2007 TBR Challenge -- nonfiction

1. A History of Everyday Things in England, Vol. II 1500-1799 by Marjorie and C. H. Quennell: my undergrad degree is in history and political science, so lots of the nonfiction I read relate to these 2 areas. This is an old book that I picked up at a thrift store somewhere and thought would fit in nicely with the historical novels I enjoy. A decent book, lots of information on how people lived, what they wore, how they acted, etc. My only complaint is that this book (and the series it is a part of) was clearly written for children (lots of comments throughout like "Boys and girls should be aware..." and "Our young readers will not doubt be interested to learn that..." written in a condescending way), a fact that came as a surprise. But, all in all, an okay book for people interested in how ordinary people lived in England at the time.



2. Integrity by Stephen Carter: I cannot stress this enough -- EVERYONE should read this book. A fabulous look at what integrity means, how people act with it, and how it affects our society. I've had this book for years, carted it from house to house, and almost gave it away thinking that I would never read it and would hate it if I did. Thank goodness I kept it and actually read it! No way am I going to give it away, because I'm sure I'll reread it one day. Again, I say READ THIS BOOK!



3. The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester: An interesting history of how the OED was compiled over many decades, and the people behind it. Some people may find it dull, but a must for anyone interested in the history of language.

4. Paradise of Cities: Venice In the 19th Century by John Julius Norwich: A view of Venice told through the histories of half a dozen people that made it their home, however briefly. This book will not give you a traditional broad-view history, with information on government and the location's place in the world, but does provide a nice view of a legendary city.

5. The Rockefeller Billions The Story of the World's Most Stupendous Fortune by Jules Abels: This book tells how the Rockefeller fortune was made, and how various factors, including the U.S. government, attempted to rein it in. There are excellent descriptions of how the oil industry at the turn of the century operated and how Standard Oil was able to corner the market and became one of the world's most powerful companies. Very interesting.

6. An Unfinished Woman: A Memoir by Lillian Hellman: I previously wrote a review of this bo0k in a post, so no further comments are necessary.

Replacement for Light in August:

7. Decision: How the Supreme Court Decides Cases by Bernard Schwartz: Any book on the modern Supreme Court is bound to have some amount of political bias, and this one is no exception. However, compared to similar books, it is more objective than many, and provides an interesting look at how the Court operates behind the velvet curtains. Recommended for anyone interested in American judicial history.