News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

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)

Have you ever thought deeply – really deeply – on the subject of human excrement, or “humanure”? Joseph Jenkins has, and he aims to teach us how to flush our toilets goodbye this month in The Humanure Handbook. Politician free examinations of the finacial crisis, “Redneck Socialism” and Piha Surf Life Saving Club are other topics covered in another varied pile of new popular non-fiction books.

The humanure handbook : a guide to composting human manure / by Joseph Jenkins.
“There are almost seven billion defecating people on planet Earth, but few who have any clue about how to constructively handle the burgeoning mountain of human crap. The Humanure Handbook, third edition, will amuse you, educate you, and possibly offend you, but it will certainly pertain to you–unless, of course, your bowels never move.” – (adpated from Syndetics summary)

Piha : guardians of the iron sands : the first 75 years of the Piha Surf Life Saving Club / [writer and editor] Sandra Coney.
“Piha Surf Life Saving Club enjoys possibly the highest profile in the country – not only due to the top rating television programme but also as the busiest patrol in the country – performing almost twice as many rescues as the next club. Affectionaltely written by long time Piha afficionado Sandra Coney, Piha: Guardians of the Iron Sands is the journey of the founding and development of the Piha club, its people and purpose…” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Waltzing at the doomsday ball : the best of Joe Bageant / edited by Ken Smith.
“The only collection of Joe Bageant’s essays available in book form, this compilation features 25 essays by the self proclaimed redneck socialist. Exploring the plight of America’s white, “redneck” underclass – a topic considered taboo for the mainstream media – with insight, humor, compassion, and rage, this record is the result of the editorial freedom Bageant gained via the internet. Touching upon politics, current affairs, and sociology, the essays were selected for inclusion based on reader feedback, web-traffic counts, and suggestions from Bageant’s online colleagues.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Nudge : improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness / Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein.
“Exploring how people make decisions, Thaler and Sunstein (both, Univ. of Chicago) succinctly summarize for a general audience a large amount of academic and popular literature that has been written on this interdisciplinary topic. Entertaining, engaging, and well written, the book’s central argument is that people can (and in some cases should) be subtly influenced to change their behavior (i.e., nudged) by using seemingly innocuous persuasion… Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers; undergraduate and graduate students at all levels; professionals. R. H. Scott Monmouth UniversityCopyright American Library Association, used with permission.” – (adapted from CHOICE review)

“Escape from Camp 14 : one man’s remarkable odyssey from North Korea to freedom in the West / Blaine Harden.
“This is a relentlessly disturbing book, more so because Harden (former East Asia bureau chief, Washington Post) presents the facts dispassionately. Shin Dong-Hyuk was born in 1982 in one of North Korea’s gulags, Camp 14, which covers 108 square miles and holds about 50,000 prisoners. In a world of horrific living conditions, brutal punishments, and competition for minimal scraps of food (supplemented by secret hunting for frogs, rats, and bugs), Shin was oblivious of such concepts as affection or honesty, knowing only the instinct to survive.” – (adapted from Library Journal summary)

Planet Ponzi : how politicians and bankers stole your future : what happens next : how you can survive / Mitch Feierstein.
“Planet Ponzi is a provocative assessment of the state of today’s global economy. Mitch Feierstein reveals the true debts of Britain, the US government and the Eurozone – the full picture, not the figures the politicians would have us believe. In Planet Ponzi, Feierstein explains clearly the background to the world’s worst financial crisis for 70 years, predicts the next steps in this infinitely dangerous game and offers practical advice on measures which you personally can take to protect yourself and your family.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Capitalism and conservation / edited by Dan Brockington and Rosaleen Duffy.
“Many popular leisure pursuits and consumption habits drive and deepen global capitalism – from whale watching in the Azores to sipping an ethically sourced cup of morning coffee. But what are the consequences for society, nature, and conservation? Capitalism and Conservation presents an important critique of conservation’s role as a central driver of global capitalism. By examining the works of various corporate billionaires, powerful political coalitions and foundations, international elites and NGOs, and new tourist and business opportunities, the essays show that conservation and capitalism have intertwined to distribute fortune and misfortune in many new ways – with entirely new dynamics of profit creation and marginalisation.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The rise of nuclear fear / Spencer R. Weart.
“After a tsunami destroyed the cooling system at Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, triggering a meltdown, protesters around the world challenged the use of nuclear power. Germany announced it would close its plants by 2022. Although the ills of fossil fuels are better understood than ever, the threat of climate change has never aroused the same visceral dread or swift action. Spencer Weart dissects this paradox, demonstrating that a powerful web of images surrounding nuclear energy holds us captive, allowing fear, rather than facts, to drive our thinking and public policy.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Under every leaf / William Beaver.
“This is the story of the shadowy Intelligence Division of the British War Office and its unsung role in the formation of the Victorian Empire and imperial policy-making from Asia to Africa. With its focus on the heady days between the Crimean War and the establishment of MI5 and MI6 in the early years of the twentieth century, Under Every Leaf tells how Britain was well served by an extensive and sophisticated secret intelligence service which few even knew existed – then or now. Drawing from an encyclopaedic array of primary and little-known sources, Under Every Leaf is a rollicking good read.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Cheek by jowl : a history of neighbours / Emily Cockayne.
“Cheek by Jowl deploys rich historical evidence to show how neighbour relations have changed over time. It maps the complex threads of association between neighbours on emotional, sexual, social, practical and economic levels. As people lived more densely together, and lifestyles diversified, the potential for neighbour nuisance and jealousy grew. In counterpoint to this, where communities of people emerged who shared an employer or an economic predicament, solidarity and mutual supportiveness could mitigate the hardships of life.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

… Well, not really. Substitute “rock & roll” for “leaky buildings & bullies” and you’ll have a fair summary of these recent non-fiction picks. As always there are plenty of in-depth examinations on wide-ranging subjects to pique a wide range of interests.

High society : mind-altering drugs in history and culture / Mike Jay.
“High Society explores the spectrum of mind-altering sunstances across the globe and throughout history. Acclaimed cultural historian Mike Jay… traces the understanding of intoxicants from the botanicals of the classical world through the mind-bending self-experiments of early scientists to the present ‘war on drugs’…” – (adapted from Book jacket summary)

The rough guide to climate change / Robert Henson ; contributing editor, Duncan Clark.
“Cutting a swathe through scientific research and political debate, this completely updated third edition lays out the facts and assesses the options–global and personal–for dealing with the threat of a warming world.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Romancing opiates : pharmacological lies and the addiction bureaucracy / by Theodore Dalrymple.
“Based on his experience as a British prison and hospital psychiatrist, Dr. Dalrymple challenges conventional ideas about addiction to opiates such as heroin. From literary, medical, and philosophical perspectives, he provocatively argues that uncritical acceptance of accounts of the nature of addiction and the alleged relationship between drugs, creativity, and crime has resulted in romanticization and misguided treatment efforts…” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The leaky buildings crisis : understanding the issues / Steve Alexander … [et.al.]
“The size of the leaky buildings problem is significant. It has been estimated that approximately 42,000 New Zealand homes are currently affected. The Leaky Buildings Crisis — Understanding the Issues examines the leaky buildings crisis from the perspectives of experts in the areas of law, public health, economics, sociology, property valuation, building surveying, construction and dispute resolution.” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

The politics of climate change / Anthony Giddens.
“”A landmark study in the struggle to contain climate change, the greatest challenge of our era. I urge everyone to read it.” Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States of America. Since it first appeared, this book has achieved a classic status. Reprinted many times since its publication, it remains the only work that looks in detail at the political issues posed by global warming. This new edition has been thoroughly updated and provides a state-of-the-art discussion of the most formidable challenge humanity faces this century.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The red market : on the trail of the world’s organ brokers, bone thieves, blood farmers, and child traffickers / Scott Carney.
“Journey through the macabre underworld of the global body bazaar, with contributing “Wired” editor and award-winning journalist Carney, where organs, bones, and live people are bought and sold on the red market.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The bully society : school shootings and the crisis of bullying in America’s schools / Jessie Klein.
“In this thorough examination of the connection between bullying and three decades of school shootings in America, Adelphi University professor Klein pre-sents a compelling case that the strict gender rules by which American children and teenagers are unfairly forced to live are the driving factors in school violence. As Klein writes: “Although the forms of school violence may differ, the same patterns emerge. Boys (and, increasingly, girls) lash out to prove that they can fulfill their narrow gender prescriptions.” – (adpted from Publisher Weekly summary)

Mr. Wilson’s cabinet of wonder / Lawrence Weschler.
“Pronged ants, horned humans, a landscape carved on a fruit pit–some of the displays in David Wilson’s Museum of Jurassic Technology are hoaxes. But which ones? As he guides readers through an intellectual hall of mirrors, Lawrence Weschler revisits the 16th-century “wonder cabinets” that were the first museums and compels readers to examine the imaginative origins of both art and science. Illustrations.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The Narcotic Farm / Nancy D. Campbell, JP Olsen, Luke Walden.
“The Narcotic Farm tells the story of the institution’s noble rise and tumultuous fall, and includes rare and unpublished photographs, film stills, newspaper and magazine clippings, government documents, as well as recollections from the prisoners, doctors, and staff who lived and worked there.” – (adapted from Book Jacket summary)

Tinderbox : how the West sparked the AIDS epidemic and how the world can finally overcome it / Craig Timberg and Daniel Halperin.
“An essential and engrossing read, Timberg and Halperin’s sweeping work covers AIDS from its origins during colonial rule in Africa to its impact on the world today. Journalist Timberg first met researcher Halperin in Swaziland in 2005, and the two bonded over their skepticism about how the AIDS epidemic was being portrayed in the media and combated by world powers. Here they trace the origins of the virus to the encounter of a hunter and a chimpanzee that likely occurred in 1908 in Cameroon….. Extensively researched, eminently readable, and accessible, Timberg and Halperin’s work is a notable and invaluable addition to the AIDS canon.” – (adapted from Booklist review)

New books about the environment are in steady supply this month. Energy efficiency, environmental degradation and self-sufficiency are all covered, along with a spectacular photographic look at weather.

Technological nature : adaptation and the future of human life / Peter H. Kahn, Jr.
“Why it matters that our relationship with nature is increasingly mediated and augmented by technology.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

50 popular beliefs that people think are true / Guy P. Harrison ; [illustrations by Kevin Hand].
“Stressing the excitement of scientific discovery and the legitimate mysteries and wonder inherent in reality, Harrison invites readers to share the joys of rational thinking and the skeptical approach to evaluating our extraordinary world.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Extraordinary weather: amazing tricks of nature from the spectacular to the surprising.
“An incredible collection of truly breathtaking weather phenomena. ….Extraordinary Weather unearths astonishing photographs and compelling satellite imagery that reveals the otherworldly, wayward and often ambiguous nature of the weather. From the beautiful snow rollers that can form on icy rooftops to the dramatic lightshow of volcanic lightning, these powerful images – accompanied by commentary from the award winning Richard Hamblyn – inform and explain the science behind the most extraordinary weather phenomena ever seen.” – (adapted from Amazon.com summary)

The bluebird effect : uncommon bonds with common birds / Julie Zickefoose.
“Through raising and rehabilitating birds, Zickefoose pulls back a curtain on their motivations, desires, and even emotions. This book is a visual feast, lavishly illustrated with watercolors and field sketches.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Solar domestic water heating : the Earthscan expert handbook for planning, design, and installation / Chris Laughton.
“Solar Domestic Water Heating” is a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of solar domestic water heating systems. As fossil fuel prices continue to rise and awareness of climate change grows, interest in domestic solar water heating is expanding.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The conundrum : how scientific innovation, increased efficiency, and good intentions can make our energy and climate problems worse / David Owen.
” … David Owen’s elegant narrative, filled with fascinating information and anecdotes, takes you through the history of energy and the quest for efficiency. He introduces the reader to some of the smartest people working on solving our energy problems. He details the arguments of efficiency’s proponents and its antagonists–and in the process overturns most traditional wisdom about being green. This is a book that will change how you look at the world. We are not waiting for some geniuses to invent our way out of the energy and economic crisis we’re in. We already have the technology and knowledge we need to live sustainably. But will we do it? That is the conundrum.” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

Green philosophy : how to think seriously about the planet / Roger Scruton.
“The environment has long been the undisputed territory of the political Left, which has seen the principal threats to the earth as issuing from international capitalism, consumerism and the over-exploitation of natural resources. In Green Philosophy, Roger Scruton shows the fallacies behind that way of thinking, and the danger that it poses to the ecosystems on which we all depend. Scruton contends that the environment is the most urgent political problem of our age, and sets out the principles that should govern our efforts to protect it. The current environmental movement directs its energies at the bigger picture but fails to see that environmental problems are generated and resolved by ordinary people.” – (adapted from Amazon.co.uk summary)

Self-sufficiency : a guide for 21st-century living.
“Self-sufficiency, or at least the desire to practise elements of a self-sufficient lifestyle, has become a growing trend of recent years. This useful book shows how anyone can turn to self-sufficiency. Although hugely practical, this book has an attractive feel and will appeal to large numbers of urban dwellers who may want to take on certain aspects of self-sufficient living. The idea is ‘traditional skills for modern living’ and the book is intended to appeal primarily to women in their thirties, probably with young families.” (adapted fromAmazon.co.uk summary)

Eaarth : making a life on a tough new planet / Bill McKibben.Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet
“Twenty years ago, with “The End of Nature,” McKibben offered one of the earliest warnings about global warming. Those warnings went mostly unheeded; now, he insists, we need to acknowledge that we’ve waited too long, and that massive change is not only unavoidable but already under way.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The view from Lazy Point : a natural year in an unnatural world / Carl Safina ; with drawings by Trudy Nicholson ; maps by Jon Luoma.
“A conservationist explores various global regions to investigate examples of environmental degradation and renewal while identifying a link between environmental dangers and human rights issues.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Crime and trials feature heavily in this latest crop of popular non-fiction picks. Also included are some powerful real-life stories of human resilience in the face of adversity.

Trial by ambush : the prosecutions of David Bain / Joe Karam.
“This will be an important book for a number of reasons. David Bain’s third trial for the murder of his family took 55 days, and while the media covered the trial extensively, of necessity they presented to the public only a fraction of the evidence the jury heard and saw. Subsequent to the trial, evidence that was held to be inadmissible by the court and either suppressed or not heard by the jury has been given wide media coverage. As a result, on the issue of David Bain’s guilt or innocence, the public remains deeply divided.” – (adapted from Book jacket summary)

Justice and the enemy : from the Nuremberg trials to Khaled Sheikh Mohammed / William Shawcross.
“Since the Nuremberg Trials of 1945, lawful nations have struggled to impose justice around the world, especially when confronted by tyrannical and genocidal regimes. But in Cambodia, the USSR, China, Bosnia, Rwanda, and beyond, justice has been served haltingly if at all in the face of colossal inhumanity. International Courts are not recognized worldwide. There is not a global consensus on how to punish transgressors. (In this book), the bestselling author–son of a lead prosecutor at Nuremberg–considers the issues surrounding the pending trial of Khaled Sheikh Mohammed and asks: How does society deal lawfully with the lawless?” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Trafficked : the terrifying true story of a British girl forced into the sex trade / Sophie Hayes.
“When Sophie Hayes was 24, she went to Italy to visit the man who had become her best friend. They spent an idyllic weekend together and Sophie began to realise that she had found a man she might be able to love and trust. But as she got ready to fly back to England, everything changed…” – (adapted from Book jacket summary)

The Napoleon of crime : the life and times of Adam Worth, the real Moriarty / Ben Macintyre.
“Adam Worth started his career as a professional deserter during the American Civil War…. His most audacious coup – the theft of the world’s most valuable painting – was an act which cemented his notoriety around the world and earned him an enduring place in fiction, as the model for Conan Doyle’s evil genius Professor Moriarty.” – (adapted from Book jacket summary)

Abandoned women : Scottish convicts exiled beyond the seas / Lucy Frost.
“From the crowded tenements of Edinburgh to the Female Factory nestling in the shadow of Mt Wellington, dozens of Scottish women convicts were exiled to Van Diemen’s Land with their young children. This is a rich and evocative account of the lives of women at the bottom of society two hundred years ago.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

A child called ‘it’ / Dave Pelzer.A Child Called “It”: One Child’s Courage to Survive
“Originally published: Omaha, Neb.: Omaha Press, 1993.” (Syndetics summary) “As a child Dave Pelzer was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother, a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games that left one of her three sons nearly dead. She no longer considered him a son, but a slave: no longer a boy but an ‘it’” – (adapted from Book jacket summary)

This month popular myths are debunked, social networks are investigated, the curtain is pulled back on the life of J. Edgar Hoover and the zombie craze marches on to invade economics writing. Enough to keep you interested until next month’s popular non-fiction picks!

Behind the beautiful forevers / Katherine Boo.
“From Pulitzer Prize-winner Boo comes a landmark work of narrative nonfiction that tells the dramatic and sometimes heartbreaking story of families striving toward a better life in one of the 21st century’s great, unequal cities. Annawadi is a makeshift settlement in the shadow of luxury hotels near the Mumbai airport, and as India starts to prosper, Annawadians are electric with hope…” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Aftershock : the next economy and America’s future / Robert B. Reich.
“When the nation’s economy foundered in 2008, blame was directed almost universally at Wall Street bankers. But Reich suggests another reason for the meltdown–the increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of the richest Americans, while stagnant wages and rising costs force the middle class to go deep into debt. To ensure that prosperity is widely shared, he continues, requires the implementation of a much broader safety net for the middle class financed by higher marginal tax rates on the very wealthy.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

I know who you are and I saw what you did : social networks and the death of privacy / Lori Andrews.
“”With more than 750 million members, Facebook’s population would make it the third largest nation in the world.” Noted by the National Law Journal as one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America, Andrews is concerned with the lawless frontiers of this figurative nation-how can social networks ensure freedom of speech while protecting the individual against anonymous threats, charges, and harassment?” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

Broke, USA : from pawnshops to Poverty, Inc. : how the working poor became big business / Gary Rivlin.
“”Poverty, Inc.” is journalist Rivlin’s name for the commercial complex of payday loan operations, subprime lenders, check cashing outlets, pawnbrokers, and the like that have grown into big business in the United States over the past two decades, generating immense profits in the process of fleecing and often defrauding the working poor. Rivlin takes the reader on a tour of the recent history and current landscape of Poverty, Inc., profiling both winners and losers, as well as describing the efforts of various organizations and activists to put a halt to some of the industry’s more egregious practices.” – (adapted from booknews.com summary)

But will the planet notice? : how smart economics can save the world / Gernot Wagner.
“…. much as you may try to minimize your environmental footprint, individual actions are largely useless. It will take a critical mass of people changing their behaviors to make real change, says economist Wagner, who argues for economic solutions to environmental crises…. Applying economics at both the macro level (making dirty energy more expensive to maintain) and the micro (increasing the cost of filling your car with gas) can help us create a greener world in a larger, more substantive way.” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

50 popular beliefs that people think are true / Guy P. Harrison ; [illustrations by Kevin Hand].
“Combining lively prose and keen analytical reasoning, its author examines some of contemporary culture’s most commonly held beliefs… Harrison shows how belief in the unsupportable is frequently the product of gullibility, lack of logical reasoning, and wishful thinking. There’s also confirmation bias, the very common tendency to remember things that seem to confirm one’s belief, such as a hit by a psychic during a cold reading, while forgetting everything that contradicts the belief, such as all the wild (and wildly incorrect) guesses the psychic also threw out.” – (adapted from Booklist summary)

Zombie economics : how dead ideas still walk among us / John Quiggin.
“…. From the so-called “great moderation” concept to the implications of the efficient markets hypothesis, Quiggin does an excellent job summarizing each zombie idea and explaining why it is discredited in a simple (but not simplistic) manner. In the final chapter, he presents his view on what economics should focus on going forward. Nearly all economists will disagree with something in this volume, either because they subscribe to one of Quiggin’s zombie ideas or because they feel that by writing for the general reader he fails to capture the nuance of the professional debate…” – (adapted from CHOICE summary)

Crisis in Korea : America, China and the risk of war / Tim Beal.
“The South Korean warship Cheonan was sunk in mysterious circumstances on 26 March 2010. The remarkable events that followed are analysed by Tim Beal and woven into a larger study of the increasingly volatile relations between North and South Korea and US concern about the rise of China. …the media reports at the time presented an open and shut case of unprovoked North Korean aggression, but the evidence points towards the accidental triggering of a South Korean mine as the cause, and South Korean fabrication to incriminate the North. With the South bent on forcing the fall of the North’s regime with US help and China unlikely to stand idly by, this book offers an essential guide to the key factors behind the crisis and possible solutions.” – (adapted from Publisher’s website summary)

Official & confidential : the secret life of J. Edgar Hoover / Anthony Summers.
“For nearly fifty years, J. Edgar Hoover held great power in the United States. The creator of the FBI and its Director until his death, he played a role in nearly every major tragedy and scandal in America during the twentieth century.
Hoover was lauded when he died as an American hero. Anthony Summers’ controversial bestseller, Official & Confidential, The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover, draws on more than 800 interviews to explode the myths, exposing the dark secrets that remained hidden throughout Hoover’s lifetime.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The conundrum : how scientific innovation, increased efficiency, and good intentions can make our energy and climate problems worse / David Owen.
“New Yorker staff writer Owen (Green Metropolis) takes a penetrating look at the earth’s shrinking and misappropriated resources and the delusion underlying our solutions to these problems. In the process, he persuades us that the serious environmental problems that humanity faces won’t be fixed by scientists and engineers, but by our behavioral changes, namely consuming less. Owen’s latest becomes a declaration against the massive greenwashing campaigns of the past decade and the presentation of scientific data that lets us ignore questions we already know the answers to and don’t like. … As Owen notes, “efficiency initiatives make no sense as an environmental strategy, unless they’re preceded – and more than negated – by measures that force major cuts in total energy use.” …The crusading author zooms out to see the entire picture, noting that “what appear at the time to be valuable environmental breakthroughs often turn out to be long-term disasters in the making.” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

Here are some more highlights of the new non-fiction books this month. Ans Westra’s Washday at the Pa has been republished after forty-seven years. Plus, People Magazine’s 1000 biggest moments in pop culture for the last thirty-five years, and the true story of a CIA interrogator. Have a browse!

The new golden age : the coming revolution against political corruption and economic chaos / Ravi Batra.
“Bringing his signature insight and expertise, the controversial economist Ravi Batra takes on a host of problems facing the world economy, including the oil and housing bubbles, falling minimum wages, corporate scandals, gross ethical lapses, the rise of celebrity economists at the Federal Reserve and elsewhere, and political crises of all kinds. He is unflinching in his criticism of the global economic elites and the suffering and deprivation they have caused in the lives of ordinary men and women.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)

Uncompromised : the rise, fall, and redemption of an Arab-American patriot in the CIA / Nada Prouty.
“Prouty came to national attention when she was accused of giving information to Hezbollah and dubbed Jihad Jane. She now makes her case as a former Middle East agent for the CIA who fell victim to Islamophobia. More than a story of international intrigue, Prouty’s personal narrative is grounded in a brutal childhood in a conservative Lebanese family, where the word patriarchy takes on a vicious meaning….” (Booklist)

Prisoner of conscience / Frank Wolf with Anne Morse.
“What’s a congressman from Virginia doing in places where bullets fly and babies starve? Thirty years ago, Frank Wolf was elected to the U.S. Congress to address local transportation issues. Fueled by a faith that made him believe he could do something about it, the congressman grew to champion human and religious rights around the world…. Eventually, he became a key proponent of opposing radical Jihadists and creating a National Committee on Terrorism. As Wolf visited some of the most dangerous places in the world, he saw firsthand the need for members of Congress to speak out for persecuted people around the globe.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)

Ko Aotearoa tēnei : te taumata tuarua : a report into claims concerning New Zealand law and policy affecting Māori culture and identity.
“This report address the Wai 262 claim concerning New Zealand law and policy affecting Māori culture and identity. It is divided into two levels, a shorter summary layer subtitle “Te Taumata Tuatahi,” and a fuller, two-volume layer subtitled Te Taumata Tuarua” (Back cover)

Washday at the pa / photographs by Ans Westra ; with text by Mark Amery.
“Brings together a selection of images from the two editions published in 1964, together with photographs taken of members of the “Washday” family in 1998.” (Library Catalogue)

1000 biggest moments in pop culture : 1974-2011 / [editor, Cutler Durkee].
“It’s everywhere and everything — TV, movies, music, advertising, sports, fashion. From “yada yada” to the Rachel hairdo, Michael Jackson’s moonwalk to E.T.’s quest to phone home. “People 1,000 Greatest Moments in Pop Culture” looks back in wonder at the scores of movie scenes, quick fads, and unforgettable moments that defined American culture for the past 40 years.” (Syndetics summary)

The interrogator : a CIA agent’s true story / Glenn Carle.
“This book is Carle’s affirmation that only the truth can lead us from the dark. He had years of training and experience leading up to his encounter with the captive who the CIA believed might hold the key to finding bin Laden. This was his apotheosis as a career spook in the Directorate of Operations, yet Carle immediately struggled to reconcile his orders to make his captive talk with the oath he had sworn to uphold the letter and the spirit of the law. Furthermore, as the interrogation began and he built rapport with his subject, another problem started to gnaw at him. This man wasn’t who he was alleged to be; he was low level at best…. ” (Library Catalogue)

Together : how small groups achieve big things / Henry Hemmings.
“Together is about the extraordinary revival of small groups in Britain today. What happens when a room full of people decide to work towards the same dream? Why is it that when we come together in small groups we are so much more than the sum of our parts? From druids to bingo-clubbers, eco-warriors to flash-mobbers, historical re-enactors to bee-keepers, books groups and knitting circles, W.I.s, Young Farmers and the fan-owners of a football club, Together reveals the true story of modern Britain…..” (Publisher’s description)

In our selection of the new crime books this month: stolen artworks and the detective story behind their recovery, books that look at the Casey Anthony and Schapelle Corby cases, a new title from Ian Wishart, and a story from inside Venezuela’s notorious Yare prison. Have a browse!

Art theft and the case of the stolen Turners / Sandy Nairne.
“In 1994, two paintings by J.M.W. Turner were stolen from a German art gallery while on loan from Tate Britain. Both important paintings by one of Britain’s most famous artists, they were valued at £24 million. Nairne (former director, Tate Britain; current director, National Portrait Gallery, London) was directly involved in the search for the paintings and the negotiations for their ransom and return. With its cast of colorful characters and intrigue, this true-crime story should be riveting…” (Library Journal)

Inside the mind of Casey Anthony : a psychological portrait / Keith Ablow.
“The trial of twenty-five year old Casey Anthony for the death of her daughter Caylee was the most sensational case in America since O.J. Simpson’s — with a verdict every bit as stunning. After being acquitted in July 2011, Ms. Anthony instantly became one of the most infamous women in the world. Dr. Keith Ablow distills tens of thousands of pages of documents he has obtained, his behind-the-camera, one-on one interviews, and his decades of experience in the world of forensic psychiatry to make sense of a woman whose defense attorney described as an innocent victim of childhood sexual abuse, but the state insisted was a cold-blooded murderer….” (Publisher’s summary)

Sins of the father : the untold story behind Schapelle Corby’s ill-fated drug run / Eamonn Duff.
“A reckless father, his dark past, an Adelaide drug trafficker and the Gold Coast beauty school dropout who kept her mouth shut. This is the explosive untold story of Schapelle Corby and how she took the rap for her father’s drug syndicate. The result of a three year investigation, Sins of the Father returns to the beginning of Australia’s most famous drug case, to a time when nobody had ever heard the name Schapelle Corby. Finally, the missing pieces of the jigsaw fall into place as we are led, step by step, through the important weeks, days and hours leading up to her dramatic arrest. Shedding new light on her long-held claims of innocence, this is the book Schapelle’s army of supporters do not want you to read.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Banged up abroad : hellhole ; our fight to survive South America’s deadliest jail / James Miles and Paul Loseby.
“When James Miles and his best friend Paul Loseby were caught smuggling ten kilos of cocaine out of Caracas, Venezuela, they couldn’t deny their guilt. Young and naive, the lads had thought the one-off drug mule job would be a passport to a better life. But in reality it was a ticket to hell … They were sentenced to thirty years and flung into the world’s deadliest prison system, ending up in the notorious Yare. A place where drugs and weaponry are currency and the rules are: there are no rules.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Out of calamity : stories of trauma survivors / Roger Rees, preface by Norman Swan.
“All the people in these stories are unsung heroes. Their stories are true. To honour their privacy, most of the individuals profiled bear fictitious names; a few are composite characters. They have suffered severe trauma, the consequences of which have affected every aspect of their lives, as well as those of family and friends. They demonstrate great, if not superhuman, courage and resilience and never seek or expect applause…. ‘Out of Calamity’ stories and portraits are told in language that is realistic but also poetic, and demonstrate heroic dimensions even when people appear overwhelmed. Superbly crafted writing that is often raw but also eloquent, spare and affecting, these stories are gems replete with insight and compassion.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The hunt : a Kiwi mum, her kidnapped babies and a 30 year worldwide search / Ian Wishart & George London.
“She was a former New Zealand fashion model and diplomat’s wife. He was the British WW2 fighter ace-turned-criminal who seduced her. She attended garden parties with the Queen. He got her pregnant, then kidnapped her children. It’s the case that made world headlines, that captured the attention of Sir Richard Branson, and which forced changes to child abduction laws in Britain.” (Book jacket)

Economics viewed through nature-tinted glasses, the biggest and most impactful volcanic eruptions and the ever present climate change are all discussed in this latest batch of books on the environment.

Making our place : exploring land-use tensions in Aotearoa New Zealand / co-edited by Jacinta Ruru, Janet Stephenson, Mick Abbott.
“Fascination with the interplay of people and place inspired the editors to bring together New Zealanders from differing backgrounds and disciplines to explore some of the stories and sites of conflict and change to be found amongst our sacred, historic, rural, urban and coastal landscapes. All engage with the underlying question: are there better ways to reconcile the tensions inherent in our struggles with the land and each other? Issues fundamental to identity are placed at centre stage: indigenous rights and restitution, development and conservation, claiming and naming.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Eruptions that shook the world / Clive Oppenheimer.
“A spellbinding exploration of the history’s greatest volcanic events and their impacts on the history of humankind.” “Fire & brimstone: how volcanoes work ‘Some volcanos are in a state of incessant eruption; some, on the contrary, remain for centuries in a condition of total outward inertness, and return again to the same state of apparent extinction after a single vivid eruption of short duration; while others exhibit an infinite variety of phases intermediate between the extreme of vivacity and sluggishness.’” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The wealth of nature : economics as if survival mattered / John Michael Greer.
“John Michael Greer has re-thought economics, starting from its fundamental premises, giving it a basis in ecological reality rather than political fiction… The result is perhaps the most important and readable book on economics since Small Is Beautiful. Richard Heinberg, author of The End of Growth. Building on the Foundations of E.F. Schumacher’s revolutionary “economics as if people mattered,” The Wealth of Nature examines the true cost of confusing money with wealth.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Our dying planet : an ecologist’s view of the crisis we face / Peter F. Sale.
“Marine ecologist Sale (asst. director, Coastal Program, United Nations Univ.; Coral Reef Fishes: Dynamics and Diversity in a Complex Ecosystem) pulls no punches as he addresses the impact of overfishing, deforestation, and the emission of greenhouse gases on the environment in general and on coral reefs in particular – the first ecosystem poised to become extinct according to his projections. He draws us into his life’s work by sharing personal reflections, explaining key concepts – many of which are familiar but are perhaps not thoroughly understood by nonscientists – placing critical issues in historical context, and suggesting courses of action, such as sustainable management. – Robin K. Dillow” – (adapted from Library Journal summary)

Upside / Bradley R.E. Wright.
“It’s easy to get discouraged or feel paralyzed by what you hear about the terrible state of the world. But what if the media and other prophets of doom have misled us? Could the world actually be getting better? The answers… and the facts behind them… may surprise you: Extreme poverty has been cut in half since the 1980s, in developing countries. Life expectancy has doubled around the world over the last 100 years. Literacy rates have soared from 25% to over 80% over the same period. Sociologist Brad Wright uses the best available data to uncover the truth about the world’s most important issues, including poverty, sickness, education, morality, and the environment. While admitting there is still work to be done, he shines a light on why so many things are improving and why no one is talking about it.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Biological diversity : exploiters and exploited / Paul Hatcher and Nick Battey.
“Offering a fresh approach to biology, the authors (both of the U. of Reading, UK) invite study of the living world in a manner that fundamentally integrates human interactions. The presentation focuses on 18 groups of organisms, arranged in sections on exploiters and exploited (although the authors suggest this division is somewhat arbitrary and some could logically be put in either group). They study both plants and animals, using particular cases as a means of investigating diversity and inter-relationships…” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Growth misconduct? : avoiding sprawl and improving urban intensification in New Zealand / edited by Karen Witten, Wokje Abrahamse & Keriata Stuart.
“New Zealand’s population is expected to grow by one million people in the next 20 years. The arrival of ‘peak oil’ and accumulating evidence of climate change force us to reconsider the way we grow our cities. This book provides insights into the multifaceted practice of urban intensification. It highlights both the promise and the limitations of planning models such as smart growth and new urbanism in New Zealand cities. Growth Misconduct? is intended to further our knowledge, spark debate and help us think critically about ways to create livable, beautiful, environmentally sustainable and prosperous cities…” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

The atlas of climate change : mapping the world’s greatest challenge / Kirstin Dow and Thomas E. Downing.” Since the first edition of this highly acclaimed Atlas was published in 2006 (it won the ‘Planeta Environment Book of the Year’), climate change has climbed even further up the global agenda.
This new edition features:- The outcomes of the negotiations at the UNFCC conference in Copenhagen- The latest developments in climate change research and data on its impacts around the world- New coverage of the role played by the world’s oceans- Estimates of the economic impact of climate change- Updated maps and graphics wherever data is available.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The atlas of birds : diversity, behavior, and conservation / Mike Unwin.
From the publisher. The Atlas of Birds captures the breathtaking diversity of birds, and illuminates their conservation status around the world. Full-color maps show where birds are found, both by country and terrain, and reveal how an astounding variety of behavioral adaptations — from flight and feeding to nest building and song — have enabled them to thrive in virtually every habitat on Earth…” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Global energy transformation : four necessary steps to make clean energy the next success story / Mats Larsson.
“Over the next few years, political and financial power will move in the direction of individuals, companies and nations that are able to use energy in a more efficient way. This book describes this challenge and presents a way forward by which we may achieve the goal of increased energy efficiency in the different areas that need to change.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

We’ve got your summer slice of non-fiction reading right here with these recent picks. Memoirs, exposés, environmental examinations and the latest installment of the Darwin Awards.

Making our place : exploring land-use tensions in Aotearoa New Zealand / co-edited by Jacinta Ruru, Janet Stephenson, Mick Abbott.
“Fascination with the interplay of people and place inspired the editors to bring together New Zealanders from differing backgrounds and disciplines to explore some of the stories and sites of conflict and change to be found amongst our sacred, historic, rural, urban and coastal landscapes. All engage with the underlying question: are there better ways to reconcile the tensions inherent in our struggles with the land and each other? Issues fundamental to identity are placed at centre stage: indigenous rights and restitution, development and conservation, claiming and naming.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Climate code red : the case for emergency action / David Spratt & Philip Sutton.
“Spratt (an Australian businessman and co-founder of Carbon Equity, “which advocates personal carbon allowances as the most fair and equitable means of rabidly reducing carbon emissions”) and Sutton (convener of the Greenleap Strategic Institute and founder of Green Innovations) review, for a general audience, the recent scientific evidence concerning climate change and affiliated issues of Arctic sea-ice melt and biodiversity. They then analyze current debates about climate policy targets, arguing that the 2 and 3 degree change targets being discussed are far too high, if we want to avoid disaster, and set out a plan for staying within one degree and make the case for its immediate implementation due to the emergency nature of the crisis.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Fish : a memoir of a boy in a man’s prison / T.J. Parsell.
“Now a writer and human rights activist, Parsell’s mission to end sexual abuse in prisons gets a powerful testament in this memoir. On probation for entering an empty hotel room, and subsequently arrested for attempted robbery of a photo shop (with a toy gun), 17-year-old Parsell finds himself facing up to 15 years in the Michigan prison system…. Parsell does not shy from expressing his raw emotions, realizing his brutal experiences in brave, honest language.” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly description)

The Darwin Awards : countdown to extinction / Wendy Northcutt.
“From the creator of DarwinAwards.com comes the latest in the world’s most popular humor series. Readers will find all-new stories chronicling humans who step onto the lowest rung of the evolutionary ladder, enumerating just how uncommon common sense is.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Sliding down the hypotenuse : a memoir / by Eric Beardsley.
“In the 80 years since veteran journalist and broadcaster Eric Beardsley arrived in Christchurch from the West Coast, he has lived a full and varied life and devoted much time to observing the Canterbury scene, its people, politics, conflicts and progress. The result is SLIDING DOWN THE HYPOTENUSE, an eclectic and wholly delightful mix of memoir, biography and history….” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Daylight robbery : a story of bankers, shysters & others who want to steal your money / Ian Wishart.
Who benefits from state asset sales? Follow the money as Ian Wishart looks at what happened to Air New Zealand, Kiwirail, South Canterbury Finance and more.This searing expose of one of the biggest issues in politics will be sure to capture attention as the world heads towards another major financial crisis…” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)