Tag: non-fiction

Nobel Prizes 2023: Science and behind the scenes stories

Xinxin

Winners of the 2023 Nobel Prizes have been announced! Here are a few related books that may interest you, whether you’re interested in the technical stuff, the behind-the-scenes science or medical stories.  Read on!

Losing the Nobel Prize : a story of cosmology, ambition, and the perils of science’s highest honor / Keating, Brian
“In 2014, astronomers wielding BICEP2(Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization), the most powerful cosmology telescope ever made, thought they’d glimpsed the spark that ignited the Big Bang. Millions around the world tuned in to the announcement, and Nobel whispers began to spread. But had these cosmologists truly read the cosmic prologue or had they been deceived by a galactic mirage? Cosmologist Brian Keating tells the inside story and the ensuing scientific drama.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

The incidental tourist : on the road with a globetrotting Nobel Prize winner / Doherty, P. C.
“Join Nobel Prize winner Peter Doherty on his extraordinary adventures around the globe. Doherty has kept a journal about the far-flung destinations his work has taken him to for more than thirty years. His observations and discoveries in The Incidental Tourist make for perfect armchair travel. Peter Doherty shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for discovering the nature of the cellular immune defence. He wrote 6 books for general readers, one being The Beginner’s Guide to Winning the Nobel Prize. (Adapted from the Catalogue)

A beautiful mind : the life of mathematical genius and Nobel laureate John Nash / Nasar, Sylvia
“”In this biography, Sylvia Nasar re-creates the life of a mathematical genius whose brilliant career was cut short by schizophrenia and who, after three decades of devastating mental illness, miraculously recovered and was honored with a Nobel Prize. At twenty-one, the handsome, ambitious, eccentric graduate student invented what would become the most influential theory of rational human behavior in modern social science, was offered a dream job in MIT. (Adapted from the Catalogue)

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Real Stories from New Zealand Diplomats

Xinxin

Looking back at diplomatic stories, from diplomats’ personal anecdotes to historical government archives, from Baghdad at the first Gulf War to West Papua, these authors have interesting diplomatic stories and facts uncovered. Read on!

New moons for Sam : becoming Kiwi, life of a New Zealand diplomat / Hamilton, Peter
“In 1961, Leaving from Somerset and growing up in rural New Zealand, Peter Hamilton joined the diplomatic service as this change was getting underway and his four-decade career saw him leading diplomatic and free trade efforts with traditional and new partners at a time of unprecedented international change for his adopted country. This book is a rare insider’s account of how New Zealand conducts its diplomacy, forges alliances and makes the most of its position as a small South Pacific country on a global stage. ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

See no evil : New Zealand’s betrayal of the people of West Papua / Leadbeater, Maire
“The book begins by relating the little-known history of West Papua, but its focus is on the impact of New Zealand’s foreign policy on the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants. In the 1950s New Zealand supported self-determination for the former Dutch colony, but in 1962 opted to back Indonesia as it took over the territory. Delving deep into historical government archives, this meticulously researched book uncovers the untold story of New Zealand’s unprincipled and often hypocritical diplomacy. ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Diplomatic ladies : New Zealand’s unsung envoys / Woods, Joanna
“Diplomatic Ladies tells the story of New Zealand’s diplomatic wives and daughters over a hundred years of diplomacy. Starting with Maud Pember Reeves in 1907 and based on private letters, MFAT archives and personal interviews, it records many unknown episodes in New Zealand’s diplomatic history, including the part played by the spouses in Baghdad during the first Gulf War, and the perils faced by diplomatic wives in Saigon and Tehran. It is a life full of interest and excitement but comes at a price that many modern women are not prepared to pay.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

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International Repair Day

Xinxin

To celebrate International Repair Day, we’ve picked some books on creative and practical inspirations for mending and do-ups. The below list is full of advice, including a book from the BBC’s popular show The Repair Shop; the Haynes Manuals, an online resource for car and motorcycle repairs; and artistic upholstering to help you do some DIY upcycling. The benefit of repairing goes way beyond saving budget!

eLibrary resource: Haynes Car and Motorcycle Manuals

The Repair Shop : life in the barn : the inside stories from the experts / Dowle, Jayne
“In today’s throwaway culture, there’s a counter movement growing that urges us to “make do and mend”. The Repair Shop has brought this waste-conscious message to an even wider audience, cementing itself as a BBC classic of the likes of Antiques Roadshow. This book concentrates on the show’s much-loved experts, including woodworker and furniture restorer Will Kirk, clockmaker and mechanical wizard Steve Fletcher, silversmith Brenton West, saddler/leatherworker Suzie Fletcher and more. (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Mazda 6 automotive repair manual / Killingsworth, Jeff
“Save big with a Haynes manual and you can do it yourself from simple maintenance to basic repairs. Haynes writes every book based on a complete teardown of the vehicle. We learn the best ways to do a job and that makes it quicker, easier and cheaper for you. Our books have clear instructions and hundreds of photographs that show each step. You will find routine maintenance, tune-up procedures, engine repair, cooling and heating, air conditioning, fuel and exhaust, emissions control, ignition, brakes, suspension and more.”(Adapted from the Catalogue)

Style, stitch, staple : basic upholstering skills to tackle any project / Stanton, Hannah
“Style, Stitch, Staple combines straightforward upholstery techniques with advice on choosing and styling fabrics to make the even the most dilapidated furniture into gorgeous, updated pieces. Packed full of fabric advice, yardage charts, upholstery tutorials, and case studies that feature salvaged and inexpensive furniture, this book is the perfect go-to-guide for the many sewers, designers, and artists who want to learn to rescue and revive furniture with a unique, personalized, and stylish look.” (Adapted from Amazon.com)

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Aviation and boat disasters

Xinxin

This blog collects stories of aviation, boat and railway disasters and tragedies that have happened in the New Zealand and Australian history, some of which caused huge political turmoil, as well as environmental catastrophes. Through talking with captains, families and people involved, these authors seek the truth behind what happened to cause these disasters.

  • Towards the mountain : a story of grief and hope forty years on from Erebus / Myles, Sarah
    “On 28 November 1979 an Air New Zealand plane, crashed into the lower slopes of Mount Erebus while on a sight-seeing trip to Antarctica, killing all 257 souls on board. This was New Zealand’s greatest and shocking peacetime tragedy. The Royal Commission of Inquiry found the airline was at fault rather than the pilots. Author Sarah Myles has researched extensively into the recovery and identification process that brought her grandfather and so many others home.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Weeping waters : when train meets volcano : the truth about New Zealand’s Tangiwai disaster at last / Le Vay, Benedict
“Weeping Waters: When train meets volcano is a meticulously researched and almost forensic reconstruction of one of the 20th century’s worst rail disasters – largely forgotten outside New Zealand – that comes up with a compelling new theory as to why the 151 people on that train died. Bringing the people and railways of 60 years ago back to life, the author works towards the nail-biting crescendo of the Tangiwai disaster.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Black tide : the story behind the Rena disaster / Julian, John
“The Rena, a 236-metre-long container ship, carrying 1368 containers along with 1700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and 200 tonnes of marine diesel headed from Napier towards Tauranga. On 5 October 2011 It impaled on a pinnacle of rock at Astrolabe Reef. And by 9 October, fluids and lubricants seeping from her ruptured hull had formed a 5 km slick, making a major economic and environmental catastrophe.  BLACK TIDE looks at the ship and her crew and tells what was happening on the bridge that night; Maritime New Zealand’s version of events, and salvors and the people of the Bay of Plenty. ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

QF32 / De Crespigny, Richard
“On 4 November 2010, a flight from Singapore to Sydney came within a knife edge of being one of the world’s worst air disasters. Shortly after leaving Changi Airport, an explosion shattered Engine 2 of Qantas flight QF32 – an Airbus A380. Hundreds of pieces of shrapnel ripped through the wing and fuselage, creating chaos as vital flight systems and back-ups were destroyed or degraded. In other hands, a supremely experienced flight crew, led by Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny, managed to land the crippled aircraft and safely disembark the 469 passengers after hours of nerve-racking effort. ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

The history of heavy metal

Vaughan

As well as the metal albums highlighted in my recent blog post, Wellington City Libraries also has a selection of books covering the fascinating history of metal and the larger-than-life figures who drove it.

The rough guide to heavy metal / Berelian, Essi
“With more than 300 artist biographies and band stories, this is the essential heavy metal companion. Additional features include dozens of boxouts and sidebars on topics as diverse and disturbing as Weird Hobbies, Christian Metal, the Japanese Scene, Weird Day Jobs, the Eastern European Scene, Hardcore Crossover and Drummer Jokes.  If you love metal, this is the book for you.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

I am Ozzy / Osbourne, Ozzy
“The incredible, frank and moving autobiography by the Prince of F***ing Darkness!” (Catalogue)

 

 

 

Denim and leather : the rise and fall of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal / Hann, Michael
“Between 1978 and 1983, Great Britain spawned a DIY uprising of over 500 heavy metal bands. Many soon became the household names of the 1980s metal invasion…many others did not. For the first time, author Michael Hann captures the whole snout-to-tail story of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in all its power and glory in over 100 interviews with members of Venom, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, Angel Witch, Samson, UFO, Tygers of Pan Tang, Vardis, Judas Priest, Saxon, Whitesnake, Girlschool, Witchfynde, Demon, Thin Lizzy, Rainbow, Gillan, Led Zeppelin, and more. ” (Adapted from Catalogue)

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Quirky Non-Fiction Books

Xinxin

The food, the funny, the cute, the scary, the past, the hidden, the weird and the quirky…  this blog is an interesting mixture of books with unique insights and real-life stories that you won’t forget.

War dogs : tales of canine heroism, history, and love / Frankel, Rebecca
“A US Army handler led a Special Forces patrol with his military working dog at Afghanistan desert. Without warning an insurgent popped up, his weapon raised. At the handler’s command, the dog charged their attacker. There was the flash of steel, the blur of fur, and the sound of a single shot; the handler watched his dog take a bullet. The next week, the handler never left the dog’s side. Author tells the stories of loyal and courageous dogs on the battlefields with personal anecdotes, science and history. (Adapted from the Catalogue)

The 50 funniest American writers : an anthology of humor from Mark Twain to the Onion
“Who makes a very funny person laugh? This book samples the best American comic writing, spanning across Mark Twain to contemporary masters such as David Sedaris, Roy Blount Jr., Ian Frazier, Bernie Mac, and Wanda Sykes. Here are Thurber and Perelman, Lenny Bruce and Bruce Jay Friedman, Garrison Keillor and Dave Barry and Veronica Geng, plus hilarious writers from The New Yorker, and The Onion.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Fish, flesh and good red herring / Ellis, Alice Thomas
“From the cooking methods of Ulysses to Victorian nursery fare, from biblical food facts to modern food fashion, from the eighteenth-century banquet to the gossipy literary lunch,  author took a gastronomical journey, generously seasoned with anecdote and wit, and garnished with extracts from famous food writers such as Brillat-Savarin, Mrs. Beeton and Elizabeth Craig. We learn that Charles Darwin enjoyed roast armadillo and Elvis Presley adored cooked squirrel.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Octopus : Sam Israel, the secret market, and Wall Street’s wildest con / Lawson, Guy
“When the Bayou Hedge Fund was shown to have overstated gains, understated losses, and misappropriated funds, founder Sam Israel leapt off the Bear Mountain Bridge. No, not really, he just faked his death-the way he faked everything else-in an effort to avoid the long prison sentence that was eventually handed down. Rolling Stone investigative journalist Lawson got exclusive access to Israel. Get ready to have your blood boil. (Book summary)

Kauri : witness to a nation’s history / Orwin, Joanna
“One of the largest trees in the world and a New Zealand icon. Today the last remaining kauri forest are reserved carefully. We read about Maori myth surrounding the tree, and about the mariners who sailed up to harvest timber for their own ‘giant birds’: the great naval ships of Europe. The tree’s presence looms over the colonial period and beyond, and is the very stuff from which the flagpoles at Waitangi were carved (as well as some of the country’s fines architectural treasures and modern works of art).” (Adapted from the Catalogue)