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| Paul Simon: The Life by Robert HilburnWhat it is: an energetic and thoroughly researched portrait of the singer-songwriter's life and prolific seven-decade career.
Why it's significant: Music journalist Robert Hilburn was granted rare access to Simon, becoming the first biographer to interview him -- which he did for more than 100 hours over the course of a year.
Don't miss: gossipy tidbits about Simon's partnership and eventual rift with Art Garfunkel, from which the two never fully recovered. |
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World Cup Fever: A Fanatic’s Guide to the Stars, Teams, Stories, Controversy, and Excitement of Sports’ Greatest Event
by Rea Stephen
With a look at the stars who will light up Russia in 2018—Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Paul Pogba (France), Neymar (Brazil), Thomas Müller (Germany)—this is the perfect read for anyone who believes that the World Cup is bigger than the Super Bowl, World Series, and Olympics combined. Often humorous and punctuated with personal anecdotes, passion, and knowledge, here is the beautiful game brought to life for every fan!
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| Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story by Chris NashawatyWhat it's about: the chaotic, drug-fueled production of the 1980 sports comedy Caddyshack and its enduring status as a cult classic.
Is it for you? Fans of the film will appreciate this humorous and unexpectedly moving behind-the-scenes account.
Try this next: Violet Ramis Stiel's heartfelt memoir Ghostbuster's Daughter chronicles her relationship with her father, Caddyshack director (and comedy legend) Harold Ramis, including anecdotes about his career. |
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| Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist by Franchesca RamseyWhat it is: a sharp and timely essay collection chronicling the author's complicated journey toward activism after her YouTube video "Sh*t White Girls Say...to Black Girls" went viral in 2012, sparking conversations about race and gender -- and attracting the ire of vicious internet trolls.
Chapters include: "Eulogies for Cringeworthy Comments;" "Activism Is Like Long Division -- You Have to Show Your Work;" and "Franchesca's Simple Explanations of Not-So-Simple Concepts." |
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| So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know by RettaWhat it's about: In this engaging essay collection, comedian and Parks and Recreation actress Retta humorously ruminates on everything from her Liberian immigrant parents and abandoned med school aspirations to her addictive personality and eclectic hobbies.
Want a taste? "I know that meeting a black woman with a love for hockey is a bit like stumbling upon a unicorn in the woods."
Media buzz: Retta's NBC television series Good Girls premiered earlier this year and was recently renewed for a second season. |
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| The Soul of Basketball: The Epic Showdown Between LeBron, Kobe, Doc, and Dirk... by Ian ThomsenWhat it's about: The 2010-2011 NBA season marked a turning point for the sport, beginning with LeBron James's controversial decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat and bolstered by the league's rising popularity and financial success.
About the author: Ian Thomsen is a writer at Sports Illustrated and an NBA.com contributor.
Reviewers say: "A fine work of sports journalism and a must for every bookish roundball fan" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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House of Nutter: The Rebel Tailor of Savile Row
by Lance Richardson
The strange, illuminative true story of Tommy Nutter, the Savile Row tailor who changed the silhouette of men’s fashion—and his rock photographer brother, David, who captured it all on film. A propulsive, deftly plotted narrative filled with surprising details and near-operatic twists, House of Nutter takes readers on a wild ride into the minds and times of two brilliant dreamers.
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Masters of Modern Soccer: How the World's Best Play the Twenty-First-Century Game
by Grant Wahl
In Masters of Modern Soccer, Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl asks: How do some of the game's smartest figures master the craft of soccer? By profiling players in every key position (American phenomenon Christian Pulisic, Mexican superstar Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, Belgium's Vincent Kompany, Spain's Xabi Alonso, Germany's Manuel Neuer) and management (Belgium coach Roberto Martínez and Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc), Wahl reveals how elite players and coaches strategize on and off the field and execute in high pressure game situations.
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I, Tina: My Life Story
by Tina Turner
The popular recording star recounts her modest beginnings, her rise to fame with Ike Turner, the heartaches of disappointment that led her to strike out on her own, and her sweep of the Grammy Awards in 1985.
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100 Greatest Cult Films
by Christopher J Olson
This volume features the most provocative, intriguing, entertaining, and controversial films produced over the last century, providing readers fodder for debate and a jumping-off point for future watching. This resource includes valuable information on the films, creators, and institutions that have shaped cult cinema.
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Strange Stars: David Bowie, Pop Music, and the Decade Sci-Fi Exploded
by Jason Heller
A Hugo Award-winning author and music journalist explores the weird and wild story of when rock ’n’ roll met the sci-fi world of the 1970s. If today’s culture of Comic Con fanatics, superhero blockbusters, and classic sci-fi reboots has us thinking that the nerds have won at last, Strange Stars brings to life an era of unparalleled and unearthly creativity—in magazines, novels, films, records, and concerts—to point out that the nerds have been winning all along.
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100 Greatest American and British Animated Films
by Thomas S. Hischak
A discussion of the 100 most significant animated features produced in the U.S. and the U.K. Each entry includes a synopsis, production history, a summary of the critical response, commentary on the writing, animation, background art, music and/or songs, the voice actors in addition to influence, and so much more.
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Bruce Lee: A Life
by Matthew Polly
The most authoritative biography—featuring dozens of rarely seen photographs—of film legend Bruce Lee, who made martial arts a global phenomenon, bridged the divide between Eastern and Western cultures, and smashed long-held stereotypes of Asians and Asian-Americans.
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A History of Video Games in 64 Objects
by World Video Game Hall of Fame
Inspired by the groundbreaking A History of the World in 100 Objects, this book draws on the unique collections of The Strong museum in Rochester, New York, to chronicle the evolution of video games, from Pong to first-person shooters, told through the stories of dozens of objects essential to the field’s creation and development.
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Don't Stop Believin': The Man, the Band, and the Song That Inspired Generations
by Jonathan Cain
From one of the greatest bands in history comes a reminder to never give up hope. In this long-awaited memoir, complete with color photographs, songwriter and keyboardist Jonathan Cain takes us on an odyssey from center stage with Journey when all America was listening to songs like "Don't Stop Believin'," "Faithfully," and "Open Arms," to his hope and faith today. Through a wonderful retrospective of music that takes us right to the present, Jonathan Cain reminds us of the melodies and lyrics that serve as milestones for our biggest dreams as they call us to never stop believing.
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Carrie Fisher & Debbie Reynolds: Princess Leia & Unsinkable Tammy in Hell
by Darwin Porter
This hot, two-in-one biography examines the complicated co-dependencies of the greatest but most dysfunctional mother-daughter act in showbiz, Debbie Reynolds (“hard as nails and with more balls than any five guys I've ever known”) and her talented, often traumatized daughter, Carrie Fisher ("one of the smartest, hippest chicks in Hollywood"). After years of feuds and separations, they reunited at the end of their lives. Today, their legions of fans, many of whom remember Debbie as the perkiest performer in shoe leather, like to think they're each doing fine, together in some galaxy far, far away.
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Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock
by Steven Hyden
The author of the critically acclaimed Your Favorite Band is Killing Me offers an eye-opening exploration of the state of classic rock, its past and future, the impact it has had, and what its loss would mean to an industry, a culture, and a way of life.
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27 Club: Musicians Who Died at 27
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| On the Road with Janis Joplin by John Byrne CookeWhat it is: a poignant memoir tracing the final three years of Janis Joplin's life, written with insight and empathy by her former road manager.
Why you might like it: John Byrne Cooke's unique perspective of Joplin provides a fully rounded portrait of her artistry and personality, portraying her not as a music legend but as a vulnerable human being.
Did you know? In the final years of her life, Joplin recorded nearly 200 songs. |
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| Here We Are Now: The Lasting Impact of Kurt Cobain by Charles R. CrossWhat it is: a concise and fast-paced analysis of the Nirvana frontman's influence on American culture -- from rock and hip-hop music to high-end fashion and addiction studies -- written to coincide with the 20th anniversary of his death in 2014.
Further reading: Music journalist Charles R. Cross utilizes Cobain's own diary entries in the revealing biography Heavier Than Heaven. |
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| Starting at Zero: His Own Story by Jimi HendrixWhat it is: a heartwrenching posthumous memoir by musician Jimi Hendrix, constructed from letters, lyrics, interviews, and diaries.
Topics include: Hendrix's rebellious Seattle childhood and brief stint in the military, his self-taught music skills and early career clashes with Little Richard, for whom he served as a band sideman.
Reviewers say: "An essential primary source for any devoted Hendrix fan, but will also appeal to those with a more casual interest" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| Brian Jones: The Making of the Rolling Stones by Paul TrynkaWhat it's about: Brian Jones founded the Rolling Stones in 1962; by the time of his mysterious death in 1969, he had been kicked out of the band just as it was reaching a pivotal artistic peak.
Why you might like it: Paul Trynka's lively, atmospheric writing transports readers to London's Swinging Sixties.
What sets it apart: Trynka foregrounds the enigmatic musician as a heretofore unsung -- and essential -- contributor to the Rolling Stones' success, revealing the full extent of the band's history. |
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| Loving Amy: A Mother's Story by Janis WinehouseWhat it is: a moving and candid portrait of the troubled Grammy Award-winning singer, chronicling her rapid ascent to stardom and the addictions that followed.
Want a taste? "She left no answers, only questions, and in the years since her death I've found myself trying to make sense of the frayed ends of her extraordinary existence."
What's inside: illuminating never-before-seen photographs of a young Amy and her childhood mementos. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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