Stephen Fry in America
Stephen Fry
British actor and comedian Stephen Fry (Jeeves of Jeeves and Wooster fame) is that rare breed of European – one who actually likes Americans. In his attempt to show his British audiences that we aren’t all a bunch of loud, vulgar, gun-toting religious nuts he undertakes a project to visit all 50 states…in a black British taxi. Many of his visits are more than just tourist spots. He visits the boarder patrol in Texas, the homeless in Oklahoma and Hmong food stores in Minnesota. He also visits Ted Turner on his bison ranch, the Maharishi University in Iowa, hunts, canoes, eats tons of fried stuff and generally has a grand time…with lots of ridiculous safety gear involved:
How is it that work clothes know when they are...
The Visual Miscellaneum: A Colorful Guide to the World’s Most Consequential Trivia
David MacCandless
MacCandless’ book is an example of graphic design at its finest – a perfect combination of attractive art and a clear message. From the serious (carbon footprints) to the frivolous (dictators mustaches) creative graphic design makes the data beautiful and...
Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things
Dr. Randy Frost
Despite not watching tv, I have managed to become addicted to A&E’s show Hoarders. Being a popular reality show, the surface of this bizarre illness is barely scratched. Dr. Frost goes much deeper into the overwhelming desire some people have to save and hoard things, often to the point of limiting their mobility and damaging their health. Dr. Frost tells of his research, includes bits of interviews with patients and explains how he tries to help hoarders. If anything, this book and the tv show, may finally give you the oomph to clean out your basement and closet. It sure worked for me. Yick.
Eating the Dinosaur
Chuck Klosterman
What I think I love about Chuck Klosterman most is his ability to make anything (and I mean anything) he writes about interesting. I may not understand a sport, have heard a band or have seen a tv show but he still explains their relevance (as he sees it) to modern culture. His scrutiny of the mundane make the mundane fascinating and important. So much we take for granted – be it Weezer’s lyrics or Pepsi’s advertising – are both interesting in their own right and in some ways do have impact on our lives.
In one essay, Klosterman uses the example of the band Weezer’s lyrics to highlight the ingrained irony in American thought. Fans of the band are confused by the totally unironic lyrics; Americans assume...
The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch)
Carroll Spinney
Spinney is probably the most famous man no-one has ever heard of. He’s been on the cover of Time, traveled the world and performed with the likes of Bob Hope and the Rockettes, conducted orchestras, appeared as a guest on every late-night talk show and has been on tv for 40 years. All of this was done playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Spinney’s short and very sweet book tells of his early interests in puppets, his friendship with Jim Henson and the incredible rise and popularity of Sesame Street. Spinney is as wonderful and kind outside the bird suit as he is in it.
The Guinea Pig Dairies
AJ Jacobs
Jacob’s past books have focused on his year-long experiments – reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica and living “biblically” (kinda). His Guinea Pig Dairies chronicles his shorter month-long experiments. Some, like telling the truth no matter what, are unqualified failures (albeit hilarious ones). His online dating experiment is kind of creepy. And his experiment to do whatever his wife asks is incredibly satisfying. Not as in-depth or thought provoking as his past books, but still an entertaining...