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Category Archives: Books
That’s not in my American History Book by Thomas Ayres
This is a nice little trivia book for the history buff. It also makes decent bathroom reading. The bathroom reading part isn’t meant to be an insult, to me it’s a compliment and it accurately describes the book’s style: short … Continue reading
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Return of the L Word by Douglas Massey
Here’s another book I picked up through an Eric Alterman recommendation via his site (altercation.msnbc.com). Return of the L Word isn’t too different from Robert Reich’s Reason. They lay out the marching orders, talking points and facts for Liberals to use as … Continue reading
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The Gift of the Magi debuted 100 years ago
According to History.com (aka the History Channel’s web site, aka the WWII Channel), this was the first publishing of O. Henry’s famous story about a young married couple making great personal sacrifices to give each other Christmas presents. It was … Continue reading
Book People
Across the street from Waterloo Records (Sixth Street & Lamar Boulevard) is Book People, the best independent book store in Austin. Sure it’s easier and cheaper to buy hardcovers, paperbacks, coffee table books, etc. at the monster chains (Borders, Barnes … Continue reading
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Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss
This book was a hit in the UK back in 2003 and it arrived on US shores in 2004. Obviously, I only got around to reading it recently (other books got in the way). The review is going to be … Continue reading
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Reason by Robert Reich
I’ll open up this review with a disclosure (as reporters and news organizations always should when they’re covering rivals or their parent corporations). I am a fan of Robert Reich ever since I first heard him speak on NPR in … Continue reading
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The Simpsons: One Step Beyond Forever
While us Simpsons fans are waiting and anticipating the release of the Seventh Season on DVD, the latest guide book on the 13th and 14th seasons came out before Halloween. I’ve been reading it off and on so that’s why … Continue reading
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Bad Astronomy by Philip Plait
For several years I have followed Dr. Plait’s badastronomy.com site because he does an excellent job pointing out how Hollywood couldn’t pass basic Astronomy or Physics. Sure, they’re just movies but the pervasiveness of Bad Astronomy (as Dr. Plait coins … Continue reading
When Presidents Lie by Eric Alterman
Never before have I received so much static from the Republicans I know for this book’s cover, unlike What Liberal Media? or Weapons of Mass Deception. When they saw me with this book, they automatically bitched about it being another Bush bashing, which … Continue reading
Weapons of Mass Deception by Rampton & Stauber
Here is a great book for those of us in the “I told you so” crowd or whatever name Tricky Dick apologist William Safire calls us. Rampton and Stauber are pros at proving point by point, reference by reference, what … Continue reading
Basket Case by Carl Hiaasen
Fortunately, the book is deeper than the back cover and blurb reviews make it out to be. For me, the only downside is Carl’s ignorance of popular music past 1985 and a bias towards bands that peaked before I was … Continue reading
What Liberal Media? The Truth about Bias and the News by Eric Alterman
Recently, there have been books (actually diatribes) written by Ann Coulter, Michael Savage and other Right-Wing yahoos claiming a Liberal Media Conspiracy. A Liberal bias they say (more like screaming) is out there, criticizing their illegitimate president. If you have … Continue reading
The Cold Six Thousand by James Ellroy
The long awaited sequel to American Tabloid finally appeared in 2001. Austin was one of the fortunate cities on James Ellroy’s last book tour to promote it so I scored an autographed copy. If you read Tabloid, then you remember our anti-heroes … Continue reading
All Families are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland
When the story opens we meet Janet Drummond waiting in her hotel room near Orlando. Her daughter Sarah is the token Canadian astronaut for the latest shuttle launch. Sarah is the pride of the family: she has technical and scientific … Continue reading →