Blog Archives
Staff Picks – Through My Eyes
Through My Eyes: A Quarterback’s Journey by Tim Tebow
I like Tim Tebow. I was impressed by his success with the Denver Broncos this past football season. So I read his book.
This young man has a remarkable story that explains his urge to compete and win, but his desire is very personal. Simply put, he believes God has given him certain talents and his intent is to use these talents to his fullest potential. This makes Tim Tebow a very serious person, and he writes with seriousness as he describes his schooling, athletic experiences, and accomplishments in life.
And then there is the fun-loving Tebow. Mixed in with the trophy-winning football games and special trips to the Philippines with his missionary parents are delightful stories of comic exploits featuring one-upmanship between him and his two older brothers (note: these began when Tim was only 3 years old, with his brothers being 6 and 9). There are also several humorous episodes involved in his efforts to lead his fellow football players as they attempted to win particularly important games at the high school, college, and professional levels.
Tim Tebow is not terribly complicated but he has led a full and interesting life up until now, a life worth reading about. I happily recommend getting to know Tim Tebow through his words and eyes.
Found in the Adult Nonfiction area: 921 Tebow c2011
Recommended by: Paula at Main
Staff Picks – Chicks With Guns
CHICKS WITH GUNS By Lindsay McCrum
Gun ownership is generally a controversial issue in politics and society. Here, photographer Lindsay McCrum presents the female side of gun ownership and use through stunning photographs and thoughtful essays written by the subjects themselves.
The women and girls presented here possess a variety of guns and reasons for owning the guns. The essays describe how the “chicks” got interested in guns, how they learned to shoot, what they shoot (mostly game, some trophies, and a lot of targets), and if they keep the guns for protection. Some of them have professions that require guns — police officer and armed services.
The reader is likely to be impressed by the guns themselves, as well as the knowledge possessed by their owners. They all know at least the name, type, and caliber of their guns; other know much more—examples, 20-gauge Remington 879 Express Magnum with a 1-4.5x variable Bushnell scope; Remington Model 700, in 7mm Weatherby Magnum, with custom walnut stock by Harry Lawson, fitted with Swarovski TDS 6×16 telescope sight. These women are very serious about their guns.
The photographs are in black and white as well as color; the subjects are females ranging from age 8 to 85; the props are taxidermist specialties or the outdoors or the subject’s bedroom; and every one of these gals has something special about her.
This is a very interesting book, slightly oversized, published in 2011, and found in Adult Nonfiction at 363.33 McCrum.
Recommended by: Paula at Main
Staff Picks – Seal Target Geronimo
Seal Target Geronimo by Chuck Pfarrer
What would drive a wealthy playboy to become a terrorist? More to the point, how was it that a Saudi Arabian young man, born to a millionaire and accustomed to a life of riches and freedom, took on the ascetic life of a radical Muslim and made his life goal that of killing all people who did not honor the Koran as he did.
The world quickly learned about this man—Osama bin Laden—following the terrorist attack on America on September 11, 2001, when thousands of people died in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. The middle chapters of this book tell how bin Laden came to hate so many people, especially Americans, and how he formed a cadre of supporters to carry out his mission of terror.
At the other end of the spectrum are found people who fight for justice and goodness, who train to hunt the people who want to destroy a particular way of life. Some of these men are Navy SEALs. The early chapters of this book describe the intense training that forms the basis for spectacular rescue missions as well as intensive fighting missions that these special forces carry out.
Finally, the end of this book informs an eager public about the mission to take down Osama bin Laden: how it was planned, practiced, and carried out. In the style of a thriller novel, author Pfarrer (Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy SEAL) tells the story America wanted to hear.
Adult Non-Fiction 363.325 Pfarrer c 2011
Recommended by: Paula at Main
Staff Picks – Our History Through Music
Sorry for the long silence! Trying to catch up after the holidays and weather and various library projects has set me back. We should be back on track now though, especially since I have realized I can write these ahead of time and have them post automatically! Thank you WordPress. We’ll have new reviews and suggestions at noon every Wednesday from here on out. And if something happens to change that, I’ll be sure to mention it before it happens! I’m changing my middle name to Dependable. 😉 Anyway, on to what you’re here for!
Our History Through Music by Scott Derks
OUR HISTORY THROUGH MUSIC
(Vol. XII of Working Americans 1880-2011)
Did you know that playing phonograph records on radio began in 1935 with Martin Block? He had a hard time convincing his bosses at WNEW in New York to let him play records instead of broadcasting live music in between the bulletins of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial.
This and tons of other facts and stories about the way music has been influential and has changed throughout American history are in this great new reference book. This book may not be checked out, but the short chapters with bulleted lists are just right for casual armchair reads in the Reference area of our newly refurbished library. Come look at this new book, found on the Reference shelves at R 305.5 Derks c2011 vol. XII.
Recommended by: Paula at Main
Staff Picks – Animals in Translation
Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson
This book is a fascinating explanation of the ways animals feel………yes, animals have feelings. Ms. Grandin is autistic and has succeeded in her career because of her connection to animals. She thinks in pictures, not in words, so she sees the world in much the same way that animals do. She can sense how they feel and therefore can provide methods to get animals to behave in ways that are appropriate to their environment. In addition, Ms. Grandin talks about physiological characteristics – hearing, seeing, and such – besides the inner workings of the brains of all kinds of animals, from cattle to cats and dogs to birds and even lizards.
She is primarily known for her work with cattle. She noticed that the animals were reluctant to move through chutes to get vaccinations. The shots didn’t bother them one bit, but the sunlight reflecting in a puddle on the ground disturbed them. So did the piece of metal that got caught on a fence post. Any one of several small things that did not belong in a chute could be items that would make the cattle stand still. Prodding them with sharp or electric tools disturbed them, too, of course, but the people in the cattle yards could not see a way other than that to make the animals move.
Enter Temple Grandin. She got down on her hands and knees and, with her eyes at nearly the eye level of the cattle, she could see the bright reflection of the sun in the brown puddle and it hurt her eyes. She could see the dangling metal that shimmered in a breeze. She could see the shadow on the ground that made it look like there was a drop off where the cow felt it would fall. Eventually, she was able to convince the owners of many cattle yards to build the chutes to certain specifications, so that the cattle would willingly walk along the enclosures to get their vaccinations.
This account is just one of many that Ms. Grandin presents in a nearly conversational style that is easy to read; the content is really interesting, and brings to print things most of us have never thought of. I highly recommend this book for its insight into animal behavior as well as the exposition of the positive side of the autistic brain. The call number is 591.5 Grandin c2005 and is in Adult Nonfiction.
Recommended by: Paula at Main
Staff Picks – Holy Holidays
Holy Holidays: The Catholic Origins of Celebration by Greg Tobin
Note the subtitle: “the Catholic origins…” While this book goes through the Catholic year, beginning with Christmas—the birth of Jesus Christ—it does not stop with the ways Catholics observe the particular holy days. The author has done extensive research and brings together the rituals and beliefs from a variety of religions, ethnicities, and nationalities to explain how the standard holidays have come to be celebrated today.
Find out the conflict between the Julian and Gregorian calendars – how did Pope Gregory win? Learn the words to “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and the religious symbolism attached to this popular song. St. Valentine and St. Patrick were real people – read their stories. Ash Wednesday originated in the sixth century A.D.; the same ritual is performed today. St. Scholastica is the patron of autistic children. Easter is the Catholic holy day most filled with joy, but it has a variety of popular observations, many of which do have a religious connection. Summer holidays, including July 4, are discussed, side by side with special saint days. Thanksgiving has some religious traits – what are they? North American Saints are named in an Appendix.
This hand-sized paperback is found in the Adult NonFiction stacks with the call number 263.9 Tobin. Enjoy this book, crammed with information, written in a very easy style – it will open your eyes to many interesting topics.
Recommended by: Paula at Main
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