Nonfiction

  • Strange History

    One hot July day a woman walks out of her house and starts dancing. She dances for hours and then days. Soon other people become infected with the dancing plague and before long hundreds are uncontrollably dancing in the streets. Sounds like a great science fiction story, right? Well it actually happened in Strasburg, Germany… Continue reading

  • Crime Comics: Fiction and Non-Fiction

    Crime comics were big in the 1940s and 50s, but when adoption of the Comics Code Authority in 1954 limited the types and severity of crime cartoonists could depict, their popularity waned. In recent decades crime comics have gained in popularity and stature as several talented creators have worked to resurrect and reinvent the genre,… Continue reading

  • An Evening with Jamison Green at the Capitol Hill Library!

    On Thursday, August 1st at 6:30 p.m., come join us at the Capitol Hill Branch of the Seattle Public Library for a reading and discussion with author, educator, and transgender advocate, Jamison Green.  Mr. Green has spent over 25 years working for transgender civil rights, health, and social safety. Starting with a grass-roots support group… Continue reading

  • Toilet Reads: Fascinating Nonfiction about the Necessary Acts

     The human body is fascinating. But sometimes what is more fascinating is what we do with what comes out of the human body. The book Life of Pee, by Sally Magnusson, is a testament to some of the strange and ingenious things we have done with urine. We have used it to dye our hair,… Continue reading

  • A Tale of Two Burgs

    In July of 1863, 150 years ago, Blue still fought Gray and the fate of a nation was hanging in the balance. Two great battles ensued simultaneously, one to control the western nation and one as an invasion of the north. At Vicksburg, Mississippi, a great siege was in progress under the command of General… Continue reading

  • Do you speak dog?

    Do you have dog friends? You know, the ones that didn’t have kids, they had dogs instead? Yep, I’m one of those.  We don’t mean to drive you crazy with our stories about how smart, funny and devoted our dogs are or how recalcitrant, devious, and amusing they can be. Those of us owned by… Continue reading

  • Make Stuff and Be Happy

    Ok, so there are a lot of us out there who are creative and could use a couple of extra bucks in our pockets, am I right? It struck me as time for a brief how-to to help bridge that gap between the makers and the market. Here are some outlets to investigate, and some… Continue reading

  • Extreme outdoors

    Although I’m fairly wimpy in “real life,” I enjoy the vicarious experience of reading about other peoples’ travails in harsh climates. Here are some favorite tales of true adventure and survival (with a bit of history thrown in): The Cruelest Miles by Gay Salisbury When isolated Nome, Alaska, was struck by a diphtheria epidemic in… Continue reading

  • Cold nose, warm heart – a dog’s life

    I am a working dog: I protect, I comfort, I listen. I am a good dog. Here are some of my stories. Dog Heroes: Saving Lives and Protecting America by Jen Bidner This history of canine search and rescue celebrates brave dogs with special talents, such as detecting skin cancer and locating unmarked Civil War… Continue reading

  • Individuals

    While explaining diversity to the class, a teacher says, “We are all individuals,” which prompts one student to proclaim, “I’m not!” A funny joke, but it’s also an apt depiction of “different.” Manuals on identifying and coping with human differences are factually and practically useful, but sometimes hearing about someone’s life helps a reader more… Continue reading

  • Think about stuff

    I was tidying the shelves in the Living Room at Central Library when I ran across a book called Tattoos: I Ink Therefore I Am. I read through the chapter titles: “How to Read a Tattoo, and Other Perilous Quests,” “Tattoo You,” “To Ink or Not to Ink,” “The Vice of the Tough Tattoo.” Other… Continue reading

  • Your Next 5 Books: Essential non-fiction by local authors

    In this column we regularly highlight a Your Next 5 Books submission that we find interesting, funny, unique, or useful to other readers. Submit Your Next 5 Books entry now, or stop by and see us in person, and maybe you could see your (anonymous) reading habits on Shelf Talk! Continue reading

  • Don’t forget to eat your veggies!

    Have you ever wondered what this whole ‘vegan’ movement is about? These days there’s an abundance of animal-free products on grocery shelves. Restaurants specializing in meatless and dairy-free cuisine are gaining popularity in many cities. People adopt a vegan way of eating for many different reasons. Some are concerned about how animals are treated on… Continue reading

  • London Calling: a Reading List.

    “London itself perpetually attracts, stimulates, gives me a play & a story & a poem, without any trouble, save that of moving my legs through the streets… To walk alone in London is the greatest rest.”   ~ Virginia Woolf, Diary, March 28, 1930. So you say your tickets to the London Olympics got lost the… Continue reading

  • Crash: Bank Failures and Other Economic Catastrophes

    You don’t have to look far to find news that illustrates how we are still struggling to dig our way out of a severe economic crisis. How did we get in this mess again? As it was happening, there were lots of articles about housing market bubbles, bank failures, subprime lending, bailouts, securities scandals and… Continue reading

  • Summer reading: Reviews from readers at our Northeast Branch

    Cakes and Ale by Somerset W. Maugham An old book with language used at the time in Britain. Smooth writing with an easy beat to follow. Interesting descriptions of people and places. ~ Carol Harlem: The Four Hundred Year History from Dutch Village to Capital of Black America by Jonathan Gill A fascinating history of the… Continue reading

  • Your Next 5 Books: Real life adventure

    In this column we regularly highlight a Your Next 5 Books submission that we find interesting, funny, unique, or useful to other readers. Submit Your Next 5 Books entry now, or stop by and see us in person, and maybe you could see your (anonymous) reading habits on Shelf Talk! Continue reading

  • The Rules We Live By

    Society is constantly telling us how we should behave: behavior is enforced through rules and laws, schools and teachers have certain expectations, and religious leaders preach about conduct based on sacred texts. Most often, we learn how to behave through our parents and families. We are raised for the better part of our years by… Continue reading