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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
Thomas Kirby has commented on (115) products
Circles in the Snow A Bo Tully Mystery
by
Patrick F McManus
Thomas Kirby
, June 13, 2014
The latest (and maybe the last) in the Bo Tully mysteries of Pat McManus is as funny as all the rest. Only one death, but no shortage of suspects, because nobody could stand the guy. Makes for quick reading, too!
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Math on Trial How Numbers Get Used & Abused in the Courtroom
by
Leila Schneps, Coralie Colmez
Thomas Kirby
, June 05, 2014
The book was very informative, and I liked the author's style of presenting a simplified example of the math incorrectly used, before describing a court case and how it applied. Unfortunately, there weren't many happy endings. Even after being exonerated, most of the subjects had already had their lives ruined. I think my favorite case was the cold case arrest of a rapist/killer where both the prosecution and the defense abused the math, and the author showed a better way to calculate the probability. Good job!
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Rabid A Cultural History of the Worlds Most Diabolical Virus
by
Bill Wasik, Monica Murphy
Thomas Kirby
, April 13, 2014
This is a very interesting book regarding the history of rabies. One of the most interesting parts for me was the section describing how some patients were successfully treated after contracting rabies, a disease that used to be considered 100 percent fatal. That was news to me.
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Who's on Worst?: The Lousiest Players, Biggest Cheaters, Saddest Goats and Other Antiheroes in Baseball History
by
Filip Bondy
Thomas Kirby
, April 13, 2014
This is a funny book, but my only complaint is that MOST of the players they mention are from relatively modern years. Had the author included more from when I was actively watching baseball, that is, before the strike cancelled the World Series, I would have rated the book 5 stars. The final chapter is on bad bosses, so the owners don't escape.
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Naked Statistics Stripping the Dread from the Data
by
Wheelan, Charles
Thomas Kirby
, October 11, 2013
This is a great book for helping people interpret the statistics thrown at them by the media, and those with an agenda. The author does a good job of taking a subject that can be very dry and making it a little more entertaining. He tells us how the margin of error on polls is calculated, and shows how the statistics can be easily abused. The book does NOT contain a lot of math, it is intended for a wider audience.
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Bob & Ray Keener Than Most Persons
by
David Pollock
Thomas Kirby
, June 03, 2013
This book is a fascinating biography of my favorite team of radio comedians. It talks about their start in radio, the progress of their careers, and enough of their families to keep you informed without being overly snoopy. Their army careers are covered as well. I would hate to work in the same building as them and have to keep a straight face, especially if they KNEW you had to keep a straight face!
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Trinity: A Graphic History of the F
by
Jonathan Fetter Vorm, Michael Gallagher
Thomas Kirby
, September 04, 2012
An interesting book about the development of the atomic bomb. I liked the book, but I only gave it 4 stars because I thought it glossed over a few important events. However, I would definitely recommend it to anyone. There is no complicated math or science to keep the casual reader from enjoying the book.
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Funny Trail Tales Outdoor Humor For All Ages 2nd Edition
by
Amy Kelley
Thomas Kirby
, August 21, 2012
There was one story which probably was not good "for all ages", discussing how to do your business in the woods, but the book was very funny, with stories from today's travel and outdoor writers, with a very funny selection from Mark Twain. With the inclusion of Mark Twain, I guess the book now counts as fine literature. My only complaint was that the book was not long enough.
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Mammoth Book of Weird But True
by
Geoff Tibballs
Thomas Kirby
, August 10, 2012
This is a funny book of weird news items, with some items not being suitable for the squeamish. I didn't notice any that I knew to be urban legends, so I guess the "true" part of the title is reasonably accurate. All the stories were less than a page long, with several stories per page, but this fits my preferred style of reading during my commute on public transit.
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Alice in Quantumland An Allegory of Quantum Physics
by
Robert Gilmore
Thomas Kirby
, August 02, 2012
The book is an amusing explanation of quantum physics. There were a few concepts that didn't stick with me, but for the most part, I got the ideas. Science can be fun!
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Showcase Presents Strange Adventures 1
by
John Broome
Thomas Kirby
, August 02, 2012
Comics from the good old days (I just wish they were in color) when science fiction was for kids of all ages. They are still fun to read, even after all these years.
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Showcase Presents Dial H For Hero
by
Dave Wood
Thomas Kirby
, August 02, 2012
Long for the good old days of comics, when the good guys won, and the bad guys got what they deserved? Well, at least in this book, justice prevails. The only drawback is that it's black & white, not the color of the originals. Fun!
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Passing Strange: True Tales of New England Hauntings and Horrors
by
Joseph Citro
Thomas Kirby
, August 02, 2012
I like books like this. Interesting happenings, but each is short enough that you don't have to read the whole thing all at once. Great for reading on public transportation or carpool (as long as you're not driving, of course) during your commute.
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When Gadgets Betray Us The Dark Side of Our Infatuation With New Technologies
by
Robert Vamosi
Thomas Kirby
, August 01, 2012
The book is kind of unsettling, explaining with real examples of how all of our neat, new devices, including cars, have not been designed with security in mind, and the consequences are showing. Unfortunately, there is no short-term solution, because the real answers require a change in the philosophy of design (adding security at the beginning), and expectations of convenience.
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Visit Sunny Chernobyl: And Other Adventures in the World's Most Polluted Places
by
Blackwell, Andrew
Thomas Kirby
, July 25, 2012
The book is sort of a weird travelogue, and I'm glad the author took it so I could read about it and not have to actually experience it. The book explores the people who make the pollution, those affected by it, and how not everything is so cut-and-dry with regards to explanations and solutions. I think just about everyone can agree that pollution is bad, but how bad, and what to do about it, are not so easy to agree on. There's plenty of humor, but it doesn't overpower the message.
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Dumb History: The Stupidest Mistakes Ever Made
by
Joey Green
Thomas Kirby
, July 24, 2012
An amusing book for followers of stupidity (would you call us idiophiles?), in easily digestible bites. There were a couple of minor mistakes, but nothing patently untrue, that I could determine.
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Psychopath Test A Journey Through the Madness Industry
by
Jon Ronson
Thomas Kirby
, July 23, 2012
An interesting book, with the author alternately questioning the validity and/or accuracy of the sciences of psychiatry and psychology, the sanity of our government and corporate leaders, centering on the subject of this book, the Hare Checklist. He gives us plenty of questions, but leaves the reader unsure as to his ultimate conclusions. Then again, maybe it's better that we think for ourselves. One interesting section tells the story of a man in England who, when charged with a particularly malicious assault, decides to fake insanity thinking he would end up in a comfortable local facility. Ending up in Broadmoor (where the Moors Murderers were imprisoned), he then tries to convince the doctors that he is sane, easier said than done.
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The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics: A Math-Free Exploration of the Science That Made Our World
by
James Kakalios
Thomas Kirby
, November 09, 2011
This is a nice book for explaining, in simple terms, the various applications of quantum physics to the devices we are now using in everyday life. It is pretty much math-free, but not entirely. Plenty of humor sprinkled in, too. The book also shows the success/failure of predictions from the pulps/comics of decades ago.
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The Last Days of Cleveland: And More True Tales of Crime and Disaster from Cleveland's Past
by
John Bellamy
Thomas Kirby
, May 25, 2011
This is the lastest book by this author that I have, but I'm continually searching to see if he has issued any more. The last disaster in this book was of his own making. Collect them all!
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They Died Crawling & Other Tales of Cleveland Woe True Stories of the Foulest Crimes & Worst Disasters in Cleveland History
by
John S Bellamy
Thomas Kirby
, May 25, 2011
This is the first one of John Bellamy's books that I bought, and I bought all the others after reading it. All of them are interesting to read, even if you aren't from Ohio.
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The Maniac in the Bushes: More Tales of Cleveland Woe
by
John Bellamy
Thomas Kirby
, May 25, 2011
More true crime and tragedy from Ohio. Look up the author and buy them all, even if you aren't from Ohio, since they are all interesting.
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The Killer in the Attic: And More Tales of Crime and Disaster from Cleveland's Past
by
Bellamy, John Stark, II
Thomas Kirby
, May 25, 2011
Another good book of Ohio's macabre past. All of them are recommended reading for true crime and disaster buffs.
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Death Ride at Euclid Beach: And Other True Tales of Crime & Disaster from Cleveland's Past
by
John Bellamy
Thomas Kirby
, May 25, 2011
More of Ohio's macabre past is documented in another book by John Bellamy II. I think I have all of them, and they are all fun reading, in a dark sort of way.
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Corpse In The Cellar & Further Tales O
by
John Stark Bellamy
Thomas Kirby
, May 25, 2011
This book contains stories of crime, disaster, and tragedy in Ohio, but is interesting to anyone, anywhere. Most if not all of the stories date back several decades at least. The stories are not presented in an overly gruesome manner, so it's safe to have around.
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Wild Tales From The Police Blotter
by
C J Sullivan
Thomas Kirby
, May 25, 2011
The book is at least a little interesting, but not as humorous or strange as I was led to believe. Perhaps "wild" is in the eye of the beholder.
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Cause of Death: Forensic Files of a Medical Examiner
by
Stephen D. Cohle and Tobin T. Buhk
Thomas Kirby
, May 25, 2011
An interesting book, if somewhat repetitive (the autopsies all start out pretty much the same way). The book also describes some important cases where the medical examiner's testimony was key.
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Weird Astronomy: Tales of Unusual, Bizarre, and Other Hard to Explain Observations
by
David A. J. Seargent
Thomas Kirby
, April 19, 2011
It is a good book, but weird is in the eye of the beholder. If you want UFOs and ETs, this isn't the book you're looking for, but it does have out of the ordinary observations from past and present, including the reported planet Vulcan (no, not the one Mr. Spock originates from, instead a planet supposedly inside of the orbit of Mercury). The author proposes some explanations, and even includes projects for the reader to possibly make a contribution to science with their own observations. No heavy physics or math are included or needed.
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Proofiness
by
Charles Seife
Thomas Kirby
, March 03, 2011
This is a very interesting book, with real-world examples of various forms of statistical and mathematical abuse and tomfoolery. The author picks on both sides, although some readers may think their side was picked on more, but they should take into account who has been in power over the past several years. "Picks on" may be bad wording, maybe "exposes" would be better. Hopefully, after reading this book, you will at least have a better idea of what you need to learn to make informed decisions.
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Massive The Missing Particle that Sparked the Greatest Hunt in Science
by
Ian Sample
Thomas Kirby
, March 02, 2011
The book was interesting, and you didn't need a physics or mathematics degree to understand it. I liked the book, and it brought me up-to-date on the search for the Higgs boson. My only negative was that I wasn't as interested in the political battles behind the scenes, but they are part of the story, and this is not the author's fault.
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Cook This Not That Cook Yourself Skinny
by
David Zinczenko
Thomas Kirby
, December 15, 2010
This book of easy to make recipes that actually taste good and are better for you is a fun read. Even the pickiest of eaters can find something in here to try. There aren't any really hard to find ingredients in these recipes. Delicious and recommended!
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Neutrino
by
Frank Close
Thomas Kirby
, December 15, 2010
This book gives a history of the neutrino and its physics without going into the calculus and formulae that scare most general readers off. It talks about why the neutrino was thought to exist, and the process of proving that it existed, along with the personalities of particle physics along the way. The illustrations are easy to understand, and most of the complicated physics is glossed over or left out, leaving only the basics that almost everyone can handle. Particle physics isn't for everyone, but with this book, you can at least learn to talk intelligently about them, and maybe appear smarter than you are. After reading this book, you will be smarter than you WERE.
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Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader the Worlds Gone Crazy
by
Bathroom Readers Institute
Thomas Kirby
, December 15, 2010
This is another compilation of strange (but short) articles from the bathroom reader people. They are long enough to occupy a short break, but not long enough to leave you hanging when the break, be it bathroom or coffee is over.
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Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader Historys Lists
by
Bathroom Readers Institute
Thomas Kirby
, December 12, 2010
All of the Uncle John's Bathroom Reader are entertaining, and this one is no exception. I especially like the focus on history. These books are designed to be read in short increments, supposedly while you are using the "facilities", but I find them great for reading on public transportation and short breaks at work.
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The Book of Strange and Curious Legal Oddities: Pizza Police, Illicit Fishbowls, and Other Anomalies of theLaw That Make Us AllU nsuspecting Criminals
by
Nathan Belofsky
Thomas Kirby
, December 11, 2010
The book was funny, and enlightening (see the debunking of the "rule of thumb"). It also has something for the history buff, and can be read in short spurts, since it is a book of short articles. I found it another great book for reading on the bus and the train to and from work.
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20th Century Ghosts
by
Joe Hill
Thomas Kirby
, December 11, 2010
I enjoyed this book of short stories, although I was misled by the title. I was expecting GHOST stories, and only one of them definitely was, with another sort of ghost related. A couple were just plain weird, especially "Pop Art". I deducted a point from the rating because the title isn't truly descriptive of the book, and if you are looking for ghost stories, you stand a chance of being disappointed.
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Mountains of St Francis Discovering the Geologic Events That Shaped Our Earth
by
Walter Alvarez
Thomas Kirby
, December 05, 2010
This is a geological detective story, without being overwhelming in its presentation of science. The author also includes a small amount of travel writing describing his journeys through Italy, while investigating the geology of the region. The book starts with explanations of questions about the recent geological past, and goes back in time as the book progresses. This is definitely not a dry science text.
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Mental Floss History of the World An Irreverent Romp Through Civilizations Best Bits
by
Mental Floss, Erik Sass, Steve Wiegand
Thomas Kirby
, November 14, 2010
This book takes on the monumental task of covering the entire world's human history in a small, easy to digest, and witty package. You will get most of the interesting details, with a few lesser known facts thrown in. Of course, you won't get too much of the minute details. I found the book both amusing and informative.
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Disappearing Spoon & Other True Tales From The Periodic Table
by
Kean, Sam
Thomas Kirby
, August 11, 2010
This is a great book, written with humor, history and science. I learned new things about the elements, chemistry and physics, although it is not a textbook, nor written as one. All you need is a passing interest in science to be entertained by this book. I highly recommend it!
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Double Jack Murders
by
Patrick F McManus
Thomas Kirby
, February 15, 2010
This is the type of mystery story I like. It has mystery, suspense, and comedy. McManus manages to throw a new twist in at the end that I didn't see coming. I'm looking forward to his next one. Be sure not to miss Dave the indian showing his violent side.
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Stingray Bit My Nipple True Stories from Real Travelers
by
Erik Torkells
Thomas Kirby
, July 10, 2008
This is a very funny book, and very quick to read, since almost every other page is a picture that accompanys a story. A long attention span is not required.
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Shadows Over Innsmouth Lovecraftian
by
Stephen G Jones
Thomas Kirby
, July 10, 2008
This book starts off with the classic H. P. Lovecraft story "The Shadow Over Innsmouth", and follows with stories by other authors which are set in a later time, referring to the events in the original. At least a few of the stories kind of mimic HPL's style a little. Some of my favorites were Basil Copper's "Beyond the Reef", and Brian Lumley's "Dagon's Bell". I highly recommend this book to any H. P. Lovecraft fan.
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E Bomb How Americas New Directed Energy Weapons Will Change the Way Future Wars Will Be Fought
by
Doug Beason
Thomas Kirby
, May 30, 2008
The author does a good job of telling us about the history, current status, and future outlook for lots of different directed energy systems, and the situations they can (and likely cannot) be used in. There is some politics in this book where the author bemoans the Air Force's stinginess in research in order to shift money to their current top priority, the F-22 Raptor.
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The Portable Obituary: How the Famous, Rich, and Powerful Really Died
by
Michael Largo
Thomas Kirby
, May 21, 2008
The book is very entertaining, and can be enjoyed a page or two (or even a single entry) at a time, so a long attention span isn't required. There's no gore, and while the subject may be morbid, this book is not.
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The World's Stupidest Athletes
by
Barbara Karg and Barb Karg
Thomas Kirby
, May 13, 2008
This book was funny in spots, but some of the athlete jokes were repeated several times. Also a lot of the stories involved "competitive eating", which I don't consider to be athletic (just my opinion), and were fairly dull to me. I rated it a "3" because at least it had some stupid quotes from the sports world. I was tempted to rate it lower, though.
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Avalanche A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery
by
Patrick F McManus
Thomas Kirby
, May 02, 2008
This is the perfect type of mystery novel for me: Clean enough for family viewing, detective work, and suspense tempered by humor. It has the same bunch of "good guys" as the author's previous funny mystery, "The Blight Way". I recommend this to all readers, although any with the last name of "Scragg" had better have a thicker skin than most.
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Mystery Of The Missing Antimatter
by
Helen Quinn
Thomas Kirby
, May 02, 2008
This book doesn't have a lot of math and formulas, but it still gets complicated on occasion. They authors do the best job possible simplifying the complex topics they are discussing, but there's only so far you can simplify particle physics. I enjoyed the book, and now at least have a general idea of why the antimatter out there in vast quantities.
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Confessions Of Emergency Room Doctors
by
Rocky Lang
Thomas Kirby
, April 02, 2008
Most of the book is funny, with a couple of tragedies thrown in. Some of the stories are urban legends, but the author warns the reader of that in the beginning. Since doctors have to deal with less-than-savory parts of the human anatomy, a little of the humor is scatological in nature. It's not real "dirty", but the book is probably not suitable for young children, although most adults would enjoy it.
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Scientists and Scoundrels: A Book of Hoaxes
by
Robert Silverberg
Thomas Kirby
, March 02, 2008
Keep in mind that this book is a reprint of one originally published in 1965 when you note the part about man landing on the moon one day. Other than that, the book covers most of the famous hoaxes, in roughly chronological order, from Dr. Beringer's fossils to the Piltdown man (which wasn't exposed until about 50 years after "discovery"). It was a fun book to read on my commute back and forth from work.
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Snake Oil Science: The Truth about Complementary and Alternative Medicine
by
R. Barker Bausell
Thomas Kirby
, March 02, 2008
While any dyed-in-the-wool believer of alternative medicine would say that the book is loaded with what are termed "straw man" attacks (where you describe your opposition in unfavorable terms and proceed to show how false they are), if anyone reads the book all the way through, they will find that the author knows his stuff, and that what the practitioners of alternative medicine call "scientific testing" isn't always very scientific and leaves much to be desired. The explanation of the placebo effect and its testing are fascinating.
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Crime Scene Chemistry for the Armchair Sleuth
by
Cathy Cobb and Monty Fetterolf and Jack G. Goldsmith
Thomas Kirby
, January 09, 2008
This is a great book explaining tests used in crime investigations, and their limitations. In addition, the book has a bunch of experiments with instructions that the reader can do at home to demonstrate the principles of these tests (I would like to have seen some more illustrations of the setups of these experiments, though). After each experiment, a short fictional story demonstrates how the test is used, a detailed (yet written for the lay person) description of the technology is given, and the solution to the story then follows. I never took Chemistry in school, but the technical discussions weren't hard to understand. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of those forensic science shows.
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If You Didnt Bring Jerky What Did I Just Eat Misadventures in Hunting Fishing & the Wilds of Suburbia
by
Bill Heavey
Thomas Kirby
, December 25, 2007
This book is a wonderful mixture of mostly humorous and a few poignant stories, and an occasional useful fact here and there. I recognized some of the settings, and I could put a mental picture of how it must have looked in my mind to enhance the experience. And, the stories are short enough to make them conveniently sized for my commute to and from work. Recommended!
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Suburban Legends True Tales of Murder Mayhem & Minivans
by
Sam Stall
Thomas Kirby
, December 21, 2007
This book was another good one to read on my commute back and forth to work. Some of the stories I heard before, but a lot of them were new to me. And they were all interesting, some of them touching on grotesque topics without ever being gross.
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Blight Way A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery
by
Patrick F McManus
Thomas Kirby
, November 27, 2007
This is an ever-so-slight departure from McManus' humor column. It's a mystery, set in an area the author knows well, and brings in his sense of humor and some of the asbsurd. I read it in one day, and even though there was some suspense and tension, the frequent interjections of humor kept it from being overpowering. If all mystery novels were like this, I'd read more of them. Highly recommended!
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Elephants on Acid & Other Bizarre Experiments
by
Alex Boese
Thomas Kirby
, November 26, 2007
This book is an amusing collection of stories of strange experiments in science, and what sometimes passes for science. Some of the experiments are fairly controversial, others you most likely never heard of. The stories are long enough to describe the experiments and their effects, both positive and negative, yet short enough to be able to read on your bus/train ride to work. Like his previous books, The Museum of Hoaxes, and Hippo Eats Dwarf, I highly recommend this one.
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Illustrated True Crime A Photographic Record
by
Colin Wilson
Thomas Kirby
, November 25, 2007
The photographs and the stories were interesting, without being overly gruesome. The only downside to this book is that the author, in my opinion, gives too much credibility to some consipiracy theories.
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Kerplunk
by
Patrick F McManus
Thomas Kirby
, November 25, 2007
Another hilarious book by McManus! I love the imagery the words invoke, especially the description of his fly-casting technique (an old lady fighting off a bee with a broom handle). Highly recommended!
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San Sombrero A Land of Carnivals Cocktails & Coups
by
Santo Cilauro
Thomas Kirby
, November 15, 2007
This is a hilarious book on travel, lodging, attractions, and restaurants in San Sombrero, and indispensible if the country ever does exist. The sidebars by Philippe are my favorites. The books on Molvania and Phaic Tan are also great, but I'm waiting on one they call "Arduous Hikes"!
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Military Misdemeanours
by
Terry Crowdy
Thomas Kirby
, November 06, 2007
Another great book for commuting, since the stories are all in short, easy-to-read pieces. The stories are darkly humorous because a lot of them have tragic outcomes, all the more tragic because, except for one urban legend clearly labelled as such, they are all true. The stories are in chronological order, and it's funnier at first, because you can tell yourself that people in historical times were pretty dumb. However, you notice that people don't seem to be getting much smarter as you read up to our times.
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Steel on the Bottom: Great Lakes Shipwrecks
by
Stonehouse, Frederick
Thomas Kirby
, October 25, 2007
This is an interesting book about shipwrecks on the Great Lakes (the Edmund Fitzgerald is not included). The stories are exciting, and in distinct chapters, making this another great book for my train commuting.
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Anti Gravity Allegedly Humorous Writing from Scientific American
by
Steve Mirsky
Thomas Kirby
, October 20, 2007
This book, comprised of the articles of the author's column in "Scientific American", mixes science, current events, and humor into conveniently sized doses for my daily commuting to and from work. I heartily recommend this book, even if the author's knowledge of "The Wizard of Oz" was/is a bit faulty.
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Just A Guy
by
Bill Engvall
Thomas Kirby
, October 16, 2007
I bought this book, almost expecting it to be a rehash of his standup comedy performances, but was pleasantly surprised. His childhood-teenage misbehaviour was very funny, and he even kept a little humor in the stories of his parents' divorce. There is philosophy in here, too, especially in the section where his wife almost died. It's still Bill Engvall's style and humor, but it's not the stuff he's already told on the Blue Collar Comedy Tours.
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Understanding Germ Warfare
by
Scientific American
Thomas Kirby
, October 16, 2007
An interesting book about germ warfare, dealing with epidemics in general, the ease of acquisition of the infectious agents, and other topics about disease in general. At least one article tried to put forth methods of avoiding germ warfare, but these methods require a lot of international cooperation and moral governments, two items in short supply. We'll never know until we try...
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Facts and Mysteries in Elementary Particle Physics
by
Martinus J. G. Veltman
Thomas Kirby
, September 29, 2007
This book is written for all levels of readers (with maybe just a little scientific aptitude). The author even warns you ahead of time of highly technical stuff which the idly curious may just want to skip. I read the technical pages anyway, and they were very well explained. This is the best book on particle physics I've ever seen for general readership, and I'm sure even graduate students could appreciate it.
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Adventures of a Sea Hunter In Search of Famous Shipwrecks
by
James P Delgado
Thomas Kirby
, September 29, 2007
The author is an underwater archaeologist who seeks to share his passion for shipwrecks and their exploration. The book covers several wrecks, and sometimes points out that scientific investigation casts doubt on at least some facets of the recorded history. The final chapter covers some things that he hopes to do next. I wish him luck and hope to see him write more. I will be looking at other titles by him.
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Great Influenza The Epic Story Of The Deadliest Plague in History
by
John M Barry
Thomas Kirby
, September 26, 2007
This book tells us about the 1918-1919 pandemic, but it also tells us about the progress being made in the study of medicine at the time, and the government decisions that made the epidemic worse than it had to be. A few medical advancements came out of the study of this disease, although most came much later. The book also briefly discusses what would happen if (or when) a virulent strain of influenza strikes again, and the news isn't altogether encouraging.
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Scotland's Hidden History
by
Ian Armit
Thomas Kirby
, September 13, 2007
The book has a nice description of prehistory/early historic sites in Scotland, with photos and drawings. I found the book to be enjoyable, even though it turned out to be more of a travel guide than a history book. If I was in Scotland, with the opportunity to go see these places, I would have enjoyed the book more.
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Imaginary Weapons A Journey Through the Pentagons Scientific Underworld
by
Sharon Weinberger
Thomas Kirby
, August 22, 2007
The story of the isomer bomb would be extremely funny, if it wasn't for the fact that most (if not all) of the funding came from us, the battered taxpayers, and the fact that it could have been spent on worthwhile science. A point not missed in this book is the practice of replacing objective scientific advisors with "yes men" (and some "yes women"), and the consequences. It's hard to tell whether the proponents of isomer weaponry were crazy, self-deluded, or knowingly perpetuating bad science for the funding it provided. The author stated that she didn't know whether or not isomers could be triggered, but I think she agreed that misinterpreting data in order to broadcast positive results would result in wasted time (and precious funding) following a flawed path that will never work instead of spending time, energy, and money searching for a way that it could work.
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Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid A Memoir
by
Bill Bryson
Thomas Kirby
, August 14, 2007
Bill Bryson is about 6 years older than I am, but I could still identify with his portrayal of himself growing up. The book is very funny, with a little bit of sadness expressed for the passing of a time and lifestyle which will never return.
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Medieval Ghost Stories: An Anthology of Miracles, Marvels and Prodigies
by
Andrew Joynes
Thomas Kirby
, August 06, 2007
These stories are the beginnings of the entertaining ghost stories we think of today. The author explains the objectives of the stories and shows how they evolved, incorporating Christian values and the values of the cultures the Christian rulers replaced. It is interesting to see how even the attitudes of the Church towards ghosts changed over time. An added plus, the stories are short enough that you can read this book a little at a time if you need to.
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Plutonium A History Of The Worlds Most
by
Jeremy Bernstein
Thomas Kirby
, August 06, 2007
This book, while containing a little bit of chemistry and quantum physics, is written with the layperson in mind. While it doesn't contain plans for an atomic bomb, it does cover some of the details and the difficulties of using plutonium that I haven't seen before. The book starts with the history of the discovery of plutonium, moves on to its use in weapons and its chemistry, and finally finishes with the current politics and problems presented by existing stocks of plutonium. This book also mentions one important fact that I didn't know: You can make a bomb out of "reactor-grade" plutonium.
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Discarded Science Ideas That Seemed Good at the Time
by
John Grant
Thomas Kirby
, July 26, 2007
I bought this book to read about how the bad science of years gone by was "debunked", such as Blondlot's N-Rays, but that's not what this book is about. It's more about the philosphy behind science, and the process of how science has developed. It's still and interesting book, but I could have used a few more entertaining silly examples. For example, the N-Rays story only rated a couple of pages.
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Travelers Guide to Mars The Mysterious Landscapes of the Red Planet With Poster
by
William K Hartmann
Thomas Kirby
, May 29, 2007
This book was written in a rather interesting style, as if you could go visit Mars yourself. It gave a good writeup of theorizes geologic history of Mars, with lots of nice pictures and maps.
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Coast To Coast Ghosts True Stories Of Hauntings Across America
by
Leslie Rule
Thomas Kirby
, May 29, 2007
Keep in mind that I'm a skeptic. Good points: 1.) The sections are short and easy to read, ideal for your bus/subway commute. 2.) Addresses are given for a lot of the stories so that you can go see for yourself. 3.) It's fun to read. Bad points: 1.) The book is written from a rather credulous point of view, including stories of "sensitives" who can supposedly tell the ghost's reasons for being there, with no proof offered for these "abilities".
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When the Ghost Screams True Stories of Victims Who Haunt
by
Leslie Rule
Thomas Kirby
, May 29, 2007
While I'm a skeptic, and the book was written from a rather credulous point of view, it was at least entertaining. It is a good book to take on the bus or subway going to work, since none of the stories or sections are extremely large.
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Uncommon Carriers
by
John McPhee
Thomas Kirby
, May 12, 2007
This book is sort of a travelogue of places no tourist ever considers for their vacation, travelling by means also not in consideration by the average tourist. Reading this book, you will learn about what a truck driver, barge captain, freighter captain, or train engineer needs to learn and put up with. The book is a pleasant read, with gentle humor througout, with minimal sex and no violence. It got me through my subway commute.
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How Come Im Always Luigi Foxtrot
by
Bill Amend
Thomas Kirby
, March 02, 2007
More of the adventures of Jason (the boy genius), Paige (who isn't as ugly as Jason suggests), Peter (a normal teenage boy but a failure as an athlete), their mom Andy (who cooks nothing but health food), and their dad Roger (the stereotypical bumbling sitcom father). Since Amend is switching to Sundays-only, these books won't be coming as fast as they used to, but there's probably a couple more in the pipeline.
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The Invisible Universe: The Story of Radio Astronomy
by
Gerrit Verschuur
Thomas Kirby
, March 02, 2007
This book is an easy to read introduction to the science of radio astronomy, and it doesn't require a college degree to understand. There are no complicated equations in this book. It covers where radio astronomy came from, where it is now, and where it is going in the future. It also mentions the problems with frequencies of interest that are being crowded by human use. You won't be an astrophysicist just by reading this book, but you may understand them better.
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Olmecs Americas First Civilization
by
Richard A Diehl
Thomas Kirby
, February 07, 2007
This book contains a lot of information about the origins and ends of the Olmecs, and discoveries along the way, but it's written in a style suitable for the interested non-archaeologist. It also contains a lot of nice pictures and illustrations of Olmec art and everyday objects. It also briefly covers the predominate themes in Olmec mythology. It's a great introduction to one of the most important cultures of the western hemisphere.
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Weird Maryland Your Travel Guide to Marylands Local Legends & Best Kept Secrets
by
Matthew Lake
Thomas Kirby
, January 17, 2007
This book hits a little closer to home than the others in the "Weird" series by the same authors, because I live right across the river and my family used to vacation there when I was a kid. I recognize some of the places and people from long ago. Reading about the weird and bizarre is always fun, moreso when it rekindles fond memories.
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Agincourt A New History
by
Anne Curry
Thomas Kirby
, January 10, 2007
This book is not just about the battle itself, but the personalities and the motivations behind it, and the events leading up to it. Several myths are dispelled, the most prominent of which is that the French army was supposedly multiples of the English army in size. The author thoroughly documents her assertions with data from the various chronicles, and explains the conflicts between them. My only complaint was that some of the terms where not defined in a glossary of some kind, and for that reason, I ranked it 4 instead of 5.
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Deer on a Bicycle Excursions Into the Writing of Humor
by
Patrick F McManus
Thomas Kirby
, November 30, 2006
A humorous book on how to write humorous stories, including some real advice on the process of selling your work. I really like the author's style in this book of answering the questions of an imaginary smart-aleck who wants to become a humor writer.
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Not So Funny When It Happened The Best of Travel Humor & Misadventure
by
Tim Cahill
Thomas Kirby
, November 30, 2006
Amusing travel adventures, some better than others. Unlike other books by Tim Cahill, this one is a collection of pieces by various authors, all of which are worth reading.
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Idler Book of Crap Jobs 100 Tales of Workplace Hell
by
Dan Kieran
Thomas Kirby
, November 30, 2006
This book alters one's perspective on what it takes to be listed as a "crap job". I hope I never get that desperate for employment!
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Road to Ubar Finding the Atlantis of the Sands
by
Nicholas Clapp
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
A marvelous scientific detection story searching for the lost city of Ubar, which according to legend was destroyed by God for the people's wicked ways. I learned a lot about the region and its history from this book. Read the book to see whether or not they actually found it.
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Lost Tomb This Is His Incredible Story
by
Kent R Weeks
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
A fascinating book about the discovery (actually, a rediscovery) of a major tomb, and the ton of hard work involved in its uncovering and restoration. The continuing problems presented by tourists and terrorists are also covered.
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Deep-Sea Detectives: Maritime Mysteries and Forensic Science
by
Peter R. Limburg
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
Another great shipwreck investigation book, this one with more modern wrecks in it. The real tragedies are those that could have been prevented, and some of those are in here. I look forward to a sequel!
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Frauds Myths & Mysteries Science & Pseudoscience in Archaeology
by
Kenneth L Feder
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
Archaeology is a fascinating science. Unfortunately, a lot of bad science has appeared over the years, and the author lets us know about this. In addition to bad science, he also covers some of the more famous out-right hoaxes. This book is a fascinating read.
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America B C Ancient Settlers In The New World
by
Barry Fell
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
The author sees ancient ogam writing in almost every bare rock face he encounters, in my opinion. It looks to me like he selectively uses the scratches that meet his interpretation of what should be there. Very disappointing.
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Molvania A Land Untouched By Modern Dent
by
Santo Cilauro
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
I have read this book and the next book on the equally fictitious country of Phaic Tan, and they are both a riot! Be glad there is no Molvanian restaurant in your neighborhood! I can hardly wait for the next book!
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Jetlag Travel Guide Phaic Tan Sunstroke On
by
Santo Cilauro
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
This hilarious book is the perfect guide for enjoying and staying out of trouble in Phaic Tan, should the country ever exist. Easily enjoyed in large or small doses!
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Sea Hunters True Adventures with Famous Shipwrecks
by
Clive Cussler
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
This book contains Cussler's dramatizations of each of the shipwrecks, along with the equally exciting story of their search and discovery of the wrecks. It's the perfect book to take with you on your vacation cruise!
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True Stella Awards Honoring Real Cases of Greedy Opportunists Frivolous Lawsuits & the Law Run Amok
by
Randy Cassingham
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
The book has humor, but it is more likely to make you shake your head in disbelief. It left me with the feeling that there ought to be mandatory population control for lawyers. I realize that all lawyers aren't as bad as the ambulance-chasers in the book's cases, but we don't hear enough or see enough action from good lawyers condemning the really bad ones. That isn't the author's problem, though, and he does a good job of showing the problems caused by an overly litigious society.
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True Stella Awards Honoring Real Cases
by
Randy Cassingham
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
The book has humor, but it is more likely to make you shake your head in disbelief. It left me with the feeling that there ought to be mandatory population control for lawyers. I realize that all lawyers aren't as bad as the ambulance-chasers in the book's cases, but we don't hear enough or see enough action from good lawyers condemning the really bad ones. That isn't the author's problem, though, and he does a good job of showing the problems caused by an overly litigious society.
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Earthquakes in Human History The Far Reaching Effects of Seismic Disruptions
by
Jelle Zeilinga de Boer
Thomas Kirby
, November 29, 2006
Good descriptions of historical earthquakes, tied in with their impact on the course of history. What I remember most about the book is it's discussion of how these major disasters affected religion's hold on the population, and how governments have dealt with (or failed to deal with) the aftermath of a major earthquake.
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Big Trouble
by
Dave Barry
Thomas Kirby
, November 28, 2006
Probably the funniest book about nuclear terrorists that you'll ever read!
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Best of H P Lovecraft Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror & the Macabre
by
H P Lovecraft, Robert Bloch
Thomas Kirby
, November 28, 2006
If your only exposure to H. P. Lovecraft is that horrible 1970's-era version of "The Dunwich Horror" movie, you really need to read some of his books. That movie bore only a passing resemblance to the story. My favorites of these stories are "The Dunwich Horror" and "The Thing on the Doorstep".
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Hank Ketchams Complete Dennis the Menace 1951 1952
by
Ketcham, Hank
Thomas Kirby
, November 28, 2006
These cartoons are older than I am, and although society has changed in the 50+ years since they were drawn, they remain funny. Dennis merely misbehaves and annoys, he doesn't commit crimes, so it's OK to laugh.
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Jaguars Ripped My Flesh
by
Tim Cahill
Thomas Kirby
, November 28, 2006
More interesting real life adventure stories with a touch of humor from Tim Cahill, even if jaguars really didn't rip his flesh.
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Wolverine Is Eating My Leg
by
Tim Cahill
Thomas Kirby
, November 28, 2006
More adventures from Tim Cahill, going places I wouldn't dare to. I think the Jonestown piece was the one I remember the most in this book.
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Pass the Butterworms Remote Journeys Oddly Rendered
by
Tim Cahill
Thomas Kirby
, November 28, 2006
This was the first of Tim Cahill's books that I read. I have since bought a several more. The author brings us exotic sights and adventure, tempered by humor.
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Pecked to Death by Ducks
by
Tim Cahill
Thomas Kirby
, November 28, 2006
I will never get to Bali, or most of the other locales the author describes, nor do anything half as dangerous, but then, I don't have to: Tim Cahill has done it for me.
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The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw
by
Patrick F. McManus
Thomas Kirby
, November 28, 2006
Poor Mr. Muldoon falls victim to Pat and Eddie yet again in the title story of this collection of hilarious stories by Pat McManus. All of McManus' collections are great reading, and you will laugh 'til it hurts!
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Into The Twilight Endlessly Grousing
by
Patrick F McManus
Thomas Kirby
, November 28, 2006
More funny stories from Pat McManus which make you wonder how he survived to become an adult! My favorite in this book is the story of how Pat and Eddie met mountain man Rancid Crabtree, who plays a prominent part in Pat's childhood.
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Ghost Map The Story of Londons Most Terrifying Epidemic & How It Changed Science Cities & the Modern World
by
Steven Johnson
Thomas Kirby
, November 27, 2006
This book details the cholera outbreak of 1854 in London, the doctor who first theorized that cholera was spread by water, and the prevailing scientists who refused to accept the truth. The final chapter covers the possibility that cholera, another disease, or other dangers could kill large numbers of people because of today's population density, and what can be done.
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Bear in the Attic
by
Patrick F McManus
Thomas Kirby
, November 27, 2006
Like all of McManus' books, this one contains hilarious stories supposedly taken from the author's childhood and adult life. If they were 100% real, anyplace he ever lived would be permanently convulsing with laughter. The title story is the most memorable.
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Hey Ranger True Tales of Humor & Misadventure from Americas National Parks
by
Jim Burnett
Thomas Kirby
, November 27, 2006
This book is a scream! It's full of good, clean stories of people doing silly things in the park system, and the trials and tribulations of the park rangers. It concludes with some good, common sense advice on how to be prepared for emergencies and avoid ruining your vacation.
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Voice For The Dead
by
James E Starrs
Thomas Kirby
, November 24, 2006
Dr. Starrs provides a lot of forensic science information, with the emphasis being on historical cases, with most of his investigations done years after the fact (in the case of the Donner Party, over 100 years after the fact). He covers several historical cases, such as Jesse James, when he investigated the report that James didn't die when the history books said he did, but lived on under an assumed name. He also covers some cases he can't or won't work on, and explains why not. His work on the Jesse James case was on a TV show.
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Coroners Journal Stalking Death In Louis
by
Louis Cataldie
Thomas Kirby
, November 24, 2006
This book contains both information on forensic science and how Dr. Cataldie got into the business in the first place. The section written after Hurricane Katrina is especially relevant. The author explains some of the science, but keeps the victims and families in his thoughts.
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Dissecting Death: Secrets of a Medical Examiner
by
Zugibe, Frederick and Carroll, David L.
Thomas Kirby
, November 24, 2006
I have read several books by coroners, some good like this one, some boring. Dr. Zugibe presents several of his cases giving the interesting aspects of forensic pathology that he used to reach his conclusion. He manages not to be more "gross" than he needs to be to let the reader know what is going on.
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How to Lose a Battle: Foolish Plans and Great Military Blunders
by
Bill Fawcett
Thomas Kirby
, November 21, 2006
This is an interesting book, which provides more information from the loser's perspective than usual. It doesn't concentrate on any one period in history, so it gives a nice variety of times and tactics. The Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, VA, was particularly interesting.
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Civil War Blunders: Amusing Incidents from the War
by
Clint Johnson
Thomas Kirby
, November 21, 2006
This book, nicely divided by year, contains both comedy and tragedy, sometimes in the same story. It probably explains why the war wasn't over in a few months, despite the Union's overwhelming superiority in manpower, although at least half of the incompetence belonged to the Confederacy. If this book is 100% accurate, and the Battle of the Crater was fought today, you would wonder why General Meade wasn't court-martialed.
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The Funniest Cop Stories Ever
by
Scott Baker
Thomas Kirby
, November 21, 2006
This book has funny stories, occasionally coarse or insensitive, so it's probably not for the easily offended. I'm not easily offended, so I greatly enjoyed the book. These stories come from people who lay their lives on the line daily, so I can forgive an occasional on-duty prank, since it keeps up their morale and amuses me.
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Bones Rocks & Stars The Science of When Things Happened
by
Chris Turney
Thomas Kirby
, November 21, 2006
This book shows us how dates are arrived at using the scientific method. Not just radiocarbon dating and tree ring chronology, but also written historical records are used, as demonstrated in the author's discussion of when the legend of King Arthur appeared. The best parts of the book, in my opinion, were the sections where the author explained processes for refining date estimates.
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How Can Man Die Better The Secrets of Isandlwana Revealed
by
Mike Snook
Thomas Kirby
, November 21, 2006
This book is an interesting new look at the battle of Isandlwana. All previous material I read had supposed complete incompetence at all levels of the british force, but this author showed while handicapped by some stupid and overconfident moves by the top brass, most soldiers performed very well, and came close to holding off a far superior (numerically) force. Zulu casualty counts were unavailable, but were clearly higher than I had been lead to believe. My only complaint: some of the military terms were not fully explained, but had to be guessed at by the context, or looked up elsewhere, but then, this book's target audience probably consists mainly of military history buffs who would know these terms.
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Secrets of the Sideshows
by
Joe Nickell
Thomas Kirby
, November 21, 2006
This book did a great job of explaining the mysteries of the sideshows I used to see when the carnival came to town, which probably shows how old I am getting, since I have seen neither a carnival or sideshow in many years. The book uses a lot of carnival lingo, but explains the terms so that you can understand. The "freak" shows are a thing of the past, but the author describes the lives of past performers, along with the ways that "freaks" were "gaffed" (faked). In no case did the author ridicule any of the performers, but he did explain some of the medical conditions that were involved.
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