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| Tip of the Iceberg: My 3,000-mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great... by Mark AdamsWhat it's about: Mark Adams, author of Turn Right at Machu Picchu, traveled via road, ferry, foot, and canoe around coastal Alaska, retracing the 1899 Harriman expedition (whose members included naturalist John Muir and photographer Edward Curtis). While doing so, he encountered a much-changed land, fascinating people, and wild animals.
Who it's for: fans of Bill Bryson, as well as anyone who likes personable tour guides and amusing, artful blends of history and travel. |
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| The Last Wild Men of Borneo: A True Story of Death and Treasure by Carl HoffmanWhat it's about: Carl Hoffman eloquently describes his travels in Borneo following the paths of two enigmatic outsiders: American Michael Palmieri, a tribal-art dealer who traveled deep into the rainforest, built relationships, and became rich acquiring art for museums and collectors, and Swiss environmentalist Bruno Manser, who lived with the Penan tribe for years, fought logging, and mysteriously disappeared in 2000.
Who it's for: those who relish compelling adventure tales, are fascinated by rainforests, or enjoyed the author's Savage Harvest. |
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| Figures in a Landscape: People & Places; Essays, 2001-2016 by Paul TherouxWhat it is: a reflective, wide-ranging collection of bestselling writer Paul Theroux's recent pieces about places he's visited (Ecuador, Hawaii, Zimbabwe, Alabama, etc.) as well as essays about interesting people, including celebrities and authors (Oliver Sacks, Robin Williams, Elizabeth Taylor, Joseph Conrad, Henry David Thoreau, and more).
Is it for you? Yes, if you like erudite travel articles mixed with refreshing profiles of a variety of people. |
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| Walking the Americas: 1,800 Miles, Eight Countries, and One Incredible Journey... by Levison WoodWhat happens: Intrepid British explorer, photographer, and author Levison Wood takes a 1,800 mile trek from Mexico to Columbia and encounters a variety of people, cultures, and obstacles
Try this next: The author's own Walking the Nile or Walking the Himalayas, or Ed Stafford's Walking the Amazon.
Did you know? Walking the Americas (and a TV documentary) were released in the U.K. last year; the book became a bestseller. |
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Running with a police escort : tales from the back of the pack
by Jill A. Grunenwald
"In the fall of 2012, quirky and cat-loving Cleveland librarian Jill Grunenwald got an alarming email from her younger sister: her sister was very concerned with Jill's weight and her overall mental and physical health. Having always struggled with her weight, Jill was currently hitting the scales at more than three hundred pounds. Right then, Jill looked in the mirror and decided that she needed to make a life-style change, pronto. She enrolled in Weight Watchers and did something else that she--the girl who avoided gym class like the plague in high school--never thought she'd do; Jill started running. And believe it or not, it wasn't that bad. Actually, it was kind of fun. Three months later, Jill did the previously unthinkable and ran her very first 5k at the Cleveland Metropolitan Zoo. Battling the infamous hills of the course, Jill conquered her fears and finished--but in dead last. Yep, the police were reopening the streets behind her. But Jill didn't let that get her down--because when you run foryour health and happiness, your only real competition is yourself. Six years and more than one hundred pounds lost later, Jill is still running and racing regularly, and she is a proud member of the back of the pack in every race that she has entered. InRunning with a Police Escort, Jill chronicles her racing adventures, proving that being a slow runner takes just as much guts and heart as being an Olympic champion. At turns heartbreaking and hilarious, Running with a Police Escort is for every runner who has never won a race but still loves the sport"
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The comic book story of baseball : the heroes, hustlers, and history-making swings (and misses) of America's national pastime
by Alexander Irvine
"A graphic novel-style history of baseball--providing an illustrated chronological look at the major games, players, and rule changes that shaped the sport--presented in fun, easily understood chunks perfect for casual and diehard fans alike. Sequentialart steps up to the plate and covers all the bases with this illustrated origin of America's national pastime. Writer Alex Irvine and illustrators Tomm Coker (Black Monday Murders) and C.P. Smith team up to present a complete look at the beginnings (bothreal and legendary), developments, triumphs, and tragedies of baseball. The Comic Book Story of Baseball spotlights the players, teams, games, and moments that have kept the game so popular for so long. Not only does the book define key terms and explain how the game is played, it also breaks down the cultural impact and significance of the sport in America and overseas (including Japan, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic). From the early days of America to the flying W outside Wrigley Field in 2016, the book features members of Baseball's Hall of Fame and modern day stand-outs, including Cy Young, Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, the 1930s New York Yankees, the 2004 Boston Red Sox, the 2016 Chicago Cubs, and more"
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Hang time : my life in basketball
by Elgin Baylor
The 11-time NBA All-Star and 2006 NBA Executive of the Year traces his career in professional basketball, touching on such subjects as the vertical-versus-horizontal strategies that shaped him as both a player and a general manager, his battles against racism and his relationship with the notorious Donald Sterling. 50,000 first printing.
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One goal : a coach, a team, and the game that brought a divided town together
by Amy Bass
An Emmy Award-winning writer and professor of history traces the uplifting story of the Lewiston, Maine champion high school soccer team and how it helped bridge cultural divides between longtime residents and the Somali refugees who were scandalously asked to stop resettling in the community. 50,000 first printing.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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