Knox County Public Library, Knoxville, TN

Sharyn McCrumb and Adam Edwards To Read from New NASCAR Novel

Get revved up for acclaimed author Sharyn McCrumb and her co-author NASCAR driver Adam Edwards at the East Tennessee History Center at noon on Friday, March 19 for a reading and book signing of their novel Faster Pastor. The event is free and open to the public.

Faster Pastor is the story of Camber Berkley, a young stock car driver who wrecks his car on a winding mountain road, landing right in the midst of the funeral of an elderly NASCAR fan. As punishment for his spectacular car wreck, the local authorities of the small Tennessee town of Judas Grove give him a choice: serve three months in jail for reckless driving, or spend two weeks teaching the local ministers to drive stock cars, so that they can compete in race whose prize is the $2 million legacy left by that deceased NASCAR fan.

It's the Friends of the Library Used Book Sale!

Join us February 28 through March 6 in the Knoxville Convention and Exposition Center, lower level of the Holiday Inn at the World's Fair Site. The annual Used Book Sale is recognized as one of the best events of its kind in the southeast. The sale includes both ex-library books and books donated by the general public. Except for specially priced books, all books are $2 or less. Make sure to browse the rare books and first editions as well!

This year, check out the sale at more convenient times with the newly extended hours. There's even curbside pickup, so you can buy all you want without having to worry about carrying all those books back to your car.

Members Only Preview (memberships may be purchased at the door)
Saturday, February 27: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Open to the Public
Sunday, February 28: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday - Friday, March 1-5: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 6 (Bag Day): 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, please call 215-8775.

Justice as Fairness: Part 3

John Rawls warns against a political life dominated by dogmatic fanaticism or apathetic resignation. The University of Tennessee Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy and the Knox County Public Library invite you to participate in a study of his book, Justice as Fairness: A restatement. Each part is in a discussion format facilitated by a UT faculty member with expertise on Rawls's work. No previous knowledge of Rawls's work is expected.

Part 3: The Argument from the Original Position

with Iris Goodwin, UT College of Law

Click here to download Part 3, or use the player below:

Other parts:

Part 1: Fundamental Ideas with Joe Cook, UT College of Law

Part 2: Principles of Justice with Otis Stephens, UT College of Law

Part 4: Institutions of a Just Basic Structure
with Matt Deaton, UT Dept. of Philosophy, podcast coming soon

Part 5: The Question of Stability
with David Reidy, UT Dept. of Philosophy, podcast coming soon

Check here for more information on the symposium.

Subscribe for free to get new episodes automatically downloaded so you can listen whenever and wherever you want.

Knox County Public Library Podcasts by Knox County Public Library is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. © 2010 Some Rights Reserved. Music credit: "Random Opus" by Robert A. Wolf (available on Mevio).

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Justice as Fairness: Part 2

John Rawls warns against a political life dominated by dogmatic fanaticism or apathetic resignation. The University of Tennessee Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy and the Knox County Public Library invite you to participate in a study of his book, Justice as Fairness: A restatement. Each part is in a discussion format facilitated by a UT faculty member with expertise on Rawls's work. No previous knowledge of Rawls's work is expected.

Part 2: Principles of Justice with Otis Stephens, UT College of Law

Click here to download Part 2, or use the player here:

Other parts:

Part 1: Fundamental Ideas with Joe Cook, UT College of Law

Part 3: The Argument from the Original Position
with Iris Goodwin, UT College of Law

Part 4: Institutions of a Just Basic Structure
with Matt Deaton, UT Dept. of Philosophy, podcast coming soon

Part 5: The Question of Stability
with David Reidy, UT Dept. of Philosophy, podcast coming soon

Check here for more information on the symposium.

Knox County Public Library Podcasts by Knox County Public Library is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. © 2010 Some Rights Reserved. Music credit: "Random Opus" by Robert A. Wolf (available on Mevio).

Gary Paulsen, author of Hatchet, to speak at UT on March 2

We've teamed up with the Center for Children's and Young Adult Literature to present an evening with Gary Paulsen on Tuesday, March 2, 7 p.m. at the University Center Auditorium, 1502 Cumberland Ave. Three-time winner of the Newbery Honor, Paulsen will be discussing his life of adventure and his newest book, Wood's Runner. The event is free and open to the public. Paulsen will be available to sign books after the talk.

Gary Paulsen is one of America's most popular writers for young people. With more than 200 books and as many articles and short stories to his name, his own experiences form the basis for many of his stories. He got the bug for adventure at an early age. At 14, Paulsen ran away from home to join a traveling carnival. He has dabbled in farm and ranch life, worked as an engineer and a construction worker, and has crossed the country as a truck driver. While sailing around the world and racing the sled dogs across Alaska, he also manages to write award-winning children's books.  Three of his novels-Hatchet, Dogsong, and The Winter Room-were Newbery Honor Books. His books frequently appear on the best books lists of the American Library Association and, in 1997, Paulsen was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement.

His newest work, Wood's Runner, tells the story of Samuel, 13, who is growing up on the frontier of a British colony, America. Far from any town, or news of the war against the King that American patriots have begun near Boston. But the war comes to them. British soldiers and Iroquois attack. Samuel's parents are taken away as prisoners. Samuel follows, hiding, moving silently, determined to find a way to rescue them.

Hear the Story Behind the Heartland Series

Get a behind the scenes look at The Heartland Series at a special talk with Bill Landry, February 18, 5 p.m. at UT's Baker Center. Don't forget you can find the series at the Library! (check it out here)

Justice as Fairness: A Community Book Discussion

John Rawls warns against a political life dominated by dogmatic fanaticism or apathetic resignation. The University of Tennessee Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy and the Knox County Public Library invite you to participate in a study of his book, Justice as Fairness: A restatement. Each part is in a discussion format facilitated by a UT faculty member with expertise on Rawls's work. No previous knowledge of Rawls's work is expected.

Part 1: Fundamental Ideas
with Joe Cook, UT College of Law

Click here to download Part 1, or use the player here:

Part 2: Principles of Justice
with Otis Stephens, UT College of Law

Part 3: The Argument from the Original Position
with Iris Goodwin, UT College of Law

Part 4: Institutions of a Just Basic Structure
Feb. 15, with Matt Deaton, UT Dept. of Philosoph, podcast coming soon

Part 5: The Question of Stability
Feb. 22, with David Reidy, UT Dept. of Philosophy, podcast coming soon

Check here for more information on the symposium.

Knox County Public Library Podcasts by Knox County Public Library is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. © 2010 Some Rights Reserved. Music credit: "Random Opus" by Robert A. Wolf (available on Mevio).

Genealogy database workshop

Several free online conferences for HeritageQuest are coming soon, offered through the Tennessee Electronic Library. The webinars explore beginner to advanced features. HeritageQuest is one of the genealogy databases you can use with your Knox County Public Library card.

Brown Bag Green Book

Join us on Tuesday, February 2nd at 12 p.m. in the East Tennessee History Center Auditorium, 601 S. Gay Street for an informative panel discussion of Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water by Maude Barlow. We'll feature a panel of experts including Renee Hoyos from the Tennessee Clean Water Network, Joanne Logan of the Department of Environmental and Soil Sciences at the University of Tennessee, and Tiffany Foster from TVA.

This program is part of a special film, lecture and discussion series presented in partnership with the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy and the Institute for a Secure and Sustainability Environment.

Learn more here.

Tennessee Stage Company's New Play Readings

Since 1998, Tennessee Stage Company has produced The New Play Festival as a way to spotlight and nurture new playwrights and plays. As part of that festival, they head to the Library to give free table readings to the public. Join us to hear some of Knoxville's finest actors perform the following plays:

The Last Waffle House in America by Leslie Agron
According to Agron, there are no Waffle House's in California, so as you go west across America you come, literally, to the last Waffle House somewhere in Arizona. This slice of life play takes place in and around the last Waffle House in America.
Saturday, January 16, 2:00 p.m. at Fountain City Branch Library
Sunday, January 31, 2:00 p.m. at Lawson McGhee Library

The Good Son by Craig Smith
The Good Son is a crime caper telling the story of a crime that went wrong and the way it comes back to haunt the guilty and the innocent. But who is guilty and who is innocent?
Saturday, January 23, 2:00 p.m. at Fountain City Branch Library
Saturday, January 30, 1:30 p.m. at Lawson McGhee Library

Cupid's Itch by Paul Leeper
Check out this unique and off beat love story set in the world of women's boxing! A shadowy world where things aren't always what they seem and people aren't always what you expect. What else might one expect from a Paul Leeper play?
Saturday, January 30, 3:00 p.m. at Lawson McGhee Library

Give the Gift of Local History!

In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a commemorative edition set of note cards are now on sale at the Library. The note cards showcase photographs from the McClung Historical Collection. Each set includes ten 5x7 blank note cards and envelopes, with each featuring one of five outdoor scenic photographs. The pictures are dated from the 1920's to the 50's. Note cards are available for $10 at any library location. Proceeds benefit the Knox County Public Library. There're a limited number, so act quickly!

Author on Alzheimer's to Share Caregiving Tips at Bearden Branch

KCPL and the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association are partnering to raise awareness and educate the public about the second-most feared illness in the U.S. during National Alzheimer's Awareness Month this November.

Join Monica Vest Wheeler at Bearden Branch Library, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, November 12th as she shares caregiving strategies outlined in her book Alzheimer’s Dementia & Memory Loss: Straight Talk for Families and Caregivers. Wheeler has made it her mission to talk to hundreds of caregivers, then compile their stories, tools, and insights related to the everyday challenges of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's.

Don't forget to check our Alzheimer's Awareness Month subject guide for great resources on the topic.

Brown Bag Green Book

Join us Wednesday, October 28 at 12 p.m. in the East Tennessee History Center Auditorium, 601 S. Gay Street. Pat Hudson, Director of the Lindquist Environmental Appalachian Fellowship (LEAF), and Dawn Coppock, Legislative Director of LEAF, will lead a discussion of Something's Rising: Appalachians Fighting Mountaintop Removal by Silas House and Jason Howard.

"This book is directly relevant for all Tennesseans," Hudson says. "We are at a crossroads-we have a choice. In Kentucky and West Virginia, so many mountains have been lost forever, but we can still decide to protect our mountains."

Learn more here.

A Very Library Costume Contest

Go literary with your Halloween costume this year and you could win a free photo session or a $50 gift card! The Library's hosting a costume contest with a decidedly literary bent. We're asking you to dress as a favorite book character, book, or even a librarian. Bonus points for featuring a book or any creative interpretation in your photograph! Photos must be submitted by November 4.

Learn more here.

James Agee Centennial Film Festival

It's the 100th anniversary of the birth of James Agee. In his lifetime, Agee was known for his film criticism, screenplays and other film work. To celebrate, Knox County Public Library has teamed up with TAMIS (Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound) and the University of Tennessee to present the James Agee Centennial Festival. Join us for screenings of movies that influenced him, those that were championed by him, and even Agee's own work. It's an amazing collection of unique and rarely seen films, paired with lectures and commentaries by James Agee scholars.See the schedule here.

How do you spell R-E-A-D-I-N-G?

You're invited to participate in the Third annual Farragut Rotary Club Adult Spelling Bee. The event will be held on Thursday, May 14, at Pellissippi State Technical Community College’s Clayton Performing Arts Center, beginning at 7 p.m. General admission is free. Consider entering a team and bring friends and colleagues to cheer you on. There will be trophies, door prizes, t-shirts, food and fun. The event helps raise money for Knox County's Imagination Library. Learn more by emailing Ed.

Library Top Ten List: April 2009

You can never have too many of a hot best-seller. The Library wait-list for the following titles is long, and the circulation department would love to have many more copies to lend. If you have bought and read any of these books, don't just let them become dust-collectors! Drop them off at any of the branches to be shared with other readers.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy and Commitment by Steve Harvey
The Associate by John Grisham
Bones of Betrayal by Jefferson Bass
Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark
Malice Lisa Jackson
Night and Day Robert B. Parker
Terminal Freeze by Lincoln Child

Walter Dean Myers: Award Winning Young Adult Author

Catch the author of our spring featured book, Walter Dean Myers, at the 2009 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture on Saturday, April 18, 1 p.m. at the Alex Haley Farm. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

You can see his son, Christopher Myers, an award-winning author and illustrator, on Friday April 17, 7 p.m. at UT's University Center Auditorium

2 Great Brown Bag Opportunities this Wednesday, April 8, 12 p.m.

Brown Bag Green Book
The series continues at a new location: the Market House Room of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce at #17 Market Square. Elizabeth Eason, Principal Architect at Elizabeth Eason Architecture, will discuss the book Cradle to Cradle, Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. Reading the book is optional; bring your own lunch or order in advance and pick up lunch from a downtown restaurant.


Stories Torn from the Pages of Time
"The year 1875 provided plenty of grist for Knoxville newspapers," says local historian Robert Booker, "with a mix of good news and bad." This was the year the Gay Street Bridge blew down, a sensational murder trial and subsequent public gripped the community, and Knoxville College was established. Booker will discuss these and other stories he has uncovered while scanning the pages of Knoxville history. Booker is a columnist with the Knoxville News Sentinel, the author of Two Hundred Years of Black Culture in Knoxville, 1791-1991, a former member of the Tennessee Legislature, and a current Knoxville City Councilman. The lecture is at the East Tennessee History Center, and is free and open to the public. Visitors are invited to bring a bag lunch.

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It's easy! Sign up today and you’ll start saving trees, time and money right away. Just click here (you'll be prompted to log in to your account first), or call any library location and tell them you want to make the switch!

Human Rights and Reform in China: The 2009 Wilman Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture

Friends of the Library will present Minky Worden, Knoxville native and long-time observer of contemporary life in China, at the 2009 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, March 24, 7:30 p.m. at the East Tennessee History Center. Worden is the Media Director of Human Rights Watch, where she works with journalists to help them cover crises, wars, human rights abuses and political developments in over 70 countries. She'll be speaking on "Human Rights and Reform in China: A Look at Global Consequences," from her recent book China's Great Leap: The Beijing Games and Olympian Human Rights Challenges. For more information, please contact 215-8775.

Facebook is Hot--Email is Not

Facebook now claims over 175 million users worldwide, and it's gaining a million new users every week. With the ability to link elementary school friends with current colleagues, it brings new meaning to keeping in touch. But what does it all mean? On Monday, March 9 at 6 p.m. at Lawson McGhee Library, join Dr. Trena Paulus, assistant professor of educational pyschology and research at UT, and Melissa Brenneman, reference librarian at Lawson McGhee Library, for a two-hour workshop that explores social networking from a variety of angles including a tour of features and applications, its history and uniqueness. The discussion will also look at issues of privacy, identity, trust and relationships. For more information, please call 215-8767.

Brown Bag, Green Book

Knox County Public Library and the City of Knoxville are bringing a new Lunch and Learn series to downtown Knoxville called "Brown Bag - Green Book" with a focus on the important topic of sustainability. Each program will feature a prominent Knoxvillian talking about a timely "green book" with a particular look at how ideas in the book are relevant to issues of sustainability in East Tennessee.

Mike Edwards, CEO and President of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce will launch the series on Wednesday, March 11 at 12 p.m. in the Café 4 Conference Room as he discusses Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution and How It Can Renew America by Thomas Friedman.

The public is invited to join the conversation each month, but is not required to read the books to attend. Participants may bring their own lunch or order in advance from Cafe 4 or another downtown restaurant.

The Economy's Tough--the Library Can Help.

Visit the Career Center at Lawson McGhee Library to find many sources to help plan a career or find a job--even in rough times. There's information on writing a great resume and presenting yourself in an interview, information on specific careers, and resources for those on the job search (including area resources, salary comparisons, even specialty databases for students or those over 50). Check out some of the online resources, or head to Lawson McGhee Library to chat with our great Business Reference librarians. Want more help? There's a free Career Transition Fair in the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park, March 10, 2009, from noon – 7 p.m. Learn more about the fair here.

2009 Used Book Sale!

The Friends' Annual Used Book Sale will be held March 1-7 at the Knoxville Convention and Exposition Center at the Holiday Inn on the World's Fair Park. With 18,000 square feet of books, it's the biggest book sale around.

Adult books are $2 for hard covers and $1 or less for paperbacks. Children's books are $1 for hard covers and 50 cents or less for board books and paperbacks. The book sale also includes a wide selection of affordable movies and music and an exceptional selection of rare and special editions. All proceeds of the book sale benefit the Library.

Sunday: 1-5 p.m. (Members' Preview Day)
Monday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday & Wednesday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (Educator Discount Days)
Thursday & Friday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (Half-Price Days)
Saturday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Bag Sale, $3 per bag)

For more information, please call 215-8775 or check online.

Learn How To Survive the Recession

Check out a day of workshops on Saturday, January 24 at Lawson McGhee Library, covering topics from strategies to save for retirement to how to find a job when the unemployment rate is high. The workshops are free, but you must call to register at 215-8722.

From 11 a.m.- 12 p.m.
"Saving for Retirement" and "Strategies for You if You’re Near Retirement" presented by Kathy Parks from Greenbrier Capital Management and Brad Bower from Patriot Investment Management.

From 12 p.m. –1 p.m.
"Starting or Managing a Business in a Bad Economy" presented by counselors from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives).
"How to Find a Job When the Unemployment Rate is High" presented by the Tennessee Career Center.

Christmas Concert with The Rocky Wynder Trio

We'll be decking the halls with the sounds of jazz on Friday, December 5 at 6 p.m. in the Arts @ the Library Room at Lawson McGhee Library. Rocky Wynder returns to perform Christmas favorites including his own "Santa Had a Flat Tire." Come ready to let down your hair, snap your fingers and tap your toes in the friendly atmosphere of the public library.

National Geographic Explorer to Read

Helen Thayer, National Geographic Explorer, is the first woman to walk solo to the Magnet North Pole. Her best selling book, Polar Dream, recounts this historic trek. She'll share this amazing adventure at the East Tennessee History Center on Friday, December 5 at 6 p.m. Presented by Mast General Store.

Give a Gift of Knoxville's History

 
The 2009 Knoxville Remembered calendar is now on sale. This one-of-a-kind calendar features images from the McClung Digital Collections that offer a glimpse into Knoxville’s past. See how Knoxville’s architecture, entertainment and fashion have evolved over the last hundred years through these captivating photographs.

The cover features a photograph of the Emporium Building from July 1927. Other pictures include the University of Tennessee Football Team’s picture from 1924, Federal Judge Hastie’s South Knoxville childhood farmhouse from around 1912, and even children from November 10, 1947 posing in the Children’s Room of Lawson McGhee Library. The photographs are all from the first half of the 20th century.

Calendars are available for $10 at any library location, cash or checks made payable to the Friends of the Knox County Public Library. Proceeds benefit the Knox County Public Library. Contact any library location for more information.

Register to Vote at the Library

The local chapter of the League of Women Voters will sponsor voter registration drives during September at all Library locations. Every Saturday in September, you can head to your public library between 1-5 p.m. to register to vote (the three locations that are closed on Saturday--Corryton Branch, Mascot Branch, and Murphy Branch--will be doing the drive on Mondays from 2-5 p.m.). Check to see what branch is closest to you, or call 215-8700.

After Hours @ The Library

Listen in every first Friday of the month, 6-8 p.m., in Lawson McGhee Library's Arts @ the Library Room. It all kicks off Friday, September 5 with The Rocky Wynder Trio. Free admission.

This year's series features some of the best musicians on the local jazz scene today--a couple of them even qualify as "Venerable Institutions." The term may be stodgy but the music is not. Come ready to let down your hair, snap your fingers and tap your toes in the friendly low-key atmosphere of the public library.

Movies on the Town Kicks off Friday, September 5!

You picked the flicks and we're proud to show you the results:
Showing at World's Fair Park
September 5: Babe, The Gallant Pig, G, 1995
September 12: Jurassic Park, PG-13, 1993
September 19: Sixteen Candles, PG, 1984*

Showing at Market Square
October 3: Napoleon Dynamite, PG, 2004
October 10: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, PG, 2001
Double Feature Extravaganza October 17: Ghostbusters, PG, 1984, and Beetlejuice, PG, 1988

The fun starts at 7:30 p.m. with pre-show entertainment. The movies kick off at dusk and will end before 10 p.m. (with the exception of our double feature finale). Admission is free and open to the public.

All films are PG-13 or less, but parents are encouraged to read reviews to make sure the films are good for their families. Special this year, the movies shown on World's Fair Park are Fido friendly! Dogs with good manners are welcome. Leashes are required.

*This movie is edited for content.

Grand Opening: The Museum of East Tennessee History, August 23-24

Head downtown August 23-24 for the grand opening celebration of The Museum of East Tennessee History. History speaks through the museum’s permanent and changing exhibits, which focus on East Tennessee’s rich history and heritage. Traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian and other venues also share special stories from our past.

The museum will hold regular hours Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and on Sunday from 1-5 p.m. For more information, please call 215-8830.

Pick the Flick for Movies on the Town!

It's time for another fun year of outdoor movies and--as always--you get to pick the flicks! Choose up to 6 of your favorites or write one in. Voting starts August 13 and runs through August 25 and the winners will be announced right here on August 28. Vote now!

This year, you may have noticed a slight name change. We started out as Movies on Market Square, but now we're trying out new digs on World's Fair Park for our September (September 5, 12,19) line up. We'll be back on Market Square for October (October 3, 10, and 17)! The fun starts at 7:30 p.m. with pre-show entertainment and the movies kick off at dusk.

So get your blanket or lawn chairs in tip-top shape and prepare for a night in front of the silver screen!

Learn more about Movies on the Town.

Celebrate our Grandest Grandparents!

Nominate your favorite grandparent or elder for Beck Cultural Exchange Center's "Grandest Grandparents." For 16 years, Beck has been honoring community elders who play a central role in their communities and families, and represent living history. Nominees will be honored and a selection of their stories will be showcased at a luncheon on September 27. Download a form, or call 524-8461 for more information. Nominations are due August 1.

A Death in the Family: A Restoration of the Author's Text

James Agee's A Death in the Family has been a staple in American literature for 50 years, but it is not the novel the author intended to publish. University of Tennessee professor Michael A. Lofaro restored the novel to reflect the manuscript Agee left completed at his death. In this recording he discusses the new version: A Death in the Family: A Restoration of the Author's Text.

You can download the recording here or subscribe for free to get new episodes automatically downloaded so you can listen whenever and wherever you want.

Recommended Reading: Shopgirl

Steve Martin's Shopgirl tells the story of young, lonely and usually broke Mirabelle Butterfield, an artist who sells gloves (which nobody ever buys) at the Beverly Hills Neiman Marcus. Mirabelle is looking for love--or at least romance and companionship--with middle-aged Ray Porter, a womanizing Seattle millionaire who may, or may not, have hidden redeeming qualities. It's a disarming and quiet story about the fragile connections in modern life.

Recommended Reading: Zero

Learn about the history of a world changing idea in Charles Seife's book Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea. By book's end, no reader will dispute Seife's claim that zero is among the most fertile--and therefore most dangerous--ideas that humanity has devised. Equally powerful and dangerous is its inseparable counterpart, infinity, for both it and zero invoke to many the divine power that created an infinite universe from the void. The power of zero lies in such a contradiction, and civilization has struggled with it, alternatively seeking to ban and to embrace zero and infinity. The clash has led to holy wars and persecutions, philosophical disputes and profound scientific discoveries. It's a deep idea, but the tone is light and lively, and even includes mathematical cleverness such as a proof that Winston Churchill is equal to a carrot.

Recommended Reading: The Preservationist

David Maine's The Preservationist is a compelling and fresh novel based on the story of Noah and the flood, told with wisdom, wry humor, and a very modern sensibility. Closely following the biblical text (which runs only two pages in most editions), Maine concentrates on the subtle changing responses of Noah and his family throughout the ordeal. He also explores issues of faith, doubt, and the nature of God with resourcefulness and courage.

Recommended Reading: Orchid Fever

Eric Hansen's Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy covers the fascinating stories of orchid smugglers, fist-fighting botanists, clandestine orchid nurseries, and man-crushing killer orchids weighing half a ton. Hansen spent seven years exploring the far corners of the earth--marveling at flowers of uncommon beauty, studying the history of the orchid trade, and grappling with the vicious, bizarre, and petty world of plant politics that sometimes makes it impossible to protect endangered species. It's the botanical world you never knew you wanted to know about.

Recommended Reading: Life of Pi

Yann Martel’s Life of Pi tells the story of a zoo-keeper’s son who sets sail with his family and their menagerie. The ship sinks, leaving Pi on a life raft with a hyena, an orangutan, an injured zebra and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. After the beast dispatches the others, Pi is left to survive with the tiger on the 26-foot-long raft, using all his knowledge, wits and faith to keep himself alive.

Recommended Reading: River Town

When Peter Hessler arrived as a Peace Corps volunteer in Fuling, it marked the first time in more than half a century that the remote town tucked away amid the terraced hills of the Yangtze River valley had an American resident. His memoir, River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, chronicles the two years he spent learning about the changing life in remote China, and the complex process that takes place when one is immersed in a radically different society.

 

 

Recommended Reading: The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker

You'll be sure to find something to laugh about in The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker, edited by Robert Mankoff. It's a great book to sit down with a cup of coffee (hopefully, in your new prize mug!).

Recommended Reading: Evening

In Susan Minot's novel, Evening, 65-year-old Ann Lord drifts in and out of a morphine-induced haze as she lies dying of cancer. She's aware of her present, of her children's attentions, but is spending more and more time in the past, particularly a single, glorious summer weekend 40 years ago when she attended a friend's wedding. In that weekend of revelation and tragedy, she met and lost the love of her life. As the end nears, Ann's drug-induced hallucinations, memories and imagined conversations  all merge into one roiling stream of love.

Recommended Reading: Spook

From Mary Roach, the author of Stiff, Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife is a quirky and witty look at how science had tried to prove the existence of the soul.  You'll meet a surgeon who weighed consumptives at their moment of death to see if the escaping soul could be measured, and a doctor in India trying to determine whether children have been reincarnated. Roach tries her hand at communicating with the dead--including going to medium school, subjecting her brain to electromagnetic waves to see if they induce the experience of seeing ghosts and joining a group trying to record sounds made by the spirits of the Donner party. Full of fun and arcane trivia, this book explores some of the oddest nooks of science and belief.