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Popular Culture November 2019
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| Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a Television Era by Saul AusterlitzThe one with: an engaging look at beloved sitcom Friends, featuring behind-the-scenes dish and interviews with the show's creators.
So no one told you... the show's original title was Insomnia Cafe; comedian Janeane Garofalo was almost cast as Monica.
Try this next: For another nostalgic book commemorating Friends' 25th anniversary, check out Kelsey Miller's I'll Be There For You. |
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| Queen Meryl: The Iconic Roles, Heroic Deeds, and Legendary Life of Meryl Streep by Erin CarlsonWhat it is: a fast-paced and gossipy chronicle of Meryl Streep's ascendancy to movie stardom: with 21 nods (and three wins), she's the most nominated actor in Academy Awards history.
Is it for you? Readers looking for more insights into Streep's off-camera life won't find many here, though Michael Schulman's Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep offers plenty of dish on the actor beyond her screen persona. |
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| Country Music: An Illustrated History by Dayton Duncan and Ken BurnsWhat it's about: the evolution of American country music in the 20th century and the influential musicians who have shaped the genre.
What's inside: richly detailed illustrations, including album jackets, memorabilia, and rare concert photos.
Book buzz: Country Music is the companion to the eight-part PBS series of the same name. |
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| The Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World... by Nathalia HoltWho it's about: Walt Disney Studios' pioneering women animators, who for decades were instrumental to the studio's many successes but received little recognition for their efforts.
Why you might like it: This resonant story of workplace sexism and harassment celebrates the creatives responsible for the stories loved by generations of Disney fans.
For fans of: Mallory O'Meara's The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick. |
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| NFL Century: The One-Hundred-Year Rise of America's Greatest Sports League by Joe HorriganWhat it is: a richly detailed big-picture survey of the National Football League's first 100 years, laden with pub trivia-ready factoids.
Topics include: the league's origins in Canton, Ohio; its ever-evolving management and ownership; player eligibility requirements.
Author alert: Former Pro Football Hall of Fame executive director Joe Horrigan brings his insider knowledge of the game to this lively and illuminating history. |
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| The Contender: The Story of Marlon Brando by William J. MannWhat it is: a meticulously researched biography of actor Marlon Brando.
What sets it apart: Aided by materials from Brando's personal archives, William J. Mann embraces the actor's complexity, celebrating his artistry and activism while also examining his traumatic childhood, complicated family relationships, and mistreatment of women.
Read it for: fresh insights on Brando's career highlights, including the story behind On the Waterfront's famous "contender" speech. |
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| Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America by James PoniewozikWhat it's about: how television's dominance as an increasingly political medium spurred the rise of Donald Trump: "Without TV, there's no Trump."
What's inside: chapters structured like episodes in a TV season, culminating in a sobering "Finale."
Don't miss: thought-provoking insights on how reality TV (including The Apprentice) has influenced Trump and his supporters' worldviews. |
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| High School by Tegan & SaraWhat it is: a moody coming-of-age memoir from Canadian indie pop duo (and identical twins) Tegan and Sara.
Who it's for: Fans of the Grammy-nominated sisters will enjoy this engaging chronicle of the pair's discovery of music and themselves -- now openly gay, both struggled with their sexuality in their teens. |
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| Shula: The Coach of the NFL's Greatest Generation by Mark RibowskyStarring: Don Shula, the NFL's winningest coach who led the 1972-1973 Miami Dolphins to the only undefeated season in the league's history.
Read it for: a richly detailed rags-to-riches tale of an ambitious first-generation American determined to make a name for himself.
Don't miss: Shula's rivalry with Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi in the 1960s. |
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| Year of the Monkey by Patti SmithWhat it's about: National Book Award-winning author and musician Patti Smith reflects on a surreal and tumultuous 2016.
What happened: Smith mourned the death and declining health of longtime friends Sandy Pearlman and Sam Shepard, grappled with aging on the eve of her 70th birthday, and reckoned with the "terrible soap opera called the American election."
Reviewers say: "Smith casts a mesmerizing spell with exquisite prose" (Publishers Weekly). |
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