Lanier is one of the pioneers of the Internet and a contributor to the creation of virtual reality. He passionately argues against online collectivism and the lasting implications it will have on our creativity. He attacks social networking sites, Wikipedia, Creative Commons, and Web 2.0 as a whole.
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (Fiction)
Fingersmith is a Victorian novel of orphans, thieves, bizarre aristocrats, and spiraling betrayals. In short, it's the perfect complement to a cold day and a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
Atlas of Remote Islands by Judith Schalansky (Nonfiction)
This book, at first, seems as if it is just a simple idea elegantly executed: an atlas of fifty tiny islands in the middle nowhere. However, this book is much more than a pleasant novelty. Schalansky has taken the history of these islands and turned each one into a beautiful, disarming gem of a story.
-Eric, Reference
The Way of the World by Nicolas Bouvier (Nonfiction)
Nicolas Bouvier's account of his journey in an unreliable Fiat from Geneva, Switzerland, to Afghanistan expresses the joy of travel. Bouvier deserves a place with Patrick Leigh Fermor, V.S. Naipaul, and Jack Kerouac at the top of the travel writing genre.
Freedarko Presents: The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac (Nonfiction)
Freedarko is a zany, brainy, basketball-obsessed collective; and their book is full of eclectic portraits of the NBA’s stars and villains, as well as odd and delightful stats and insights.
-Megan, Reference
Upon Megan's recommendation, I reserved this book (ed. 2010) for my 12 yr old son, but ended up reading it myself. The "insider" facts and stats are laid out in magnificent fashion and is a goldmine for anyone who embraces graphs, maps, and charts. My favorite section had to be "Hair Champions" where the best NBA beards and tallest hair were measured in painstaking detail. I also enjoyed learning about the game's roots as far back as the Buffalo Germans and the Rens from early 1900s. The author presents the material from several different angles and keeps you interested throughout. The trivia in this guide transcends any that you would find elsewhere by giving insight to the off-the-court interests & hobbies of several players.. -Mark
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback, Mark! I'm glad you liked the book. In my opinion, the first one from 2008 is even better, so I hope you make time for it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, here's a link to Freedarko's incredible blog: http://freedarko.blogspot.com.
-Megan