2012 marks the third anniversary of Non-fiction November here at Bookzilla — a time when I put away the YA and fantastical tales and focus instead on true stories. Non-fiction has never been my favorite, but it’s at least one half of literature, so it shouldn’t be ignored.
You can check out my reviews from previous years, and here’s a sneak peek of this month’s insanity.
Books
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference – Author Malcolm Gladwell looks at why major changes in society seem to happen so suddenly. These “social epidemics” spread similarly as does the flu, and the moment they reach critical mass is called the Tipping Point.
A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter – The title really says it all. William Deresiewicz uses the stories of Jane Austen to start viewing the world very differently. I’ve never seen a book like this that’s written by a man, so that’s extra interesting to me.
Marriage Confidential: The Post-Romantic Age of Workhorse Wives, Royal Children, Undersexed Spouses and Rebel Couples Who are Rewriting the Rules – Researcher Pamela Haag studies firsthand the couples who seem happy on the outside, but still feel something is missing. Many people grew up knowing they were going to “have it all,” but is that really want we want?
In Pursuit of Silence: Listening for Meaning in a World of Noise – Between earbuds and sports stadiums, insanely loud concerts and endless road and air traffic noise, there is the desire for silence. Author George Prochnik researches how our society became so loud in the first place, and how the loss of silence can mean the loss of so much more.
O Clap Your Hands: A Musical Tour of Sacred Choral Works – Gordon Giles analyzes 30 sacred choral pieces to uncover historical tidbits, beautiful meanings, and spiritual reflections. Comes with recordings of each song.
Films
First Position – A documentary following several dance students as they prepare for the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the globe’s most prestigious ballet competitions. The talent is incredible, and the stakes high.
Pompeii: Back From the Dead – Diving into the history and secrets of Pompeii, a city buried and preserved in ash and lava over 2,000 years ago. Using modern technology to learn more about the people.
Dalekmania – A documentary that tries to explain the enduring love of “Dr. Who” and the Doctor’s sworn enemies, the Daleks. Seems to stick to the older series, which is kind of a bummer, but I’m interested in learning more about the Daleks themselves.
Give Me the Banjo – The history of the banjo and its use in various music styles. This one’s guaranteed to bring out my hillbilly blood!
Busting Out – And of course the requisite women’s studies/sociological/cultural option. This film discusses the history and politics of breast obsession, and its effects on things like breast cancer, breastfeeding, and body image.
So where should I start? Cast your votes in the comments!
This list looks good! I would be curious about In Pursuit of Silence (especially since I’m one of the those people who are easily bugged by all the constant noise pollution lol) 🙂
I agree about noise pollution — it’s becoming nearly impossible to escape! I tried reading this book sometime last year, but couldn’t get into it. Hopefully the second attempt will result in success. 🙂
This is a very worthy goal. I should do this as well sometime.
Yes, join in! Most people don’t stretch their reading muscles enough, myself included, so reading challenges like this are important.