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Popular Culture November 2016
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Exile on Front Street : my life as a Hells Angel ... and beyond
by George Christie
A former president of the Ventura Chapter of the Hells Angels describes his 40 years in club, his relationship with Sonny Barger, and how two weeks after he retired, he was blackballed by his fellow Angels and forbidden to wear the club patch.
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| The Perfect Pass: American Genius and the Reinvention of Football by S.C. GwynneAs brutal as football can be today, it was much worse in the past -- and one of the reasons was that forward passing was not permitted. When it was eventually legalized thanks to the efforts of those looking to make the game safer, it was still rarely used, as passing continued to be seen as a sissy move. In the 1980s, football coaches Hal Mumme and Mike Leach started developing a pass-centric strategy that came to be known as the Air Raid -- and transformed the sport into a faster, more dynamic game. "A superb treat for all gridiron fans," says Kirkus Reviews. |
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You can't touch my hair : and other things I still have to explain
by Phoebe Robinson
The stand-up comedian and WNYC podcaster offers humorous, poignant essays describing her experience as a black woman in modern America on topics such as how she¡s been questioned on her love of Billy Joel and U2 and why you can¡t touch her hair. Original.
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| Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and... by Ben WesthoffThis wide-ranging history of West Coast rap offers in-depth biographies of its leading artists -- including Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and others -- as well as accounts of the rivalries between them. It also offers insightful examinations of the glamorizing of thug life and the popularity of hip hop, the consequences of fame, and the still-unsolved murders of Tupac and Biggie Smalls. Ultimately, this is a "comprehensive guide to an inner-city movement that conquered the world" (Publishers Weekly). |
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Focus on: The Great Outdoors
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| The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of... by Kevin FedarkoIn 1983, waters were running especially high through the Grand Canyon, giving adventurous oarsman Kenton Grua the idea to attempt a record-setting trip down the Colorado River in a small wooden dory. His hair-raising journey -- accompanied by a small crew -- is recounted in heart-pumping detail here, along with a history of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. For other books that combine history with outdoor adventure, try Daniel Arnold's Salt to Summit or Jon Krakauer's bestselling books Into the Wild or Into Thin Air. |
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| You're Not Lost if You Can Still See the Truck: The Further Adventures of... by Bill HeaveyNeed a laugh? This witty essay collection should do, especially if you love fishing and hunting. But this book is more than just entertaining: The Wall Street Journal calls author Bill Heavey, who writes for Field & Stream, "one of the best magazine writers in America." Vividly detailing events from his life and his incredible outdoor adventures hither and yon, Heavey addresses weightier matters (the death of his daughter) amid the fun (things do occasionally go his way), but all are told with the warmth of an old friend, which fans of Bill Bryson should appreciate. |
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Into the wild by Jon KrakauerA portrait of Chris McCandless chronicles his decision to withdraw from society and adopt the persona of Alexander Supertramp, offering insight into his beliefs about the wilderness and his tragic death in the Alaskan wilderness.
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| Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian... by Ben MontgomeryIn 1955, at the age of 67 and without telling anyone of her plans, Emma Gatewood became the first woman to hike the 2,168 miles of the Appalachian Trail solo. Not content to rest on her (mountain) laurels, this mother of 11 and grandmother of 23 did it two more times (becoming the first person, man or woman, to repeat and three-peat). Conducting interviews with those who knew Gatewood and drawing on her diaries and correspondence, journalist Ben Montgomery gives readers a "quiet delight of a book" (Kirkus Reviews) and shines a welcome light on the amazing Grandma Gatewood, exploring her motivations and her efforts to bring public attention to the joys of nature and the then-poorly maintained Appalachian Trail. |
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| Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl StrayedConfused and uncertain about the path her life was taking, 26-year-old writer Cheryl Strayed -- an inexperienced hiker -- set out on the 2,663-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), walking solo from California, through Oregon, and on into Washington State. Though limited to one too-heavy backpack, she had plenty of emotional baggage with her too, and while her "unsentimental memoir" (Kirkus Reviews) is centered around her time on the trail and her dealings with snakes, bears, and blisters, readers should be aware that much of Wild discusses the troubles that sent her (back)packing, including the death of her mother, her heroin use, and her failed marriage. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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