Achebe, Chinua Hopes and Impediments
896 ACH 		Achebe's powerful critique of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness as a racist mirror of Eurocentric attitudes leads off this challenging collection of essays on art, literature and social issues. The famed Nigerian novelist ( Things Fall Apart ) views literature as a medium that can help Africa regain a belief in itself to replace a posture of self-abasement instilled by its traumatic historical encounter with the West. Achebe calls active participation in the political process a prerequisite for his country's, and Africa's, regeneration.
MNHS has this book.
Atul Gawande Complications : a surgeon's notes on an imperfect science 617 Gaw The author, nearing the end of eight years of training in general surgery, contemplates the nature of modern medicine, discussing the fallibility of doctors, the mysteries and unknowns of medicine and the struggle to know what to do about them, and the issue of uncertainty.
Barber, Benjamin Jihad vs. McWorld 303.482 Ben How can the world become a global community and at the same time preserve its boundaries - especially in fundamentalist and tribal cultures? This book explores the contradictory dichotomy in capitvating fashion, getting at the root of why some people resent of America and will protest against it until their dying day - as long as they can protest in comfortable Nikes and breathable Levi's because, you know, it's a long picket line and it's hot out there.
Barry, John M. The Great Influenza 614.5 Bar Chronicles the 1918 influenza epidemic, discussing why it was so lethal, how it spread throughout the American Midwest, what steps were taken to stop it, and how the country responded to the crisis
Beauvoir, Simone de The Second Sex 305.4 Bea Explores the psychological, sexual and social roles of woman, and her historical and contemporary situation in Western culture at the middle of the twentieth century.
Berton,Pierre The Dionne Years: A thirties Melodrama 920 Ber Examines the lives of the Dionne quintuplets, five identical girls who were born in 1934 and spent the first nine years of their lives separated from their parents and exploited by the media and the Canadian government
Bissinger H.G. Friday Night Lights 796.332 Bis Chronicles a football season in Odessa, Texas, exploring the role of high school sports in America and how they can bring communities together, and tear them apart.
Bryson, Bill I'm a Stranger Here Myself:Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away 973.92 Bry Bill Bryson recounts some of the strange experiences he had when he returned to the United States after living in Britain for twenty years.
Cadbury, Deborah Space Race:the epic battle between America and the Soviet Union for dominion of space 629.409 Cad Traces the development of rockets and spaceflight from German experiments before World War II to the manned moon landings, and provides biographies on two scientists, Wernher von Braun and Sergei Korolev.
Campbell, Don The Mozart Effect:Tapping the power of music to heal the body, strengthen the mind, and unlock the creative spirit 615.851 Cam Introduces some of the leading therapists, practitioners, and educators in the field of music and sound therapy, as well as individuals whose lives have been changed by music treatments, and discusses the effects of music on a variety of conditions, both physical and medical.
Capote, Truman In Cold Blood:a true account of a multiple murder and its consequences 364.1 Cap Recreates the slaying of the Clutter family of Kansas, and the capture, trial, and execution of their murderers.
Carson, Rachel Silent Spring 363.73 Car Rachel Carson's 1962 environmental classic "Silent Spring," which identified the dangers of indiscriminate pesticide use; and includes an introduction by Al Gore.
Carter, Jimmy Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis 306 Car Presents the author's view on a wide range of social, religious, and politcal topics, describing his own involvement in various debates about preemptive war, women's rights, terrorism, civil liberties, abortion, homosexuality, the environment, and more, in relation to his Christian faith.
Cheng, Nien Life and Death in Shanghai 921 Che The author tells of her solitary confinement and torture as a wealthy Chinese woman during the Cultural Revolution.
Conroy, Pat Losing Season The author reflects on his days at a South Carolina military college. He recalls his love of basketball and its value to him as a means of self-expression, and shares experiences that shed new light on his novel "The Great Santini."
Cooper, Anderson Dispatches From the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival 921 Coo News correspondent Anderson Cooper offers an inside look at some of the political, military, social, and natural crises that have defined modern times, sharing the experiences he had while covering events around the world.
David Sedaris Naked Presents a collection of humorous autobiographical essays by National Public Radio commentator, David Sedaris, in which he discusses his nervous tic, hitchhiking trips, odd jobs, and strange relationships.
Densmore, John Riders on the Storm : my life with Jim Morrison and the Doors The drummer of the rock 'n' roll group "The Doors" describes his life and the search for meaning resulting from his experiences.
Diamond, Jared Collapse: how societies choose to fail or succeed 304.2 Dia Presents a comprehensive historical narrative that describes how and why ancient civilizations such as the Anasazi, Maya, and the Polynesian culture on Easter Island failed and fell into ruin and examines how lessons learned from the past can help in preserving the future.
Diamond, Jared Guns, Germs, and Steel: the fates of human societies 303.4 Dia Traces the development of primitive societies showing why some groups advanced more rapidly than others and how this progression explains why various populations stabilize at specific phases of development while others continue to evolve.
Dillard, Annie An American Childhood An autobiography describing the author's childhood and life in Pittsburgh during the fifties.
Dillard, Annie Pilgrim at Tinker Creek The author philosophizes on the positive and negative sides of nature while observing life near Tinker Creek, in a valley in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.
Dinesan, Isak Out of Africa 921 Din Out of Africa is Isak Dinesen's memoir of her years in Africa, from 1914 to 1931, on a four-thousand-acre coffee plantation in the hills near Nairobi. She had come to Kenya from Denmark with her husband, and when they separated she stayed on to manage the farm by herself, visited frequently by her lover, the big-game hunter Denys Finch-Hatton, for whom she would make up stories "like Scheherazade." In Africa, "I learned how to tell tales," she recalled many years later. "The natives have an ear still. I told stories constantly to them, all kinds." her account of her African adventures, written after she had lost her beloved farm and returned to Denmark, is that of a master storyteller, a woman whom John Updike called "one of the most picturesque and flamboyant literary personalities of the century."
Eggers, Dave A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: Mistakes we knew we were making : notes, corrections, clarifications, apologies, addenda 921 Egg A memoir in which the author discusses the unrelated deaths of his parents within a period of months, his newly acquired responsibility for his eight-year-old brother, and his creation of a satirical magazine. Also includes an appendix of corrections and clarifications by the author.
Eggers, Dave Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans : the best of McSweeney's humor category Presents nearly fifty selections of humor writing from "McSweeny's" journal.
Eire, Carlos Waiting for Snow in Havana 921 Eir The author describes his privileged life in Havana before he was sent at the age of eleven to the U.S. in 1962, in the wake of the Cuban Revolution.
Feinstein, John Next Man Up: A Year Behind the Lines in Today's NFL 796.332 Fei The author chronicles the games, players, conflicts, agents, management strategies, summer training camps, and more of the Baltimore Ravens football club during the year he was permitted to follow them around.
Feinstein, John A March to Madness: The View From the Floor in the Atlantic Coast Conference 796.323 Mar Discusses the coaching and coaches of all nine Atantic Coast Conference basketball teams, following them through the 1996-97 season, and looks at how they handle the pressures of the job in their personal and professional lives.
Freese, Barbara Coal : a human history Traces the history of coal, discussing how it has been used in different cultures, how it is mined, what negative effects it has had on people, economics, and the environment, and the role it has played in world history and development.
Frankel, Victor Man's Search for Meaning
921 FRA 		A short, quick read that provides both a first-hand account of Nazi terrorism at WWII concentration camps and an enlightening glimpse into the psychology of its captives. Viktor Frankl's ideas were met with rave reviews from the world of psychology and, on a lesser scale, me. His book has done more than entertain me or teach the history buff in me. It has provided me, honestly, with direction and optimism - affected me on a personal level in a way no other book is yet to do. Good for an insightful pick-me-up or even first-hand research for history or psychology classes. Among my top five books ever read. - Mr. Diehl
Friedman, Thomas The World is Flat   This book discusses the convergence of technologies that have allowed countries from throughout the world to participate in the global economy. The middle class is growing at an astonishing rate in India, China and many other countries because they they can effectively participate in the global supply chain for services and manufacturing.
This book discusses the 'flattening' which has many implications for the future - both political and economic. Friedman is Pulitzer Prize winning author. The book is well researched and well-written.
Fuller, Alexandra Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight 921 Ful From 1972 to 1990, Alexandra Fuller - known to friends and family as Bobo - grew up on several farms in southern and central Africa. Her father joined up on the side of the white government in the Rhodesian civil war, and was often away fighting against the powerful black guerrilla factions. Her mother, in turn, flung herself into their African life and its rugged farm work with the same passion and maniacal energy she brought to everything else. Though she loved her children, she was no hand-holder and had little tolerance for neediness. She nurtured her daughters in other ways: She taught them, by example, to be resilient and self-sufficient, to have strong wills and strong opinions, and to embrace life wholeheartedly, despite and because of difficult circumstances. And she instilled in Bobo, particularly, a love of reading and of storytelling that proved to be her salvation.
  Scribbling the Cat 968.9 FUL Fuller takes a demon-haunted tour of Zimbabwe and Mozambique in the company of an ex-soldier who fought with the Rhodesian Light Infantry. Visiting her parents in Zambia, Fuller meets K, a white African banana farmer and a veteran of the Rhodesian War. She finds him both "terrifying and unattractive"-he radiates a sense of violence and unpredictability-but also fascinating for the ghosts he harbors. Zimbabwe is deeply unromantic, a place of labor, strain, and toil in which the marginalized must be endlessly resourceful simply to survive; life expectancy is 35 years, and randomly dispersed landmines, a handful for each citizen, remain a threat.
Fuller, R. Buckminster Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth 601 Ful Traces man's intellectual evolution and weighs his capability for survival in the future.
Gates, Bill Business @ the Speed of Thought 658.4 Gat
Hansen, Victor Davis Mexifornia : a state of becoming Examines the lives of illegal Mexican immigrants and argues that California's immigration policies hurt the immigrants, California, and the U.S., discussing the problematic combination of employers seeking cheap labor and politicians, academics, and others devaluing civic education and making excuses for illegal immigration.
Hawking, Stephen A Brief History of Time 523.1 Haw Provides an introduction to today's scientific ideas about the cosmos and reviews past theories. Also covers black holes, quarks, antimatter, and other mysteries of physics.
Hickum, Homer Rocket Boys 921 Hic Homer Hickam, a NASA engineer, recounts his childhood in Coalwood, a West Virginia mining town, and discusses his dreams of launching rockets into outer space, and how he made those dreams come true.
Hobbs, Anne Tisha : the story of a young teacher in the Alaska wilderness 371.1 Hob The author recounts a year of teaching on the Alaska frontier, where the white adults resent her teaching the Indians as well as her relationship with a half-Indian man.
Johnson, Joyce Minor Characters : a young woman's coming-of-age in the beat orbit of Jack Kerouac Presents the memoirs of novelist Joyce Johnson during the beat generation of the 1950s and chronicles her stormy relationship with Jack Kerouac
Kelly, John The Great Mortality an intimate history of the Black Death, the most devastating plague of all time 614.5 Kel Traces the history of the Black Death that spread across Europe in the fourteenth century, describing the devastating impact the plague had on European history and culture.
Kidder, Tracy Mountains Beyond Mountains Chronicles the life of Paul Farmer, focusing on his efforts to diagnose and cure infectious diseases and to bring modern medicine to the countries and people who need them most.
Krakauer, Jon Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster 796.522 Kra The author relates his experience of climbing Mount Everest during its deadliest season and examines what it is about the mountain that makes people willingly subject themselves to such risk, hardship, and expense.
Krakauer, Jon Under the Banner of Heaven : a story of violent faith Presents an account of the 1984 murder of Brenda Lafferty and her fifteen-month-old daughter Erica by Mormon Fundamentalists Ron and Dan Lafferty, brothers to the victims' husband and father who claim they were acting on an order directly from God, and provides insights into Mormon Fundamentalists and other extremist belief systems.
Kruger, Kobie The Wilderness Family: at home with Africa's wildlife 591.9 KRU n 1980, Kobie Krüger's husband became a game warden in South Africa's Kruger National Park, a 12,000-square-mile expanse teeming with lions, elephants, giraffes, and the like. Along with their three daughters, the couple would spend the next 17 years living in the park, amid the dangers and beauties of its wildlife. These adventures really run the spectrum. The expected run-ins with malaria, poachers, and marauding elephants are interspersed with more unusual situations: a python that conceals itself in a chest of drawers and hyenas that raid the compound for leather shoes and saddles to eat. Yet despite these encounters with curious, mischievous, or just plain venomous fauna, as well as the searing summer heat and the loneliness that comes when her children leave for college, Krüger comes to cherish what this special place gives her.
Kurlansky, Mark Salt A World History:at home in Italy 338.2 Kur Chronicles the history of salt, discussing how it has shaped civilizations from the earliest beginnings of world history and how it has been used in different cultures.
Lambrecht, Bill Dinner at the New Gene Café how genetic engineering is changing what we eat, how we live, and the global politics of food 363.19 Lam Examines how recent developments in genetic engineering are affecting every aspect of human life, including politics, health, culture, and happiness.
Lapierre, Dominique City of Joy: the illustrated story of the film
Lapierre, Dominique Five Past Midnight in Bhopal 363.17 Lap Chronicles the events surrounding a deadly toxic gas leak out of a pesticide tank in a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India on December 3, 1984.
Larson, Erik Devil in the White City:Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America Tells the parallel stories of Daniel Burnham, the main architect of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and serial killer Henry H. Holmes, discussing the challenges Burnham faced in creating the hugely successful White City, and looking at how Holmes used the opportunities afforded by the fair to lure victims to their deaths.
Lee, Helie Still Life with Rice: a young American woman discovers the life and legacy of her Korean grandmother In presenting the memoir of her grandmother's life, Helie Lee illuminates the intricate experiences of Asian-American women.
Lewis, Michael Moneyball : the art of winning an unfair game Examines the mathematical strategies by which manager Billy Beane handled the financially strapped Oakland Athletics' 2002 draft and led the baseball team to success despite its lack of high profile players.
Markham Beryl West With the Night 921 Mar Memoirs of Beryl Markham, who grew up in East Africa, became a bush pilot in Africa, and in 1936 made the first solo flight east to west across the Atlantic.
Mayes, Frances Under the Tuscan Sun 945 May A chronicle of the author's first four years in Italy, describing her purchase and restoration of an abandoned villa in the Tuscan countryside, her transformation of the overgrown gardens, and her discovery of the many links between the food and culture of the region.
McCullough, David Truman 921 Tru Full scale biography of Harry S. Truman, his life and times, drawn from newly discovered archival material and interviews with Truman family, friends, and political figures.
McCullough, David
1776
 973.3 Mcc Based upon both American and British historical documents, the author presents a comprehensive history of the American Revolution during 1776, George Washington, and those who followed him.
Mezrich, Ben Bringing Down the House : the inside story of six MIT students who took Vegas for millions Describes how a group of overachieving, anarchist MIT students joined a decades-old underground blackjack club dedicated to counting cards and beating the system at major casinos around the world, managed to legally take several Las Vegas casinos for more than three million dollars.
Mowat, Farley The World of Farley Mowat 971.06 Mow Selections from thirteen of his works about various experiences in Northern Canada and Siberia.
Naimark, Norman M. Fires of Hatred:Ethnic Cleansing in Twentieth-Century Europe A history of ethnic cleansing that examines myths about its causes, and the connections between several examples--including not only the Nazi attack on the Jews, but also the Armenian genocide of 1915 and many violent expulsions of populations throughout Europe, up to the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo.
Nerz, Ryan Eat This Book:A Year of Gorging and Glory On the Competitive Eating Circuit 641.01 Ner Traces the history of the IFOCE--International Federation of Competitive Eating--and examines the top individual competitions and competitors.
Pipher, Mary The Middle of Everywhere 305.9 Pip Presents personal essays and chronicles in which the author, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, relates conversations and stories that Asian Americans tell one another about the challenges they have met, the people they have encountered, and lessons they have learned in their attempts to evolve into an American people.
Pirsig, Robert Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: an inquiry into values 131 Pir A father and his eleven-year-old son take a motorcycle trip across the country, and together, the two learn about life, love, and identity.
Pollan, Michael The Botany of Desire:A Plant's-Eye View of the World Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 247-256) and index. Traces the history of four domesticated species, the apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato, from the plant's point of view and discusses how they have been cultivated to fill human needs and desires.
Preston, Richard Hot Zone 614.5 Pre Tells the dramatic story of U.S. Army scientists and soldiers who worked to stop the outbreak of a deadly and extremely contagious virus in 1989.
Ralston, Aron Between a Rock and a Hard Place 796.522 Ral The author recounts his harrowing experiences of being trapped for six days in Blue John Canyon in Utah and having to amputate his own right arm in order to save his life.
Regush, Nicholas The Virus Within: A Coming Epidemic 614.5 Reg Describes the symptoms, causes, and treatment for HHV-6, a virus that can attack the body's vital organs, destroy nerve connections, and lead to irreversible illness and death.
Richard Rodriguez Brown :The Last Discovery of America Explores the experiences of Hispanics in the United States, arguing that Hispanics are becoming Americanized at the same rate America is becoming Latinized, discussing the influence Hispanics have had on American culture, history, and society.
Roach, Mary Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers 611 Roa Explores how human cadavers have been used throughout history, discussing how the use of dead bodies has benefited every aspect of human existence.
Sacks, Oliver An Anthropologist on Mars : seven paradoxical tales 616.8 Sac Presents the histories of neurological patients whose departure from normalcy brings a new perspective to their individual worlds.
Schlosser, Eric Fast Food Nation : the dark side of the all-American meal 394.1 Sch Traces the history of the fast food industry and discusses how it arose in postwar America.
Schlosser, Eric Reefer Madness : sex, drugs, and cheap labor in the American black market Contains essays that examine aspects of America's underground economy, discussing the marijuana business, the links between Fortune 500 companies and pornography, and California's use of migrant workers.
Sheehan, Neil A Bright Shining Lie 959.704 She The story of Lt. Col. John Paul Vann, who went to Vietnam in 1962 and served as a civilian worker in the pacification program until his death in 1972.
Swofford, Anthony Jarhead : a Marine's chronicle of the Gulf War and other battles The author, a U.S. Marine, recounts his disturbing experiences in the 1991 Gulf War and reflects upon the emotional damage he suffered and the nature of both the American military and war itself.
Terkel, Studs Hard Times:An Oral History of the Great Depression 973.917 Ter A variety of people who lived through the Great Depression describe their memories of that time.
Tucker, Neely Love in the Driest Season: A Family Memoir 362.73 Tuc
Urlin, Ethel A Short History of Marriage:marriage rites, customs, and folklore in many countries and all ages Examines some of the more curious and interesting marriage customs observed around the world and includes primitive Indian and Zulu courtships, Gypsy weddings, European and Eastern rituals, Old English customs, marriage superstitions, and the wedding ring.
Weiner, Jonathan His Brother's Keeper: A Story From the Edge of Medicine 616.8 Sac Chronicles how, after his brother was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, Jamie Heywood became a genetic engineer in the hopes of finding a cure for the disease, discussing how his research has uncovered the possibilities of stem cells, gene therapy, brain vaccines, and other new treatments.
Weinhenmayer, Erik Touch the Top of the World : a blind man's journey to climb farther than the eye can see 921 Wei Erik Weihenmayer, born with a degenerative eye disorder called retinoscheses, tells his life story--from his unique childhood to his climbs of four of the world's Seven Summits.
White, Emily Fast Girls : teenage tribes and the myth of the slut Explores why the high school slut has become a universal figure and stereotype, explaining the role girls with a bad reputation play in high school dynamics, and identifying common threads in their lives and experiences.
Wolfe, Tom The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test 306 Wol A portrait of the novelist Ken Kesey and the West Coast "Merry Pranksters" during a several year pursuit of the LSD experience and development of psychedelia.
Woodward, Bernstein All the President's Men 364.1 Ber Investigation and report of the burglary at Watergate that climaxed with a President's resignation.
Woodward, C. Vann The Strange Career of Jim Crow 301.45 Woo Presents a discussion of the development of the Southern social movement called "Jim Crowism" and segregation in post-Reconstruction United States.
Woolf, Virginia A Room of One's Own 305.4 Woo Explores the reasons why women do not have the same influence, power, and wealth as men do. Meditates on the writer-temperament and explores the need for a woman to have a room of her own and five hundred pounds a year being symbols of the power to think for oneself and contemplate.
Wright, Richard Black Boy : (American hunger) : a record of childhood and youth 921 Wri An autobiography describing the author's struggles against the dehumanizing southern social environment of the Jim Crow South.
Zia, Helen Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People
305.895
 Presents personal essays and chronicles in which the author, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, relates conversations and stories that Asian Americans tell one another about the challenges they have met, the people they have encountered, and lessons they have learned in their attempts to evolve into an American people.

| Home |
| Academics |
| Library |

Not Responsible for Links Beyond this Page
Last Updated: 3 October, 2007