Book reviews and other items
Here's a book endorsement for you: "An Edible History of Humanity," written by Tom Standage and published earlier this year. (In bookstores now.) The read was suggested to me by my father. Or how did he put it?-- "Anybody who blogs that he knows everything needs to read this book." The narrative passes through our relatively-recent human transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers, then winds through the spice trade, the cultivation of maize and potatoes, widespread starvations, industrialization, and the rise of biofuels. It's all tied into our grub, brother.
---
Journalist Nick Reding lived in Oelwein, Iowa for four years investigating small-town life during these times of widespread methamphetamine production and use. The results of his research are in a new release entitled "Methland." Like most of our problems here on Earth, this one is economic at its core. (Tied even into our food somehow? I'll leave that to the experts.) The author was interviewed this week by Huffington's Patrick Sauer. You'll also find him tonight at Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City, and tomorrow evening at 7 at the Barnes & Noble in Cedar Rapids. Sorry for the late notice.
---
One of the most entertaining nonfiction books of the last decade was "The Good Rat" by author and journalist Jimmy Breslin about a Mafia turncoat living in New York City. The book's subject, Burt Kaplan, has now reportedly died of natural causes, but Breslin's not so sure.
---
"The Real Deal" Rory Fox, a.k.a. Steve Moss, was one year behind me at dear old Benton Community High. He's making his name now in Ultimate Championship Wrestling.
---
Walter Cronkite's death would have received more media attention, but he outlived the evening news.
---
After you've completed watching the first 18 episodes of "Mad Men," read this.
---
Planning a St. Louis getaway for baseball? (Is it still commercially-viable to "Wake Up to Missouri"?) The Riverfront Times in St. Louis published a baseball tour guide in connection with the MLB All-Star Game played there last week. Included in the guide were the addresses and locations of specific baseball landmarks in the city, baseball-themed restaurants past and present (Albert Pujols, Ozzie Smith, Jim Edmonds, Mike Shannon, Al Hrabosky, and Joe Buck all currently have at least one restaurant currently open in the Loo), a guide to finding the gravestones of your favorite dead baseballers at area cemeteries, even the current home addresses of notable baseball figures (which evidently went over great in the Cardinals clubhouse.) Hey, this sounds like a trip I might enjoy.
---
Journalist Nick Reding lived in Oelwein, Iowa for four years investigating small-town life during these times of widespread methamphetamine production and use. The results of his research are in a new release entitled "Methland." Like most of our problems here on Earth, this one is economic at its core. (Tied even into our food somehow? I'll leave that to the experts.) The author was interviewed this week by Huffington's Patrick Sauer. You'll also find him tonight at Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City, and tomorrow evening at 7 at the Barnes & Noble in Cedar Rapids. Sorry for the late notice.
---
One of the most entertaining nonfiction books of the last decade was "The Good Rat" by author and journalist Jimmy Breslin about a Mafia turncoat living in New York City. The book's subject, Burt Kaplan, has now reportedly died of natural causes, but Breslin's not so sure.
---
"The Real Deal" Rory Fox, a.k.a. Steve Moss, was one year behind me at dear old Benton Community High. He's making his name now in Ultimate Championship Wrestling.
---
Walter Cronkite's death would have received more media attention, but he outlived the evening news.
---
After you've completed watching the first 18 episodes of "Mad Men," read this.
---
Planning a St. Louis getaway for baseball? (Is it still commercially-viable to "Wake Up to Missouri"?) The Riverfront Times in St. Louis published a baseball tour guide in connection with the MLB All-Star Game played there last week. Included in the guide were the addresses and locations of specific baseball landmarks in the city, baseball-themed restaurants past and present (Albert Pujols, Ozzie Smith, Jim Edmonds, Mike Shannon, Al Hrabosky, and Joe Buck all currently have at least one restaurant currently open in the Loo), a guide to finding the gravestones of your favorite dead baseballers at area cemeteries, even the current home addresses of notable baseball figures (which evidently went over great in the Cardinals clubhouse.) Hey, this sounds like a trip I might enjoy.
posted by CM @ 6:05 PM
1 Comments:
"The Good Rat" is a great book! Recommend it highly. Breslin has a weird writing style, but once you're used to it you realize he's the coolest, most unique reporter who's ever lived.
And as you know, I normally restrain my superlatives about people I'm fans of.
Post a Comment
<< Home