As a cat veterinarian, I’ve spent most of my adult life trying to diagnose and treat the many physical ailments, and address the myriad physical issues, that afflict cats. As for their mental state, that’s always been a challenge and a mystery, and I was hoping this book would give me a little more wisdom in this area. It turned…
This is an absolutely hilarious memoir by the actor and comedian Seth Rogen. Filled with stories about his Jewish family, his comedy and movie career, bizarre interactions with other celebrities, and many, many stories about weed, mushrooms, and LSD. I’m sure the book version is funny, but I rented the audiobook which is not only read by Rogen, but has…
This is my kind of book: a perfect blend of science and memoir. Richard Shepherd chronicles his journey to becoming the UK’s most accomplished forensic pathologist. His explanations of how you can determine the time, cause, and circumstances of a person’s death are fascinating, and the cases he describes and court trials in which he’s testified as an expert witness…
I stumbled upon a used copy of this paperback at The Strand. It looked amusing and intriguing, so I grabbed it. Turned out to be only mildly intriguing, and even less amusing, and, in many instances, was kinda annoying. The author, a New York writer/artist/bohemian, admits he has a problem with “clutter”, and at his girlfriend’s urging (i.e., ultimatums), he…
This book received an enormous amount of praise and acclaim and it had been on my reading list for a while. Well, it certainly deserves the accolades. Race certainly colors nearly every aspect of American society. But beyond race, there is another system that is even more powerful, a caste system that we don’t openly speak about, but that strongly…
This is a really wonderful book on the art and practice of photography, with the main emphasis on how to achieve your photographic vision, rather than the camera mechanics. The author has a deep respect for his photographic subjects, and he really puts his heart and soul into the photographs he takes. He explains very clearly and honestly why things…
A riveting story about a serial killer that struck in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Because the victims were gay, and the crimes occurred during the AIDS crisis, the case was largely ignored. The author skillfully takes you through the gripping story, but he concentrates on the lives of the victims rather than on the killer, which really humanizes…
This is a small book designed to try to inspire or re-inspire photographers by showing some of the unique approaches to photography taken by a variety of photographers. The author says you should not limit yourself to the giants of photography for inspiration. She says that we’re part of a modern movement in photography now that photography has become so…
This book got great reviews and I was really looking forward to reading it. Wallace is a quiet young black guy from Alabama. He’s a graduate student, working in a university laboratory. He’s gay. He’s part of a group of friends, some of whom are gay, some are straight (and some who are gay but pretending to be straight), and…
I’ve had this book on my shelf for a few years, knowing that tackling this would be a major undertaking. It’s taken me about two months, but I finally finished it. I’m a Beatles fan, and I’ve read a lot of books about them. Many books claim to be the “definitive” biography, but you’d be hard pressed to find a…
A small book in which the collected wisdom of acclaimed photographers and industry professionals is presented in an engaging way. At the top of the left page is a maxim. Below that is a photograph. Below the photo, and on the page opposite, the maxim is explored in greater depth. To become a better photographer, it’s important to see the…
I enjoyed Wright’s book “Going Clear” about the crazy Scientologists, so I thought I’d give this one a go. In 1988, deputy sheriff Paul Ingram of Olympia, Washington is accused by his daughters of outrageous sexual abuse. We’re talking satanic rituals, cannibalism, bestiality, abortion, gang rape, etc. The daughters’ stories change constantly, and no physical evidence is ever discovered, and…
Jethro Tull were my favorite band in high school. I was kinda obsessed with them. Around 1980, either their music turned bad, or I outgrew it (both, I think), and I stopped closely following them. But during those early years, they produced some amazing music, much of which I still listen to frequently. There aren’t many books written about the…
Last year I finally got around to reading Bukowski. I read Post Office, and then Ham on Rye. I liked the straightforward, gritty no-nonsense style of both books. Factotum has that same style, but it wasn’t nearly as interesting as those others. I’m sure some of that has to do with my getting used to some of the content, which…
This book arose from an e-mail conversation that Anderson Cooper started with his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, after she recovered from pneumonia at the age of 91. Despite his mother’s fame and public life, he never really knew the details of her life, and this e-mail conversation was his attempt to find out her true story. I’ve always liked and admired…