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Popular Culture November 2020
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| Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix by Philip NormanWhat it is: a descriptive and engaging biography of legendary rock musician Jimi Hendrix.
Read it for: fresh insights from Hendrix's family and associates, including his brother Leon Hendrix and British model Linda Keith, who helped discover him.
Book buzz: Published to mark the 50th anniversary of Hendrix's death, this evocative latest from acclaimed rock biographer Philip Norman is an "entertaining, psychedelically tinged portrait" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| The Writer's Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives by Nancy Pearl & Jeff SchwagerWhat it is: a lively collection of interviews with 22 authors on the books that have touched their lives and influenced their careers.
What's inside: candid reflections from Michael Chabon, Donna Tartt, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Louise Erdrich, T.C. Boyle, Susan Choi, and more.
Want a taste? "One of the best parts of talking about books with people...is discovering that you share a love of the same books." |
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| Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty by Jeff PearlmanWhat it's about: After coaching the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s, Phil Jackson set his sights on transforming the Los Angeles Lakers, leading the team to three consecutive championships from 2000-2002.
Why you might like it: This dramatic chronicle offers a richly detailed portrait of a prosperous yet tumultuous era for the Lakers.
Don't miss: juicy details on the feud between teammates Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. |
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| Is This Anything? by Jerry SeinfeldWhat it is: a decade-by-decade collection of memorable bits from Jerry Seinfeld's 45-year comedy career.
Featuring: brief anecdotes on career highlights, including his first time going to a comedy club and his collaborations with Seinfeld co-creator Larry David.
Reviewers say: "essential reading for comedy fans, from a master of the form" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs by Sarah SmarshWhat it's about: country superstar Dolly Parton's musical and cultural legacy.
What sets it apart: Heartland author Sarah Smarsh's thoughtful exploration of how Parton's music resonates with working-class women and folks from marginalized communities.
For fans of: NPR's Dolly Parton's America podcast, on which Smarsh appeared as an interviewee. |
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| The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism by Howard BryantWhat it is: a thought-provoking exploration of sports activism and the roles Black athletes play in publicizing social justice initiatives.
Featuring: interviews with Colin Kaepernick, David Ortiz, Charles Barkley, and Chris Webber.
Further reading: Bob Schron's sweeping history Taking a Knee, Taking a Stand: African American Athletes and the Fight for Social Justice. |
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| America's Game: The NFL at 100 by Jerry Rice and Randy O. WilliamsWhat it is: a spirited history of the first 100 years of the NFL, co-written by three-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice and sportswriter Randy O. Williams.
Why you might like it: This accessible history emulates the structure of a football game by dividing the century into quarters.
Try this next: NFL Century: The One-Hundred Year Rise of America's Greatest Sports League by Joe Horrigan. |
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| Jim Brown: Last Man Standing by Dave ZirinWhat it's about: the life, career, and complicated legacy of fullback Jim Brown, who played for the Cleveland Browns from 1957-1966.
Topics include: Brown's political activism and role in the Black Power movement of the 1960s; his post-retirement foray into Hollywood, where he hoped to become the "Black John Wayne;" his turbulent personal life, which includes multiple allegations of violence against women.
Reviewers say: "the definitive biography of Brown" (Publishers Weekly). |
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Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL
by Jeff Pearlman
What it's about: the three seasons of existence of the United States Football League, revealing its early success, how it launched the careers of many football superstars, and how it ultimately crashed and failed due to the influence of Donald Trump and other teamowners.
Reviewers say: "Pearlman’s hundreds of interviews with former players and coaches shine a light on this almost forgotten league. This is an excellent book for football junkies, but it’s just as enthralling for a general audience" (Publishers Weekly).
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Never Ran, Never Will: Boyhood and Football in a Changing American Inner City
by Albert Samaha
What it is: describes the history and impact of the Mo Better Jaguars, a football team in a poor Brooklyn neighborhood and the people who have had their lives shaped for the better by playing and participating.
Why you might like it: This moving chronicle of one football season and how it affected the lives of the kids on the team is truly inspiring.
Reviewers say: "At the heart of Samaha’s unflinching book are the life-affirming themes of sports, transcendence, courage, and manhood" (Publishers Weekly).
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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