CRRL My Librarian: A (mostly) Nonfiction PotpourriLike this list

10 items

• Crumb

  a Cartoonist's Life

  Nadel, Dan

  Add Crumb to your for later shelf

  Before there were "graphic novels," there were underground comics. R. Crumb was one of its premier artists. This is a great biography.

• Ginseng Roots

  a Memoir

  Thompson, Craig, 1975-

  Add Ginseng Roots to your for later shelf

  A very enjoyable graphic narrative that combines autobiography with a history of humans' study and use of ginseng.

• High Conflict

  Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out

  Ripley, Amanda

  Add High Conflict to your for later shelf

  Ripley suggests that if we avoid demonizing our opponent, we have a better chance of progress and a solution. Our book group liked this one a lot.

• On Air

  the Triumph and Tumult of NPR

  Oney, Steve, 1954-

  Add On Air to your for later shelf

  An extensive history of the network and listener-supported radio journalism.

• Peace Is a Shy Thing

  the Life and Art of Tim O'Brien

  Vernon, Alex, 1967-

  Add Peace Is a Shy Thing to your for later shelf

  This is a biography of the man who wrote "The Things They Carried" and several other books, including a memoir, "Dad's Maybe Book."

• Several Short Sentences About Writing

  Klinkenborg, Verlyn

  Add Several Short Sentences About Writing to your for later shelf

  The author teaches writing. His book is useful, it is entertaining, and it is wise.

• The Soul of An Octopus

  a Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness

  Montgomery, Sy

  Add The Soul of An Octopus to your for later shelf

  It was a finalist for the National Book Award, but I wondered if our book group would like it. They did!

• The Speckled Beauty

  a Dog and His People

  Bragg, Rick

  Add The Speckled Beauty to your for later shelf

  I like a storyteller who can make me laugh out loud. Bragg does this a lot. Speck may not be a "good boy," but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about him and his family.

• The Way the World Works

  Essays

  Baker, Nicholson

  Add The Way the World Works to your for later shelf

  I like Baker's essays even more than his fiction. I especially enjoyed "Painkiller Deathstreak," his analysis of video game violence. Masterful.

• Writings and Drawings

  Thurber, James, 1894-1961

  Add Writings and Drawings to your for later shelf

  I have not found much nonfiction in this one yet. But it includes all of "My Life and Hard Times" and close to a thousand pages of Thurber's humor.