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Popular Culture November 2021
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| The Master: The Long Run and Beautiful Game of Roger Federer by Christopher ClareyWhat it is: a well-researched and richly detailed biography of tennis star and 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.
Topics include: Federer's playing style, memorable matches, and rivalries; his personal life and philanthropic pursuits.
About the author: New York Times tennis correspondent Christopher Clarey has followed Federer's career for decades and has interviewed him more than any other sports journalist. |
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| Black Nerd Problems: Essays by William Henry Evans & Omar HolmonWhat it is: a witty and thought-provoking blend of pop culture criticism and social commentary written by Black Nerd Problems website creators William Henry Evans and Omar Holmon.
What's inside: irreverent essays exploring Black representation in comics, Hamilton ticket prices, Mario Kart as personality test, the merits (or lack thereof) of The Lion King's Simba, and more.
Don't miss: "The Sobering Reality of Actual Black Nerd Problems," which discusses the dangers of cosplaying while Black. |
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| Forever Young by Hayley MillsWhat it's about: child star and Disney darling Hayley Mills' roller-coaster life in the spotlight.
Read it for: Mills' frank assessment of the perks and pitfalls of the Disney star system -- after rising to fame with roles in Pollyanna and The Parent Trap, she was forced to maintain a wholesome image, losing out on roles in Lolita and other adult-oriented films.
Did you know? For her role in Pollyanna, Mills became one of only 12 actors in history to receive the Academy Juvenile Award. |
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Midnight in Washington : how we almost lost our democracy and still could
by Adam B. Schiff
What it is: the congressman who led the first impeachment of Donald J. Trump, and who became the president’s chief antagonist, presents this inside account of American democracy at its darkest hour and how its future is more uncertain than ever.
About the author: before he served in Congress, Adam Schiff worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles and as a California State Senator.
Reviewers say: “If there is still an American democracy fifty years from now, historians will be very grateful for this highly personal and deeply informed guide to one of its greatest crises.” — Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny
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| Mellencamp by Paul ReesWhat it is: a richly detailed biography of pioneering heartland rock singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, written by veteran music journalist Paul Rees.
Featuring: exclusive interviews with Mellencamp's loved ones and colleagues; never-before-told stories of his life and career; a deep dive into his discography.
For fans of: Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. |
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| Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes: Essays by Phoebe RobinsonWhat it is: New York Times bestselling author and comedian Phoebe Robinson's third wide-ranging and laugh-out-loud collection of essays.
Topics include: quarantining while in a relationship; the limitations of self-care; natural hair love; performative activism; building a "mini empire."
Who it's for: Fans and newcomers alike will enjoy Robinson's entertaining latest, which feels like having an intimate chat with a friend. |
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| Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley TucciWhat it is: a charming and witty memoir detailing actor Stanley Tucci's culinary pursuits and the stories behind them, filled with simple recipes made from inexpensive ingredients.
For fans of: the foodie memoirs of journalist Bill Buford and chefs Gabrielle Hamilton and Ruth Reichl.
Recipes include: Italian staples including ragú, pasta fagioli, and Negronis. |
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The president and the freedom fighter : Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and their battle to save America's soul
by Brian Kilmeade
What to expect: the little-known story of how two American heroes moved from strong disagreement to friendship, and in the process changed the entire course of history.
About the author: Brian Kilmeade is the coauthor of George Washington's Secret Six, Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates, and Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans, all New York Times bestsellers.
See also: "To Rescue the Republic: Ulysses S. Grant, the Fragile Union, and the Crisis of 1876" by Bret Baier.
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The storyteller : tales of life and music
by David Grohl
What it is: the legendary American musician, singer, songwriter and documentary filmmaker offers a collection of stories, written by his own hand, that focus on the memories of his life, from his childhood to today.
Reviewers say: Grohl candidly shares his reverence for the enduring power of music. . . Paired with his sparkling wit, this humility is what makes Grohl’s soulful story a cut above typical rock memoirs. There isn’t a dull moment here. — Publishers Weekly
From the author: "So, I've written a book."
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Oak Flat : a fight for sacred land in the American west
by Lauren Redniss
What it's about: three generations of an Apache family of activists race against time in a legal and cultural battle to protect sacred land from corrupt government officials and a multinational mining corporation.
Praise: “An artist and writer, Ms. Redniss has a flair for weaving deep reporting and visual storytelling into immersive and engrossing nonfiction. —The Wall Street Journal
About the author: Lauren Redniss is the author of several works of visual non-fiction and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant.” Her book Thunder & Lightning: Weather Past, Present, Future won the 2016 PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout was a finalist for the 2011 National Book Award.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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