tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18353946391690120192024-03-04T22:07:56.454-08:00Intellectual CuriosityFor those who like to know a little about a lot. What are you curious about?Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-73078731072889895232010-05-05T13:23:00.001-07:002010-05-05T14:02:05.244-07:00Books About the Financial Meltdown.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iraXcriqRR-Mhtsd0h1JYQzgDuwKgZe93Lv8YPwvtym9UAak2xycB7Osm6U2jS_dqkt9LHQ8o6iAbu6Haov8ezLAlrBoGzbpCvf9mfOvPbjubW_Hg0NwLGW9M0TtneX4WYmCUalqihEQ/s1600/quants.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 84px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iraXcriqRR-Mhtsd0h1JYQzgDuwKgZe93Lv8YPwvtym9UAak2xycB7Osm6U2jS_dqkt9LHQ8o6iAbu6Haov8ezLAlrBoGzbpCvf9mfOvPbjubW_Hg0NwLGW9M0TtneX4WYmCUalqihEQ/s200/quants.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467886601468789794" border="0" /></a>I was talking recently with a friend, who is very active in the stock market, about the financial meltdown and the many books that have been published trying to explain what happened. He has read several of them and the two that he recommended most are <span style="font-style: italic;">Quants</span> by Scott Patterson and <span style="font-style: italic;">Fool's Gold</span> by Gillian Tett.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Quants</span> focuses on the financial-math whizzes, who developed the complex trading systems that fueled the run-up in the credit markets. The author is a little over the top in his descriptions of the characters. His explanations, though, of the impact of their actions is very readable and right on.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFkLKOXxS1jqQ-heKDhUPRaO7zTQ-mwFTPzFGFp7_XgJ_1lM0BbjDwMJ7z4nW_mBvdnC66znL4QVMadsNRTZbn9QEoNzadmPequmVsPRQK_TNPwb1t3YrZ7wS7nHVp6A4YkRa4MZF6auD/s1600/tett.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 83px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFkLKOXxS1jqQ-heKDhUPRaO7zTQ-mwFTPzFGFp7_XgJ_1lM0BbjDwMJ7z4nW_mBvdnC66znL4QVMadsNRTZbn9QEoNzadmPequmVsPRQK_TNPwb1t3YrZ7wS7nHVp6A4YkRa4MZF6auD/s200/tett.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467886458276314418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Fool's Gold</span> is written by a reporter for the Financial Times of London (which in my humble opinion has surpassed the Wall St. Journal in the quality of writing about financial issues). Tett has been writing about derivatives and the credit markets for several years and brings that background into her explanation of the history and aftermath of the debacle.<br /><br />I encourage you to take a look at both of these. -HenryHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-19640737903423450302010-04-22T16:14:00.001-07:002010-05-05T14:02:37.510-07:00A Household of Birds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjm262qmIiwqrG0u9Hs_vKvkSayae4NaPkAnVsAcqxUHcpr7oMy63Kwjg3fUw11Iew0QtgxoBuEIFEtN8GwYZtcI4n2MalDSyHMCTDzN8eKoohFmDkYPR8od_8tJ4Z8z5MykTjl4oEDFR/s1600/corvus-cover.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjm262qmIiwqrG0u9Hs_vKvkSayae4NaPkAnVsAcqxUHcpr7oMy63Kwjg3fUw11Iew0QtgxoBuEIFEtN8GwYZtcI4n2MalDSyHMCTDzN8eKoohFmDkYPR8od_8tJ4Z8z5MykTjl4oEDFR/s320/corvus-cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463104222957818274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Corvus: A Life With Birds</span> by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Esther Woolfson</span><br /><br />A neighborhood crow follows my two old dogs and I as we meander up the alley on our daily walks. The crow is partial to the dog treats I carry in my pocket, Puperoni being his favorite. He's become bolder lately, waddling up to the kitchen door, and will tolerate me watching as he eats his fill, then buries the surplus in the garden.<br /><br />I'm reading <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Corvus</span> by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Esther Woolfson</span>, a middle-aged Scotswoman who raised a household of birds but is especially captivated by her corvids, a pet rook and a crow. A gentle book, beautifully written, and comical. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Woolfson</span> knows it's amusing that someone would have a houseful of birds. She doesn't care.<br /><br />~PatHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-25796086050353434152010-03-25T14:38:00.000-07:002010-03-25T15:01:44.736-07:00Blackstock's Collections<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSw_LjFHyErhdJkv1AkZAQ_RduUtmX1uulW0CdG3pcsc4vx4fd51Ba8SOVTA0CE2nPd8RwHYYPgOSw8YgdmHhywudkpIHtWmiELI7qzRC_LOFWoeSX29CKqTkEJJRMEeCTFpusd375Jqk/s1600/blackstock.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 109px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSw_LjFHyErhdJkv1AkZAQ_RduUtmX1uulW0CdG3pcsc4vx4fd51Ba8SOVTA0CE2nPd8RwHYYPgOSw8YgdmHhywudkpIHtWmiELI7qzRC_LOFWoeSX29CKqTkEJJRMEeCTFpusd375Jqk/s320/blackstock.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452693926498210818" border="0" /></a>This is about a book of lists rather than a list of books.<br /><br />Several years ago a book by a local artist came out that was totally amazing. It is a collection of Gregory Blackstock's drawings. He is autistic and an artistic savant and he drew lists - tools, shoes, trucks, bees. These are amazingly detailed drawings as you can see from the cover. When the opportunity arose to have him come to the store I was quite excited and I had no idea what to expect.<br /><br />The night of the event, he arrived with his guardian and immediately sat down and started to draw. He occasionally answered a question with a word or two, but mostly he ignored us. His guardian answered questions about him, but mostly we were fascinated just watching him draw with such focus and intensity.<br /><br />Anyway I'd forgotten about that event until I saw the book again recently. I'm still in awe of this book and Gregory's talent. We now have it back in stock. So come in and take a look. I think you'll be amazed as well.<br /><br />HenryHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-72086313146920055622010-03-14T13:03:00.000-07:002010-03-17T13:41:25.122-07:00Historical Vampire Novel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCaAAeH0kE2Kwc4C-_f8PkP5pm-92bV3G8mcEINb5Msc4as9bUy8g7xnETxi_rp5LSlOOo_CMWXnBXewixgH3cYsbANMTDJMtAfCPQKgtz6sYQ1G6o0qBKIzVsdEjYDp6YzSyfgf88-2y/s1600-h/historian-7996721.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCaAAeH0kE2Kwc4C-_f8PkP5pm-92bV3G8mcEINb5Msc4as9bUy8g7xnETxi_rp5LSlOOo_CMWXnBXewixgH3cYsbANMTDJMtAfCPQKgtz6sYQ1G6o0qBKIzVsdEjYDp6YzSyfgf88-2y/s400/historian-7996721.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448585425776333282" border="0" /></a><p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Historian</span> by <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Elizabeth Kostova</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Timing <i>is</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> everything. Right now, I must have plenty of time on my hands, because I’ve been riding trains through the Pyrenees and wagons through Romanian woods, researching in Istanbul library archives and flying between Oxford and Amsterdam, immersed in Elizabeth Kostova’s 676-page novel <span style="font-style: italic;">The Historian</span>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Kostova has been touring for her latest novel, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Swan Thieves</span> and stopped off one recent evening to give a writing workshop at 826 Seattle, Dave Eggers’ non-profit writing and tutoring center for youth (<a href="http://826seattle.org/" target="_blank">826seattle.org</a>). She’s so personable I wanted to read her work, and decided to start chronologically with <span style="font-style: italic;">The Historian</span>, a best seller in 2005, before rewarding myself with <span style="font-style: italic;">The Swan Thieves</span> which is getting a bunch of buzz.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Just like <span style="font-style: italic;">The Historian’s</span> main characters who go searching for the still-living Dracula, I had no idea what I was getting into. My only complaint is that I’m staying up too late at night reading in bed because I can’t put the darn thing down. This novel is particular fun for people who love libraries and bookstores--- who knew Dracula was a book collector?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">For those of you reading Sookie Stackhouse and the Twilight series or any of those other vampire books, come on over to the real dark side and pick up <span style="font-style: italic;">The Historian</span>. You won’t regret it. </p>~PatHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-86891601118291298042010-03-01T16:21:00.000-08:002010-03-17T16:28:02.171-07:00Tolkien's Inspiration<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VxIbAGKY2TyaAKLTwEnWpgbKFQAseU4U2pH2xVEiOH3aWHyeyGtMslGUck33t2sGlTwNrI5HCICg5RNMhhS2tvnYyoIO8LBN_FatyZ6p62X5nazWCXE2f-i3dqlblPFea16XHmGSMQcI/s1600-h/princess-and-the-goblin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VxIbAGKY2TyaAKLTwEnWpgbKFQAseU4U2pH2xVEiOH3aWHyeyGtMslGUck33t2sGlTwNrI5HCICg5RNMhhS2tvnYyoIO8LBN_FatyZ6p62X5nazWCXE2f-i3dqlblPFea16XHmGSMQcI/s400/princess-and-the-goblin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443825460317644930" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>The Princess and The Goblin, by George MacDonald</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Back in 1965, when I was in third grade, Miss Swedinski used to read to the class every afternoon. She read us Charlotte’s Web and other classics, but my favorite was a story about a princess and a mountainside filled with terrible goblins that competed with the villagers for control of the mines. This story had it all: adventure, bravery, terror, all the Jungian archetype stuff—it hit every hot button in my eight-year-old brain with such a powerful effect that for years I carried with me the vague excitement of being lost in mine tunnels pursued by goblins (I had not yet read Tolkien). </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">By the time I’d reached adulthood I’d forgotten the book’s title and I assumed it was gone forever, lost in the tunnels of childhood. That was before my life took another labyrinthine turn and I found myself working in a bookstore. Recently a customer came in looking for “The Princess and the Goblin,” by George MacDonald. It was her favorite book as a child and asked could we order her a copy? Something inside me went tingly; I pulled up the book on our database and as we read its description we both got excited--- we had found our book. I ordered two copies; one for her and one for the store. For myself, I ordered the George MacDonald Treasury, edited by Glenn Kahley, a collection of eight of his most famous stories, including The Princess and The Goblin. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">That night I began reading, and all the old magic returned. MacDonald wrote these stories in the 1880’s and was the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien, C.L. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Lewis Carroll and Madeleine L’Engle. MacDonald’s writing is so good and his humor so clever that he appeals equally to adults as to children (as does Tolkien and the other well-loved authors he inspired). </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The only complaint I have about my comprehensive Treasury edition is that it’s a bit heavy (although softbound) to read in bed comfortably, and the type is a bit small. I like the looks of the slimmer softbound volumes by Puffin Classics, which have lovely illustrated covers. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">If you like Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, read George MacDonald. And read him to your children.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">~Pat</span></p>Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-45347490121654462472009-08-28T17:23:00.000-07:002009-08-28T17:38:17.753-07:00Finally something new!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcKop3_0oso4xtHiidL2apI141mRebNKyjWtehD-ZeGVf1W8iMdmoRaGMAF8mjrnYuNkRPwF5q7WQgq0n1W4DdWW0ZpRxrztAb8RcQqY5UyVq5rrGQM39K9HEAHPY4lWOGe2r00P-TaoC/s1600-h/elephant.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcKop3_0oso4xtHiidL2apI141mRebNKyjWtehD-ZeGVf1W8iMdmoRaGMAF8mjrnYuNkRPwF5q7WQgq0n1W4DdWW0ZpRxrztAb8RcQqY5UyVq5rrGQM39K9HEAHPY4lWOGe2r00P-TaoC/s320/elephant.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177607015323346" border="0" /></a><br />Yes it's been awhile since I've written anything here. It's been a busy summer. However, yesterday I found something to write about.<br /><br />It is the <span style="font-style: italic;">most beautiful</span> coffee table book I've ever seen. Titled <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Shadow Falls</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>by photographer Nick Brandt, it is a collection of 58 oversize, tritone photos of East Africa. Brandt is on a mission to document the disappearing landscape and animals of this area.<br /><br />When I opened the book and went through the photos some literally took my breath away. Just look at the cover photo here and you'll get a sense of what the rest are like.<br /><br />Yes it's relatively expensive but it is one you'll come back to over and over again.<br /><br />Now I'm curious to know more about Nick and where I can see the real photos. I want one.<br /><br />HenryHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-6315175886242771422009-05-21T13:39:00.000-07:002009-05-21T14:29:55.546-07:00Book & Wine PairingsRecently I was talking with Sadee, a customer who also happens to be a marketing guru, about ways to boost sales. Since I also enjoy wine she suggested selling wine as well as books and start thinking of book and wine pairings. The Liquor Control Board quickly dashed my dreams of selling wine but book and wine pairings is something I can do.<br /><br />Obviously red wine goes with mysteries, white with light fiction. Either will go with cooking since one has to have a glass while stirring the pots and pans. But beyond that I was stumped. This is harder than I thought. OK beer has to be consumed while reading Tom Robbins' new book <span style="font-style: italic;">B is for Beer</span>. A good hearty Cabernet while reading about the latest political and current affairs, if only to drown one's sorrows.<br /><br />What do you think? What do you like to sip? Come to our first <span style="font-weight: bold;">Book & Bottle</span> event on Friday evening <span style="font-weight: bold;">June 12</span> at 7:00 and tell us your thoughts about books & wine. We'll also have some wine to taste while we talk. I hope to have a local wine buyer in attendance to facilitate the discussion.<br /><br />In the meantime, I'll be doing more research. And I'd like to read your thoughts about what you drink while you read.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-83731821376853904432009-04-09T12:25:00.000-07:002009-04-09T13:22:55.805-07:00These books are getting the most laughsOn our front counter we have a rotating selection of weird and fun books that usually distract customers while they are waiting to buy books. The ones that seem to get the most attention are the take-offs of earlier classic and best-selling books. <span>For example,</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Goodnight Bush</span> (a take off on <span style="font-style: italic;">Goodnight Moon</span>) was a big hit after the election. Here are a few that are getting the most attention:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spott's Canine Miscellany</span> - You may remember the hit book a few years ago called <span style="font-style: italic;">Schott's </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrIEsGzybDdNN63zP91IKVS3j6gMcY2Q8stI5B88UpdVrYS66OW9VOqIXhDKfedARNkCVFY3KrJiZFkbK9HRJ_IzZL3lTnndVlGD3QM1SpJsYWSOBnKBbO4D5jN3VyGRX_CNNKjt1nCwe/s1600-h/spotts.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 48px; height: 78px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrIEsGzybDdNN63zP91IKVS3j6gMcY2Q8stI5B88UpdVrYS66OW9VOqIXhDKfedARNkCVFY3KrJiZFkbK9HRJ_IzZL3lTnndVlGD3QM1SpJsYWSOBnKBbO4D5jN3VyGRX_CNNKjt1nCwe/s200/spotts.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322788627590944450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Miscellany</span> that included random facts, factoids and lists about equally random topics. this is the dog version of that book. On the same page is a blurb about Dog Ear, SD, dog & human allergies and a quote from Plato about dogs.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11,002 Things to be miserable about</span> - For the cynics in the crowd this is a great little gift. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2IHNEg9iAJoLmOZReIQNBB_wDD0Vww6540QruKdoE8MLHhYQG6X6oyWOnIuEyqg2G2XZjeRASAszfy9MQAnM3tIQHI8MPvOEoTudlRe_69hGbyCHF_zbXSFLsP1f7Xe4JA8Tmv6ZiW-h/s1600-h/11002.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 55px; height: 83px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2IHNEg9iAJoLmOZReIQNBB_wDD0Vww6540QruKdoE8MLHhYQG6X6oyWOnIuEyqg2G2XZjeRASAszfy9MQAnM3tIQHI8MPvOEoTudlRe_69hGbyCHF_zbXSFLsP1f7Xe4JA8Tmv6ZiW-h/s200/11002.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322788118012507938" border="0" /></a>the opposite of the earlier book <span style="font-style: italic;">14,000 things to be happy about</span>. With all that's going on in the world I'm a little dismayed that they couldn't come with more things to be miserable about. A random sample of items mentioned in the book: nuclear winter, debates between stupid people, beer that's mostly foam, busybodies and micromanagement. You get the idea.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Grandma's Dead; Breaking Bad News with Baby Animals</span> - A collection of postcards <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQttR-X9-TxhMZOAK4NAEfkhVvCi8QOidG9jqSm_gkm-CeR13ORJHUjq4HBhdd6xFAtrKctXqXGIsuBAMnhhOqy3IawizeFa_CKW4JGJu_qFgnxDOOJcxPYFBf1_iPkjRNCP6WWorFCvZ/s1600-h/dead.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 61px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQttR-X9-TxhMZOAK4NAEfkhVvCi8QOidG9jqSm_gkm-CeR13ORJHUjq4HBhdd6xFAtrKctXqXGIsuBAMnhhOqy3IawizeFa_CKW4JGJu_qFgnxDOOJcxPYFBf1_iPkjRNCP6WWorFCvZ/s200/dead.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322787942900570850" border="0" /></a>with sappy pictures of cute animals with captions such as "The condom broke" and "Grandpa left you nothing." You have to see it to get the full impact. Several customers have bought this book because they actually want to send one of the postcards.<br /><br /><br />Stay tuned for more.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-50929405214342771302009-03-18T11:12:00.000-07:002009-03-18T12:04:31.999-07:00David Macaulay show in Tacoma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfdhy89GWDW3Fd3txw-HFL0Fgf1dbtk-iE4NmRsdCAOnvzAo3hCwRBpFLi3syiJxTCwFphKWzTsRLK4PkX7zLuM76Lc7D8cwACiNW9v1KuFbK8_GJUcqLdQlMbAZ_18jszcVrvFf5p2kN/s1600-h/www.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 101px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfdhy89GWDW3Fd3txw-HFL0Fgf1dbtk-iE4NmRsdCAOnvzAo3hCwRBpFLi3syiJxTCwFphKWzTsRLK4PkX7zLuM76Lc7D8cwACiNW9v1KuFbK8_GJUcqLdQlMbAZ_18jszcVrvFf5p2kN/s200/www.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314604790620999122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've been a fan of David Macaulay's books for along time. His detailed drawings of how things work are very cool. For those of us who like to know weird stuff his books are at the top of the list. I've just found out about a showing of his drawings down at the <a href="http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/">Tacoma Art Museum</a>. I haven't been yet but it's on my list of things to do soon.<br /><br />His most recent book about the human body, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Way We Work</span>, is fascinating and fun. The descriptions of the processes of the human body are comprehensive but not designed for casual reading. You need to spend some time with each spread to understand what is going on, but it's well worth the time.<br /><br />Don't forget his earlier books about castles, cities and skyscrapers.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-36668930591809793382009-03-12T11:42:00.000-07:002009-03-18T11:11:52.508-07:00Very Short Introductions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFjMZQfA9BkjfBidaQBBWMmOxdRljVDXK1_nB4Nq-zDXumA-kJg4RR6UcjI1Ckeu2gDi74VugyXylIlwVYQKNegh3y3-6kE0br_QAZ1r4GwitA0IM4nJ8eGIADZI5oKzA3T6wOG1ac4XQ/s1600-h/mol.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 73px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFjMZQfA9BkjfBidaQBBWMmOxdRljVDXK1_nB4Nq-zDXumA-kJg4RR6UcjI1Ckeu2gDi74VugyXylIlwVYQKNegh3y3-6kE0br_QAZ1r4GwitA0IM4nJ8eGIADZI5oKzA3T6wOG1ac4XQ/s200/mol.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314592019465520546" border="0" /></a><br />The place to begin to satisfy your curiosity is Oxford University Press' Very Short Introduction series. There are over 150 titles in this series and for curious people like us this is a gold mine. Topics include history, religion, science, politics, art and many others. They are written by British professors who are experts in their field and unfortunately many are too dry and scholarly. But since you don't have to read the whole book you can just read til you fall asleep.<br /><br />One of the newest ones is on the Meaning of Life. This is a discussion of the question "What is the meaning of Life?". In the preface the author refers to story about Bertrand Russell and the taxi driver. Not familiar with this story I went to Google and found <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2004/sep/20/features11.g2">this essay</a> in the Guardian. (That's the thing about being curious. I have to keep following links to find out more)<br /><br />It's an interesting book in spite of his disparaging remarks about Douglas Adams' suggested answer of 42, which I think is as good an answer as any.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835394639169012019.post-14907337012722440492009-03-12T11:36:00.000-07:002009-04-30T16:26:28.994-07:00Why Do I Blog?I've been in the bookselling business off and on for over 10 years. One of the reasons I enjoy it is that I like to know a little bit about a lot of things and in this business I get to see books on just about every subject. I rarely finish a book but I read enough to find out about a particular subject to satisfy my curiosity.<br /><br />So this blog is a place for me and my staff to talk about things they've learned from books. I'd also like to read what you are curious about and interesting books you've read. Let's make this a discussion about what we're curious about.<br /><br />The gadgets on the sidebar are for your time wasting pleasure. If you have suggestions of other playful fun things let me know.<br /><br />I'll also mention upcoming events here at the store, thoughts about bookselling and the business of bookselling.Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15299636518917887766noreply@blogger.com0