Author Topic: Non-Fiction (Read 440159 times)

Babi · « **Reply #2440 on:** February 26, 2013, 08:34:48 AM »

TO NONFICTION BOOK TALK

What are you reading? Autobiographies, biographies, history, politics?

Tell us about the book; the good and the bad of it.

Let's talk books!

Discussion Leader: HaroldArnold

FRYBABE, you are a marvel. You've provided so much more good info. on Elizabeth
of Bohemia. Surprising how often we find the era of masculine dominance has
actually been strongly influenced by a woman behind the scenes.

I don't think we get CSPAN. I'd have to check on that. Glad to see that you find
it a great series, JEAN. This sort of thing can be very good or really bad, imho.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2441 on:** February 26, 2013, 11:20:07 AM »

The Martha Washington program was excellent. If you didn't see it or want to see additional info and videos- especially about Mount Vernon - go to CSPAN.org. They will probably reshow it this week, especially on the weekend. I was somewhat upset that they switched the program to CSPAN2, because i think many who have only basic cable get only CSPAN1.

Last night Charlie Rose had Gloria Steinam and the producer of The Makers: Women who Make America on his show. You probably can see it on PBS.org, or Charlie Rose.org. It was an interesting conversation.

marjifay · « **Reply #2442 on:** February 28, 2013, 12:42:34 PM »

I'm reading a really fascinating book, THE OUTPOST by Jake Tapper. It was recommended by Rachel Maddow of MSNBC and by an Amazon reader of General McChrystal's memoir (My Share of the Task by General Stanley McChrystal).

It shows dramatically the consequences of poor strategy and decision making by the higher command, including McChrystal. A group of soldiers is sent to a very remote part of Afghanistan to set up an outpost; no one could figure out exactly why. I am finding the story hard to put down as it tells of these men and what they went through. You get to know them, their family background, their thoughts. I was amazed to read how intelligent and well educated these men were.

The book gives such interesting information about the Afghanistan people they meet there. One large group surprisingly has red hair and blue eyes, and is thought to have been originally from people left there after Alexander the Great's battles there. When told by the soldiers that they were there on behalf of the Afghanistan Government, they replied, "Oh? Who are they?"

Marj

marjifay · « **Reply #2443 on:** March 01, 2013, 03:58:08 PM »

Did you know there is a BookTV online book club? I just saw it mentioned at booktv.org.

They meet the last Tuesday of each month to discuss that month's book. This month's (March) book is THE NEW JIM CROW; MASS INCARCERATION IN THE AGE OF COLORBLINDNESS by Michelle Alexander and will be discussed at Facebook and Twitter March 26 at 9 pm eastern time.

Facebook.com/booktv
Twitter: #BTVBookClub

Trouble is, I don't know how to use either Facebook or Twitter.

Marj

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2444 on:** March 02, 2013, 07:04:07 PM »

If you didn't get to see the CSPAN program on Martha Washington last Monday, CSPAN 1 is starting it again right now 7:00EST. If you have only one CSPAN channel it's probably that one.
Jean

maryz · « **Reply #2445 on:** March 02, 2013, 07:13:46 PM »

Thanks, Jean. I recorded something last Monday, but it wasn't Martha! I watched the introduction program this afternoon. So I hopped right over and started recording it now (John's watching basketball).

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2446 on:** March 03, 2013, 12:10:55 AM »

Mary - last Monday it was on their schedule for CSPAN1, but they broadcast it on CSPAN3. I mentioned it as soon as i saw that at 9:00, but most people would not have been on line. Hope you get it this time it was good. But they can't switch things around lke that and expect their viewers to catch up. Some folks only have CSPAN 1 on their cable.

Jean

Frybabe · « **Reply #2447 on:** March 03, 2013, 08:50:46 AM »

I ran across this book on ManyBooks this morning. Although I am not planning on reading it, at least not for a while, I thought some of you might be interested.

http://manybooks.net/titles/kannermaother09SHATTERED_CRYSTALS.html

The author's website explains how the book came about. http://www.shatteredcrystals.net/

ManyBooks is formated for different ereaders. It looks like the only choice you have on the author's website is PDF. She has some excerpts of the book online and a link to the print version on Amazon.

marjifay · « **Reply #2448 on:** March 03, 2013, 09:41:00 AM »

Shattered Chrystals sounds like a very interesting book, Frybabe. It gets 5 stars from Amazon reviewers. Unfortunately none of my libraries have it, and the price at Amazon ($40 to $95) is a bit much for me.

I plan to watch the beginning of the History Channel's series on the Vikings. It will be aired tonight (Sunday, Oct. 3) at 10 pm. I heard the program's creator (Michael Hirst who also created The Tudors TV series) interviewed on PBS, and it sounds as if it will be a really interesting historical drama. (I'm sure it will be repeated for all you early-to-bed people.)

Marj

maryz · « **Reply #2449 on:** March 03, 2013, 11:38:53 AM »

jean, we get CSpan 1, 2, and 3. I thought it originally had been moved to #2, and that's what I recorded. I'll check about the starting time tomorrow.

And will probably record The Vikings, too.

Frybabe · « **Reply #2450 on:** March 03, 2013, 11:55:50 AM »

Wow, Marjifay. I hadn't looked at what they wanted for the print version. If I decide to read it, I'll be downloading the free ebook version.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2451 on:** March 03, 2013, 02:59:23 PM »

I posted this in "fiction" but then thought some of you may be interested, especially in the non-fiction links to the free ebooks mentioned at the end.

A friend just loaned me a Jennifer Chiaverini book, not a "quilt" book, titled Mary Lincoln's Dressmaker." Elizabeth Keckley was a real person, but, of course, this is fiction. EK bought her and her son's freedom from slavery and had become a dressmaker to many prominent women in Washington D. C. in 1860. Both of those actions tell us what an amazing woman she was. She was the designer and maker of dresses for Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis' wife before Mary Lincoln came to town. (I find it ironic that that the president of the seceding states was probably named for Thomas Jefferson.)

About 100 pages into the book, i find it is typical JC well-written prose. She uses many of the current events of the time in the story. EK's son was the son of a white man and is light enough in complexion to be able to pass as white and is therefore able to join the Union army. JC gives us a good accounting of the anxiety of any mother whose child is in combat.

At this point i would highly recommend it. Here is a Wikipedia article about EK and the Amazon page about the book.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Keckley

In following a link from the wiki article i see that EK's autobiography "Behind the Scenes", is available as an ebook for free from Goggle Books and from Amazon. Just scroll down the article to "references". Also, the second book on the "reference" list is available as an ebook for free, "Mrs Lincoln and Mrs Keckly".

http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Lincolns-Dressmaker-Jennifer-Chiaverini/dp/0525953612

marjifay · « **Reply #2452 on:** March 14, 2013, 07:47:28 PM »

On BookTv, this coming Sunday, March 17, at 9 am eastern time, Jack Tapper will be talking about his book THE OUTPOST, a very interesting book I'm now reading. I posted about it here in Nonfiction, Feb. 28. Re a group of soldiers sent to a very remote part of Afghanistan to set up an outpost; no one could figure out just why. It tells of what they went thru, and the Afghanistan people they met there. It also shows dramatically the consequences of poor strategy and decision making by the higher command, including General Stanley McChrystal (whose memoir I plan to read next).

Marj

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2453 on:** March 14, 2013, 11:59:36 PM »

There are a lot of good books on the booktv schedule this weekend. Thanks for the heads up Marjifay.

Jean

bellemere · « **Reply #2454 on:** March 27, 2013, 05:11:38 PM »

I am enjoying "My Beloved World" by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. After a brief introductory chapter by the Justice, Rita Moreno takes over and she is terrific. Sotomayor, is humorous, but very, thoughtful as she talks about her judicial philosophy. She is also has some very funny scenes from her childhood in the Sooth Bronx with countless relatives. I am about halfway through it, when she was an assistant D.A. in Manhattan. She relates that the first time she ever saw a couch that was not covered in plastic was at her admissions interview at Harvard. She actually ended up at Princeton. near the end of her senior year, a friend fished a crumpled letter out of Sonia's wastebasket. Sonia said "Oh, that's some organization that wants me to pay to join and they give you some little trinket with your name on it. I'm not interested." The friend pointed out that it was an invitation to join Phi Beta Kappa.
I am new to audio books, but with my vision deteriorating, I think I better try some. Massachusetts makes free recorded books available to the visually impaired from the Perkins school in Boston, where Annie Sullivan received her training. I can also have newspapers and magazines read to me online or over the phone. I really have to take time to go through all the catalogs they send, but I just ordered "Bring UP the Bodies " by Hilary Mantel. Looking forward to that one after Wolf Hall.

maryz · « **Reply #2455 on:** March 27, 2013, 06:44:32 PM »

Here's another book about women - The Girls of Atomic City. I heard about this yesterday on the PBS News Hour. I hope something about it will be on BookTV before long (not currently scheduled).

Anyway, it's about the women who worked in Oak Ridge, TN, on the Manhattan Project - the super-secret development of the atomic bomb during WW2. If you're not from this area, you might not know about Oak Ridge, but it was an amazing situation. I've bought this book for my iPad, and am really looking forward to reading it.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2456 on:** March 29, 2013, 01:04:46 PM »

I'm reading bit by bit Jane Fonda's Primetime, about the "third act" of our lives that we are all in. It's interesting, very ego-centric of Jane, her picture is on every third or fourth page, but i find her comments thought provoking. Taking it in small does.

The discussion in Story of Civilization reminded me of Charles Mann's books "1491" and "1493". My memory says that we didn't have a discussion on either one of those, am i right??
The 1493 book might be a good one for discussion.

http://www.amazon.com/1493-Uncovering-Columbus-Created-ebook/dp/B004G606EY

I loved teaching about "the Columbian exchange". Students were always surprised at what products started where in the world and what a great impact the exchange of goods had on the entire world.

http://www.amazon.com/Columbian-Exchange-Alfred-Crosby-Jr/dp/0275980928/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312840262&sr=1-1

If you don't want to read either book, here is the wiki summary of the Exchange

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbian_Exchange

Jean

maryz · « **Reply #2457 on:** March 29, 2013, 01:48:20 PM »

I've read both of those books, jean. Really liked them.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2458 on:** March 29, 2013, 07:56:19 PM »

I thought of you when i wrote that, bcs i remembered that you and John had read them. I haven't read "The Columbian Exchange" and i may get that. It's a fascinating subject to me.

Jean

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2459 on:** May 06, 2013, 01:05:36 PM »

I'm reading Fireweed:a Political Autobiography by Gerda Lerner. Lerner is considered to be the "mother of women's studies" in academia in the last half of the 20th century. She's a terrific writer. She was born in Austria, her Father was a phamacist w/ businesses in both Austria and Litchtenstein in the thirties. He was able to escape the Nazis invasion of Austria by being in L at the time and the rest of the family were to join him in L. However, Gerda and her Mother were imprisoned for a short period of time. The mother then went to France and eventually Gerda was able to come to U.S. to her betrothed and his family.

The book only covers the first half of her life, which was a disappointment to me, i would like to read her version of her difficulties in getting into the academic world. Her description of her family's experiences during the holoucaust is very informative and not overly depressing and dark. I don't understand how one human being could treat another the way the Nazis did, so i don't generally read about them. But Lerner has done a good job of literary writing, not just an historical summary.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2460 on:** May 13, 2013, 02:38:16 PM »

Noboy's reading non-fiction!?!

Fireweed is just getting better and better. I'm at a point where Gerda has married Carl Lerner and they are living in Calif where Carl is writing movie scripts in the 40's. Gerda is learning English (interesting comments from her about that process, both speaking anf writing, she speaks German, French and Yiddish and had studied Latin and comments how all of that helped her write English - or not ). They are in contact with folks who are later a part of the "Hollywood 10" and she speaks to the reason for her affinity to socialism at the time - the Soviet Union were our allies, and her anti-fascism. It is all an interesting perspective and her writing is superb.

I picked up Uncommon Ground by Mark Pendergrast about the role of coffee in history. His books are usually interesting and fun to read. Haven't started it yet. Has anyone read it?

maryz · « **Reply #2461 on:** May 13, 2013, 05:18:35 PM »

I'm reading a book of interest only to people who live in Chattanooga - Old Money, New South. It's about the powers-that-be throughout the history of Chattanooga and what they've accomplished. Very interesting.

CubFan · « **Reply #2462 on:** May 13, 2013, 07:56:09 PM »

I'm reading A History of London by Stephen Inwood which is a very thick book and a slow go since I am also reading Rutherford's Paris and some incidentals (mysteries) along with it. Am also preparing for a genealogy research trip for the first week of June so I am prepared to have this be my nonfiction read for the summer.

Mary

salan · « **Reply #2463 on:** May 14, 2013, 06:06:42 PM »

I am reading Hemmingway's A Moveable Feast with foreword by his son & grandson. I am not a fan of non-fiction, but this was my ftf book club choice for May. I am really enjoying getting an insight into some of the famous literary characters that lived in Paris at the same time Hemmingway did.
Sally

Jonathan · « **Reply #2464 on:** May 16, 2013, 10:41:38 AM »

I'm reading The Preacher and the Presidents: Billy Graham in the White House. Co-authored by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy. Fascinating, the influence he had on presidents, starting with Harry Truman. Summed up by this line on page 160: 'Political careers became higher callings, once Graham was there to bless them.' Strange, however, how Graham barely survived the Watergate scandal. It left him scarred. Obviously he had never been so close to evil.

Frybabe · « **Reply #2465 on:** May 16, 2013, 11:25:13 AM »

I am continuing my read of Jon and Rumer Godden's Two Under the Indian Sun. It is an interesting memoir on growing up in Bengal during WWI.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2466 on:** May 16, 2013, 11:35:19 AM »

Wasn't Nancy Gibbs one of the authors of The book about the ex-president's club? Was Duffy her co-author on that? I liked that a lot.

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #2467 on:** May 16, 2013, 12:37:31 PM »

Hello JEAN AND JONATHAN! It's been awhile since I have posted, but I read!

JONATHAN, I never approved of Billy Graham's advising the presidents, elevating their reputations as you quoted. Although he was well known throughout the country, not everyone believed his doctrine. As our forefathers stated in the Constitution, religion and the state should be separate and those presidents who encouraged Graham to visit the White House often were wrong to do so.

It would not go over today would it? Think of Catholics and Muslims, no, no, no. not today.

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #2468 on:** May 16, 2013, 12:39:32 PM »

Perhaps it is time to discuss another nonfiction book? I have four reserved for me at the Library when I get there and I can't recall right now what they are, but will get them and see if any would be good topics. Unless a book is bold print or large book, it is hard tor me to read it with my ever increasing poor eyesight.

JoanK · « **Reply #2469 on:** May 16, 2013, 03:50:12 PM »

I've started a book "The History of Ain't"; the story of making the third edition of Websters Dictionary. It's about the struggle between those who feel a dictionary should be the preserver of proper English to those who feel the language belongs to all of us, and the dictionary should reflect that. Interesting.

JudeS · « **Reply #2470 on:** May 16, 2013, 04:18:26 PM »

Never been to this site before.
Although I read a LOT of fiction, I always have a non-fiction book on the slow burner.
Three of the really good ones I have read in the past months are:

In The Garden of the Beast-Erik Larsen (Berlin in the 1930's)

God's Hotel-Victoria Sweet (The Story of a Hospital run in the "old manner" and the change over to the "modern method'
through the eyes of a Doctor and her patients)

My Stroke of Insight-Jill Bolte Taylor (A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey of experiencing her own Stroke).

The first two have been on the bestseller list. The third book is relatively short-187 pages.

I will try some of your recommendations in the future.

JoanK · « **Reply #2471 on:** May 16, 2013, 06:23:39 PM »

Welcome, JUDE. Your recommendations are always great.

I'm like you: I read mostly fiction, but always get one non-fiction book when I go to the library.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2472 on:** May 16, 2013, 08:11:34 PM »

Hi Ella, welcome back!

Welcome to you Jude

ThePresident's Club was very good, about the present and ex-presidents back to Harry Truman and how they really are a club and interact with each other. I think it would make for a good discussion since we've all lived thru those years.

Fireweed:a Political Autobiography by Gerda Lerner is also very interesting and would make for a good discussion. Although she lived through the 20th century, there is much in it that relates to some of today's issues.

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #2473 on:** May 16, 2013, 09:38:35 PM »

GOOD IDEAS>

Jonathan · « **Reply #2474 on:** May 18, 2013, 02:55:00 PM »

Hi, Everybody

How nice to see you posting again, Ella, after your eye surgery. May you enjoy lots and lots of reading in your leisure time. And, along with Harold, lead more book discussions.

How about the latest Lynne Olson. Those Angry Days

http://www.lynneolson.com/

JoanK · « **Reply #2475 on:** May 18, 2013, 03:06:18 PM »

That sounds interesting.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2476 on:** May 23, 2013, 11:37:11 AM »

Saw this in my women's history newsletter this morning. The book sounds interesting, altho something that we may want to read in spurts, it could be intense......a plane shot down in Albania in WWII included 13 nurses. Apparently there is a lot of suspense, several attempts at escape before everybody, men and women get out. It's a piece of military history that does not exclude the story of the women involved.

http://www.chickhistory.com/2013/05/book-review-secret-rescue-untold-story.html

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #2477 on:** May 23, 2013, 03:28:59 PM »

JONATHAN, one of the books I picked up is THOSE ANGRY DAYS and it does look very good, about the right size for a discussion. I'll see what Harold has to say about it.

Another book that I can hardly put down is GERMAN BOY: a Refugee's Story by Wolfgang W. E. Samuel. Stephen E. Ambrose wrote an Introduction to the book and read it day and night until he finished it. What a story!

http://www.amazon.com/German-Boy-Refugees-Willie-Biography/dp/1578062748/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369336295&sr=1-1&keywords=German+Boy%3B+A+Refugee%27s+Story

I'm amused by a quote from Winston Churchill (in the Olson book):

"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing --after they've tried everything else."

A statement we could discuss for hours, right?

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #2478 on:** May 24, 2013, 11:22:10 AM »

Jonathon Ella and all. I 1have had "Those Angry Days"on the Nook since February and considered it a prime non fiction discussion candidate. Hopefullyk a midsummer discussion can be arranged.u

JoanK · « **Reply #2479 on:** May 24, 2013, 05:03:14 PM »

Mabel: the story of the nurses sounds fascinating!

But when I clicked on your link, I noticed that the tab that appeared on the tabline was labeled "chickhistory"! AAAACK.

I doubt they have another tab labeled "roosterhistory"!

News:

Author Topic: Non-Fiction (Read 440159 times)