Local author, historian and journalist Richard Bak can be seen on CTN Channel 17 during the week of December 6 through 10 speaking on his fascinating book A Distant Thunder: Michigan in the Civil War. The talk was recorded last December at Mr. Bak’s appearance in the Library’s Sunday Edition book talk series. The book is a comprehensive, well-illustrated chronicle of the contributions and sacrifices of the people of Michigan during the war between the states. Videos of the presentation are also available for home viewing. Mr. Bak is also the author of The Corner: A Century of Memories at Michigan and Trumbull, Detroit: Across Three Centuries and Henry and Edsel: The Creation of the Ford Empire.

Hypnotize by System of a Down debuts this week at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Place a hold on Hypnotize and other favorites by
System of a Down- Mezmerize and Toxicity.

This is the second time this year that System of a Down has reached the number one position on the Billboard 200 chart.

Thanksgiving weekend kicked off the holiday shopping season. According to the business reports, book sales were brisk. The following two titles must have been on many wish lists.

At #1 is A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin: the Seven Kingdoms is under siege in Book 4 of this fantasy series.

At #2 is Light from Heaven by Jan Karon: this is the final book in the sentimental journey of Father Tim and gentle folk of Mitford.

The Economist may be a respected international newsmagazine, but it’s also great for students. Every issue has useful sections on each continent or geographic region of the world. In the table of contents you can see which particular countries are covered in that issue. There are short summaries of recent newsworthy events, longer articles, and plenty of maps, graphs, statistics, and pictures. While the focus is on economics, they cover the full range of news events in every corner of the globe. It’s perfect for country reports, current events assignments, or just to impress your social studies teacher! (Read More)

Take a sneak peek at The New York Times 100 Notable Books of the Year, scheduled for release in the Book Review's Holiday Issue on December 5. Here are just a few of the titles on the list: Kafka on the Shore, Are Men Necessary?: When Sexes Collide, On Beauty, Made in Detroit: A South of 8 Mile Memoir, Our Inner Ape: A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife.

Listening to a good recorded book can really make the time fly on a long drive. On a recent drive to Chicago I listened to "The Secret Life of Bees," by Sue Monk Kidd. Before I knew it, Michigan and Indiana had flown by like a swarm of bees, and on the way home I listened to the rest of the story. Now I want to read the book.

Stan Berenstain, co-creator of the beloved Berenstain Bears, died Saturday, November 26, 2005.

Berenstain, with his wife Jan, created the popular illustrated All in the Family feature 49 years ago. All in the Family first appeared in McCall’s magazine, running from 1956-1969. In 1970, the column moved to Good Housekeeping magazine for twenty years.

In the early 1960s, Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss), who was then head of Random House’s children’s publishing, worked with the Berenstains to develop a series of books for kids featuring the Bears. Thus was launched a hugely popular series, totaling more than 200 titles. The Berenstain family saga is a sort of ongoing ursine Leave It to Beaver tale of innocent capers and misadventures, full of gentle resolution.

Sellevision: A Novel by Augusten Burroughs is a wickedly funny book, as it skewers the on-screen personalities of a fictional shopping channel. I read the book in two evenings for a book group, and frankly, it was much more fun than shopping.

After President John Kennedy was assassinated Nov. 22, 1963, his widow Jaqueline Kennedy commissioned Mass: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers in his honor. The composer and conductor was Leonard Bernstein. Based on a Catholic mass, the piece was both controversial and memorable. Some selections may sound familiar, particularly “Almighty Father“ and “A Simple Song.”

The aging baby-boomers have prompted a swell of books on living longer and healthier (mentally, physically, and spiritually).

Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever by Ray Kurzweil
Healthy Aging: a Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-Being by Andrew Weil
Life Beyond 100: Secrets of the Fountain of Youth by C. Norman Shealy
The Long Tomorrow: How Advances in Evolutionary Biology Can Help Us Postpone Aging by Michael R. Rose
Ten Years Younger: the Amazing Plan to Look Better, Feel Better, and Turn Back the Clock by Steven Masley
The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger As Your Brain Grows Older by Elkhonon Goldberg
Younger Next Year: a Guide to Living Like 50 Until You’re 80 and Beyond by Chris Crowley

For some perspective on old age through history, read A History of Old Age, edited by Pat Thane.