AltWeeklies Wire
Science Spottingnew
Author Paul Halpern has a razor-sharp eye for the science tidbits that have popped up in 19 years of The Simpsons.
NOW Magazine |
Joseph Wilson |
01-11-2008 |
Nonfiction
Beth Lisick Seeks Help in 'Helping Me Help Myself'new
When Lisick unleashes her inner snark, she's laugh-out-loud funny, but when she toes the book's tagline and earnestly tries to "fix" herself, she's boring, kind of annoying, and self-indulgent.
The Portland Mercury |
Alison Hallett |
01-10-2008 |
Nonfiction
A New Collection From Colm 'Shortlisted for Booker' Tóibínnew
Tóibín is best known for his novels, but while those were propelled by intensities of exploration rooted in their subjects, the author here often seems to be chasing what Yeats once said he looked for at the end of every poem: the click of a well-made box.
Willamette Week |
Matthew Korfhage |
01-09-2008 |
Nonfiction
Tim Flannery Moves From Global Warming to Animalsnew
For Chasing Kangaroos, the Australian professor and paleontologist dives into a marsupial milieu, and its relatively narrow focus may put off recent Flannery converts.
The Georgia Straight |
Alexander Varty |
01-04-2008 |
Nonfiction
A Master Pares Down the Craft of Cookingnew
Michael Ruhlman gives us the goods on everything from stock to omelettes to tools to salt in his tautly tasty new kitchen tome.
The Georgia Straight |
Angela Murrills |
01-04-2008 |
Nonfiction
'Indian Summer' is a Great Read & Backgrounder to Today's Headlinesnew
Historical giants weave in and out of the years of high drama leading up to the British forces' withdrawal from India in 1947. But Von Tunzelmann reveals, often with comical verve, that many of those giants were grossly flawed.
NOW Magazine |
Howard Goldenthal |
01-04-2008 |
Nonfiction
Steve Martin: Philosopher in Bunny Earsnew
His just-published memoir, Born Standing Up, verifies what you always suspected -- Steve Martin never was your typical comedian.
Boston Phoenix |
James Parker |
01-04-2008 |
Nonfiction
Dark Prince Goes Down in Plamesnew
In his memoir, Novak attempts to justify outing Valerie Plame and other moral lapses, but his explanations are self-serving, to say the least, and not very convincing.
Jackson Free Press |
James L. Dickerson |
01-03-2008 |
Nonfiction
'Visual Shock' Explains Art-World Politicsnew
It's really valuable to have a well-researched, intelligent, even-handed, and educated analysis of the art controversies that have shaped the larger social politics of our often provincial-minded
Superpower of a nation.
San Antonio Current |
Diana Lyn Roberts |
01-02-2008 |
Nonfiction
Making Noise: The Composer's Cultural Predicament in the 20th Centurynew
New Yorker critic Alex Ross' book is a corrective for classical music history.
Charleston City Paper |
John Stoehr |
01-02-2008 |
Nonfiction
The Challenge of Holiday Feastingnew
After reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, you may never look at a holiday ham -- or any dinner for that matter -- the same again.
Jackson Free Press |
Brandi Herrera Pfrehm |
12-27-2007 |
Nonfiction
The Food Book to Read This Yearnew
Michael Pollan sets out to determine why the so-called Western diet is the unhealthiest in the world; how, despite a full-fledged societal obsession with food and nutrition, Americans have gotten to the perverse point where we are both overweight and undernourished.
The Portland Mercury |
Alison Hallett |
12-27-2007 |
Nonfiction
Go Without Godnew
A French philosopher finds you don't have to believe to be virtuous.
New Haven Advocate |
Evan Brown |
12-26-2007 |
Nonfiction
Examining Bush and the Neoconsnew
At times Unger focuses so closely on neocon tactics that he misses other forces driving Bush-Cheney policies. Even so, the book offers a vivid account of the use of disinformation to promote extremism.
Chicago Reader |
Chris Pepus |
12-26-2007 |
Nonfiction
Dancing About Architecturenew
If writing about music is like dancing about architecture, as the famous saying suggests, then Alex Ross is the Lord of the Dance.
Portland Phoenix |
Emily Parkhurst |
12-20-2007 |
Nonfiction
