The Daily Show: An Oral History by Chris Smith

Title: The Daily Show (The Book): An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff, and Guests

Author: Chris Smith

Publisher: Grand Central 2016

Genre: Nonfiction - Media

Pages: 459

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); I Love Libraries

For almost seventeen years, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brilliantly redefined the borders between television comedy, political satire, and opinionated news coverage. It launched the careers of some of today's most significant comedians, highlighted the hypocrisies of the powerful, and garnered 23 Emmys. Now the show's behind-the-scenes gags, controversies, and camaraderie will be chronicled by the players themselves, from legendary host Jon Stewart to the star cast members and writers-including Samantha Bee, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Steve Carell, Lewis Black, Jessica Williams, John Hodgman, and Larry Wilmore-plus some of The Daily Show's most prominent guests and adversaries: John and Cindy McCain, Glenn Beck, Tucker Carlson, and many more.

I loved The Daily Show under Jon Stewart and was looking forward to learning more about the inner workings of the show. I liked that the book included interviews with all peoples involved and some show transcripts. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed that the book skipped over some big events and issues in the show's history. The book seemed to skim over a lot. And the book would definitely not be interesting to those who did not watch at least some of the episodes.

How to Talk About Video Games by Ian Bogost

Title: How to Talk About Video Games

Author: Ian Bogost

Publisher: University of Minnesota 2015

Genre: Pop Culture - Media

Pages: 197

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books - W38; Perpetual (NonAd)

Videogames! Aren’t they the medium of the twenty-first century? The new cinema? The apotheosis of art and entertainment, the realization of Wagnerian gesamtkunstwerk? The final victory of interaction over passivity? No, probably not. Games are part art and part appliance, part tableau and part toaster. In How to Talk about Videogames, leading critic Ian Bogost explores this paradox more thoroughly than any other author to date.

Our book club selection for October. I got a jump on the book due to the baby coming in less than a week. And I'm thoroughly disappointed in this book. Bogost personality is so very insufferable. I couldn't stand his "gamergate" type approach to video games. I read most of this book, but I admit to skimming some chapters. I just grew so bored with his writing, assumptions, and tone. Pass.

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade

Title: Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War that Changed American History

Author: Brian Kilmeade

Publisher: Sentinel 2015

Genre: Nonfiction - U.S. History

Pages: 238

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction; 52 Books - W34

This is the little-known story of how a newly indepen­dent nation was challenged by four Muslim powers and what happened when America’s third president decided to stand up to intimidation.

When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America faced a crisis. The new nation was deeply in debt and needed its economy to grow quickly, but its merchant ships were under attack. Pirates from North Africa’s Barbary coast routinely captured American sailors and held them as slaves, demanding ransom and tribute payments far beyond what the new coun­try could afford.

Definitely a good follow-up to George Washington's Secret Six. I have a passing knowledge of the Barbary War, but even I can classify it as the forgotten war. I learned so much about the intricacies, people involved, and battles of the war. Stories like that of the USS Philadelphia sparked a memory for me, but it was nice to get the full story in these pages. A good random pick-up from the library shelves.

Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick

Title: Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution

Author: Nathaniel Philbrick

Publisher: Viking 2013

Genre: Nonfiction - U.S. History

Pages: 398

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction; 52 Books - W33; Perpetual (NonAd)

Boston in 1775 is an island city occupied by British troops after a series of incendiary incidents by patriots who range from sober citizens to thuggish vigilantes. After the Boston Tea Party, British and American soldiers and Massachusetts residentshave warily maneuvered around each other until April 19, when violence finally erupts at Lexington and Concord.  In June, however, with the city cut off from supplies by a British blockade and Patriot militia poised in siege, skirmishes give way to outright war in the Battle of Bunker Hill. It would be the bloodiest battle of the Revolution to come, and the point of no return for the rebellious colonists.

Been meaning to pick this one up for awhile now. And I enjoyed every page of this volume. Such a great exploration of the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence focusing on the Boston area. I loved following each of the players through the few years detailed. Philbrick scores again with a great narrative history. Even with my background knowledge of the Revolution, I still learned a lot about the details of the time period. Fascinating!

What Jefferson Read, Ike Watched, and Obama Tweeted by Tevi Troy

Title: What Jefferson Read, Ike Watched, and Obama Tweeted: 200 Years of Popular Culture in the White House

Author: Tevi Troy

Publisher: Regnery 2013

Genre: Nonfiction - U.S. History

Pages: 332

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction; Nonfiction Adventure (perpetual)

America is a country built by thinkers on a foundation of ideas. Alongside classic works of philosophy and ethics, however, our presidents have been influenced by the books, movies, TV shows, viral videos, and social media sensations of their day. In What Jefferson Read, Ike Watched, and Obama Tweeted: 200 Years of Popular Culture in the White House presidential scholar and former White House aide Tevi Troy combines research with witty observation to tell the story of how our presidents have been shaped by popular culture.

An interesting collection of tidbits about pop culture and presidents. I learned a decent amount of trivia. Well, the volume is well-written, I knew a fair amount of the information presented. I especially enjoyed the chapters focusing on the presidents of the mid 20th century. Very interesting discussions on how Nixon and Reagan used pop culture.

Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

Title: Thunderstruck

Author: Erik Larson

Publisher: Crown 2006

Genre: Nonfiction - History

Pages: 463

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W30

Set in Edwardian London and on the stormy coasts of Cornwall, Cape Cod, and Nova Scotia, Thunderstruck evokes the dynamism of those years when great shipping companies competed to build the biggest, fastest ocean liners; scientific advances dazzled the public with visions of a world transformed; and the rich outdid one another with ostentatious displays of wealth. Against this background, Marconi races against incredible odds and relentless skepticism to perfect his invention: the wireless, a prime catalyst for the emergence of the world we know today. Meanwhile, Crippen, “the kindest of men,” nearly commits the perfect murder.

Oh man. Another awesome Erik Larson book that I can't believe took me this long to read. And it's on a subject that I knew little to nothing about. Amazing! It took me a bit to really get into this volume, but once I did, I was hooked. Larson has an amazing way of making the reader care about the characters and keep us on the edge of our seat throughout. My favorite parts of this volume were the politics of Marconi's business dealings. So very very interesting and complicated! The ending was a bit abrupt for a Larson book, but I was still satisfied by the story and conclusion.

Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick

Title: Valiant Ambition

Author: Nathaniel Philbrick

Publisher: Viking 2016

Genre: Nonfiction - U.S. History

Pages: 427

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; Popsugar - Blue Cover

In September 1776, the vulnerable Continental Army under an unsure George Washington (who had never commanded a large force in battle) evacuates New York after a devastating defeat by the British Army. Three weeks later, near the Canadian border, one of his favorite generals, Benedict Arnold, miraculously succeeds in postponing the British naval advance down Lake Champlain that might have ended the war. Four years later, as the book ends, Washington has vanquished his demons and Arnold has fled to the enemy after a foiled attempt to surrender the American fortress at West Point to the British. After four years of war, America is forced to realize that the real threat to its liberties might not come from without but from within.

Apparently I am in the middle of a huge American Revolution kick. J and I are obsessed with watching Turn on AMC and listening to the Hamilton soundtrack. Nevermind that I've always been a fan of history, I've found myself craving history books lately. I few weeks back I finished Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea and realized that he had just released a new book centered on the American Revolution. Thankfully I spied it at the library last week and immediately snatched it up. So good! In general I know how this story played out, but I was constantly fascinated by the details. It was the little things along with excerpts from letters that sucked me into the story. I was riveted from page one. Philbrick definitely has a way with narrative history. Never once did I get lost or confused by the information. I went along on the journey highlighting what would ultimately be two opposing forces: Washington and Arnold. I think I liked this one better than Philbrick's Mayflower. Fascinating story! Now I want to run off and get the book that Turn the television series is based on. Guess I need some more American Revolution in my life.

Fantastic Planets, Forbidden Zones, and Lost Continents by Douglas Brode

Title: Fantastic Planets, Forbidden Zones, and Lost Continents: The 100 Greatest Science Fiction Films

Author: Douglas Brode

Publisher: University of Texas Press 2015

Genre: Nonfiction - Movies

Pages: 411

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W24

Whether you judge by box office receipts, industry awards, or critical accolades, science fiction films are the most popular movies now being produced and distributed around the world. Nor is this phenomenon new. Sci-fi filmmakers and audiences have been exploring fantastic planets, forbidden zones, and lost continents ever since George Méliès’ 1902 film A Trip to the Moon. In this highly entertaining and knowledgeable book, film historian and pop culture expert Douglas Brode picks the one hundred greatest sci-fi films of all time.

Picked this up from the new books shelf at the library. While J and I debated some of the choices on the Top 100 list, it was a very entertaining read. In reality, we've got into a few debates owing to our fairly extensive scifi movie experience. I loved all the tidbits about how the movie got made, influences, and trivia. Very enjoyable read for the past few days. Plus we've made a list of those movies we've somehow not seen before.

The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart

Title: The Drunken Botanist

Author: Amy Stewart

Publisher: Algonquin Books 2013

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 400

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W23

Sake began with a grain of rice. Scotch emerged from barley, tequila from agave, rum from sugarcane, bourbon from corn. Thirsty yet?  In The Drunken Botanist, Amy Stewart explores the dizzying array of herbs, flowers, trees, fruits, and fungi that humans have, through ingenuity, inspiration, and sheer desperation, contrived to transform into alcohol over the centuries.

Of all the extraordinary and obscure plants that have been fermented and distilled, a few are dangerous, some are downright bizarre, and one is as ancient as dinosaurs--but each represents a unique cultural contribution to our global drinking traditions and our history.

This fascinating concoction of biology, chemistry, history, etymology, and mixology--with more than fifty drink recipes and growing tips for gardeners--will make you the most popular guest at any cocktail party.

I grabbed this book off an endcap at the library. I bring it home and J tells me, "oh, I've heard that's really good." It's not often J hears about a book and I don't. Overall, I really enjoyed this deep dive into alcohol and botany. I learned some interesting tidbits. Reading this makes me wish I wasn't pregnant so I could indulge in a few of her featured recipes. Oh well... just a few more months before I can again.

The Joy of Books by Eric Burns

Title: The Joy of Books

Author: Eric Burns

Publisher: Prometheus Books 1995

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 207

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W21

Burns's compelling yet accessible history of the reading experience rejoices in the diverse motivations and methods in the developing relationship between readers and writers even as he voices concern at the powerful forces of ignorance and censorship that seek to keep them apart.

Ugh! So this was my pick for book club this month and now I'm so disappointed in myself. It's been on my perpetual reading list for years because I've seen it referenced so many times on other literary sites and blogs. And yet, I've found it extremely heavy-handed and boring. The first section about the history of books and reading was fairly interested. I knew 90% of the information included, but enjoyed reading it anyway. And then the focus shifted to a diatribe about how kids these days don't read and our society is going to shit. Burns wrote this book in 1995. Those kids he was speaking of are me. I was 13 in 1995 and exactly in the demographic he was lamenting. I and most of my friends read all the time. We did back in 1995 and we still do. The entire second half of the book angered me. Somehow I made it through to the end, but ugh! I am not impressed.

Failure is Impossible by Lynn Sherr

Title: Failure is Impossible: Susan B Anthony in her Own Words

Author: Lynn Sherr

Publisher: Times Books 1995

Genre: Nonfiction -- History; Biography

Pages: 384

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd; Feminism); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W16

Juxtaposed with contemporary reports and biographical essays, the words of this legendary suffragist reveal Susan B. Anthony as a loyal, caring friend, and an eloquent, humorous crusader. "More than a collection of well-arranged quotations, the work informs, inspires, and gives historical perspective."

Full disclosure: I am a huge history nerd. I also have a B.A. in Women's Studies and Susan B. Anthony has always been one of my favorite historical figures. That being said, I really wanted to love this book. I was fascinated by the idea of using mostly primary sources to get an insight in Anthony's life. Unfortunately, the volume fell flat. I couldn't get beyond the unusual format both in terms of the primary sources being the focus and the chapters divided by topic rather than time period. I just couldn't really get into this one at all. Definitely not the book for me...

Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr

Title: Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World

Author: Anthony Doerr

Publisher: Scribner 2007

Genre: Travel memoir

Pages: 210

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction

Exquisitely observed, Four Seasons in Rome describes Doerr's varied adventures in one of the most enchanting cities in the world. He reads Pliny, Dante, and Keats -- the chroniclers of Rome who came before him—and visits the piazzas, temples, and ancient cisterns they describe. He attends the vigil of a dying Pope John Paul II and takes his twins to the Pantheon in December to wait for snow to fall through the oculus. He and his family are embraced by the butchers, grocers, and bakers of the neighborhood, whose clamor of stories and idiosyncratic child-rearing advice is as compelling as the city itself.

I listen to a podcast called What Should I Read Next? This was a recommended read a few weeks back. I loved Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See so I was intrigued about his travel memoir based on part of the time that he wrote the novel. This slim volume is a love letter to Rome punctuated by musings of parenthood and insomnia. I loved getting to know Doerr and his family. I especially loved his descriptions of the fountains of Rome. Overall, I really enjoyed this memoir. It made me want to travel to Rome immediately.

The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell

Title: The Partly Cloudy Patriot

Author: Sarah Vowell

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2002

Genre: History

Pages: 197

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W10

In this insightful and funny collection of personal stories Vowell travels through the American past and in doing so ponders a number of curious questions: Why is she happiest when visiting the sites of bloody struggles like Salem or Gettysburg? Why do people always inappropriately compare themselves to Rosa Parks? Why is a bad life in sunny California so much worse than a bad life anywhere else? What is it about the Zen of foul shots? And, in the title piece, why must doubt and internal arguments haunt the sleepless nights of the true patriot?

Her essays confront a wide range of subjects, themes, icons, and historical moments: Ike, Teddy Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton; Canadian Mounties and German filmmakers; Tom Cruise and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; twins and nerds; the Gettysburg Address, the State of the Union, and George W. Bush's inauguration.

So I love Sarah Vowell. She is funny, but also insightful and relevant. Sometimes she writes exactly what I am thinking about a situation. I think she's my spirit animal. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of essays. I love her perspective. My favorite essay was about Gettysburg. I had many of the same thoughts when I visited years ago. My only issue with this collection is that some of the essays feel very dated when reading them 14 years after the fact. I remember the events, but wow, such old news. Still an entertaining read for this history buff!

Coffee Nerd by Ruth Brown

Title: Coffee Nerd: How to Have Your Coffee and Drink It Too

Author: Ruth Brown

Publisher: Adams Media 2015

Genre: Nonfiction - Popular Culture; Food

Pages: 206

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Nonfiction; 52 Books 0 W8

Ever wonder what goes into making the perfect cup of coffee? There's more to it than you think, and a new breed of coffee nerds has transformed the cheap, gritty sludge your parents drink into the coolest food trend around, with an obsessive commitment to sourcing, roasting, and preparation that has taken the drink to delicious new heights.

Coffee Nerd details the history behind the beans and helps you navigate the exciting and sometimes intimidating new wave of coffee. From finding obscure Japanese brewing equipment to recipes and techniques for brewing amazing coffee at home, you'll increase your geek cred--and discover a whole new world of coffee possibilities.

Mom bought me this book as a stocking stuffer for Christmas. Overall, it was an enjoyable little volume detailing the ins and outs of coffee. I learned a lot about the different types of coffee and growing regions. I even learned more about what makes a good cup of coffee. My only issue with the book was that at times Brown got a little too high and mighty for my tastes. She definitely implies and a few times, states that to not seek out local roasters and brewers, you don't actually like coffee. I do like coffee, but sometimes I don't have the time or energy to make the perfect cup. And that's okay in my book. Still a interesting little book.

The Map That Changed the World by Simon Winchester

Title: The Map that Changed the World

Author: Simon Winchester

Publisher: Perennial 2002

Genre: History, Geology, Geography

Pages: 329

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction

In 1793, a canal digger named William Smith made a startling discovery. He found that by tracing the placement of fossils, which he uncovered in his excavations, one could follow layers of rocks as they dipped and rose and fell—clear across England and, indeed, clear across the world—making it possible, for the first time ever, to draw a chart of the hidden underside of the earth. Smith spent twenty-two years piecing together the fragments of this unseen universe to create an epochal and remarkably beautiful hand-painted map. But instead of receiving accolades and honors, he ended up in debtors' prison, the victim of plagiarism, and virtually homeless for ten years more.

A fascinating subject matter even if the volume was a bit dry. Going into the book, I knew almost nothing about William Smith's map of England. In this respect, I learned a lot about his project and in general science in the late 18th, early 19th century. Winchester even mentions a few stories that I did now about. Specifically, he mentions Mary Anning and her discoveries. I read a fictionalized account of Anning life and discoveries about a year ago (Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier). The few times that Winchester dived into rock layers, I started to get less interested in continuing to read. But continue I did. I am glad that I finished the book. Another random subject that I now know more about.

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Title: A Brief History of Time

Author: Stephen Hawking

Publisher: Bantam 1998

Genre: Nonfiction -- Science

Pages: 212

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Nonfiction; Popsugar -- Haven't read since high school

A landmark volume in science writing by one of the great minds of our time, Stephen Hawking’s book explores such profound questions as: How did the universe begin—and what made its start possible? Does time always flow forward? Is the universe unending—or are there boundaries? Are there other dimensions in space? What will happen when it all ends?

Told in language we all can understand, A Brief History of Time plunges into the exotic realms of black holes and quarks, of antimatter and “arrows of time,” of the big bang and a bigger God—where the possibilities are wondrous and unexpected. With exciting images and profound imagination, Stephen Hawking brings us closer to the ultimate secrets at the very heart of creation.

A book I first read back in high school. I have to say that I understand a lot more of this volume now than I did then. I appreciate Hawking's conversational style in explaining very large complicated topics. Definitely a must read.

You Did What edited by Bill Fawcett and Brian Thomsen

Title: You Did What? Mad Plans and Great Historical Disasters

Edited by: Bill Fawcett and Brian Thomsen

Publisher: HarperCollins 2004

Genre: Nonfiction - History

Pages: 287

Rating:  3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Nonfiction

History has never been more fun than it is in this fact-filled compendium of historical fiascoes and embarrassingly bad ideas.

Throughout history, the rich and powerful, and even just the dim-witted, have made horrifically bad decisions that have had resounding effects on our world. From kings to corporate leaders, from captains to presidents, no one is immune to bad decisions and their lasting legacy. The fiascoes that litter our history are innumerable ... and fascinating in their foolishness. This witty collection of historical mayhem chronicles unwise decisions from ancient Greece to modern-day Hollywood and everything in between.

A decent collection of historical vignettes. By biggest issue with the book is that I knew almost every story. The perils of being a history major...  But I'll say it was a nice little diversion for the afternoon.

The Great Influenza by John M. Barry

Title: The Great Influenza

Author: John M. Barry

Publisher: Penguin Books 2004

Genre: Nonfiction -- History, Science

Pages: 546

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Nonfiction

At the height of WWI, history’s most lethal influenza virus erupted in an army camp in Kansas, moved east with American troops, then exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. It killed more people in twenty-four months than AIDS killed in twenty-four years, more in a year than the Black Death killed in a century. But this was not the Middle Ages, and 1918 marked the first collision of science and epidemic disease. Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research and now revised to reflect the growing danger of the avian flu, The Great Influenza is ultimately a tale of triumph amid tragedy, which provides us with a precise and sobering model as we confront the epidemics looming on our own horizon.

Such an interesting premise! The 1918 Flu is one of my great interest areas. I was excited to learn more. Unfortunately, I can't praise this volume. Barry is no Erik Larson. I kept getting very distracted by the slow plodding nature of the writing. I wanted more of a storytelling approach a la Larson. Some of the asides dealing with medical history or epidemiology  went on too long and were too detailed. About 250 pages in, I was getting very weary of the book, but I wanted to find out more about the pandemic and end result. I'm glad I finished it, but it's not going on my favorite books list at all. Just couldn't fully endorse this one.

Warrior Women by Jeannine Davis-Kimball

Title: Warrior Women: An Archaeologist's Search for History's Hidden Heroines

Author: Jeannine Davis-Kimball

Publisher: Warner Books 2002

Genre: Nonfiction -- History; Archaeology

Pages: 268

Rating:  3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure (perpetual); Ebook; 52 Books -- W48

Davis-Kimball weaves science, mythology and mystical cultures into a bold new historical tapestry of female warriors, heroines and leaders who have been left out of the history books-- until now.

I thoroughly enjoyed the subject matter and wanted to learn more. I loved that I learned so much about groups of people that I have only heard mentioned in other texts. What i didn't love was the writing style. I just couldn't get behind her dry sentences and asides about her own personal life. I would have liked a more straight forward archaeology/history book.

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Title: Furiously Happy

Author: Jenny Lawson

Publisher: Flatiron Books 2015

Genre: Nonfiction - Memoir

Pages: 329

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure (perpetual); TBR Reduction; 52 Books - W46

In Furiously Happy, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jenny Lawson explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea.

But terrible ideas are what Jenny does best.

I love her, I love her, I love her! Just like her first book, this volume made be reflect, cry, and laugh (mostly laugh) at all the ridiculous episodes of her life. Life lessons abound disguised as silly arguments with her husband and strange encounters with the outside world. I loved diving more into her world even the parts that aren't so nice. I'm so glad I preordered this one. I had to wait almost a month before I had time to read it, but when I did I pounced. Now I feel like I should reread her last book... Maybe in January.