What do some rather eccentric mathematicians, a world full of mushrooms, and humorous free thinkers have in common? They’re all in books that make for some terrific non-fiction reading for the end of good old 2011.
Take a break from all the hustle and bustle with Amir D. Aczel, and enter A STRANGE WILDERNESS, the realm of great mathematicians. Think math theorems are dull stuff? You won’t after you read about the intriguing individuals who formulated them. This is the rare non-fiction book which really does read like a novel, and includes stories of heroism, imprisonment, betrayal, and guys like Rene Descartes, who went from town to town dressed in green taffeta and accompanied by a valet.
Need we say that mankind has used mushrooms in many different ways? Celebrated food writer Eugenia Bone takes us inside the sometimes weird world of MYCHOPHILIA. Can mushrooms cure cancer, be potential alternative energy source, and provide spiritual enlightenment? There are proponents for all these ideas. Bone reveals that the fungi are closer to animals than plants; that the oldest living organism is an Oregon fungus which is 2,400 acres large, and 2,200 years old; and that two species of psychedelic mushrooms grow in Central Park.
Why not get a jump on January’s clean up, paint up, fix up urge with THE RIGHT COLOR, by Eve Ashcraft? Paint is the easiest and cheapest way to spruce up our surroundings, and it can make a world of difference to our mood. This informative volume provides great photos, and a how-to guide to get just the right palette for our surroundings.
Don’t mess around with pretty good when you can read BEST MUSIC WRITING 2011, edited by noted critic and author Alex Ross. This paperback celebrates a variety of tastes, from Beethoven to Lady Gaga, and includes essays, profiles, and news articles about luminaries like Duke Ellington and Michael Jackson. Top authors in the field are featured.
And every real Foodie needs THE BEST FOOD WRITING OF 2011. Edited by Holly Hughes, the author of the popular “Frommer’s 500 Places for Food and Wine Lovers,” this is a compendium of all that’s new and exciting for lovers of delicious cuisine. Essays on the joys of frying, what the rich and the poor buy and why, and some delightful guilty pleasures make this paperback ideal reading for those with good taste.
Life is just not worth living unless we can laugh. The title alone of THE EXTRAORDINARY CATALOG OF PECULIAR INVENTIONS, by Julia Suits, promises a fun read. I gave this to my friend for Christmas, because I knew her two teenage sons would get a kick out of it. Laughing skeletons, smoking camels, revolving goats , and electric carpets- what’s not to love?
Take a walk on the intellectual wild side with FUG YOU, by Ed Sanders. If you want the lowdown on what’s been happening in the counterculture of the Lower East Side, this is for you. Sanders was a wide-eyed college kid from Blue Springs, Missouri who hitchhiked to New York in the 1960’s and became immersed in the era’s protests and upheavals. Fortunately, he’s also got a wicked sense of humor and absolutely no filter for his opinions and observations.
Last but not least, Kevin Cotter’s 101 USES FOR MY EX-WIFE’S WEDDING DRESS is a zany and creative take on one man’s reaction to the angst and bitterness of divorce. When his wife left him, and told him in no uncertain terms that he could do what he liked with her gown, Cotter took the challenge to heart, and became an internet sensation. Interesting to note that Cotter has gotten remarried. If I were his second wife, I’d put my wedding dress in storage…just in case.
Good non-fiction can do wonders to educate, enlighten, and amuse us.
Michall Jeffers is an accomplished Cultural Journalist and an avowed bibliophile. She writes extensively, both in print and online. Her eponymous cable TV show is syndicated throughout the tri-state area, and features celebrity interviews, reviews, and commentary. Michall is a voting member of National Book Critics Circle. www.michalljeffers.com
