taken for granted as a fact of life, no single event since Eve took the apple has been as consequential for relations between the sexes as the arrival of modern contraception. Indeed, there would have been no sexual revolution without it. Eberstadt digs below the surface and gathers a great deal of evidence that challenges the sanguine assessment of modern contraception.” (Syndetics summary)

Bad pharma : how drug companies mislead doctors and harm patients / Ben Goldacre.
“Warning: the pharmaceutical industry has serious side effects. These include: flawed clinical trials followed by the suppression of unfavourable results, poor regulation, diseases invented purely for profit, swollen marketing budgets, doctors and academics in the pay of pill manufacturers.
If you find this hard to swallow, please seek the urgent medical advice of Dr. Ben Goldacre….” (Book jacket)

From The Steampunk Gazette to Pacific leadership; from a new voice for Israel to Why you think the way you do, there’s something interesting here for everyone.

The Steampunk Gazette / Major Tinker. “This handsomely produced, color-illustrated volume tells the story of Steampunk, which started in the 1980s as a pop culture movement inspired by the early science fiction that came out of the Victorian era. It soon developed into an international lifestyle movement, having its own distinctive art, fashion, home decor, music, and social events. The Steampunk Gazette chronicles the origins and development of this subculture, using an illustrated newspaper-style design that reflects Steampunk’s retro aesthetic.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Welcome to Entrepreneur Country : what it is, how to find it, why you should go there / Julie Meyer. “The social contract has changed for ever: whether between government and individual capitalists, start-ups and corporates, or men and women. Many young people want to work for themselves. Feminine strength in the workplace, both in men and women, is in the ascendancy. Government must justify its role within society. Digital and software is replacing manufacturing as the dominant industrial paradigm. Corporates with their cash reserves will be the new venture capitalists. In Welcome to Entrepreneur Country, Julie Meyer, who has worked closely with many of the biggest technology entrepreneurs over the past fifteen years, explains how society is re-organising itself.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

New Zealand’s London : a colony and its metropolis / Felicity Barnes. “Antipodean soldiers and writers, meat carcasses and moa, British films and Kiwi tourists – over the last 150 years, all of these people, things and ideas have gone back and forth from New Zealand to London to help define, and redefine, the relationship between this country and its colonial centre. In NEW ZEALAND’S LONDON, which draws on an award-winning PhD thesis, Felicity Barnes explores “a colony and its metropolis”, from Edward Gibbon Wakefield to East Enders. By focusing on particular themes – from agricultural marketing to expatriate writers – Barnes develops a larger story about our colonial and national identity.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

New flags flying : Pacific leadership / edited by Ian Johnstone and Michael Powles.
“From 1960 to 1990, islands across the Pacific gained independence or self-government. In the years following this, Ian Johnstone and Michael Powles interviewed the Pacific people in key leadership positions in the lead-up to and achievement of independence. This book presents a nation-by-nation history of this change from being colonial subjects to citizens of Pacific nations from the point of view of the leaders involved. Accompanied by photographs and background information about the Pacific nations, the book explores the leaders’ views on independence and the process of gaining it. The accompanying CD contains excerpts from the interviews”–Publisher information.

250+ fundraising ideas for your charity, society, school and PTA : practical and simple money making ideas for anyone raising funds for charities, hospices, societies, clubs and schools / Paige Robinson.
“Containing over 250 practical and effective fundraising ideas, this is an essential book for anyone raising money for charities, hospices, societies, churches, clubs, as well as schools and their PTA. From the sublime (a sponsored blindfold) to the ridiculous (a baked bean welly race), there is something for every fundraiser in this book. ….”–Publisher’s description.

How communities heal : stories of social innovation and social change / vivian Hutchinson and the New Zealand Social Entrepreneur Fellowship. “HOW COMMUNITIES HEAL tells the stories of a unique group of New Zealand social entrepreneurs who are bringing insight, entrepreneurship and practical hope to our social and environmental challenges. The book profiles the personal stories of these innovators, and looks at the projects and programmes they are creating. Each profile includes photographs of the entrepreneurs and their projects, as well as scenes from their participation in the retreats of the New Zealand Social Entrepreneur Fellowship. ….” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

A new voice for Israel : fighting for the survival of the Jewish nation / Jeremy Ben-Ami.
“Many Americans who care about Israel’s future are questioning whether the hard-line, uncritical stances adopted by many traditional pro-Israel advocates really serve the country’s best interests over the long-term. Moderate Jeremy Ben-Ami, founder of J Street, the new pro-Israel, pro-peace political movement, punctures many of the myths that have long guided our understanding of the politics of the American Jewish community and have been fundamental to how pro-Israel advocates have pursued their work… Ben-Ami, whose grandparents were first-generation Zionists and founders of Tel Aviv, tells the story of his own evolution toward a more moderate viewpoint. He sketches a new direction for both American policy and the conduct of the debate over Israel in the American Jewish community”–Provided by publisher.

Why you think the way you do : the story of western worldviews from Rome to home / Glenn S. Sunshine.
“…In this accessible and eminently readable survey, Glenn Sunshine traces the development of the worldviews that underpin the Western world. He demonstrates the decisive effect the growth of Christianity had in transforming the outlook of pagan Roman culture into one that, based on biblical concepts of humanity and its relationship with God, established virtually all the positive aspects of Western civilization. Unique among books on the topic, Why You Think The Way You Do discusses Western worldviews as a continuous narrative rather than as simply as catalog of ideas and traces the effects changes in worldview had on society. …Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

Painkiller addict : from wreckage to redemption : my true story / Cathryn Kemp.
Cathryn Kemp was a successful travel journalist who was struck down by a life-threatening illness. After four years of operations and misdiagnoses she left hospital with a repeat prescription for fentanyl, a painkiller 100 times stronger than heroin. (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Walking away from empire : a personal journey / Guy R. McPherson
Guy McPherson was a successful professor by every imperial measure: well-published in all the right places, he taught and mentored students who acquired the best jobs in the field, and performed abundant, exemplary professional service. He earned enough to live on a third of his income and still traveled as much as he desired throughout the industrialized world. In other words, McPherson was the perfect model of all that is wrong with the United States… (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Our picks of the new music books this month are full of biographies – Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger, Rihanna, Henry Mancini… We were also intrigued by The chitlin’ circuit and the road to rock ‘n’ roll, which gives great insight into 20th-century American pop music and is a must read. Have a browse!

The man who sold the world : David Bowie and the 1970s / Peter Doggett.
“Taking for his unabashed model Revolution in the Head, the late Ian MacDonald’s seminal work on the Beatles, Doggett’s meticulous song-by-song analysis of David Bowie’s “long decade” (1969-1980) is a captivating look at an artist who defined an era. Best read while listening to the Bowie songs in question – for appropriate ambience and because Doggett’s analysis gets technical when dissecting the chord structure of favorites such as “Changes” – Doggett’s nontraditional rock biography traces Bowie’s early life and career through the 1980 release of his Scary Monsters LP” (Publishers Weekly)

Mercury : an intimate biography of Freddie Mercury / Lesley-Ann Jones.Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury
“As lead singer of the band Queen, Freddy Mercury was a pure showman, fusing opera, theater, pop, and rock. Jones presents a candid life story of this rare phenomenon and chronicles Queen’s ascendance to musical superstardom. Though it will appeal to more than just Queen obsessives, Jones’s band history proves to be the ultimate fan’s resource: she thoroughly documents the development of each album’s release, promotion, reviews, and infamous tours-including the background and production of their classic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” In this exhaustively enjoyable read, Jones combines her own detailed research with the brutal honesty of family and friends, media and music insiders, bandmates and bedmates.” (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

Mick : the wild life and mad genius of Jagger / Christopher Andersen.
“For decades, Mick has jealously guarded his many shocking secrets—until now. As the Rolling Stones mark their 50th anniversary, journalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author Christopher Andersen tears the mask from rock’s most complex and enigmatic icon in a no-holds-barred biography as impossible to ignore as Jagger himself. Based on interviews with friends, family members, fellow music legends, and industry insiders—as well as wives and legions of lovers— MICK sheds new light on a man whose very name defines an era” (Syndetics summary)

Here comes everybody / James Fearnley.
“October, 1984: Wham!, Culture Club and Status Quo dominate the top ten when The Pogues barrel out from the backstreets of Kings Cross, London, a furious, pioneering mix of punk energy, traditional melodies and the powerfully poetic song-writing of Shane MacGowan. Here, their story is told with beauty, lyricism and great candour by James Fearnley, founding member and accordion player. He brings to life the youthful friendships, the bust-ups, the amazing gigs, the terrible gigs, the fantastic highs and dramatic lows in a hugely compelling, humorous, moving and honest account of life in one of our most treasured and original bands.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)

Rihanna : rebel flower / Chloe Govan. “Here is an in-depth look at the life of one of pop music’s hottest international stars. This book reveals the details of Rihanna’s unhappy childhood, her wild child past that earned her the nickname of Rebel Flower, and how she found it therapeutic after her parents’ troubled marriage to join the army. A fascinating story of her transformation from schoolgirl Robyn Fenty to one of the most successful R&B artists in the world. Explores her turbulent relationship with singer Chris Brown which resulted in a photograph of her battered face making headlines around the globe. Features exclusive interviews with Rihanna’s old schoolfriends, producers, songwriters, video directors, journalists and many more who witnessed her transformation over the years. A must-read for fans new and old.” (adapted from amazon.com summary)

Cosmic dancer : the life and music of Marc Bolan / Paul Roland.
“Marc Bolan was the biggest pop star in post-Beatles Britain and in 1972 the Beatles acknowledged Bolan and his group T.Rex as their natural successor. His singles outsold the combined sales of Jimi Hendrix and The Who. But just when Bolan was at the summit of his success it all went sour. This is the incredible story of Marc Bolan’s rollercoaster rise to fame and his resurrection as the selfstyled ‘Godfather of Punk’ that promised to put him back on top until the fatal accident in 1977 which cut short his life and hopes of a comeback – an accident mysteriously accurately predicted by Bolan himself.” (adapted from Publisher’s description)

Henry Mancini : reinventing film music / John Caps.
“Henry Mancini (1924-94) brought film music from the background of the cinema to the foreground of popular culture. The music from the television series Peter Gunn and films including The Pink Panther and Hatari! became popular hits and permanent fixtures in the cultural Zeitgeist. Here, Caps, who hosted NPR’s The Cinema Soundtrack, tells the story of Mancini’s artistic development from big band arranger to Hollywood film score hit maker and beyond. Caps presents in-depth analysis of virtually each one of his scores. This critical biography will satisfy musically experienced readers as well as laypeople. It deserves a place in every film and popular music collection.” (adapted from Library Journal)

The chitlin’ circuit and the road to rock ‘n’ roll / Preston Lauterbach.
“Music journalist Lauterbach has written the definitive history of the musical back roads and back rooms of the southern United States, dubbed the Chitlin’ Circuit. From the 1920s through the 1960s, black musicians and their promoters used the clubs of the South to spread their music and eventually to sell records. Artists such as Walter Barnes, Louis Jordan, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Little Richard, and Al Green all worked the circuit in their time, bringing on the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll. A great read, well written and insightful. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the seedy history of American popular music.” (adapted from Library Journal summary)

Entertain us! / Craig Schuftan.
“In recent years there has been a massive upsurge of interest in nineties music. Triple J’s All Time Hottest 100 featured a disproportionate amount of nineties songs headed by Nirvana’s classic song: Smells Like Teen Spirit, from which this book draws its title.”(Syndetics summary)

From How to Think Like a Bat to principles for untangling tough ethical problems, these new Philosophy books will inform all facets of your ‘thinking’ life.

How to think like a bat : and 34 other really interesting uses of philosophy / Peter Cave.
How do you know that you exist? What does it mean to have a future? Are you the same thing as your brain? What does it mean to be free? How can you know what knowledge is? Philosophers think — but not just that, for they think about thinking and they think about how we think about the world, about how we conceive of ourselves, about how we possess a sense of right and wrong, about how we find meaning in life (if we do). “How to Think Like a Bat” might not help you to think like a bat, but it will certainly help you to think like a philosopher. (Syndetics)

How to read ancient philosophy / Miriam Leonard.
“Thinkers such as Aristotle, Plato, and Parmenides have shaped the way we see the world, and it is their original conception of philosophy which has placed topics such as logic, metaphysics, ethics, and ontology at the heart of philosophical debates for centuries. Miriam Leonard not only explores the central theories of their works, but also gives some sense of the messy process of abstraction, where written texts get transformed into timeless ideals….” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The great philosophers : from Socrates to Foucault / Jeremy Stangroom, James Garvey. “Philosophy has been under way for more than two thousand years. The Great Philosophers traces the biggest and most influential thoughts in philosophy’s long stride through history, beginning with the Ancient Greeks and early Romans, the first philosophical thinkers in the West, to whom so much is owed.” (book jacket)

The story of philosophy / Bryan Magee.
“YA-This gloriously illustrated and accessible book enables readers to embark on an adventure in philosophy. … The text is profusely illustrated with numerous full-color reproductions of artwork and photographs of historical sites; sidebars introduce additional people and ideas and “Key Works” of the philosophers are listed in light-blue boxes. Writing with a clear and lively style, Magee provides an excellent introduction to the topic… – Marsha S. Holden, Highland Community College, Freeport, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” (School Library Journal)

Why does the world exist? : an existential detective story / Jim Holt. “‘Why is there a world rather than nothing at all?’ remains the most curious and most enduring of all metaphysical mysteries. …the celebrated essayist Jim Holt now enters this fascinating debate with his broad, lively and deeply informed narrative that traces all our efforts to grasp the origins of the universe. With sly humour and a highly original personal approach Holt takes on the role of cosmological detective. Suggesting that we might have been too narrow in limiting our suspects to God and the Big Bang, he tracks down, among others, an eccentric Oxford philosopher, a Nobel Laureate physicist, a French Buddhist monk, and John Updike just before he died, to pursue this cosmic puzzle from every angle….” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

How philosophy can save your life : 10 ideas that matter most / Marietta McCarty.
“Discover how the greatest thinkers of all time can help you live a more meaningful and peaceful life.This inspiring new book from the bestselling author of Little Big Minds reveals how the heartbeats of philosophy-clear thinking, quiet reflection, and good conversation – are essential ingredients in a well-lived life. Book jacket.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Eastern philosophy : the basics / Victoria S. Harrison. “Eastern Philosophy: The Basics is an essential introduction to major Indian and Chinese philosophies, both past and present. Exploring familiar metaphysical and ethical questions from the perspectives of different Eastern philosophies, including Confucianism, Daoism, and strands of Buddhism and Hinduism, this book covers key figures, issues, methods and concepts.” (Adpted from Syndetics summary)

What should I do? : philosophers on the good, the bad, and the puzzling / edited by George Alexander ; with Elisa Mai.
“For several years Alexander George has hosted a website where a panel of distinguished philosophers answers questions submitted by members of the public. What Should I Do? presents a selection of the best of the questions and answers. These lively discussions cover a wide range of moral issues: they are enlightening, informed, personal, and honest. Book jacket.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Heidegger : a guide for the perplexed / David R. Cerbone.
“He has a singular phrase for human existence: “da-sein”. It is very nearly untranslatable from the original German. Nominally “dasein” is a verb meaning “to exist” or “to be there,” but Heidegger added that problematic hyphen. To Cerbone (philosophy, West Virginia University), the hyphen is one of most basic of issues and he deals with it capably at the outset, then uses Heidegger’s Being and Time more or less as a case study to work through the philosopher’s thought…. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)” (Syndetics summary)

Ethical intelligence : five principles for untangling your toughest problems at work and beyond / Bruce Weinstein.
“In this engrossing book, Weinstein, who writes the “Ask the Ethics Guy” column for www.businessweek.com, shows readers how to make the best possible decisions at work and at home by using five basic principles: do no harm, make things better, respect others, be fair, and be loving. …. The author covers a variety of everyday situations, from dealing with difficult people to watching a friend drip food on a bookstore magazine. …. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” (Library Journal)

An interesting collection of new non-fiction books includes why Science matters, a book about the Library, preparing for Retirement and unique perspective views by two women in two entirely different fields.

The social media reader / edited by Michael Mandiberg.
“Media landscapes shifted drastically over the past 10 years as web 2.0 and social media platforms claimed vast tracts of Internet territory, and in the process transformed previously stable relationships between media creators and consumers. The Social Media Reader is the first collection to address this transformation with essays on social media, peer production, copyright politics, and other aspects of contemporary Internet culture from the major thinkers in the field.” (Book jacket)

The geek manifesto : why science matters / Mark Henderson.
Whether we want to improve education or cut crime, to enhance public health or to generate clean energy, we need the experimental methods of science – the best tool humanity has yet developed for working out what works. Yet from the way we’re governed to the news we’re fed by the media we’re let down by a lack of understanding and respect for its insights and evidence. InThe Geek ManifestoMark Henderson explains why and how we need to entrench scientific thinking more deeply into every aspect of our society. A new movement is gathering. Let’s turn it into a force our leaders cannot ignore (Syndetics summary).

Victory : the triumphant gay revolution / Linda Hirshman.

“Drawing on rich archival material and in-depth interviews, a Supreme Court lawyer and political pundit chronicles the gay rights movement, revealing how the fight for gay rights has changed the American landscape for all citizens, blurring rigid gender lines and redefining the definition of family.” –Publisher Description.

The quotable Hitchens : the very best of Christopher Hitchens / edited by Windsor Mann ; foreword by Martin Amis.
“A compendium of never-before-collected quotations from #1 “New York Times”-bestselling author Hitchens touches on hundreds of subjects.” (Syndetics summary)

The library book.
“From Alan Bennett’s Baffled at a Bookcase, to Lucy Mangan’s Library Rules, famous writers tell us all about how libraries are used and why they’re important. Tom Holland writes about libraries in the ancient world, while Seth Godin describes what a library will look like in the future. Lionel Shriver thinks books are the best investment, Hardeep Singh Kohli makes a confession and Julie Myerson remembers how her career began beside the shelves. Using memoir, history, polemic and some short stories too, The Library Book celebrates ‘that place where they lend you books for free’ and the people who work there. All royalties go to The Reading Agency, to help their work supporting libraries.” (Syndetics)

The retirement maze : what you should know before and after you retire / Rob Pascale, Louis H. Primavera, and Rip Roach.

“The nuggets and insights truly helpful to those planning to get out of the nine-to-five world are nested in lots of psychological and academic research. The retired founder of a market-research firm, Pascale teamed with a former coworker and a psychologist to study the ways and means behind the beginnings of a new life. Based on a substantial number of online and some in-person interviews, they found no surprise! that determinants of happily-ever-after work are gender, health, wealth, attitudes, motivation, and personality…. Perhaps the most powerful chapter of all is the last, spelling out the five nonsequential steps to a great retirement: put back structure, purpose, and direction; get your finances in order; and keep searching and experimenting.–Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Luck : what it means and why it matters / Ed Smith.
For aspiring cricketer Ed Smith, luck was for other people. Like his childhood hero, Geoff Boycott, the tough, flinty Yorkshireman, the young Ed knew that the successful cricketer made his own luck by an application of will power, elimination of error, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. But when a freak accident at the crease at Lords prematurely ended Ed Smith’s international cricketing career, it changed everything – and prompted him to look anew at his own life through the prism of luck….. (Adapted from Syndetics summary)

Made for goodness and why this makes all the difference / Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu ; edited by Douglas C. Abrams.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu explains that, though we sometimes act out of depravity and despair, we do know in our heart of hearts that we are not as we were meant to be, and were created to be so much more. The truth of human goodness can get hidden under the fear that we cannot live up to its demands, or it can get buried under faults or failures, or it can just get forgotten. In this thoughtful and important book, the Archbishop (with his daughter, Mpho Tutu) shows how we can find our way back to goodness by changing our attitudes, by practising forgiveness, and by prayer. Then we will begin to see the goodness and beauty of others… If our view changes, this in turn alters the way we act. And how we act towards each other affects not only ourselves but everything in our world – for the better. (Syndetics)

I just made the tea : tales from 30 years inside Formula 1 / Di Spires with Bernard Ferguson ; forewords by Murray Walker and Michael Schumacher.
“This memoir of Di Spires looks at Formula 1 from a very unusual viewpoint. She travelled the world in Formula 1 for 30 years, running the team motorhome for a succession of different teams. As well as Formula 1 people, she encountered personalities from every walk of life, from royalty to criminals on the run. Her stories range from the hilarious to the tragic and provide a unique perspective. This is a fast-paced read packed with surprising snippets and observations, with plenty of intimate insight into what the drivers are really like.” (Syndetics)

The receptionist : an education at the New Yorker / Janet Groth.
“Like 1960s sitcom career girls Mary Tyler Moore and Ann Marie (of That Girl), Groth (English, emerita, SUNY at Plattsburgh; Edmund Wilson: A Critic for Our Time) moved from a small town to live out her dreams of becoming a writer in the big city. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in the 1950s, an employer at a temporary position shared her resume with The New Yorker contributor E.B. White, who then interviewed her for a job at the storied magazine. With neither the experience nor the interest to work in the secretarial typing pool, she was given a position as a receptionist on the floor that housed the writers. She remained in that job for 21 years, spending the time earning a Ph.D. in English, traveling the world, and meeting many of the denizens of the pages of The New Yorker, such as John Berryman, Muriel Spark, and Calvin Trillin. VERDICT An honest and engaging memoir for fans of the magazine and histories of Mad Men-era New York.-Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” (Library Journal)

This month’s set of popular non-fiction books have a focus on what makes us human, questions of ethics, examinations of our interactions with others and more.

Finnish lessons : what can the world learn from educational change in Finland? / Pasi Sahlberg ; foreword by Andy Hargreaves.
“The author traces the evolution of education policies in Finland and highlights how they differ from the United States and other industrialized countries. He shows how rather than relying on competition, choice, and external testing of students, education reforms in Finland focus on professionalizing teachers’ work, developing instructional leadership in schools, and enhancing trust in teachers and schools.” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

What money can’t buy : the moral limits of markets / Michael Sandel.What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets
“Should we pay children to read books or to get good grades? Should we put a price on human life to decide how much pollution to allow? Is it ethical to pay people to test risky new drugs or to donate their organs? What about hiring mercenaries to fight our wars, outsourcing inmates to forprofit prisons, auctioning admission to elite universities, or selling citizenship to immigrants willing to pay? Michael J. Sandel takes up one of the biggest ethical questions of our time: Isn{u2019}t there something wrong with a world in which everything is for sale? If so, how can we prevent market values from reaching into spheres of life where they don{u2019}t belong? What are the moral limits of markets?” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

Together : the rituals, pleasures, and politics of cooperation / Richard Sennett.
“In this sequel to his influential work “The Craftsman,” Sennett explores how we can learn to cooperate in the intensely tribal, competitive, and self-interested cultures we inhabit.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

In our prime : the invention of middle age / Patricia Cohen.In Our Prime: The Invention of Middle Age
“Those between the ages of 40 and 64 make up one-third of the U.S. population and control almost 70% of its net worth, making them the largest, wealthiest, and most influential segment of the country. Yet, as Cohen, a cultural reporter for the New York Times, shows, the idea of middle age is a relatively recent concept that emerged during America’s industrialization and urbanization; migrations to cities resulted in age- and occupation-related-not familiar-groupings. Tracing the “invention” of middle age alongside technological and scientific breakthroughs, this witty and engaging study synthesizes history, psychology, and the latest scientific research on the “middle-aged brain.” ….” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

EcoMind : changing the way we think, to create the world we want / Frances Moore Lappé.
“In her eighteenth book, the paradigm-altering Lappe asks why we’ve failed to effectively address environmental problems. Delving into neuroscience, anthropology, and history, and sharing her own extensive field experiences, she argues that perception is key. She surgically disassembles seven thought traps, or discouraging environmentalist messages that arouse guilt, fear, and despair instead of a sense of mission. On the positive side, she presents fascinating interpretations of six human traits we can count on, including cooperation, empathy, fairness, creativity, and the fact that we are doers.” – (adapted from Booklist summary)

Justice : what’s the right thing to do? / Michael J. Sandel.Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?
“”Justice” invites readers of all political persuasions to consider familiar controversies in fresh and illuminating ways. From affirmative action to physician-assisted suicide, Sandel shows how even the most hotly contested issues can be illuminated by reasoned moral argument.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Out of practice : fighting for primary care medicine in America / Frederick M. Barken.
“Barken (health policy, Ithaca College) draws from research and his experience as a primary care physician to illustrate how the practice of primary care is failing due to the trends of efficiency, profit, and productivity, which contributed to his retiring from the profession. He discusses doctors’ habits of overprescribing, expensive referrals to multiple specialists, and the lack of accessibility to care, and the need for compassionate, high-quality care. He identifies problems in geriatric care, the standardization of medicine, medical training, malpractice and defensive medicine, compensation, and the need for house calls.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Leaning into sharp points : practical guidance and nurturing support for caregivers / Stan Goldberg.
“Exhausted caregivers who read this inspirational guide will feel reinvigorated. Goldberg, a professor emeritus at San Francisco State and a long-time hospice volunteer, views the relationship between caregivers and their sick loved ones as mutually rewarding, although he recognizes that compassionate care for someone with a chronic or terminal illness is tough. Take breaks, and use such services as senior centers and Meals on Wheels, he suggests. No guilt allowed. Honesty is the best policy. Goldberg calls for physicians to state whether a prognosis is stable, progressive, or terminal. And he movingly and eloquently describes how caregivers can prepare themselves and their loved ones for death. Just as a midwife gently helps a newborn into the world, you can gently aid your loved one’s passage at the other end of the continuum, he writes. Throw a celebration-of-life goodbye party, or grant a last wish.” – (adapted from Booklist summary)

How to be black / Baratunde Thurston.
“Have you ever been called “too black” or “not black enough”? Have you ever befriended or worked with a black person? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this book is for you. Raised by a pro-black, Pan-Afrikan single mother during the crack years of 1980s Washington, DC, and educated at Sidwell Friends School and Harvard University, Baratunde Thurston has over thirty years’ experience being black. Now, through stories of his politically inspired Nigerian name, the heroics of his hippie mother, the murder of his drug-abusing father, and other revelatory black details, he shares with readers of all colors his wisdom and expertise in how to be black.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Ethics for everyday life : a practical guide / Dave Robinson. “A Practical Guide to ethics and every day decisions. Written by an expert, it includes straightforward, easy-to-follow ways to use ethics in making real life choices in areas such as friendships, marriage, parenting, and work. Dave Robinson has taught philosophy for many years and is the author of numerous Introducing series titles including Philosophy, Ethics and Critical Theory.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Before he was known for writing about a girl who played with fire, Steig Larsson the journalist researched and exposed extreme right ideals in Sweden for the magazine Expo. A collection of some of his best pieces is one of the more thought-provoking items added this month. American politics are also examined via books on Obama and Fox News.

Healing our history : the challenge of the Treaty of Waitangi / Robert Consedine & Joanna Consedine.
“The Treaty of Waitangi is the most important document in New Zealand’s history. Current Treaty issues and Maori/Pakeha relationships can only be understood within the wider story of New Zealand. As we understand and honour our history, we can acknowledge the need for restoration, healing and right relationships… This 2012 edition updates and expands on the critical issues: the foreshore and seabed debate, Maori access to political power, and the emergence of the Maori Party; the remarkable growth of the Maori economy, self-determination, Maori language and the developments in Maori education; constitutional issues, and the benefits of the Treaty settlement process. New Zealand and all New Zealanders have much to celebrate — and many challenges ahead….” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Arc of empire : America’s wars in Asia from the Philippines to Vietnam / Michael H. Hunt & Steven I. Levine.
“This is a history of four connected wars fought by the United States in eastern Asia between 1899 and 1973. From the Philippines to the Pacific theater of World War II to Korea to Vietnam, Hunt (history, emeritus, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) and Levine (history, Univ. of Montana) show how these wars were connected and the intricate ways that they influenced U.S. foreign policy as well as Asia’s culture and politics. The basic premise of the book is that the United States entered these conflicts to spread an imperial doctrine in Asia and hoped to establish a strong foothold in the region politically and militarily…. VERDICT Recommended for readers interested in current events and 20th-century history, especially military history and U.S.-Asia relations.-Jeremy Spencer, Univ. of California. Law Lib., Davis (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” – (adapted from Library Journal summary)

The end of the West : the once and future Europe / David Marquand.
“Has Europe’s extraordinary postwar recovery limped to an end? It would seem so. The United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Italy, and former Soviet Bloc countries have experienced ethnic or religious disturbances, sometimes violent. Greece, Ireland, and Spain are menaced by financial crises. And the euro is in trouble. In The End of the West, David Marquand, a former member of the British Parliament, argues that Europe’s problems stem from outdated perceptions of global power, and calls for a drastic change in European governance to halt the continent’s slide into irrelevance. …. Exploring the baffling contrast between postwar success and current failures, Marquand examines the rebirth of ethnic communities from Catalonia to Flanders, the rise of xenophobic populism, the democratic deficit that stymies EU governance, and the thorny questions of where Europe’s borders end and what it means to be European….” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Trickle down tyranny : crushing Obama’s dream of the socialist states of America / Michael Savage.
“It’s difficult to exaggerate Savage’s animus toward Barack Obama. For the conservative radio host, Obama is a “naked Marxist,” who, if re-elected, will make himself “president for life.” Savage (Trickle Up Poverty) tries to lacerate many areas of the Obama administration’s domestic and foreign policy, as well as alleged instances of malfeasance and corruption in the Justice Department and elsewhere…. Savage engages his fans with wild allegations and conspiracy theories, such as the claim that Obama is “determined to give our southwestern states to Mexico”: shrill fearmongering that his listeners have come to accept from a hardened ideologue. Agent: Ian Kleinert, Objective Entertainment. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

Spooks : the unofficial history of MI5 from the first Atom Spy to 7/7, 1945-2009 / Thomas Hennessey & Claire Thomas.
“The real history of MI5 during the era of the Cold War, the IRA & international terrorism. ‘PO Box 500, London W2′; the nondescript address from behind which one of the world’s most famous Secret Services hid: MI5. This book, based on previously secret sources, lifts the lid on Britain’s Security Service. Despite an outstanding war record against German espionage, MI5 failed to prevent Soviet agents like Anthony Blunt penetrating the heart of the British establishment, including MI5 itself.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The Expo files : and other articles by the crusading journalist / Stieg Larsson ; translated from the Swedish by Laurie Thompson ; edited by Daniel Poohl ; with an introduction by Tariq Ali.
“Now almost exclusively known as the author of the bestselling Millennium Trilogy, as a professional journalist Stieg Larsson was an untiring crusader for democracy and equality. As a reporter and editor-in-chief on the journal Expo he researched the extreme right both in Sweden and at an international level. Collected here for the first time are essays and articles on right-wing extremism and racism, on violence against women and women’s rights, on homophobia and honour killings.” – (adapted from Book Jacket summary)

The Fox effect : how Roger Ailes turned a network into a propaganda machine / David Brock, Ari Rabin-Havt, and Media Matters for America.
“Fox News gets subjected to a strong dose of investigative journalism in this book by the leaders of “news watchdog organization” Media Matters for America; the resulting portrait is at best unflattering and at worst sinister. Brock (The Republican Noise Machine) and Rabin-Havt present their evidence, beginning with the “Rise of Roger” Ailes, Fox president and, according to the authors, the driving force behind the network’s transformation from conservative news source to mouthpiece for the Republican Party. …. Photos. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

Hopeless : Barack Obama and the politics of illusion / edited by Jeffrey St. Clair and Joshua Frank.
“The Barack Obama revolution was over before it started, guttered by the politician’s overweening desire to prove himself to the grandees of the establishment. From there on, other promises proved ever easier to break. Here’s the book that dares not let Obama off the hook. It’s all here: the compromises, the backstabbing, the same old imperial ambitions. Covering all major “Obummer” categories since he took office, this fast-paced collection will delight the critical and offer food for thought for those contemplating the 2012 electoral circus—and beyond.” – (adapted from Publisher’s summary)

Rez life : an Indian’s journey through reservation life / David Treuer.
“Treuer (The Translation of Dr. Apelles), a prize-winning writer of fiction and member of Minnesota’s Ojibwe tribe, has fashioned a compelling work of nonfiction, knitting together his own personal narrative, the perspectives of friends and family, and the complex history of reservations and Native and non-Native relations. The result is at once sweeping in its historical and political scope and deeply personal and engaging. …. VERDICT A look into Native life from a Native perspective, this is recommended for anyone interested in how history has shaped Native people and the ways in which Native peoples are shaping their future.-Julie Edwards, Univ. of Montana Libs., Missoula (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” – (adapted from Library Journal summary)

A single roll of the dice : Obama’s diplomacy with Iran / Trita Parsi.
“Middle East foreign policy expert Parsi (Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States) looks at the Obama administration’s response-from January 2009 to fall 2010-to Tehran’s march toward nuclear weapons. The U.S. initially used a “hybrid” approach formulated by Dennis Ross, which combined diplomatic “engagement” with the threat of sanctions. According to Parsi, sanctions took the driver’s seat due to Washington’s pervasive mistrust of Iran, as well as pressure from hard-line Republicans and such allies as Israel, Saudi Arabia, and France. … Agent: Deborah Grosvenor. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

An in-depth examination of the sordid News of the World “phone hacking” scandal has enough drama to be fit for the tabloids in the most meta new popular non-fiction item for some time. Also recently added to our catalogue are several volumes on inventions, ranging from serious overviews, to Britain’s celebrities and their concepts for far-fetched future conveniences. As always, a delightfully mixed bunch…

Dial M for Murdoch : News Corporation and the corruption of Britain / Tom Watson and Martin Hickman.
“….the story of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and British phone hacking scandal makes for political drama at its finest. ….News of the World reporters hacked voicemail messages of royals, actors, and soccer notables to drive newspaper sales in the hyper-competitive world of the tabloid press. Led by Rupert Murdoch, the paper’s executives exerted enough pressure on police and politicians to foil years of investigations. An elaborate cover-up that passed off the hacking as the work of a “rogue reporter” and a private investigator was initially successful, but what ultimately undid the tabloid and brought down top execs like Rebekah Brooks were the revelations that reporters deleted voicemails of a murdered teenager, deceiving police and her family into thinking that she might still be alive….” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

The big book of celebrity inventions / Mark Champkins ; foreword by Peter Jones.
“A fun and fascinating look at the weird, wonderful and wacky inventions that our Great Britain’s favorite celebrities would love to invent. With contributions from Jamie Oliver, James Dyson, Peter Jones, and The Dragons among others, it’s sure to amaze, confuse, and entertain! Ever wished someone would invent a flying car so you could avoid the rush hour traffic? Or a device to dress you under the duvet so you don’t have to face the winter cold? Well you aren’t alone!” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Everything you need to know about everything you need to know about : inventions / Michael Heatley and Colin Slater.
“From the invention of the wheel to the World Wide Web, this book lives up to its promise…. Offering a comprehensive overview of man’s greatest achievements, this book covers all of the major breakthroughs in the worlds of science and technology. As well as the groundbreaking inventions, you’ll also discover a few of the more quirky creations that have had a surprising impact on our day-to-day lives …” – (adapted from Amazon.com summary)

Five foot and fearless : a woman on the front line in New Zealand’s Armed Offenders Squad / Liz Williams.
“The inspiring story of petite police officer Liz Williams, and how she juggled the role of everyday wife and mother with her dangerous job as a member of New Zealand’s Armed Offenders Squad.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Decolonising conservation : caring for Maori meeting houses outside New Zealand / Dean Sully, editor.
“This book challenges the commodification of sacred objects and places by western conservation thought by examining conservation activities at Maori maraeameeting housesalocated in the US, Germany, and England, contrasted with changes in marae conservation in New Zealand.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

MWF seeking BFF : my yearlong search for a new best friend / Rachel Bertsche.MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend
“In this sweet memoir, New Yorker Bertsche tells of moving to Chicago in 2007 to be with her future husband and leaving behind her closest childhood friends. In her new city, the 20-something author had just one friend, and most significantly, no gal pal to share in the milestone of her first wedding dress fitting. So begins her quest to go on 52 “dates” in the coming year to try to create for herself in Chicago what she had (in New York) ….Bertsche’s pursuit is grounded in what most everyone is looking for – more fulfilling relationships and a sense of belonging-and she bravely provides some of the tools, including openness, persistence, and self-awareness, needed to attain these rewards.” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

Treasures of the University of Canterbury Library / edited by Chris Jones and Bronwyn Matthews with Jennifer Clement.
“Presents reflections (by academics and members of the wider community) on some of the distinctive and exceptional items in the University’s keeping, including medieval European manuscripts, an original printing of the 1611 King James Bible, papers of Karl Popper, and Māori whakapapa books. The items tell many stories, and chart the development of a university and building of a community. They are a history of the written word, but also of a settler society.” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

To die for : is fashion wearing out the world? / Lucy Siegle.
“An expose on the fashion industry written by the Observer’s ‘Ethical Living’ columnist, examining the inhumane and environmentally devastating story behind the clothes we so casually buy and wear. Coming at a time when the global financial crisis and contracting of consumer spending is ushering in a new epoch for the fashion industry, To Die For offers a very plausible vision of how green could really be the new black. Taking particular issue with our current mania for both big-name labels and cheap fashion, To Die For sets an agenda for the urgent changes that can and need to be made by both the industry and the consumer. Far from outlining a future of drab, ethical clothing, Lucy Siegle believes that it is indeed possible to be an ‘ethical fashionista’, simply by being aware of how and where (and by whom) clothing is manufactured.” – (adapted from Amazon.com summary)

Breverton’s encyclopedia of inventions : a compendium of technological leaps, groundbreaking discoveries and scientific breakthroughs / Terry Breverton.
“Invention and innovation are what distinguish the human race from all of the other species on Earth. Throughout history the imagination and pioneering spirit of human kind has compelled us to question why we do things in a certain way and, more importantly, how we can do things better. Celebrating the ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness that has led to some of the most amazing technological leaps through the ages, Breverton’s Encyclopedia of Inventions examines the key innovations and breakthroughs of all time and the genius behind them.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Farewell to the East End / Jennifer Worth ; clinical editor, Terri Coates.
“This final book in Jennifer Worth’s memories of her time as a midwife in London’s East End brings her story full circle. As always there are heartbreaking stories such as the family devastated by tuberculosis and a ship’s woman who ’serviced’ the entire crew.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)